“You, Nora, are beautiful, rare magic and nothing less.”

My obsession with Sarah Adams books continues! She just has a way of blending humor and heart that GETS me every single time. I found myself wanting to pick up this book and sneak in another chapter any chance I could, and I would have gladly finished it in one sitting if I had been able to ignore my family that long. 😂

If you’ve read The Cheat Sheet, you’ll be delighted to know that the boys are all back! Derek, Nathan, Jamal, Lawrence, and Price all return and are as lovable as ever. We also get some scenes with Nathan and Bree. And lucky for us, we get a whole new love story with Derek and Nora. ❤️

Nora Mackenzie is a new sports agent who lands Derek Pender, L.A. Sharks tight end, as her first client. Derek has been rehabbing after an ankle injury and his future with the Sharks is in limbo. He also happens to be Nora’s college ex-boyfriend. When Derek agrees to sign on with Nora as his agent, he decides it’s the perfect opportunity to get his revenge on her for breaking his heart all those years ago. But Nora won’t go down without a fight. Then a wild night in Vegas ends with the two of them as husband and wife. Will their new relationship end them or save them?

🌴 Second chance romance
🌴 Sports agent x NFL tight end
🌴 Dual POV
🌴 ice cream + cereal
🌴 Learning disability representation: dyslexia
🌴 Marriage of convenience
🌴 There’s only one bed
🌴 Interpretive hand dancing
🌴 L.A. ✈️ Las Vegas ✈️ Cancun

“Because when we kiss, it feels right. Because when you smile at me my world feels whole.”

I was overjoyed when I got approved to read this book! I recently reread 'The Cheat Sheet' to get ready to read 'The Rule Book', and I definitely recommend that you read that book too. This can be read as a standalone, but it gives some context and backstory to the football players.

Nora is sports agent, and she is excited to finally get her first major client. The other problem is that he is her ex boyfriend, Derek. They dated in college, and she broke things off with him because she wanted to focus on her career. They were both devastated by the breakup, and they haven't spoken since.

Derek has never stopped loving Nora, and he is shocked to see her when he goes to meet his new agent. Derek is a successful NFL player, but he is coming back from an injury. He needs a strong agent to help him through this part of his career, and he decides to give Nora a chance. He wants to give her all of these tasks to complete, and they are really funny- he has her make dinner for him, but it backfires and he is more drawn to her.

There is so much chemistry and history between the two of them, and they decide to make a list of rules that they have to adhere to during their working relationship. Spoiler alert- it's really hard for them to stick to the rules... especially when they drunkenly get married on a work trip! Now, they have to pretend that they go married on purpose, and they try to navigate their careers, friends, and growing feelings for each other.

I loved this story because all of the tropes really hit- second chance, only one bed, tattooed MMC, accidental marriage, nfl player/agent, enemies to lovers, and college exes.

Unlike Sarah Adams' other books, this story has one chapter that is open door, but in the author's notes, the chapter is listed. If you like to keep it closed door, you can easily skip that chapter.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this amazing book.

I just can’t help but fall in love with Sarah’s books and this one is no different.

The writing is so cute and fun. It’s effortless to dive into the world of these characters. I’m so happy to be back in the universe that was Cheat Sheet!

Nora is an ABSOLUTELY precious. She needs to be protected! I love her quirks, her confidence, and even though she doesn’t consider herself a boss woman she totally is! How she handles herself against misogyny and adversity with kindness is badass.

Derek is also such a sweetie. Action > words. He is a man that uplifts her. Sigh I need a man like him. Derek’s agent retires and offers a second chance happenstance between Nora and Derek.

I love that miscommunication was not the main roadblock of this story. If anything, the way they communicated and acknowledge their youthful mindset showed such growth. I honestly think this is one of the best second chance romance i have ever read.

Also side note I love all the nicknames Nora comes up with for Derek. I love her positive. Energy. And vibe. This is definitely one of my favorite books by Sarah!!

A MUST READ!!!

I loved this book! If you loved The Cheat Sheet, you have to read this! It’s a stand alone sequel, but I recommend reading The Cheat Sheet first since there are characters that are in both books. It’s really sweet to be able to get to see how Bree and Nathan are doing after their book. Nora and Derek are so much fun!! Their chemistry is top notch and their banter is hilarious. I’m forever a Sarah Adams fan!!

what to expect //
- second chance romance
- sports agent + client
- fake dating (marriage?!)
- forced proximity
- open door (can be easily skipped - chapter 34)

Nora Mackenzie has worked her whole life to become a respected sports agent. Her career is put in a rocky position when she is assigned to Derek Pender, a famous NFL tight end who is also her ex boyfriend. When the two end up in Vegas for a brand deal and start talking about their relationship, one thing leads to another and they wake up the next day married.

I am absolutely giddy over these two. Nora is the perfect balance between smart, quirky, and caring. She shows that you can be successful without changing who you are. Derek is the ultimate book boyfriend. He’s so sweet and the amount of respectful pining he’s done for this woman is everything. The flirting and teasing is hilarious. And the HEAT between these two. The heat that Sarah Adams writes without it being explicit is exactly my favorite amount. And I love that she added content warnings at the beginning of the book for those who prefer closed door romance. I’m forever honored that she and her publisher sent me this ARC. My only complaint is that so many of the football friends got married since The Cheat Sheet and there probably won’t be a book for each of them.

I loved The Cheat Sheet, so I was really excited when I found out Sarah Adams was writing another book that was connected to it. I am happy to sat The Rule Book definitely lived up to my expectations. Sarah Adams is the queen of writing sexual tension that is so palpable it makes your heart ache. As a sucker for a second chance romance, this one left me breathing a contented sigh of relief. Nora and Derek were perfect for each other and got their well deserved happily ever after.

First off, I really appreciated the content warning in the front. It allows all types of readers to enjoy the book without being triggered or worried about if the book is too "spicy" for their tastes. As a librarian, that makes it easier for me to recommend books to patrons, and as a reader, that helps me decide what my preference is.

I love the second chance trope and thought that Nora and Derek were well developed characters and cute together. Also love sports romances, so this was a very fun read for me. I've read several of Sarah Adam's books, and found this one to be my favorite so far. Will definitely be recommending this to friends!

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.

My first book of Sarah's was The Cheat Sheet. I loved it so much and have binged everything she writes since, and guess what? This one is no different!

Nora MacKenzie - known at work as Mack - is a sports agent in a predominantly male industry. She's trying to prove to her male coworkers that she has what it takes, but hits a 6'5" wall with her new assignment - Derek Pender, NFL Tight End. Derek is her college ex whose heart she broke to pursue her career, and has no idea Mack is actually Nora until their meeting. Nora is hoping Derek is a Playboy and won't care about the past. But Derek remembers it all, and he is out for payback. What can go wrong, right? *evil smile*

Nora is quirky and hilarious, and I want her to be my best friend and help me organize my life by color. Our Grumpy Dere-Bear Derek is full of surprises and made my heart SWOON! The main characters, the group of friends and their partners, Nora's mom, Nicole, I love them all. The banter and tension and pranks - I laughed out loud so many times. I typically finish a book in a day, but I kept trying to drag this one out because I didn't want it to end! I had the best time reading this one, and I immediately pre-ordered to add the physical copy to my shelf. ❤️

🏈 Sports Romance
🏈 NFL Tight End x Sports Agent
🏈 Second Chance
🏈 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏈 Marriage of Convenience
🏈 Dislexia Rep
🏈 Dual POV
🏈 One Bed
🏈 Open Door (brief, can be skipped and not impact the story)

Favorite things: THE PANTS 🤭, Nora-isms, The Tattoo 🥹


Thank you to Sarah Adams, Netgalley, and Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Adam’s did it again with another cute, fun loving romance novel. This book was so good! I didn’t expect a really amazing plot twist but it had me shaking my head and laughing out loud. Definitely check it out, so fun!

Sarah Adams ABSOLUTELY knocked it out of the park with this one. I feel like her writing just keeps getting better and better.

The characters were lovable and believable. I fell hard and fast for them both separately as well as together. I usually don't go for second chance romances, but this one was absolutely perfect. There was excellent communication throughout which shows how much these two have grown from their college days. There was just pure, unfiltered love in this book & I ate it up.

The cameos from Nathan & Bree were beyond perfect. The other Sharks team members were SO fun. The interactions between all the players was SO fun (especially the zoom call -- I swear I cackled at this).

This book was brilliant, it had me laughing, it had me sobbing, it had me filled with hope & all the good feelings.

Such and amazing book! I loved the characters and loved the story. It was such a quick read. I never wanted it to end. The story flowed so well and was so fun. As always a hit by Sarah Adams.

Do I absolutely love Sarah Adams and her books? Yes
Did I love this one? Ehhhhh, I really really wanted to.
I would still recommend reading it to see if it's a fit for you because honestly, there is a target audience and even a particular mood for this.
I, however, was not in the mood for Nora's quirkiness (and yes, I know the irony in that) and even Derek's fictional man vibe. I realize that I read a lot of male characters that are fictional but he didn't even feel "real".
The beginning of the book caught my attention but by 60% I was contemplating DNFing.
I always love the fun, wholesome stories Sarah brings. This was just fell short for me. I also loved that she branched out to open bedroom scenes for this book but I was able to jump right past it.

I’ll admit that when I saw the teasers for this book, I couldn’t figure out how it was going to work, but she did it! Sarah Adams has a special key to the sweet spot in my heart. She creates the most lovable characters & happiest stories … even when they begin as hurt & angry enemies!

The Rule Book picks up 2 years after The Cheat Sheet & 8 years after Nora & Derek’s college break-up. I have so many thoughts, so I think I’m just going to let them fly:
• Derek is a teddy bear hiding under a ‘muscular cactus’ shield. Get ready to swoon 🫠
• There are some serious “it’s always been you” vibes going on & I melted over & over again!
• ❤️‍🩹I live for the moment when they talk about their break-up, what went wrong & how much it hurt!!!
• There are so many pieces of their college relationship that unravel throughout the entire book. Every time you think you know the whole story, one of them reveals something else that breaks your heart.

• college exes • 8 years post break-up • enemies to lovers • Vegas wedding turned marriage of convenience • one bed • tropical honeymoon • NFL • workplace romance • the whiteboard • it’s always been you • secret tattoo • dyslexia rep • dual pov • hilarious internal monologue •

I highly recommend re-visiting The Cheat Sheet 1st because we see a lot of Nathan & Bree, Nicole & the teammates. You won’t be confused without it, but I think it just makes this book even better.

My favorite book of 2024 (so far - it's only February) and it will be hard to top. I texted my friend this morning saying I'm having a hard time even finding words for a review, because it's just so good! All I keep saying is "I loved it. I LOVE DEREK." This is a must read. Sarah Adams does not disappoint. Practice Makes Perfect was one of my favorites of 2023 (if you haven't read that, do yourself a favor and go read it asap).

Sarah Adams is an automatic read for me, and she continues to prove that she will remain on that list.

Now - let's chat about this amazing book.

Nora and Derek are exes from college. Nora ended it unexpectedly 8 years ago leaving them both without closure. She is career driven and has a bright future ahead of her as a sports agent but her first official assignment is to represent Derek. Soooo obviously that causes some issues. She wants and needs to succeed as his agent but Derek is still heartbroken from how she ended things.

Derek ended the last season with an injury that has him and all of the sports world questioning if he can come back from it. He needs some positive attention and a good agent. But Nora is not who he has in mind for the job.

Quick synopsis before I dive into my love of the characters (mostly Derek). Both Nora and Derek thrive on competition and neither want to be the one to say they quit first. BUT it doesn't take long for Derek to realize he is still in love with Nora and won't be able to get over her if she remains his agent. He fires her, then they end up married in Vegas, so he unfires her to save her career (because he is a perfect human being), they remain fake-married....and I'll stop there so I don't spoil the joy you'll get from reading the book.

Both Derek and Nora have some personal things that cause them to question themselves and/or their jobs. Sarah Adams handles these beautifully and makes the characters relatable.

The friend group (the football players) is the absolute best! I loved them all in The Cheat Sheet and they continued to keep a smile on my face and laugh out loud on multiple occasions throughout the book (looking at you Jamal).

Nora is a bubbly, fun character, who will also give you a good laugh.

But let's chat about the star, which is Derek. Wow. He. Is. Everything. His thoughts, his words, his actions are perfect. You can't help but fall in love with him. I wanted to highlight everything he said and thought. He is considerate, sweet, protective, and more. I can't even put into words all of the feelings he gives me.

The chemistry and tension between the main characters is executed beautifully.

I'm not sure how much more I can say about how much I love this book. But it's a 2024 must read for all rom-com readers.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for an ARC of this amazing book.

You know that thing where you’re nervous to read the second book in a series because the first one was so good that you’re afraid the follow-up couldn’t possibly meet your expectations? Happy to report that is definitely not the case here. “The Rule Book” is every bit as funny, delightful, and heartwarming as “The Cheat Sheet” was. It’s an example of where a trope (drunken Vegas marriage) could be so trite but is instead given depth and meaning because of Nora’s struggles as a sports agent in a man’s world. Add in the returning charm and hijinks of Bree and Nathan and all the Sharks and it’s the perfect fun sports read, especially for fans of “Ted Lasso.” A touchdown by Sarah Adams for sure!

SARAH ADAMS DID IT AGAIN AND CAN DO NO WRONG!

I'm definitely a big fan of Sarah because she writes such lovable, vulnerable characters. The way Derek overcame his injury and truly realized that his teammates were his friends was so nice to read. Nora and her crazy antics were the best! She has this tendency to say the wrong catchphrase but it still gets the point across. She was very fun to relate to, and I love that she's still feminine in the masculine world of sports manager. The duo gave Jalen Hurts and Nicole Lynn vibes.

I want Jamal and Lawrence's weddings as short stories! I'm putting it out there! Bree and Nathan make appearances and they are adorable as ever.

4.5 rounded up!! I loved this one! Definitely have dreamt of being a sports agent and the little glimpses of that life through Nora was fascinating! I’m a sucker for a rom-com ish read and this one hooked me.

Is it mostly predictable and cheesy? Yes! But I found this specific story to be unique and interesting to follow! I thought the arc was well done and liked it switching between Nora and Derek narrating, not confusing in the slightest! All in all loved this book and love Sarah Adams other books too!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley for this arc!

Sarah Adams does it again.

I love how lighthearted and joyful Sarah writes. Her quarky characters that tie in all the pop culture references makes them my happy place. I loved Nora, as I related as being told of being 'too much' for some people.

I also love a second chance romance and the brotherhood friendships of teammates. Be sure to catch this when it comes out April 2nd!

3.5 stars. Let me start by saying that I’m a HUGE fan of Sarah Adams, and I was so excited to be approved for this ARC. I did have a few struggles getting through this though.

After hearing about all of the women that Derek had been with, I could easily picture him saying and doing all of those same things with them as he did with Nora. IDK if that makes sense to anyone else, but that’s kind of how it came across to me. Their drunken partying just kind of gave me the icks.

There were so many fun parts though, and I always enjoy this author’s writing style. It was also touching to hear about the things Derek and Nora had kept for all of the years after their relationship ended.

I will always recommend Sarah Adams as a favorite author, but this rated just a little lower for me than her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was so excited when I got approved for an ARC of The Rule Book because I’ve never read a Sarah Adams book before! This book follows the story of Nora and Derek who once dated in college and then find their paths crossing again later in life when Nora becomes Derek’s agent as an NFL player.

This sports romcom is full of fun troupes like enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, one bed, and so much more! It’s a lighthearted read with quirky banter and a couple of solid plot twists I wasn’t expecting — especially at the end! There were times where I felt like the story was a little long, but overall, I still enjoyed it and how everything came together in the end👏🏼

Read if you like:
•Second chance romance
•Fake marriage
•Dual perspectives

And a huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the gifted ARC and opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! This book officially comes out April 2nd, so if you’re looking for a light-hearted romcom, mark your calendar to get your copy🗓️