As always, Sarah Adams wrote one of the most perfect little romance books you’ll ever read. This one is not as “closed door” as others, but if you want a completely closed door romance, you only need to skip one chapter. I love a good athlete romance, so I was excited to get to read this one considering it was written by one of my favorite authors. Every now and then you need a good feel-good romance to be your palette cleanser that has a great plot and perfect tension.. this is that book.

🏈The Rule Book by Sarah Adams 🏈

Nora Mackenzie is so excited to finally have her own client at the sports agency she’s built her career at. Unfortunately her first client also happens to be her college sweetheart, LA Sharks football superstar Derek Pender. Derek hasn’t forgotten Nora breaking his heart all those years ago, and he doesn’t want her as his agent. Desperate to prove herself, Nora agrees to a set of rules with Derek to keep their relationship in the client/agent zone only. But rules were made to be broken.

This book is just cuteness and joy all the way through. I absolutely adored Nora and Derek and their second chance at romance was incredibly sweet and charming. Their back and forth banter was perfectly done.

It was also really fun to revisit the LA Sharks universe and see Nathan and Bree from The Cheat Sheet again.

Recommended if you enjoy: ❤️‍🩹 second chance romance 🏈 football romance 🥣 meant to be moments 🥸 married in Vegas 🥰 it was always you

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to publisher and netgalley for the arc:

Tropes:
✅he falls first and harder
✅second chance
✅accidental marriage
✅sports romance
✅agent and client romance
✅slow burn
✅dual pov

The first third of the book was pretty annoying, he was being such a douche it turned me off to him and the rule book nonsense was really childish how are they 30 and acting like this honestly was unbelievable part for me to read at 33 years old. And then middle third was great but also way too slow of a slow burn and to get to the marriage part of story! Also I was screaming at my iPad reading for them to have an actual conversation already I mean Jesus. I'm salty we had to wait till last third of book to finally get them together it was far too slow of a burn for me and I didn't like how far into book the marriage happened as well. Could have done without his two weeks of hazing nonsense. I loved them together but it was a far too heartbreaking, annoying, and slow ride.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Incredible! I absolutely loved this one. Such a great book to curl up with. It was hard to pull myself away to do things, but I always looked forward to diving back in. Highly recommend!

I am so floored by this book. I swear every single book that Sarah puts out gets better and better. 🥹😭🤍

Nora is a woman who is trying her hardest to make it as a sports agent. When an opportunity presents itself, she finds herself face to face with the man whose heart she broke EIGHT YEARS AGO.

Derek is hesitant to take her on as his agent, because HE STILL LOVES HER AND NEEDS TO MOVE ON. But after a drunken night in Vegas leaves them married, he is anything but hesitant. Now he finds himself asking her for more.

The way that I am OVERLY OBSESSED WITH THESE TWO. Nora is so cute and quirky and unapologetically herself. It is so refreshing. She hasn't let life bring her down, but instead embraces allll the things. I literally want to be her when I grow up. 🥹 Derek has had so much to overcome in life and I loved watching him learn to accept himself, flaws and all.

But as much as I loved them growing into their own selves, I loved THEM even more. I loved the relationship they had and the foundation they worked off of. I loved that they realized they could have all the things without sacrificing the happiness they can have with each other.

This book was SO many things. Emotionally, quirky, hilarious, heartbreaking and so so so beautiful.

I couldn't imagine a better way to say goodbye to the Sharks than this book right here.

the rule book by @authorsarahadams
rating: 3.5 ⭐️
release date: april 2nd, 2024

This book exists in the same universe as The Cheat Sheet and I really loved seeing the characters from that book so much! Nora is an aspiring sports agent and Derek is her newest client. He is coming off of a major injury and isn’t sure he will be able to play again. But this is where it gets interesting, Nora and Derek dated in college and very suddenly broke up. Derek has been holding a massive grudge against Nora for not giving him a reason as to why they broke up. They decide to be able to work together they need a Rule Book, but will they be able to follow all the rules?
This was such an easy lighthearted read! After reading some very heavy books lately this was so refreshing and enjoyable. The writing style was easy to read and I loved the characters! Overall such a good read would highly suggest reading this when it comes out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for sending me this E-ARC!

I have enjoyed all of Sarah Adams books. I tend to agree with other reviewers that they read more YA than adult. The Rule Book does not suffer that problem. It is utterly charming and adorable! I really enjoyed it. Definitely one of my favorite romances of the year so far. I love that their relationship is silly, sweet, and sexy!

This was a 4.5 star read for me. I hope you enjoy it too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for this eARC!

The Rule Book is a new romance companion to another popular book by Sarah Adams called the Cheat Sheet. I did not read that one but I don't think you need to enjoy this one.

College sweethearts Derek and Nora had a whirlwind romance that ended abruptly. When Derek, a famous football player, needs a new agent and his agency assigns him a new one, it is Nora. They create a rule book in order to keep things professional but rules quickly get broken when sparks start to fly between the two.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the two point of views, we got to see both what Derek and Nora were thinking. I loved how into Nora Derek is and it was very sweet to see his point of view. I loved the football aspect throughout this as well. Nora was a fun character to follow and I really liked them together.

My only complaint was the miscommunication at times was driving me crazy. They would be thinking one thing and then say something else and it was bothering me. However, this was still a great read and I would recommend!

Thank you so much to netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was just okay for me. Sarah is a go to author for me and I find all of her books easy to read, easy to fall in love with characters, and just perfect romance every time. This book wasn’t amazing but it wasn’t bad. My true rating would be a 3.5.

This was such a feel good book! Sarah Adams brings the comedy with Nora! I love a good funny rambling character! And a football romance! More open door than most SA books! I really really enjoyed reading this! Thanks NetGalley!

Sarah Adams became an automatic must-read for me after When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect. Her books are sweet with just a hint of spice and The Rule Book did not disappoint. In this second chance romance, we meet sports agent Nora Mackenzie and revisit the LA Sharks football team from The Cheat Sheet when she is assigned to represent player Derek Pender. Only, the two have a history and now her career is in his hands. Derek hasn't forgotten (or forgiven) Nore for the way she ended their relationship and he's determined to take it out on her but not without Nora seeking some revenge of her own.

Nora is a fun, sunshine character trying hard to be true to herself in the "men's world" of professional sports and Derek has meddling teammates that won't stay out of his business. I enjoyed this read and if you haven't already read The Cheat Sheet, be sure to pick it up while you are waiting for The Rule Book to come out on April 2nd.

Chef's kiss. Yes gawd. Fabulous. Delicious. Absolutely irresistible. The chemistry. The tension. The romance. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WAS LOVELY. Derek and Nora were so cute. This book had me blushing. Sarah Adams can seriously do no wrong in my eyes. If she writes it, I will read it. I will love it. I will be giddy laughing, kicking and screaming. The Rule Book is by far my favorite read by her yet, 10/10 experience. I cannot wait for this to be out in the world for everyone to get their hands on it.

Huge thank you to the publishers at Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted ARC of The Rule Book by Sarah Adams coming out April 02, 2024!

Dual POV
Sports romance
Second chance romance
Marriage of convenience
Forced proximity

The Rule Book is a flirty, fun sports romance full of laughter and feelings. Derek Pender and Nora Mackenzie were college sweethearts until Nora broke up with Derek unexpectedly. Years later, Nora is finally a sports agent with her first client—the man whose heart she broke and never really got over.

I love a second chance romance and thoroughly enjoy a marriage of convenience. Derek and Nora were such an amazing couple who truly complement one another. Both of their personalities could be felt through the page, and I found myself reading at a slow burn pace because I didn’t want it to end!

I will say, this book lacks the breath of fresh air that Sarah Adams brought to her prior novels. I have no problem with open door romances, but I think that might be why this book could have been written by a number of authors. I definitely miss Sarah Adams’s style and charm that made me fall in love with her first book.

“Sometimes I wonder, if I stay quiet, will she continue to talk the whole night? I’d happily let her.”

THIS WAS SO CUTE! I didn’t read all the blurb and was pleasantly surprised it had the accidental marriage trope in it! This is a second chance, grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance about two college sweethearts who reunite when she becomes his sports agent 🤩

The secret pining w/ acts of service was SO good! Nora was hilarious and fun to read! I loved reading about male-dominated workplaces, especially in sports and how Nora navigated her career as a woman.

“I only lost because I want to show you in a physical way that I’m intentionally and completely vulnerable to you, Nora. That I’ll gladly lose to you every day of my life—because for me, the prize is just being near you.” 🥹

Sarah Adam’s is an amazing romantic comedy writer. Her books may seem like fluff to some readers but every time I jump into her stories I get lost and it becomes a reprieve for life.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc for an honest review.

I just have to say, Sarah Adams knows how to write banter. The kicking your feet and giggling type of banter. The type of banter that leaves you thinking about it even days after finishing this book. To say that I enjoyed The Rule Book by Sarah Adams is an understatement. This is second chance football romance you didn't know you needed in your life. Add to that a "My Wife" thrown in there and you're truly was done for...in the best way possible. This book has not only a great love story with banter that will have you cackling, but a great found family and a coworker you are both equally obsessed and terrified of. There are great messages that are expertly woven through the epically hysterical story of Derek and Nora; be unapologetically you, admitting you need help is not a weakness, and its ok if your dreams change/morph.
I loved this book and you will to!

This book was really cute! I like where the story went because there were a few twists that I didn't see coming. This book was a second chance romance with Nora the sports agent and Derek the football player. It was definitely an enjoyable read up until about the end.

The ending wasn't bad, I just wish there would've been more. Aside from it being slightly predictable, the whole "climax" got revealed and solved within a couple pages. For me, endings can make or break a book, especially romances, and this one just didn't elevate it like I hoped it would. (There was NO third act breakup)

Overall I would recommend it, and bree and Nathan from The Cheat Sheet make some appearances which was fun.

Nora MacKenzie is in a difficult field of work. She is a sports agent who is clawing to keep her position in a male dominated world. She even goes by an androgynous nickname that she hates, so she isn’t taken for a woman off the bat. She has given up everything for this career. She is one of those people who has a list that has to be checked off or she can’t move on. This includes dumping the love of her life in college because he was suddenly distracting her from her studies. She convinces herself that it is fine UNTIL she is handed a contract to represent THE life distraction from college. Derek is a high level, GOAT on the football field. He was a first round draft pick, and has set all kinds of team records. Derek is pretty much living just to rehab and continue playing football after a devastating ankle break. He has no idea what is in store for him when he meets his new agent Mac, nor does she. The Rule Book goes into play to keep things color coded and organized for them, but Derek believes rules are meant to be broken, just like his heart when Nora dumped him and moved on without a reason. The character development in this book is astounding. Nora made me laugh out loud and Derek made my heart swoon.

Ahhhh! I can’t express enough how much I loved The Rule Book! I listened to The Cheat Sheet beforehand since they’re companion books and it was the cutest friends to lovers book and so endearing, but this was on a whole other level! It was so humorous and emotional and delivered my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers and second chance) in the best possible way. I was giggling one minute, sobbing the next. Nora especially is probably one of my favorite, funniest FMCs I’ve come across in awhile and Derek had me swooning so hard; I couldn’t help but root for this couple.

I am a new reader to Sarah Adams and so glad I requested. This book did not disappoint. I will be sure to read others by her. Great sports, sand second chance romance. I was a nice change of pace from my usual genres. I kept me engaged and it was a fun time. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
4 star