Screaming! Crying! Throwing up!!!
This book had everything I love!! Sports romance! Second chance romance! Surprise wedding in Vegas! One bed trope!! Ahhh!!
Sarah Adams out did herself here! The spice was the perfect level and added to the story without overtaking the plot. Derek is the swooniest and I want to be best friends with Nora! Obsessed! 10/10! No notes!

This was a solid 4/5 for me! Maybe 4.5?

As always, Sarah Adams really delivers and I love how she writes romance. This one was super slow burn but I like how the conflict between the two main characters didn't last for too long into the book.

There was also *just* the right amount of steam, probably 1.5 on the spice scale. I like it when there's a little bit of spice because it makes me believe more in the relationship, but not so much that it takes over the plot or I get bored! It was kept to just one chapter in this book, which is perfect for me.

There is nothing I can really say that was specifically wrong with this book, it just didn't give me that 5 star feeling! I really liked both the main characters and how Sarah Adams highlights the challenges of being a woman in the sports, or any male-dominated, industry.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 stars

Sarah Adams is back with another swoonworthy romance. This time she takes on a second chance romance between an NFL player and his sports agent. With nods to the classic, The Cheat Sheet, we fall in love with another football player and his Leslie Knope-esque leading lady.

I adored this book. The angst was excellent and balanced out by Nora, a bubbly, hyper organized character who cracked me up. I just loved her. Derek was a swoony leading man who was DOWN BAD. I loved every page. Sarah Adams never lets me down.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Adams can do no wrong. Seriously. This book is a follow up to the book that launched her. It follows Derek and Nora, old college sweethearts who have been out back together as she's his new agent. Neither has stopped loving each other, and after a drunken night in Vegas they end up married.

Seriously. I love Sarah Adams and I am always grateful to read her before pub day. And this book had it all. Nora is quirky and unabashedly herself. It made her character all the more lovable when you know she dedicated this book to her daughters.

Derek's character growth was incredible. I love when characters grow but don't drop their insecurities entirely because it's too real and lovely.


I could read about this group of people forever. It was lovely. And you can see Sarah is stretching her creative self and seeing what she's capable of and ya know what- she did good.

WOW. This book left me speechless. It is one of Sarah’s best books yet. This book was filled with so much humor as well as heat. It had the perfect amount of spice that just made me love Nora and Derek’s relationship so much. I was laughing at loud throughout the entire book because of Nora’s personality and jokes. I loved how her and Derek communicated and the conversation flowed so effortlessly between them. Such an amazing second chance romance! Highly recommend! 5 ⭐️

I LOVE Sarah Adams!!!

She does it again! This book was just such a joy! I loved getting back into this world of the sharks with Derek and Nora!

I loved getting to watch these two characters fall back in love with each other. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of a second chance romance; however this was so much fun. It was a blast to see them go from strangers to enemies to friends to lovers.

Fake dating and a marriage of convenience truly had me eating this up! This book was just so freaking cute and funny!! The tension was IMMACULATE and I loved getting to see Sarah's writing in the open door realm. (she truly killed it and I can't wait to see what she writes next)

I LOVED Nora. Her one liners and dad jokes were truly hilarious and I was OBSESSED with how much of a badass she was at her job. Her relationship with her mom and with Nicole was everything! Derek is hot and I loved how important Nora was to him even during the previous years when they were broken up.

Overall, there's some really sweet moments throughout. There's beautiful communication within the relationship as the storyline progresses and I loved how emotionally intimate the two got with each other.

Chapter 43 was the sweetest and I am UNWELL at Bree and Nathan!!!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️
Format: E-Book
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024

Nora has spent her entire adult life working towards her goal of being a Sports Agent and when she finally gets her first client assigned to her it’s no other than her high school boyfriend and forever crush Derek Pender.

One drunken night and the two get married in Vegas. Now to save the negative press and risk of losing Nora’s job they have to present a happily married front… but is it a front after all?

I loved Nora’s spunky I am who I am attitude. She was the perfect FMC. Confident in herself and not willing to change to fit anyone’s boxes.

Derek was a dimensional character. His fear for what comes next in his career and showing vulnerability was beautiful to see in a MMC.

The story was beautifully written and had some serious laugh out loud moments. I can’t wait to read what Sarah writes next.

This is definitely going to be a comfort re-read for me.

this was adorable! I love sarah's writing and I find it to be so joyful and this was no exception. I did like seeing nathan & bree, they were such a wonderful addition! i felt so much love between derek and nora and I think it was a cute follow up book but not my favorite overall. I also felt the dialogue was very cringe and cheesy. even though it's not my favorite, It's a cute little sweet book and I recommend for those who are looking a sweet second chance, forced proximity type romance! i'm looking forward to what she releases next! thank you netgalley for an arc for my honest opinion.

4.5 / 5 stars...

You're kidding. Absolutely stunning, Sarah does it again!

I swear her writing just gets better and better. While this isn't my fav trope, I just adored this book, Derek, and Nora. If you're looking for a fun romance book, I highly recommend 💗

New book boyfriend unlocked🔓

I hate to say this isn't my favorite sarah adams book. I love her writing and I find it to be so joyful and this was no exception. i felt so much love between derek and nora and I think it was a cute follow up book but not my favorite overall. I also felt the dialogue was very cringe and cheesy. It's a cute little sweet book and I recommend for those who are looking for that. i'm looking forward to what she releases next! thank you netgalley for an arc for my honest opinion.

The Rule Book follows Derek and Nora as they reconnect years later after a failed college relationship. The book follows Nora as she becomes a successful sports agent and has to now represent her ex boyfriend Derek in the NFL. Only problem, Derek still hates her for breaking his heart.

This book was so cute! It had the enemies to lovers aspect in the beginning, with the MMC being obsessed with the FMC, and a little bit of marriage of convenience thrown in there. This book had me very entertained and I really was rooting for Derek and Nora the whole time. It didn’t fully meet up to the expectations set by The Cheat Sheet but I did really enjoy this book!

Sarah Adams did not disappoint with The Rule Book! She managed to combine all of the best tropes into one complete package.

Nora, the FMC, is the most quirky, lovable character. The banter between Nora and Derek is epic. I adored this book. Sarah Adams is always a must read author for me.

“She is sunshine parting the clouds in my miserable day, and it makes me angrier.” ❤️‍🔥
•
•
•
Okay, listen. I knew Sarah Adams could write a romance, but…
HOLY 👏🏻 ice cream 👏🏻 with 👏🏻 cereal 👏🏻 on 👏🏻 top 👏🏻.

This was one of the comfiest, coziest, most feel-good romance I have read in such a long time. 🥹💕
I honestly don’t want to tell you too much about it, because I truly feel like going in *blind* is the way to go. 🤌🏻
•
•
Nora Mackenzie’s sports agent career is just about to take off when she is given her first, official client. 🏈
Derek Pender is a famous NFL tight-end who has just recently injured his ankle, and more than likely, his career. Nora is just the kind of help he needs.
The only problem is, Nora is his ex. ❤️‍🔥🥹🤌🏻
•
•
4.5 stars ✨ I
I absolutely adored this.


Thank you, Dell Publishers for sending me an advanced readers copy of The Rule Book by Sarah Adams. 💕

Omg I gobbled up this delicious book! I almost don't want to write this review, because then I know I really read this book and can never read it for the first time again and I have to wait even longer for my next Sarah Adams release :(

First, I'm SO GRATEFUL to the publisher, Random House / Ballantine / Dell, for early access to this ARC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts.

This book was like a healthy kind of crack? Like, drugs? But not in a bad way? I devoured it and picked it up at any free moment I had. When my husband interrupted me WITH TWENTY PAGES LEFT, I BIT HIS HEAD OFF. HOW DARE HE INTERRUPT NORA DECLARING HER LOVE TO DEREK. Anyways, we're not fighting anymore, because this book gave me the all the endorphins necessary to power a space ship to Mars, but still. READ THE ROOM, HONEY.

Okay, back to this book. It was amazing. I'm so glad Sarah came back to this universe. I'm so glad we got to see the friend group.

Second chance romances aren't my fave, but I loved it here. There was so much tension and longing and love between these characters. Nora is so funny and so fully herself through years of fighting to be exactly who she is and what she wants. Derek is so surly and standoff-ish, but we get to see that shell crack around Nora and his friends in the loveliest way!

Things I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
- Nora-isms
- THE IOU NOTE
- Nora's word of the day
- Nora's need to color coordinate everything
- Nora fainting at the sight of blood (and Derek taking care of her to make sure she doesn't get a concussion x2)
- Derek's friends and their interventions
- Nora being awesome at her job despite the challenges of being a woman in a female dominated field!
- THE PANTS
- The marriage of convenience/fake dating trope and the ONLY ONE BED TROPE IN THE SAME BOOK FROM *SARAH FREAKING ADAMS* IS LIKE.... something I didn't even know I should dream about
- Grumpy/sunshine but with so much love and trust and pining from the first page of the book
- THE TATTOO - this reveal made my eyes well with real tears... it was so vulnerable and raw and just... freaking Derek Pender
- This is the second 2024 book I'm saying this about but... THANK YOU SARAH, FOR THE MAKING OUT. I LOVE THE KISSING. IT'S JUST AS SEXY AS THE REST OF IT. I'M HERE FOR IT.
- The protectiveness they feel towards each other. UGHHHH.
- The dates, the respect, the fun
- THE NICKNAMES
- Sarah does open door romance with true love at the foundation - it's spicy and sweet and can't wait for her to do MORE open door in the future (pls pls pls) - SHE DOES IT THE SAME WAY SHE DOES EVERYTHING, with so much thought and emotion and consideration to THE CHARACTER'S SHE'S WRITING, so it's less about the spice and more about their progression in their relationship and the trust they share -- it's lovely and done right

Quote I loved (from the first page haha)
- "Sometimes life is like a box of chocolates, and sometimes life is like a box of chocolates left out in the sun all day." <--- relatable lol

So this book is full of a ton of tension, protectiveness, respect, and a little back and forth pranking that is so fun. I loved this story from the first page and all of the waves we get to ride with Nora and Derek are pure fun. Thank you, Sarah, for writing these characters who feel like real people. Now where's my group of NFL buddies so I can have friends like these guys + Bree Cheese + Nora??

Sarah does it again!! Another great book! Loved the plot and the characters! I miss Nora and Derek already!! Highly recommend!!

this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Sarah Adams always writes such lovely, kind, softie characters, but she really outdid herself in this newest book that is a sequel to her hit THE CHEAT SHEET

Nora is probably the best FMC I have ever read. full stop. she is such a nuanced character with so many subtleties, to her originality that I don’t think I could even begin to list all her amazing characteristics. not only is she a badass girl boss refusing to back down against the gross sexism in her profession, but she also refuses to let it harden her— she is so strong-willed, hardworking, dedicated, morally motivated, and overwhelmingly kind in every aspect of her life. the way she handles Derek’s original attitude towards her representing him makes all these traits abundantly clear

Derek freaking Pender is completely adorable in every way. he also is such a well-rounded character, and we get to see so many complex sides to him, I couldn’t begin to do his character justice through a small description. my heart broke for him so many times throughout this story, I wanted this happy ending for him so badly he deserved it so, so, so much. I loved second-half-of-the-book Derek as he gives up his self-imposed barriers to happiness and dedicates himself to winning Nora back— and boy does he ever.

I loved Derek & Nora so much from the Vegas moment onward— how soft & vulnerable & strong & completely gone for each other they are. they demonstrate such honest trust & vulnerability in order to be the best versions of themselves for any current & future relationship success. seeing them go out of their way for each other’s success, happiness, & heart is the most beautiful thing to read.

I am not going to get over this book anytime soon. it is one of the most beautiful stories with the most beautiful characters I have ever read.

thank you so much for the arc :)

Officially giving this a 3.5 ⭐️!

Second chance romance, sports romance, single bed trope 🤭🫣
I loved Nora and Derek’s chemistry, I could literally feel it in my heart how much they were obsessed with each other. I love how Nora was so authentically herself and how supportive Derek was. Loved how they both acknowledged they needed to do some growing up and now have such a strong line of communication.

Things I didn’t like: one scene was not as closed door like Sarah Adams usually is. I mean I was fully in the room watching from the couch, nothing was left to the imagination. I also did not like how many times Derek said “men of my size…” like dude you’re 6”4 you’re no shaq calm down.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley! So exciting!!

Holy amazeballs Sarah Adams has done it again!
The Rule Book is just pure perfection. Our two main characters, Derek and Nora are both relatable and hysterical. Their banter with each other and internally will have you laughing out loud over and over again. The chemistry between these two is HOT and I love that Sarah has opened the door (literally) to open door romance while also leaving it all to one chapter so if you prefer a closed door romance, you can still get that.
Sarah Adams is the Rom-Com author Queen and this book just solidifies her being a must read author for me and should be for you too!
I also would be remiss if I didn’t mention I loved reading about Nathan and Bree from The Cheat Sheet. Seeing where their lives are now is like reconnecting with some old college friends. And the connection between the Sharks teammates is unmatched. Sarah’s writing of their commentary with each other is gold. I could read a whole book about just them and how they rip on each other all day because of their love for each other.

I want to thank Sarah Adams, NetGalley and the publisher so this advanced reader copy of The Rule Book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review <3

This book was on my calendar for, "anticipated releases." However, as much as I was excited to read and review this book, it fell flat for me. I was left feeling conflicted because while there were some cute moments, there was also an equal amount of moments I did not love. If you enjoy rom-coms, you'll probably really enjoy this. However, it felt too cheesy for me.

Tropes:
- Sports (Agent & Football player)
- 2nd Chance Romance
- Dual POV
- Only One Bed
- Forced Proximity

This is an ARC review. thank you Random House, NetGalley, and Sarah Adams for this opportunity!

To say I squealed and jumped up and down when I received this ARC is an understatement. Sarah Adams can do no wrong in my eyes and this was no exception. Derek and Nora are ADORABLE! Nora is goofy AND strong and that makes her so lovable. Derek, as with all Sarah Adams MMCs, is perfect. My heart broke when he revealed what was going to happen the day Nora broke up with him in college. If you love second chance romance, enemies to friends to lovers, sports romance, and found family this is for you!