Thank you NetGally for the ARC. This is my second Sarah Adams book and I'm not disappointed. This book has everything I need from a romance book, and I loved every single second of it. It was such a fun read! Sarah Adams is becoming my all-time favorite romance author. If you like second chance romance/sport romance books, do yourself a favor and got yourself a copy of this book!!

Sarah Adam’s The Cheat Sheet has been one of my go-to reads lately, so of course, I was desperate to get my hands on the next book in the series, The Rule Book. The Rule Books begins with Nora becoming Derek’s sports agent, which is exactly the career break she is looking for. Too bad he’s her ex-boyfriend from college, the one she never quite got over. And it turns out, maybe he never quite got over her either…

My reaction to this one probably says more about me than it does about the book. I always have a hard time buying into the trope of the player with a heart of gold. I don’t mean football player here—Derek just seemed too mean for me at the beginning, and he was such a player in The Cheat Sheet. I think my expectations going in were also part of the problem—I wanted the clone of The Cheat Sheet, and this book is its own story. Nora just also seemed a little too quirky to me sometimes,

If that trope doesn’t bother you and you love the ridiculous, light-hearted banter of Sarah Adams’ rom-coms, which still come with real challenges the characters need to work through, I think you will enjoy this one. I found it to be a nice escape.

Side note: I did appreciate that while this book is open door, Sarah Adams includes a note at the front of the book, so readers can choose to read the open door chapter or not.

Another must read from Sarah Adams! If you loved The Cheat Sheet, When in Rome, and Practice Makes Perfect then you will love how the story continues with The Rule Book. This is not a pick up where we left off story, but rather a reconnection with old friends story.

I really like how the author continues to intertwine these characters throughout the books and expand the circle of friends that we've come to know and love. In The Rule Book we are introduced to Nora and Derek - brought together by work with a past that is unknown to others. Will they be able to work together? Will they resolve their past issues?

We soon learn that Derek is friends (well teammates) with Nathan and the whole gang is quickly back together. It's like we never left The Cheat Sheet! Bree-Cheese is as bubbly as ever and I loved the references to previous events in the other books. Past lovers, fake relationships, second chances, and more make this a book that I couldn't put down.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending this ARC for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I give this book 5 Stars.

The Rule Book is available for purchase on April 2, 2024

This was my first Sarah Adams book and it did not disappoint! This dual POV had a cool mix of college exes turned second-chance romance with a lot of witty comebacks, some grumpy/sunshine, a sprinkle of revenge, and a lot of love.

My favorite character might have to be Nora's mother, who taught her to build herself up and not rely on anyone for her happiness, but it's also okay to listen to your heart.

I feel like Nora will be a wonderful role model for anyone who needs to see that they can push and drive themselves to do whatever it takes to fulfill their own dreams. Both Nora and Derek grow to become emotionally available people, pushing their insecurities aside to achieve what they truly desire: each other.

This was a hit for me and I can't wait to read Sarah's other books and see what comes next!

I don't even think there are words to express how much I loved this book. Sarah Adams continues, with each book she writes, to prove why I consider her to be my favorite author.

I truly believe that Nora will be an incredible role model for every girl reading this book with Nora's dedication to proving her worth and her beautiful tendency to be unapologetically herself in every aspect of her life. Derek, in a similar way, could very well be an incredible example for other men as he works through his fears in this book while navigating his purpose and attempting, to the best of his ability, to make himself emotionally available. So often, men are put in this position of thinking they have to have it all together and be tough at all times, but Derek shows the side of how expressing your concerns and feelings can lead to a better outcome in the long run. Independently, these characters are absolutely amazing, but, together, they show how sometimes (no matter how capable you are) having a person to support you is so vital and can completely change you for the better.

This entire story just melted my heart and I cannot wait to see what Sarah writes next because I have zero doubts that she will continue to approach some of these tough subjects while maintaining her beloved sunshine-on-paper writing style. I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone.

3.5 ⭐️

This was a light, low-angst second chance novel following college exes Nora and Derek. He's a star football player who has recently been injured and she's his new agent. They wind up married after a night in Vegas and stay married to help their careers, while figuring out what went wrong in college. My biggest issue is more of a me problem... I'm not a huge fan of how cutesy the book was. I've never read a Sarah Adams book, but from what I can tell, that's the norm. If you like her other books, you'll probably like this one.

Trigger warnings: sexism

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eARC.

Another amazing story by Sarah Adams and is my favorite so far. Nora wants to be a sports agent and finally gets her chance but her first client turns out to be her college boyfriend she broke up with years ago. Derek tries to get Nora to quit and the tension between them is amazing. During a drunken night they get married and stay married so Nora doesn’t loose her job. Both never really got over the other. The tension and love between them is amazing. Also the silly things Nora says always made me laugh. Adorable rom com that made me laugh and smile through out. Loved it!

Thank you to Sarah Adams and Random House Publishing for letting me read this ARC!

I didn’t put The Rule Book down until I had finished it, and it was amazing! I love a second chance romances, and this book has enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and even a singular bed. The FMC is quirky, determined, and authentic to herself throughout the book. I love that MMC has more depth, and a great group of friends.

The Rule Book reminds me of 2000s RomComs that I so dearly miss!

Sarah Adams has never disappointed. I love sports romance and the worlds she creates are amazing. Loved revisiting this world

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Group for this ARC. What a fun set up and it does not fail to deliver! Nora is an up and coming sports agent. She finally gets her big break with a big name football player as her first client. All she has to do is convince him that she's the right person for the job. There's only one small problem - the player, Derek, just happens to be her ex-boyfriend, the one she broke up with, and the one she has regretted breaking up with for years. And at their first meeting, Derek is anything but forgiving.

The Rule Book is a lot of fun and just a little spicy. Nora is an interesting character who seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way with her quirks and obsessive organizing. Frankly, her silly sayings even got to be a little much for me after about two-thirds of the book. But all the more reason to believe that if they only enchant Derek, then he is the one for her. I also really enjoyed Derek's friend group of professional football players who, in one way or another, seem very emotionally mature in the way they care for each other and their significant others.

I think this is one Swifties will swoon over, but even those of us who aren't so wrapped up in her dating life can enjoy it. It takes a special woman to make it in a world where all the men want only to tear her down and ridicule her, and it takes a special man to support and love her through that without trying to step in and solve the problem for her.

My review will be put on Instagram on April 2nd for the release day.
Honestly I had seen such hype behind this book that I was nervous. I wasn't sure I was going to love it. The blurb and the hype made me want to love it.
I adored this book. They made me laugh more than I have any other book this year. I loved Nora and her struggles that she faces with the male-dominated sport industry. I loved how vulnerable she was but her strength is what I gravitated to the most. I am a such for Derek. When he drops his retirement news to get the light off of Nora... I thought my heart was going to burst.
Both of the main characters did what they thought was right and it was a case of right person wrong time. I loved how they fell back together and their "dating" after it all. So good.
I loved it!

The Rule Book was SUCH a delight! I adored it from start to finish. As with all of Adams' books, this was fun and heartwarming and kept me invested from the very beginning. A second-chance romance plus an accidental marriage which means forced proximity is just *chef's kiss*. I really appreciated seeing Nora and Derek's relationship evolved from their past to who they are in the present. Fans of Adams will fall in love with The Rule Book and especially appreciate all the call backs to The Cheat Sheet!

Sarah Adams does it again! The banter, the little sayings, the chemistry! SO GOOD! The Cheat Sheet forever changed reading for me and when I heard there was going to be another book in this world, I could not have been more excited. I enjoyed how the characters grew and developed Nora is a powerhouse and I love her work ethic and drive despite the hardships in her workplace. Derek tried so hard to be a jerk, but in the end just couldn't pull it off! haha! I am so sad that it's over, but I can't wait for my pre-ordered copy to arrive so I can read it again!

4.5 I love this book. Sarah Adams has quickly become an auto-buy author for me, and The Rule Book is no exception. I'm normally not a fan of second-chance tropes, but I absolutely love how this was executed. Their prior relationship was the definition of "right person, wrong time", and their rekindling was so wonderful to read. I'm such a fan!! Also, loved the tie-in to The Cheat Sheet.

Book Review: The Rule Book
Stars: 4 X 5
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

Nora McKenzie’s entire career lies in the hand of a famous NFL Tight End by the name of Derek Pender. Nora is a sports agent and everyone knows it is hard to be one and a successful agent in the male dominated world of sports. Derek hasn’t played for a while due to an injury that is taking its sweet time to heal. Derek signs with Nora as his new agent. He had no idea that this agent was is ex-college girlfriend. Nora uses a different last name now. Nora had left Derek heartbroken when she broke up with him. Derek does everything he can to make Nora so miserable that she quits but she does not. I love a second chance romance and this book was just great at it. As Derek and Nora start to hit if off (again) and start to get closer Derek has a commercial shoot in Las Vegas, During this time in. Las Vegas they both got really drunk and ended up getting married. They did everything wrong. They posted the pictures to Facebook and Instagram…oops. Because niether of them can afford the fallout bad publicity, they decide to embrace . But this is a Novel and a second chance almost always works out. I loved this book.

🏈🩷🩵


ARC review

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

Release date April 2nd

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was like a warm hug, this is definitely a new favorite comfort read for me. It was so lighthearted and fun, I loved seeing a lot of the same characters from The Cheat Sheet as well!

Nora is a sports agent and about to get her first client, what she doesn’t realize is that client is her ex boyfriend from college. Derek is the tight end for the LA Sharks, he’s also holding a grudge against Nora for breaking his heart. Derek goes out of his way to make Nora’s job as difficult as he can, but Nora isn’t one to give up easily. Nora gives Derek a taste of his own medicine, two can play that game. A crazy night in Vegas turns into them waking up in the same bed, and finding out they got married. Will this hurt or help their careers?

I loved the characters in this book, Nora is so fun and spunky. Wearing colorful clothes, telling knock knock jokes and being quirky and funny. Derek is such a sweetie, he’s a big teddy bear. The way he talks to Nora and is protective of her 🫠 I also love how Sarah added a representation for dyslexia to this book, she did it so perfectly.

I highly recommend this book, it was such a cute and cozy read. If you love Travis Kelce, you’ll love Derek Pender 😍

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC

I've never had a book start off so slow only to completely devour my soul and make me laugh and cry like a baby. What a fabulous read! The beginning felt a bit like a repeat of "The Cheat Sheet", but I really enjoyed seeing those characters again. As things continued for Nora and Derek I fell head over heels for their story, their love and their friendship. My heart was aching for them throughout. The little twists and turns as the book ended were the perfect touch!

I read When In Rome as my first introduction to Sarah Adams and I absolutely loved it. I've since read all of her books. Sarah does an amazing job writing lighthearted, feel-good books, and The Rule Book is no different. This is a sports themed, follow-up to the Cheat Sheet, although it can certainly be read as a stand-alone book. Nora is a sports agent who receives her first client, who happens to be her college ex-boyfriend, Derek. I loved both of these characters. There is cute banter between the two and a number of really funny scenes. It's a perfect vacation read!

Thank you Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC 📕

4.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
Sarah Adams has done it again. I hate to admit that I was in quite a reading slump before I received this book, but after devouring this I can no longer say that. If you are a fan of second chance romance, excellent banter and TENSION, you will thoroughly enjoy this. I also appreciated how well done the disability representation was.

Sarah Adams is always my comfort author and this book definitely solidifies that! I love Noras character SO much! She was just such a bright light in this book but it also makes you feel seen in the way people might think you’re “too much” for them. I loved her attitude she brought to every situation. She was definitely a character you wanted to see get everything and more! Derek went from the grumpiest of men to an absolute ray of sunshine for Nora. I love it when the women in their lives can bring them to their knees. :swoon: The way that Derek not only embraced Noras quirky tendencies but encouraged it made me fall in love with this man even more! I also loved getting to see what Nathan and Bree were up to too! This was such a fun read, I never want to leave Sarahs books! 💕