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

This is by far my favorite book by Sarah Adams! I was hooked from the get go. I always enjoy the back and forth of the perspectives with her characters. Derek is by far my favorite guy that she has created. I enjoyed the take on a disability, because a disability does not define how far one can go. I enjoyed the relationship between the characters and how when they met again years later, they picked back up where they left off in a sense. I do not normally buy books because I am an avid library reader, but when I do purchase a book it is because I want to keep it in my personal library. I do plan to add this one to my library so that I can read it again!

I find that some books that are considered romance have very surface level issues that the characters must overcome but I loved how each character in this book had something a little deeper to learn before they were able to have a better relationship. If you are a person who does not enjoy a book with a lot of spice, this is the book for you. The spicey scene was very tastefully written and didn't make me cringe. I love a book that gives the perspective from both love interests. I think Sarah Adams always does such a good job with that, but I LOVED reading Derek's point of view so much!

I 10/10 recommend this book!

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams 💫

DROP EVERYTHING AND READ THIS BOOK! I absolutely love this book! It is definitely a new comfort read for me! Everything about this book made me fall in love. I loved Nora’s fun and goofy personality, and Derek’s loving not-so-grumpy personality so so much! All the characters, really. Derek’s friend group and their wives were all so lovable and fun!

Nora and Derek dated in college for a year, and when it ended ugly, they never thought they’d see each other again. Until, Derek’s agent quits and Nora ends up being his new agent. Derek decides that he is going to give Nora a hard time because of the breakup, and makes her job extremely difficult. Eventually, she gets tired of him being an overgrown baby and the end up going to Vegas, even though Derek had said he didn’t want to go. They go to a bar while there, and end up extremely drunk. They end up getting married and posting a picture on Derek’s Instagram page. And when they agree to stay married and make it look like they actually wanted to get married, Derek and Nora are stuck battling feelings they realize never actually went away when they broke up.

If you love:

🔹Second Chance
🔹College Sweethearts
🔹Sports Romance
🔹NFL Star x Agent
🔹Only One Bed
🔹Not-So-Fake Marriage

Genre/Type: Romance
APK: Ebook ARC
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Stand Alone:
Tropes or Themes: Second Chance, Not-So-Fake Marriage, Only One Bed, Forced Proximity, NFL Star x Agent, Sports Romance, Grumpy x Sunshine, College Sweethearts, Right Person Wrong Time, Dual POV, Found Family

Nora has one goal: to be the best sports agent in the country. The only problem? Her new client is also her ex, the one that got away.

This is my first Sarah Adams book and I really enjoyed it!

Nora was great. She was goofy but really funny. I connected with her cute one-liners and found myself wanting to be her friend. Derek was great as well. He's tough and sexy but you can see him melt so quickly for Nora. I love a MMC who is obsessed with the FMC, and Derek fits right into that.

The female positivity is high in this one too, which is great. There is just so much in here to like. Second chance, enemies to lovers, football, tropical location, forced proximity. And the list goes on!

All in all, this was a great sports romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

I will say this - Sarah Adams knows how to write dreamy men. Derek is swoony and devoted. It's worth reading for Derek!

Nora is intense. But that's the point right? for the right person - you are never too much. I loved watching her accept herself.

If you liked the Cheat Sheet, you'll like this one!

3.75 rounded to 4.

This is not a review, it’s a love letter to Sarah Adams for writing this book.

“The Rule Book” follows Nora Mackenzie, a sports agent whose first client is famous NFL tight end Derek Pender. He also happens to be her ex-boyfriend and he’s still holding a grudge. He’s determined to make her life difficult, but when a wild night in Vegas leads to an accidental marriage, they have to rekindle their relationship to save their careers.

Reading this book was like getting a warm hug and its all because I really adored the characters. Nora is my favorite of Sarah’s female main characters because she is so inspiring, unapologetically herself, and hardworking. Adams gives her so much personality and I found myself relating to her organization skills (specifically color-coding), can-do attitude, and love of sweet treats. I also saw a lot of myself in Derek. Though I do not have a shared experience with a learning disability diagnosis, I’ve felt inadequate before and I resonated with his internal struggle. Both Nora and Derek really moved me and I now consider them my comfort characters.

Nora and Derek’s second chance romance had me feeling so giddy! Adams does a great job establishing what their relationship was like in college and why it eventually fell apart. She executes the “right person, wrong time” narrative so well and weaves in some of my other favorite tropes like accidental marriage/marriage of convenience, only one bed, and “that’s my wife” flawlessly without overwhelming the reader. The inclusion of such tropes push Nora and Derek to face their lingering feelings for each other and act on them to give their relationship another shot. I couldn’t get enough of the mutual pining, the tension, and the way they continuously uplift each other. Thank you Sarah for this masterpiece! I’m so obsessed with this book that it hurts.