Elle is literally the queen of hockey romance and she knew what she was doing with this one. This was such a fun steamy read and I couldn’t put it down.

This story follows Diana and Shane. Diana is a busy student. She is cheer captain, holds 2 jobs, ballroom dances, and deals with a crazy ex. Shane is a tall, gorgeous hockey player that ends up moving next door to Diana and she cannot stand him. When the two find themselves in the unlikely situation of fake dating, they realize that maybe there is something between them.

HOLY HELL!! Elle did not mess around with this one. The spice was some of the steamiest I have ever read by her...that kitchen scene!!! IYKYK.
I love a good fake dating trope…and it’s better when you add in some enemies to lovers. Their banter was so much fun to experience between the HOA meetings, to the dance lessons…I was kicking and giggling the whole time.
Diana is such a spitfire. She’s a take charge, free spirit with a side of quirkiness. Shane is a cinnamon roll alpha with a heart of gold. The slow burn nature of this romance allowed us to get to know each character in a more in-depth way.

Elle also did such a great job of handling some heavier topics as well. If you have any triggers, I highly recommend reading the warnings before diving into this one.

Thank you Bloom and GetRedPR for the arc.

Overall: 4.5
Spice: 3.5

Tropes:
- Sports Romance
- Hockey Player x Cheerleader
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- Neighbors
- Forced Proximity
- No 3rd Act Breakup

The Dixon Rule was a nice compliment to The Graham Effect. The banter between Diana & Shane are priceless, and I LOVED the moments featuring the Off Campus / Briar U characters (though mostly just Jake & Brenna for Briar U).

This book does discuss sensitive topics, so please note before reading. The last 100 pages or so are emotional, raw, and demonstrative of the depth/complexities of Diana & Shane's characters.

The book was a bit long and had a slower start than normal, however, once it got good, it got good.

Elle Kennedy brings us back to this world, but I loved every minute of it, Diana's energy is too relatable and the spice spiced!

i 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 shane lindley and i am 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 with diana dixon 💕💜

they are the funniest frenemies. their best friends are ryder and gigi from the graham effect—which is obviously the friends part. and shane doesn’t give a second thought about hooking up with most of the cheerleaders on diana’s squad, it’s not his fault he breaks their hearts—that’s the enemies part.

shane moves in to the apartment right next door to diana and the banter and chemistry immediately shoot off the charts. when they both need help from the other, they decide to exchange favors. diana will be shane’s fake girlfriend now that his ex is in town, and shane will be diana’s partner in the dance competition she enters every year.

shane and diana are both fiercely protective of one another, and their relationship going from friends to lovers is the sweetest thing. the forced proximity is spicy, tension filled perfection. i adore them together and individually. i’ve never wanted two characters to say i love you more so the anticipation of what was going to happen between them was so good.

no one does a friend group like elle kennedy, period. i am so invested in every past present and future briar u story.

this book is so romantic—and hilarious and serious and sad and spicy—an absolute must read.

5 stars! elle kennedy does again!!! the woman absolutely does not miss. i just know this is going to be the PERFECT summer romance.

rating: 5 ⭐️
spice: 3 🌶️
release date: may 14th
tropes:
-fake dating, forced proximity, hockey player x cheerleader, enemies to lovers, frenemies with benefits, dom/sub, SPICE, dual pov

this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. when i saw the tropes, i was SHOOK and so excited. dare i say this is my favorite elle kennedy book???? and her spiciest book yet?? oh YES.

shane and diana do not like either AT ALL and they end up being neighbors which results in the most entertaining and delicious banter and tension! shane and diana come to a mutually beneficial agreement to fake date. shane wants to make his ex jealous and diana has an obsessive and aggressive ex boyfriend. anyway, you know how the rest of the story goes with fake dating hehehe.

shane is a hockey player on his way to the NHL and diana is a cheerleader and dancer. and she is an absolute firecracker who gives shane a run for his money. their chemistry is insane!! some of the smut scenes like ARE YOU JOKING???? i was sweating!!!

not only is this book SPICY!!!! it also deals with some deeper and heavier topics. this gave some real depth to the characters that i really enjoyed. i would recommend checking TW as it deals with domestic abuse. shane also deals with some difficult family problems at the end of the books.

the character cameos are literally everything and have me so in my feels! we get to see garrett, logan, dean, jack and tucker. I CRYYYYY they are all grown up. this book is an absolute MUST READ if you love elle kennedy's other series!

thank you so much to elle kennedy, bloom books, and get red pr for an eARC of this book!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This was such a fun book to read! I absolutely adored the characters because while they each have some slight flaws, they grow together, and their banter is so entertaining! And the spice! Elle had me shook with this one..it was hot! A balcony will never look the same 🥵 If you love sports romance, college/NA romance, with some great spice, make sure you check this one out!

I enjoyed this one. It was a little on the longer side for me. I also was not affected at the end as I have seen most people be. I think I might just be moving on from my Elle Kennedy era.

I absolutely loved every moment in this book! There was never a dull moment! I was hooked immediately and didn’t want to put it down! I loved loved loved Diana and Shane! They were amazing together!!! Their banter and chemistry was off the chart! If you love sports, enemies to lovers, college, a touch of suspense romances you will definitely devour this one! I found myself laughing so hard throughout this one and then bam I got blindsided with the feels! I didn’t want this one to end one bit! Definitely feeling a book hangover with this one!!

Received an arc for a honest review.

I have BIG feelings about this book. Elle Kennedy has outdone herself. This is officially my favorite book from her. Shane Lindley is officially my favorite book boyfriend.

I could not keep track of my emotions while I was reading this. One moment, I am laughing out loud and the banter and shenanigans of the residents of Meadow Hill Apartment Complex and the next, I am bawling my eyes out.

Those HOA meetings. My god. What I would give to be there. Too hilarious.

Once you get a glimpse into the real Shane, you find a cinnamon roll. And I love everything about him. He's loyal, confident, funny. I could go on and on. Diana is the kind of girl I always wanted to be. She is fierce! And when the two of them are together, it is absolute magic. When he tells her that she is "the heartbeat of his days." I was a total goner.

I really felt the connection between them. They just felt like real people. I haven't been so consumed by a story in such a long time. The sexy times were so hot and the chemistry was all consuming. And that scene in the kitchen with a visitor will live rent free in my head for all times.

This story is an entire experience. I might have to listen to this in audio too. <3

The Dixon Rule

5 stars
Pub Day 5/14

Elle Kennedy can do no wrong!!

This is book two in the Campus Diaries series & while it can be read as a stand alone I highly suggest reading book one (The Graham Effect) first to better appreciate this book! Shane and Diana have some of the BEST banter I have read in quite some time. But what do you expect when you have two people who hate each other who decide to undergo a faking relationship?? I had such a great time reading this from start to finish! The spice is not overwhelming but mannnnn is the spice spicin' when it is present. Also, I read the first 60% in ONE sitting because I did not want to put it down. I do want to mention that this book also covered some heavier topics so I'd suggest checking TW before diving in.

Read if you like:
- Hockey Player & Cheerleader
- Forced Proximity
- Fake Dating
- Banter. Banter. Banter.
- Slow burn spice

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Elle Kennedy, you magnificent woman. This book… 😍

I cannot get enough of Elle’s hockey romances (or any of her books, tbh) and this book was no exception. This was a lighthearted, hilarious read, but also hits you hard in the feels. Excuse me, as I cried in an airport reading this. 😭

THOUGHTS 💭
🏒 Enemies to lovers is an unmatched trope! The banter, goading, and hilarity between Diana and Shane is incredible.
🏒 I love the condo community; it gives me Gilmore Girls/Stars Hollow vibes with the quirky characters, meetings, and events.
🏒 The chemistry between these characters was absolute fire.The public spice they explore… PHEW. 😮‍💨
🏒 Shane is a supportive, sweet, confident MMC; Diana is a driven, sassy spitfire. They’re incredible characters who have some tough experiences on the page.
🏒 I’m really enjoying the next generation of Briar U/Off Campus!

Thanks so much to Elle Kennedy and Get Red PR for the ARC of this book.

Elle Kennedy is the queen of new adult hockey romances and The Dixon Rule is another excellent read.

Diana Dixon, cheer captain at Briar U, is sick of hockey player, Shane Lindley, hooking up with and then breaking the hearts of her cheer squad. Shane lives to annoy Diana - and he’s not quite the f-boy she thinks. And now? They’re next door neighbors. It is SO good and had me swooning, cackling, crying, all within one book. Plus, there were a few scenes that were just off-the-charts 🔥🔥🔥

Diana had me laughing so hard - everyone needs a friend like her! I loved how Shane and Diana were exactly what the other one needed. Their support and love and showing up for each other is exactly what I love to read in a romance.

Highly recommend this one for all my fellow new adult and sports romance lovers. 💗
I Received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥💥

ELLE KENNEDY does it again! I swear I will read any and all words that Elle writes and while I adore her other stuff, I hope we never leave the hockey era! Because she does it so well! I’m so thankful I got to read it early because this book lives in my head rent free.

And let me say, i have not loved a MMC this much since Garrett Graham but Shane Lindley freaking stole my whole heart. 💜

TROPES ⬇️

✨ Frenemies to Lovers
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Close Proximity
✨ Reformed playboy
✨ A bit of angst

Shane and Diana are in the same friend group, but they don’t get along. So when Shane moves in next door to Diana, she isn’t at all happy about it! But when circumstances for both of them push them into fake dating, they decide to be friends with benefits, as long as feelings don’t get involved. Too bad they aren’t good at sticking to their own rules.

I lived so much about this! Shane and Diana are both fantastic characters and I love their snarking and banter! They were hilarious and their chemistry was off the charts even before they got together. Their entire neighborhood was hilarious and I loved it!

What I really loved is that this was lighthearted and fun (and spicy) but it also dealt with heavier topics and I adored the way Shane and Diana handled things together! Diana is just a force of nature and I really loved getting to know how strong and spunky she was. She and Shane complimented each other and showed up for each other in the very best ways.

Now let’s talk about the spice… Elle took it up a notch and Shane and his bossy bedroom demeanor had me sweating 🥵🥵 and that kitchen scene… IYKYK. 😉

Hands down I love this series and this entire friend group and I absolutely need Will and Beck’s stories because I have a feeling we are in for some surprises!

5 ⭐⁣
3.5 🌶️⁣

I FREAKING LOVE SHANE AND DIXON!!! I don't care whose book we're getting. As long as it's in the Briar Universe, I'll read it.

The BANTER!!! Omg. They have me laughing, swooning, giddy, and yes, I CRIED. The chemistry was off the chart. I love the build up of their relationship so much. They couldn't stand one another when we first met them so the way how Elle wrote the plot to a fake dating trope was so fun. Definitely a little bit slow at the beginning, but I understand why. I do have to say, this book is probably Elle's hottest book to date. Hint, it's kinky. 👀👀

I can't get enough of Shane and Dixon!!! The book is already long, but I want more. LOL Ugh. I need the next book already. Can't believe we have to wait until next year for the 3rd book. Lol

Another Amazing read by Elle Kennedy.

4/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

Ummmm wow okay… Elle came to PLAY with this book. Definitely the spiciest I’ve read by her so far. (The kitchen scene — IYKYK🤭)

This was so cute but so hot all at the same time. I knew I was going to love Shane & Diana just based off of their banter — their chemistry was so good & they really balanced each other out.

My favorite part of this series is still getting all of the cameos from the Off-Campus & Briar U couples. It just feels like coming home when we get to see these couples again 💕

This book definitely discusses some heavier topics so be sure so check TWs!

Tropes:
- Sports Romance
- Hockey Player x Cheerleader
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- Neighbors
- Forced Proximity

4.5 stars. In case there was any doubt, I think The Dixon Rule solidifies Elle Kennedy as the queen of NA hockey romance. And if you’ve never read her before, buckle up. Because Elle brings the friendship, the banter, AND the steam.

Character wise, Shane and Diana reminded me of Dean and Allie (from Elle’s The Score). In the previous book in this series, Shane certainly had no qualms about sewing his wild oats. He’s irreverent and goofy and always around for a good time. The quintessential golden retriever. And Diana was such a spitfire. I love that she constantly kept Shane on his toes, and didn’t let him get away with anything. I love that Elle gives us the fake dating trope with this one. Because Shane and Diana were so antagonistic, their banter and tension was just delicious.

Now, as fun and flirty as this book was, Elle must be a bit of a masochist, because damn does she put these characters through it. The Dixon Rule deals with some difficult topics, and I’m not ashamed to say that I was on the brink of tears at several points in this one, especially the last 15 ish %. I know when people first saw the blurb for this one, some were disappointed that it didn’t feature the kiddos from the original Briar books. But fear not, there are still plenty of Briar OG cameos. Also, Elle sets the stage for some potential future books/ couples, and I don’t think we’ve seen the last of the second generation characters being the lead.

All in all, I love these books. I loved the originals, I loved the first spinoff series, and I love this second generation series. I hope Elle continues to write Briar books for a VERY long time, because these truly are such a good time.

Thank you so much to Elle, Bloom, Get Red PR, and netgalley for hooking me up with physical and digital ARCs in exchange for my honest review. Clearly, I loved this.

I think this may be my new favorite EK book although I will always be absolutely obsessed with The Score (Allie & Dean 😍) and I always rate her books 5 stars but this one deserves more than a 5 for me. It was total perfection and just so much more than I expected. My expectations were super high too but it was just too good! Shane and Diana were everything, their banter was hilarious, they have a whole frenemies thing going on and then you also get fake dating, close proximity, and sports. This had so much depth, it made me swoon so hard, it cracked me up and I wasn’t expecting to be a sobbing mess but I was?! Can we talk about how hot this one was too pls? Good lord Shane and Diana were insane together, there was one particular spicy scene that had my jaw on the floor and the kink was unexpected and 🥵 I think my jaw was on the floor more than it ever has been while reading a romance, so many surprises and so many emotions, I loved every single page of this perfect book!!

Elle Kennedy does it again, I really loved The Dixon Rule! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Elle nailed this one like no other. But add in a side of fake dating, *chefs kiss*… absolutely perfect. Diana and Shane’s natural chemistry was picked up on by me from the get go, though they “hate each other”, there is an old saying if he picks on you he likes you, or something like that! And well these two can’t go a moment without getting a dig at the other. Their banter is probably some of my favorite written banter I’ve read.

Oh and the spice was spicing, okay?! One things for sure if Elle is gonna write a book there is gonna be spice and oh my did this one have it. Shane and Diana were WILD, there’s a particular scene that has lived rent free in my head and I don’t think I’ll stop thinking about it anytime soon. Honestly this might be her spiciest written book yet.

It also should be noted in this review, that this book covers some harder to read topics. It is an emotional rollercoaster that leads to a beautiful story in a way only Elle Kennedy can write it.

All in all I loved this book, though this had nothing to do with the prior series children, I think it was refreshing and added some more depth to the series as a whole, we still get glimpses of Gigi and Ryder in this one and I honestly am excited to see where the series goes and will be eagerly awaiting to see who is next.

Thank you @ellekennedy33, @getredprbooks and @read_bloom for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

There is nothing better than that five star feeling when reading a book, and from start to finish I had that gushing feeling with The Dixon Rule. Dare I say that this is Elle’s BEST book yet.

Short synopsis: This is the second book in the Briar University series, and follows cheerleader Diana Dixon and her new neighbor/ enemy/ school hockey player Shane Lindley. The two find themselves in mutually beneficial fake dating situation that eventually tuns into a friends with benefits proposal.

Thoughts: Shane was not the typical hockey star. He was a relationship AND a family guy, full of sunshine, into reality tv, learned to tango and was absolutely hilarious. The mutually beneficial fake relationship turned friends with benefits worked so well and made Diana and Shane’s relationship feel realistic. I felt like I not only knew the couple by the end of the book but also grew with them. Not only was there top notch banter, chemistry and spice but the book was full of depth! Elle did a great job handling these heavy topics and exposing the vulnerable side of both characters. The things I would do to read this again for the first time!

Read if you like:
-Hockey player x cheerleader
-Fake dating
-Friends with benefits
-Next door neighbors
-Tango dancing
-Hilarious HOA meetings
-Cameos of the OG prior crew

Thank you GetRed PR and Bloom for the ARC!

I know this is only the second book in the series but thus far it’s my favorite! It made me feel all the feels. I laughed out loud at some parts but that epilogue had be cackling! I also had to put the book in the freezer. It made me so sad so in the freezer it went but when I took it back out and finished reading I cried into my pillow.
Diana Dixon is a cheerleader who has had enough of Shane Lindley sleeping his way through her squad. But when Shane moves in next door to her she has to warn herself not to get involved with him.
Shane is a hockey player who last year broke up with his long term girlfriend so he thought why not spend the year hooking up to mend his broken heart. When he moves in next to Diana and asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend to make his ex jealous he gets more than he bargained for.
Please make sure to read the trigger warnings for this book. The two big ones I can think of are: death of a loved one and domestic violence.