Member Reviews
If you live for a good second chance romance/enemies to lovers/fake dating story, get this book as soon as you humanly can. I loved getting to revisit Bree and Nathan, but I also really loved getting to know Nora. She was a fun, quirky character, and I was just as invested in her career as I was her romantic escapades. I also loved seeing more of the Sharks, and their Ted Lasso-esque Diamond Dogs attempts at finding Derek love this go around made me giddy. This was a very fun, fluffy read with more than a little angst and emotion thrown in. Thanks NetGalley for the copy!
Cute and quick bedtime read.
Sarah Adams is a great quick and cute romance writer. There is a little bit of spice but I am a fan of the preface at the beginning of the novel clearly defining which chapter the explicit detail is located.
Both the character of Nora and Derek are well developed giving them both history and personality which makes the relationship unforced. I really enjoy a kismet relationship that is not forced and feels organic.
The little aside which is more a story comment instead of a stylistic comment on the writing. For Nora's ex-bf to dump her because of a Vasovagal episode seems a bit cringe to me. If he is a doctor he would know that this isn't her fault and is a medical condition therefore he wouldn't dump her because of that. I get that it is embarrassing however this whole little plot line just seems a little forced to me. (Mainly because I also have Vasovagal syncope - while well controlled - No medical professional has ever viewed me as dramatic).
Absolutely loved The Rule Book! Such a cute story of lovers to enemies back to lovers with a great mix of sweetness and angst. Definitely would recommend
Such a cute romance book! I loved sassy Nora and the sweet side of Derek. A fun book to see a second chance at a relationship and love.
This book was fabulously sweet and swoony! I'm a big fan of second chance romances, so seeing two exes get back together in the athletic world was a delicious premise.
Nora's character is adorably quirky and positive, making it that much harder for her ex (and now client) Derek to hate her. While their falling-back-in-love story was sweet, I feel like it would've been more powerful had the anomosity been drawn out a bit more. Everything seemed to be forgiven so quickly, and important decisions were made hastily.
Overall, this story was a fun read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I wanted to love this, I really did. And there were parts that I did enjoy.
BUT.
in full disclosure....
I didn't like Nora (*covers face*)
Yes, she was a strong female with career ambitions which I can totally stand behind, but I couldn't get past her silliness. I get that she was sunshine and rainbows and that a female doesn't have to be harsh to be taken seriously - message 100% received. However, she seemed to borderline on immature and was just a little too hokey for my taste.
Sarah Adams is fun, and her books are a guaranteed good time with a promised HEA - this just wasn't one of my favorites. I'm sure it will be a hit for many others though!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I read anything by this author and love everything that she puts out. I really enjoyed the second chance romance and I thought the characters had great chemistry. A must read if you are into sports romances, or second chances.
This book was good overall. I have only previously read Practice Makes Perfect and so I'm unsure if the main mfc's in her book are always "quirky" but it was a bit grating after awhile. The whole plot was pretty low stakes which is good if you're looking for something lighter to read.
Sarah Adams is just getting better and better. Laugh out loud funny, and of course, the characters are PRICELESS! Nora and Derek's love story is unique and addictive. My favorite part was the "rules" they wrote together, and all the things Derek did to try to make Nora's life miserable. Nora was hilarious! Quirky and fun and also, very real.
Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me an arc of the book, and Sarah Adams... keep writing! Your stories are so good!
Everything about this was great. It made me laugh out loud so many times, I was smiling from ear to ear and upset at the high emotion scenes. 10/10
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Rule Book in exchange of my honest opinion.
The Rule Book is Sarah Adams first Adult romcom featuring one of Nathan's friend from the Cheat Sheet. Derek is a professional football player that has been recovering from an injury and Nora is a sport's agent that was picked to work with him. However, that was not all. They were also a couple during their college time and Nora was the one that decided to break them up. What we have now is this strained relationship that they will have to work out.
I really enjoy Sarah Adams books to just relax and have an easy time, and this one was not different. She put so many romance tropes in this book that you can fill a bingo card, however they work nicely in the story. I loved how much better is the communication between the couple in this book compared to her older work. That was one of the main differences I notice from her adult novel compared to her YA ones (aside from the explicit sex scene - but don't worry is not THAT dirty). Additionally, for those that likes it, there are no third act break up!!
My only drawback from the story is the OVERLY sunshine FMC character. Nora is Elle Woods in sports, and although some quirky traits are cute, everything was just super exaggerated. From her outfit, upbeat disposition, changes in speech and cup half-full energy, everything could have been taken down a notch. Honestly, Nora's boss, a very practical no-nonsense character is my favorite female character in this book.
Overall this is a nice, easy and relaxed romcom with funny and cute moments
The Rule Book is definitely a story for those who love second chance romance, lovers to enemies to lovers, and a fake marriage. This sports romance was angsty, sweet and quirky in the most fun way. The tension and feelings between the two characters oozed off the pages and they were so easy to root for. The secondary characters also added a lot to the plot. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.
I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!
I'm a sucker for second chance romances and I loved Derek and Nora. They were so easy to root for and this book was full of humor and heart. I also appreciated the way the book discussed the double standards that exist against women in the sports industry.
I absolutely ADORED this book. It was in a whole new ball park from The Cheat Sheet. This book has all of my favorite tropes, and they were done so well. There was no miscommunication either, which I am ALL for.
Nora is a kick butt hard working FMC that is unashamed for her tastes in style and personality. She is punny and not afraid to be herself.
Derek is flawed and has a lot of issues he is working through, but does not let them hold Nora back.
This book was truly a breath of fresh air, and I’m already excited to read it again.
This is an open door romance, but since all of her other books have been closed door, she includes at the beginning of the book how to make it closed door. This would be a 1/5 spice still for me!
Sarah Adams is officially my favorite romance author.
I will say, I highly recommend reading The Cheat Sheet first. But if it has been a while since you read it, you don’t necessarily need to reread it to understand the story!
I generally enjoyed the book. I felt like the layers and repetition were overdone, and there were points where I was getting frustrated with the slow pacing and endless ruminating. I wished it were fifty to a hundred pages shorter, not really in one specific area but overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.
So, in the acknowledgments, Adams writes that she hopes her books leave us happier than we were when we started. DONE!!! Every single time. And it is rarely as simple as, “the couple ends up together” or “the good guy wins” or anything quite so pedestrian. It’s more like, here are these significant life events and experiences and oh okay we can throw a love story in there, too. The love is the focus, but not entirely the love of the couple. There’s all this other love and life in these stories and I DIG IT!!! 💜💜📚
Honestly this might be my favorite Sarah Adams book. I could not put it down and finished it within a day.
I loved the relationship between Nora and Derek. They just had so much chemistry and the way they loved each other was perfect. This book will now become my whole personality and I will not be able to stop talking about it.
This was such a great follow up to The Cheat Sheet! The chemistry is off the charts in this one and the banter. How does Sarah's brain create hit after hit? I even love her regency romcom.
Will I always read every single thing Sarah Adams writes? Yes! Will Sarah Adams always write the best books that feel like a warm hug? Also yes! I have loved everything she has written, The Rule Book included. I loved getting to see characters from previous books. Nora and Derek were some of her best. The chemistry between them, the angst, and obvious love was something people strive for. I can not count the amount of times I laughed out loud at this book. All the stars for The Rule Book!!