4.5 stars
Huge thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the early copy of this one!

Not to be dramatic but this is her best book y’all! I completely ate this one up. The tropes worked so well with one another and she even gave us a spicy scene in this one. I loved both of our main characters equally and being able to see our favs from the cheat sheet was just the cherry on top for me. Do yourself a favor and RUN to read this one. PERFECT for spring and summer

The Rule Book is definitely gonna be a lot of readers favorite this year.
It has everything we love: fake marriage, grumpy x sunshine, sports romance, forced proximity and second chance. With tropes like that how could Sarah Adams go wrong?!
Nora & Derek steal the show here. They are adorable and just the right amount of angst. This is also a slow burn romance too so ya know the payoff is good 👌🏻
Adams writes a romcom that will steal your heart and leave you wanting to reread it again.
A must read for romcom lovers!

Outstanding. Beautiful. Funny. Sappy. Adorable.
Are you a fan of Friends? Ross and Rachel your favorite TV couple? How about Taylor and Travis? Then this book is for you if you have said yes to any of these questions.
Nora Mackenzie has been working hard to achieve her dream of becoming a professional sports agent. And when she lands her first real client, she is thrilled. Even though her new client just so happens to be her ex college boyfriend who she suddenly broke up with years ago. Derek, still angry with how Nora ended things, will allow her to be his agent but he plans on making her life miserable. But after one drunken night in Vegas where they end up in bed together and married, things are about to change.
I was cracking up this whole book. Nora is the funniest main character I have come across in a while. The banter between the two had me SWOONING! I also found myself emotional and teary eyed while the two go on a long slow burn journey back to one another.

I love Sarah Adams as a writer, and this book was no exception. I am not normally a huge fan of sports romance, but since I read and loved The Cheat Sheet, I figured I would give this a shot. I was not disappointed!

I did find the whole revenge plot to be a little juvenile, but it didn't take away from the overall enjoyability of the book. Derek and Nora were lovable characters, easy to read, and I really enjoyed the way their romance progressed.

This was actually my first book by the author- but I now see it’s time to dust off the others that have been on my shelf and get reading! And the audio version of this one was PERFECT

Ten years ago, Nora ended things with Derek, breaking his heart during their senior year in college. Now a successful NFL player, Derek is Nora's first solo client as a rising sports agent. However, he still holds a grudge against her and does everything in his power to make her life as his agent miserable enough for her to quit. With encouragement from his Sharks teammates, Derek begins to realize that he may not hate Nora but is looking for excuses to be around her. Nora, determined to be the best agent Derek has ever had, refuses to give up despite his attempts to sabotage her. Everything changes when they wake up hungover and married in Vegas. Now, to save their careers, they have to pretend to be in love.

He didn't think she would see her again and definitely not as his new agent. Derek didn't want anything to do with Nora especially after the fact that she broke up with him cold as ice but as his current agent is recovering he has no other choice.
Nora cannot believe that as a rookie sports agent her first client is none other than Derek Pender, football star AND her ex boyfriend from college. She pleas and pleas to accept her and give her a shot but it keeps going down from there.

Derek and Nora definitely had their pros and cons. Derek was very focused. He wanted nothing more than to be able to be given the chance to play football again. Caring and selfless and looked out for the best of others.
Nora was witty, definitely took the seriousness and put in her own humor. She was able to make everyone smile and likeable. But she needs to be more professional as an agent. She was a strong independent woman and very forthcoming.
Derek and her complimented each other very well as he seemed more serious and she broke the ice any chance she got. I loved them together but I think the story line was very scattered. The Vegas night was just random to me so I felt it was rushed to put in the story. I felt that some of the story seemed out of place.

Summary: Nora Mackenzie finally has the break her career as a sports agent needed. The only problem, her first client is her college ex-boyfriend, Derek Pender. And of course, Nora didn't end their relationship very gracefully so Derek has been holding onto his grudge and he knows just the way to soothe it. Despite his plan to exact his revenge and get her to quit, they end up in bed together, married, after a wild night in Vegas. What will happen between the two of them now that their rule book is out the window?

Dani’s Thoughts: Well this just became my favorite Sarah Adams book!! I loved the history shared between Derek and Nora that even after their many, many years apart has not faded. Accidental Vegas wedding is a favorite trope of mine, and this one did not disappoint, especially once Derek decided to put his revenge ways behind him. It was fun seeing all of my favorites from The Cheat Sheet and how their lives have changed over the last 2 years. The group really was there for Derek to help sort through his feelings, and in turn, Nora was able to have a great group around her as well. Highly suggest reading The Cheat Sheet first, but this can be read as a standalone.

4.5 ⭐️ I love Sarah Adams! She is able to create fast paced books that you can’t put down! The relationship was amazing and I kept coming back to read more about it. If you have read any her books before definitely pick this one up too! I will be continuing to read more.

I laughed. I cried. I genuinely had the best time reading this book! I couldn’t put it down once I started and became quickly invested in these characters and their love story!

Derek & Nora and their relationship are the perfect combination of sweet, sexy, and quirky! While there was a lot of levity in this book, there was depth and emotion, too, which is exactly what I look for in a romantic comedy.

This was my first time reading work by Sarah Adams, and I can’t wait to read more!

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
Second Chance Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Revenge/Rivalry
Sports Romance
Athlete x Sports Agent
Marriage of Convenience
Romantic Comedy

3.5⭐️

•••

I was hooked from the very first chapter because it ended in a cliffhanger and I couldn’t stop reading. Then this whole revenge plot happened which I didn’t really like, I thought I’d was childish, but thankfully it dissolved pretty quickly.

This book was so funny. It had me laughing out loud so many times, especially at scenes featuring Derek’s friend group, I love them.

Nora and Derek had some of the funniest banter. They have a complex history with each other and throughout the book more and more secrets were I’m revealed and OHMYGOD. I can’t say much without spoiling but when that table side drawer thing got revealed it was just 🥹🥹

Also the Derek’s pants mystery thing was also so funny. There were so many small things in this book that just made the book much more enjoyable.

I need to begin my saying this is my first read by this author, and I absolutely love the way she did her author’s note and content warning. I love that it lets us readers know exactly what we are dealing with and lets us know where to skip if sexy time makes us uncomfortable. This will for sure not be my last book by this author.

Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes (I must admit I’m a big trope girly). There are so many tropes in this book that are done to perfection. I think all of my favorites were included and not in a cheesy way.

I enjoyed reading from Nora and Derek’s points of view, it always makes the story more emotion filled to me. Nora is so quirky it’s easy to connect to, and they both get so petty it’s hilarious. I loved their banter and their connection in general.

I can’t wait to read this authors back log. Her writing style made it so easy to fly through and enjoy the story and characters. It was such a fluffy read with a bit of seriousness thrown in, I couldn’t help but love it.

I love everything Sarah Adams and have been waiting for this since she announced it!!

Derek and Nora did not disappoint. They dated in college and Derek thought Nora was the one, only for her to dump him randomly and then not see each other for years.

When Derek gets assigned a new agent, he is expecting Mac. Not Nora, his ex-girlfriend who he is painfully still in love with.

This book was so good. Derek was making Nora jump through all these hoops hoping she would quit as his agent, but a drunken night in Vegas changes everything. When they wake up married, they decide to save her job and get a handle on the press they’ll stay married for as long as it takes. But the longer they stay married, the more they both realize it’s what they want.

Will they be able to come out unscathed? Or will it end in heartbreak all over again?

OUT NOW!!!!

This was the first book that I got through NetGalley! I was so excited since I love Sarah’s previous books and was not surprised by how great this one was also. I read the whole thing overnight, I went to start the book and by the time I finished it was 3 am but I just didn’t want to put it down. I’m a sucker for second chance romance and witty characters like Nora. Their silly banter had me excited to keep reading. Definitely a feel good funny and quirky book that has you rooting for them from the start. Can’t wait to see what Sarah Adam’s releases next!

Omg to die for!! I loveeee Sarah Adams work so much! This just fed the addiction and now I need more!! If you haven’t preordered your copy yet, you better RUN to get yours now!

4.75 Stars— cheers to a spicy Sarah Adams book because it’s exactly what I was hoping for. Sarah’s books are always heavy on the com in romcom and this book continues an amazing connected series that does just that.

Nora and Derek are college sweethearts who broke up. Fast forward to Nora, going professionally as Mac, just realized her first client as a full-time agent is Derek. I love that Derek tried to hype himself up to “ignore” her or get over her. It was cute, funny, and felt so realistic. I loved how cooky Nora was. I know she is a ton of fun.

The pining/mutual fumbling through a drunken wedding was banter perfection. I also loved watching how their marriage was a turning point for them in being honest with each other.

Another Sarah Adams classic.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

The Rule Book has:
- second chance romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- forced proximity
- sports romance (NFL x Agent)
- fake(ish) marriage
- dual POV

Nora and Derek were such an enjoyable couple.
A perfect spring romcom!

what a lovely book! i adored sarah adams' the cheat sheet so getting to meet the sharks again, read more of their dynamics, and watch derek's story unfold was such a treat. the second-chance romance trope is one of my beloved favorites and it's done phenomenally here. nora and derek's relationship was so interestingly written. the raw emotions they felt were written in a way that felt real. it almost felt like nora, derek, and the rest of derek's friend group were actual people and i was watching it unfold myself. nora and derek's personalities were so different from each other's' but simultaneously found a middle ground, which made their relationship shine. some of the parts did draw on for a little longer than i'd like (and the back and forth on the relationship did bother me, personally) but by no means does that completely ruin my enjoyment of this book! i've truly missed this group of friends and i was so excited to see more of them (and now here i am hoping for a second-gen series of sorts). thank you to netgalley and and random house publishing group for kindly providing me with an arc!

I have to say, The Rule Book really surprised me. I feel like these two were so relatable and their story could be almost anybody’s story.

Nora and Derek dated in college and their breakup was less than ideal. Basically, Nora broke his heart and that was that. It’s a classic case of the right person at the wrong time.

The two are thrust back together years later when Derek is set to make his return to professional football after a devastating ankle injury. Who ends up being his new agent? Yep, Nora.

Can these two figure out a way to work together to get Derek’s career back on track?

Thank you so much to Penguin Randomhouse and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nora and Derek had the perfect relationship in college, when out of nowhere Nora ends it leaving Derek bitter and broken hearted. Nora regrets what happened back then and has always wondered what could have happened is she had not ended things with him. Years later both are doing what they love, he is a pro football player and she is a sports agent. Nora is finally given her big break, signing a famous athlete. Unfortunately for her Derek is the athlete that could launch her career and help her prove that she has what it takes. She is determined to make it work, and prove to him that she is great at her job despite their past. Derek on the other hand is going to make Nora’s life a living hell until she quits!! Along the way there is some excellent banter, competitive hi jinx, an accidental marriage and a lengthy rule book that the couple must adhere to.

This was a really fun read. I have always enjoyed Sarah’s books but they are always just a little too sweet and too perfect. This one had a lot more to it. I enjoyed the couples chemistry, the sexual tension, their friendship and all of the hurdles that they faced. It was written so well and had so much more depth than her other books.

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest reveiw.

Ballantine eARC
I am heartbroken to be writing this review because I just really didn't like this one by Adams, and I've absolutely loved her other works. 😭 For starters, I did enjoy the woman sports agent aspect. I love seeing women in the sports world. I liked how Nora fought for Derek to get him the best endorsements possible. I'm also a fan of sports romance because I am a woman that enjoys watching sports. Nora's one liners, though, took me out of the story. At first, I thought it was funny, but by the end of the book I wanted more emotional depth and less deflection from her. Derek's payback in the beginning felt immature and made me not want to root for him. I thought the depth of emotions were good, but I just didn't feel any chemistry between them. Everything here should've worked for me, and I am so sad that it didn't. I am still excited to see her on tour in St. Louis. I am hoping hearing her talk about the book makes me appreciate it more. I will still be auto-buying because I love her work and know that the issues with this one are mine.