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The Cheat Sheet #2
The Rule Book
College exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, the highly anticipated companion novel to the viral TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.
Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender, who happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent, and he’s holding a grudge.
Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.
Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers and spark the romance of a lifetime?
Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender, who happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent, and he’s holding a grudge.
Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.
Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers and spark the romance of a lifetime?
356 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2024
2,829 people are currently reading
172k people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,026 reviews
May 8, 2024
Dnf @Pg 156
The rule book should frankly be ruled out of existence for being so boring and poorly written.
The rule book should frankly be ruled out of existence for being so boring and poorly written.
May 24, 2024
it was fine? i feel like honestly skip writing a sex scene altogether though if it’s gonna include no meaningful details. “he touched me right where i needed him to�
like your crack? ur ear? i’m not saying i need the sloppiness of her wet folds described but gimme SOMETHING
like your crack? ur ear? i’m not saying i need the sloppiness of her wet folds described but gimme SOMETHING
February 10, 2025
No one in this world can convince me to give this wonderful book less than five stars, reigniting my love for sports romance more than I imagined. Truth be told, I've read plenty of them lately, given the rising popularity on TikTok. However, the Queen of quirks, Nora, and the sweet pie hiding behind the grumpy facade, Dere-Bear Derek, emerge as the winners!
Firstly, this book encompasses all of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, second chance at love, grumpy meets the sunshine, forced proximity, and not-so-fake but drunk Vegas marriage! The author brings out the biggest guns, and how can I not fall for this book, especially with its spicy chemistry, great characters, and amazing supporting friends of Derek, including the "Cheat Sheet" couple Nathan and Bree, making a cameo that fueled my excitement.
Let's delve into the plot: enter Nora Mackenzie, an aspiring young agent climbing the steps of the corporate ladder in a men's world against chauvinism and condescending attitudes. She's a near-freak, with a colorfully criticized fashion style, looking at things from the bright side with a sunshiny attitude, not-so-catchy phrases, and silly knock-knock jokes.
She is excited to prove to her male counterparts that she can be an exceptional agent, but her first assignment hits a brick wall � a charming but grumpy giant hiding behind emotional barricades, her ex from college. The same man she broke up with for pursuing career dreams now holds the fate of her entire career. Isn't it ironic?
Enter Derek Pender, a hotshot Sharks team NFL player, taking a break after a tragic injury, attempting a comeback before being replaced by a younger player or traded to another team.
Nora thinks she can convince him that she's the best agent to work with. Maybe he doesn't even remember their relationship. After all, he's a playboy football star. His college girlfriend might be just a small blast from the past.
Oh, Nora, you couldn't be more wrong. Derek remembers every second of their relationship, and payback is a bitch! To prove herself capable of representing him, she must endure excruciating tasks � ripping his clothes, cooking for him, delivering his dry cleaning during rush hour, filming his workout at dawn, and more. She is stubborn enough not to give up, and Derek slowly gives in because seeing his ex-love in close proximity makes him realize she's the one that got away.
But they have no clue how things heat up in the middle of commercial filming in Vegas. They find themselves drunk, with tattooed rings on their ring fingers and compromising photos shared on social media in a French kiss position. Ta-da: they are drunkenly married. Nora can be fired at any moment, losing the career she's worked hard for, or Derek can take the lead and declare that what they have is real. They decide not to get an annulment, and Derek takes it seriously, and they end up on a honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, where reporters cover their every move to document their love story. It's only for saving Nora's job, right? Both Derek and Nora are not still in love with each other. Right?
Grab your own copy to find out and enjoy this thoroughly entertaining ride! This couple is one of my favorite rom-com couples. Both are sweet, one-of-a-kind characters with engaging qualities I can easily resonate with.
Take my five NFL stars and high recommendations!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.
Firstly, this book encompasses all of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, second chance at love, grumpy meets the sunshine, forced proximity, and not-so-fake but drunk Vegas marriage! The author brings out the biggest guns, and how can I not fall for this book, especially with its spicy chemistry, great characters, and amazing supporting friends of Derek, including the "Cheat Sheet" couple Nathan and Bree, making a cameo that fueled my excitement.
Let's delve into the plot: enter Nora Mackenzie, an aspiring young agent climbing the steps of the corporate ladder in a men's world against chauvinism and condescending attitudes. She's a near-freak, with a colorfully criticized fashion style, looking at things from the bright side with a sunshiny attitude, not-so-catchy phrases, and silly knock-knock jokes.
She is excited to prove to her male counterparts that she can be an exceptional agent, but her first assignment hits a brick wall � a charming but grumpy giant hiding behind emotional barricades, her ex from college. The same man she broke up with for pursuing career dreams now holds the fate of her entire career. Isn't it ironic?
Enter Derek Pender, a hotshot Sharks team NFL player, taking a break after a tragic injury, attempting a comeback before being replaced by a younger player or traded to another team.
Nora thinks she can convince him that she's the best agent to work with. Maybe he doesn't even remember their relationship. After all, he's a playboy football star. His college girlfriend might be just a small blast from the past.
Oh, Nora, you couldn't be more wrong. Derek remembers every second of their relationship, and payback is a bitch! To prove herself capable of representing him, she must endure excruciating tasks � ripping his clothes, cooking for him, delivering his dry cleaning during rush hour, filming his workout at dawn, and more. She is stubborn enough not to give up, and Derek slowly gives in because seeing his ex-love in close proximity makes him realize she's the one that got away.
But they have no clue how things heat up in the middle of commercial filming in Vegas. They find themselves drunk, with tattooed rings on their ring fingers and compromising photos shared on social media in a French kiss position. Ta-da: they are drunkenly married. Nora can be fired at any moment, losing the career she's worked hard for, or Derek can take the lead and declare that what they have is real. They decide not to get an annulment, and Derek takes it seriously, and they end up on a honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, where reporters cover their every move to document their love story. It's only for saving Nora's job, right? Both Derek and Nora are not still in love with each other. Right?
Grab your own copy to find out and enjoy this thoroughly entertaining ride! This couple is one of my favorite rom-com couples. Both are sweet, one-of-a-kind characters with engaging qualities I can easily resonate with.
Take my five NFL stars and high recommendations!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.
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May 8, 2024dnf 50%
Another new romance book release that turned out to be a so-called "TikTok book" for me. Meaning, no originality, thousands of popular tropes � some of which make no sense, and overused quotes that would even work on me if I liked or felt any connection to the main characters. Which did not happen in this case.
Let me just give you a few examples of why this story didn’t work out for me.
one The heroine, although tolerable at times, gave me second hand embarrassment. Too many times.
Who talks like that?
He is just a man. Also, do you happen to know such a profession as a bodyguard?
No comment needed.
Also, no comment needed.
two Enemies to lovers, but the hero is mad at the heroine because she broke up with him out of nowhere, and the heroine wants to talk to him why she did it, but he doesn't want to hear it? We love good enemies to lovers.
three The writing style was also embarrassing, and why were there so many brackets?
I just thought to myself, “Another one? And another one? And another one?". Not to mention, they were embarrassing. I know. Shocking.
This is probably just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the things I didn't like here, but fortunately I don't have to discover more because I'm saying goodbye to this book. Sarah Adams was a new author to me � I had never read any of her books, but at least now I know I won't in the future.
Another new romance book release that turned out to be a so-called "TikTok book" for me. Meaning, no originality, thousands of popular tropes � some of which make no sense, and overused quotes that would even work on me if I liked or felt any connection to the main characters. Which did not happen in this case.
Let me just give you a few examples of why this story didn’t work out for me.
one The heroine, although tolerable at times, gave me second hand embarrassment. Too many times.
"And this is why I fear you as much as I adore you, my glorious workplace warrior goddess."
Who talks like that?
"He belongs to a time when people needed warriors for their safety."
He is just a man. Also, do you happen to know such a profession as a bodyguard?
"You can do this. You are a strong, smart, sexy muffin of a woman and you can do this."
No comment needed.
“Don’t call me boss.�
“Okay, Derek-bo-berek-fe-fi-fo�"
Also, no comment needed.
two Enemies to lovers, but the hero is mad at the heroine because she broke up with him out of nowhere, and the heroine wants to talk to him why she did it, but he doesn't want to hear it? We love good enemies to lovers.
three The writing style was also embarrassing, and why were there so many brackets?
"(ahem Marty)"
"I love having my mom as my BFF (she’s truly awesome)"
"Nicole (oh goody, apparently Nicole will be in this meeting too) looks absolutely shocked."
I just thought to myself, “Another one? And another one? And another one?". Not to mention, they were embarrassing. I know. Shocking.
This is probably just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the things I didn't like here, but fortunately I don't have to discover more because I'm saying goodbye to this book. Sarah Adams was a new author to me � I had never read any of her books, but at least now I know I won't in the future.
January 3, 2025
"She is sunshine parting the clouds in my miserable day�
It's always the one you go into without any expectations that takes you by surprise. Sarah Adams has now become a favourite of mine and I can't wait to dive into her other books.
It's often the case that contemporary romance novels leave me wanting more or misses the mark but this book fulfilled me completely. The first 30% I read on and off when I had time but the last 70% I binged in one sitting and stayed up to 3 am because I was having so much fun reading this.
You'll love this book if you enjoy:
✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Sports romance
✔️ Not-so-fake marriage
✔️ Grumpy x sunshine
✔️ Forced proximately / one bed
✔️ Dual POV
✔️ Open door spice 🌶️🌶️
The Plot
Nora is an up-and-coming sports agent, working in a male dominated industry and catches her first break managing with one of the best NFL tight end's. Derek has been unable to play due to an injury for extended period and is struggling to come to terms with his recovery. Nora goes by her surname in her professional life so Derek had no idea that he was signing on his college ex girlfriend who left him brokenhearted to be his agent until it was too late. Due to their complicated history, Derek tries to do everything he can to make Nora quit and they make a rule book to set some boundaries.
� Derek and Nora
Derek was so adorable, he's attentive and remembers everything about Nora despite their time apart. And if he couldn't get any sweeter, Nora taught him how to braid her hair back in college and he did it for her when she was sick 😍 His possessive moments were also a highlight for me.
I loved the dsylexia representation in this book and thought the author dealt with these issues well. Because of Derek's diagnosis, he reads fantasy books on audio 🥵 I just wanted to give him a big hug while reading his POV.
Nora is such a great FMC. She's incredibly quirky and awkward but I found her endearing. She uses goofy phrases frequently but she does it on purpose to get under Derek's skin 🤭 She was so relatable with her love for all things organising, target and clothes with pockets. You can't help but love her quirks. Most sports romances also have a large focus on the mmc but the majority of this story focuses on Nora's career which I also loved.
Second chance romance is quickly becoming one of my favourite tropes and this book is a great example of it being executed well. There's also nothing more satisfying when the 'fake relationship' starts to feel real - Every time he said "my wife" my eyes were rolling into the back of my head 😩
The tension between these two was undeniable, I felt like I was watching a rom com in my head while reading this. Be prepared that it's a slow burn but the tension and buildup was 100% worth it. I did not feel bored for a single second. It's a lighthearted, feel-good read and there's not much I would change about it.
Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand and Netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Quotes I loved
"Because when a man doesn't encourage you to reach for the stars, Nora Bug, he's putting you in a glass jar to contain your light. We don't have to settle for air through holes poked in the top of a lid. We get to become stars ourselves.�
"Do I hate her? I hate when your mouth curves into a smile, I can't kiss it. I hate that you hold my heart in a vise grip and you have no idea. I hate that I've never been able to move on from you-not for a single day."
"When you smile at me my world feels whole."
"I'm at your feet Nora, if you want me, I'm yours."
It's always the one you go into without any expectations that takes you by surprise. Sarah Adams has now become a favourite of mine and I can't wait to dive into her other books.
It's often the case that contemporary romance novels leave me wanting more or misses the mark but this book fulfilled me completely. The first 30% I read on and off when I had time but the last 70% I binged in one sitting and stayed up to 3 am because I was having so much fun reading this.
You'll love this book if you enjoy:
✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Sports romance
✔️ Not-so-fake marriage
✔️ Grumpy x sunshine
✔️ Forced proximately / one bed
✔️ Dual POV
✔️ Open door spice 🌶️🌶️
The Plot
Nora is an up-and-coming sports agent, working in a male dominated industry and catches her first break managing with one of the best NFL tight end's. Derek has been unable to play due to an injury for extended period and is struggling to come to terms with his recovery. Nora goes by her surname in her professional life so Derek had no idea that he was signing on his college ex girlfriend who left him brokenhearted to be his agent until it was too late. Due to their complicated history, Derek tries to do everything he can to make Nora quit and they make a rule book to set some boundaries.
� Derek and Nora
Derek was so adorable, he's attentive and remembers everything about Nora despite their time apart. And if he couldn't get any sweeter, Nora taught him how to braid her hair back in college and he did it for her when she was sick 😍 His possessive moments were also a highlight for me.
I loved the dsylexia representation in this book and thought the author dealt with these issues well. Because of Derek's diagnosis, he reads fantasy books on audio 🥵 I just wanted to give him a big hug while reading his POV.
”I only lost because I want to show you in a physical way that I’m intentionally and completely vulnerable to you, Nora. That I’ll gladly lose to you every day of my life - because for me, the prize is just being near you.�
Nora is such a great FMC. She's incredibly quirky and awkward but I found her endearing. She uses goofy phrases frequently but she does it on purpose to get under Derek's skin 🤭 She was so relatable with her love for all things organising, target and clothes with pockets. You can't help but love her quirks. Most sports romances also have a large focus on the mmc but the majority of this story focuses on Nora's career which I also loved.
"The implication fires up a corner of me that rages for any woman who's ever been told she's lucky to have had a chance with a good guy. Like that is our primary goal in life and once found, he should be her end-all-be-all until he's finished with her.�
Second chance romance is quickly becoming one of my favourite tropes and this book is a great example of it being executed well. There's also nothing more satisfying when the 'fake relationship' starts to feel real - Every time he said "my wife" my eyes were rolling into the back of my head 😩
The tension between these two was undeniable, I felt like I was watching a rom com in my head while reading this. Be prepared that it's a slow burn but the tension and buildup was 100% worth it. I did not feel bored for a single second. It's a lighthearted, feel-good read and there's not much I would change about it.
Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand and Netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Quotes I loved
"Because when a man doesn't encourage you to reach for the stars, Nora Bug, he's putting you in a glass jar to contain your light. We don't have to settle for air through holes poked in the top of a lid. We get to become stars ourselves.�
"Do I hate her? I hate when your mouth curves into a smile, I can't kiss it. I hate that you hold my heart in a vise grip and you have no idea. I hate that I've never been able to move on from you-not for a single day."
"When you smile at me my world feels whole."
"I'm at your feet Nora, if you want me, I'm yours."
November 29, 2023
(unofficial unhinged blurb)
have you ever wanted a book with a boy obsessed so obsessed it makes your heart ache and be like when is it going to be my turn, huh, god, when? Well this is it. the rule book is among many wonderful things, derek pender just pining (first: furiously, then: beautifully) while being an 6'5 nfl player who will keep and carry an IOU you gave him in college before you broke up with him in his wallet for years to come and pull it out for asking you to *SPOILER*.
so in summary: 10/10 recommend and will wait for you in real life, derek.
have you ever wanted a book with a boy obsessed so obsessed it makes your heart ache and be like when is it going to be my turn, huh, god, when? Well this is it. the rule book is among many wonderful things, derek pender just pining (first: furiously, then: beautifully) while being an 6'5 nfl player who will keep and carry an IOU you gave him in college before you broke up with him in his wallet for years to come and pull it out for asking you to *SPOILER*.
so in summary: 10/10 recommend and will wait for you in real life, derek.
February 13, 2025
Another solid read from the Great Sarah Adams. She's definitely an auto buy for me at this point and I'm planning on working through her backlist too.
I really liked Nora. She was quirky but also had a spine of steel. Hearing about how she always organizes EVERYTHING by color was really fun to imagine. I don't think I could ever be that organized but it's fun to imagine it!
I initially had some issues with Derek. He is obviously a good man and good MMC, but at the beginning, he is still so bent about their breakup 8 YEARS AGO, that he is purposefully sandbagging her position as his agent and just being a general dickbag. It just seemed so out of character for what we knew he could be. Everyone was telling him he was being a dick and was just unconcerned until boom, he was.
I was also hoping for a little more interactions with them as agent/player, but a lot of that was glossed over.
But overall, I love Sarah's books and this one was no exception. Would recommend for any romance readers 💚🩵💛
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really liked Nora. She was quirky but also had a spine of steel. Hearing about how she always organizes EVERYTHING by color was really fun to imagine. I don't think I could ever be that organized but it's fun to imagine it!
I initially had some issues with Derek. He is obviously a good man and good MMC, but at the beginning, he is still so bent about their breakup 8 YEARS AGO, that he is purposefully sandbagging her position as his agent and just being a general dickbag. It just seemed so out of character for what we knew he could be. Everyone was telling him he was being a dick and was just unconcerned until boom, he was.
I was also hoping for a little more interactions with them as agent/player, but a lot of that was glossed over.
But overall, I love Sarah's books and this one was no exception. Would recommend for any romance readers 💚🩵💛
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
April 4, 2024
The Rule Book written by Sarah Adams was PERFECT in so many ways. This book was beautiful, heart warming, inspirational, and even gut wrenching at times. Football is one of my favorite sports, so when I saw The Rule Book was about football, I knew I had to get my hands on it, even though this book wasn't five stars for me, I still loved every minute of it. I fell in love with that adorable cover, but the characters truly pulled me in. It might have been a bit cheesy at times, but sometimes all we need is a palette cleanser, and this book was definitely very cute and fluffy. Sarah Adams truly writes the cutest novels that you could just sink your sweet tooth into. The banter in this book was literally top tier, it made me kick my feet up in the air and giggle nonstop, but there was also bittersweet moments and discussions that just pulled at my heart strings and made me want to reach into my kindle and hug these kind hearted characters. If you love Tight End Chiefs player, Travis Kelce, you will LOVE The Rule Book even more. I will say though, you don't even have to be a fan of football to read this book because it doesn't entirely focus on the sport itself. I can't recommend this book enough, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book immediately.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP-BALLANTINE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
Derek Pender is the tight end for the LA Sharks, but when an injury last season could possibly determine Derek's career with the Sharks, he needs all the help he can get. Last season, Derek snapped his ankle and needed surgery, so he had to train and do physical therapy, so he can be the strongest for the upcoming season, if the LA Sharks team doesn't cut him. Nora McKenzie is now a full time sports agent, and her first client? DEREK PENDER!!!!! Nora and Derek were college sweethearts, but Nora thought their lives and careers weren't compatible, so she decided to end things with Derek. The day Nora broke up with Derek, he went and got her initial tattooed on himself, so he can always remember the times he and Nora spent together and the memories they made, I truly thought that was so freaking sweet. Derek is Nora's first client as an official full-time sports agent, and Derek is holding a grudge against Nora for when she broke his heart. Derek's plan is to make Nora's life absolutely miserable, but if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved, he knows Nora won't quit easily. Derek has a group of football friends that love him dearly, including his two friends Bree and Nathan from The Cheat Sheet, that want nothing but the best for Derek, ugh I was swooning, Derek's football friends are the definition of a personal hype group.
If you are a people pleaser, I stand with you. As a people pleaser myself, it's extremely difficult at times because you don't want to let anyone down, you want people to see your accomplishments and be proud of you, but when you fail, it's hard to get back up and keep going. In school Derek couldn't function properly, he couldn't read out loud in front of his class because kids would laugh at him. Derek's parents would always ask him why he couldn't be as bright as his sister. why were his grades not as good as his sister's, this truly broke my heart because I don't think one person should be compared to another person, everyone is different in their own ways. Later in his life, Derek was diagnosed with Dyslexia. One night when Derek and Nora are in Las Vegas for a commercial endorsement, Derek and Nora wake up the next morning married to each other, with wedding rings tattooed on their ring fingers. Despite Nora and Derek's past history, Nora's support to Derek's career was just heart warming to witness, when Derek had his self doubts, Nora would hype him up and tell; him the truth of how great of a tight end Derek is. Nora and Derek have my heart completely, I loved those two so so much. If you are a people pleaser and you are struggling to please those around you, The Rule Book will truly be an inspiration to you. NORA AND DEREK, I LOVE YOU BOTH TREMENDOUSLY!!!!!!
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP-BALLANTINE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
Derek Pender is the tight end for the LA Sharks, but when an injury last season could possibly determine Derek's career with the Sharks, he needs all the help he can get. Last season, Derek snapped his ankle and needed surgery, so he had to train and do physical therapy, so he can be the strongest for the upcoming season, if the LA Sharks team doesn't cut him. Nora McKenzie is now a full time sports agent, and her first client? DEREK PENDER!!!!! Nora and Derek were college sweethearts, but Nora thought their lives and careers weren't compatible, so she decided to end things with Derek. The day Nora broke up with Derek, he went and got her initial tattooed on himself, so he can always remember the times he and Nora spent together and the memories they made, I truly thought that was so freaking sweet. Derek is Nora's first client as an official full-time sports agent, and Derek is holding a grudge against Nora for when she broke his heart. Derek's plan is to make Nora's life absolutely miserable, but if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved, he knows Nora won't quit easily. Derek has a group of football friends that love him dearly, including his two friends Bree and Nathan from The Cheat Sheet, that want nothing but the best for Derek, ugh I was swooning, Derek's football friends are the definition of a personal hype group.
If you are a people pleaser, I stand with you. As a people pleaser myself, it's extremely difficult at times because you don't want to let anyone down, you want people to see your accomplishments and be proud of you, but when you fail, it's hard to get back up and keep going. In school Derek couldn't function properly, he couldn't read out loud in front of his class because kids would laugh at him. Derek's parents would always ask him why he couldn't be as bright as his sister. why were his grades not as good as his sister's, this truly broke my heart because I don't think one person should be compared to another person, everyone is different in their own ways. Later in his life, Derek was diagnosed with Dyslexia. One night when Derek and Nora are in Las Vegas for a commercial endorsement, Derek and Nora wake up the next morning married to each other, with wedding rings tattooed on their ring fingers. Despite Nora and Derek's past history, Nora's support to Derek's career was just heart warming to witness, when Derek had his self doubts, Nora would hype him up and tell; him the truth of how great of a tight end Derek is. Nora and Derek have my heart completely, I loved those two so so much. If you are a people pleaser and you are struggling to please those around you, The Rule Book will truly be an inspiration to you. NORA AND DEREK, I LOVE YOU BOTH TREMENDOUSLY!!!!!!
May 18, 2024
4.25🌟 so cute!!!! much preferred this to the cheat sheet
June 4, 2024
DNF 59% or 200 ish pages
No. Nein. Non. Níl. No Gracias. � Okay I don’t know how to say no in any other languages
I want to start off by saying that I was so excited to read this book after loving the Cheat Sheet. This just fell so flat for me, I don't remember Sarah Adams characters being so immature. And one of the major things that’s said on the back of the book doesn’t happen till over 50% and I wish I would've gotten more. I don’t find myself caring about the characters, I say this about every DNF. I may come back to it eventually but as of right now I don’t like it.
If you do want to read, here’s what to expect:
Insta-Lust � 🤮
Second Chance
Accidental Marriage
Fake Honeymoon
Pro Football Player x Agent
Sigh the amount of books I could read in this time frame
--
I'm in the mood for a cute sport's rom com 🏈 hopefully I like this 🥹💗 -->Did not
Update 1: So far I'm not really liking it 😭
Update 2: I'm about to DNF this...
No. Nein. Non. Níl. No Gracias. � Okay I don’t know how to say no in any other languages
I want to start off by saying that I was so excited to read this book after loving the Cheat Sheet. This just fell so flat for me, I don't remember Sarah Adams characters being so immature. And one of the major things that’s said on the back of the book doesn’t happen till over 50% and I wish I would've gotten more. I don’t find myself caring about the characters, I say this about every DNF. I may come back to it eventually but as of right now I don’t like it.
If you do want to read, here’s what to expect:
Insta-Lust � 🤮
Second Chance
Accidental Marriage
Fake Honeymoon
Pro Football Player x Agent
Sigh the amount of books I could read in this time frame
--
I'm in the mood for a cute sport's rom com 🏈 hopefully I like this 🥹💗 -->Did not
Update 1: So far I'm not really liking it 😭
Update 2: I'm about to DNF this...
June 22, 2024
ˏˋ°�*⁀� 3.75 stars
spoiler free review . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁
ughh i feel so conflicted about what to rate this book right now. sarah adams has always been an auto-buy author for me. (i would literally read her grocery list, that's how much i love her). however i just don't think this book was for me 🙁
obviously, there were some things i did enjoy about this book as well as things i didn't enjoy. if you saw my reading updates for this book, you would know that there were some parts that had me giggling and kicking my feet and other parts that made me want to slam my head into a brick wall... repeatedly.
LITERAL CHILLS. that man can have it any day of the week 😩♡♡
� | nathan + bree : thank GOD we got some crumbs of my fav sarah adams couple. (AND THE ENDINGGG!!) ugh i love them so much, i will never get tired of reading about them. so glad she added the little surprise at the end (i won't say what it is since its spoiler free hehe).
spoiler free review . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁
"i'm at your feet, nora. if you want me, i'm yours"
ughh i feel so conflicted about what to rate this book right now. sarah adams has always been an auto-buy author for me. (i would literally read her grocery list, that's how much i love her). however i just don't think this book was for me 🙁
obviously, there were some things i did enjoy about this book as well as things i didn't enjoy. if you saw my reading updates for this book, you would know that there were some parts that had me giggling and kicking my feet and other parts that made me want to slam my head into a brick wall... repeatedly.
｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ�
ﾟ�characters!
〶ﾟ･｡･�
now playing the alchemy by taylor swift
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။၊|� 0:10
˚₊� ͟͟͞͞➳❥ starting off with the characters. sarah adams almost always writes the most likeable, cutest characters ever that just have you just giggling the entire time. this book was no exception.... except for nora
𐙚 | nora : this girl made me so incredibly angry. i just want to know what was going through sarah adams head as she was writing this character.was she trying to make her cute or quirky but it didn't hit or what?? nora is an obnoxiously happy person (i'm not alergic to fun or nice people, but she was WAY over the top) and it gave me a headache. i love reading about positive characters, but sometimes it's a bit too much to the point where you wonder if her boyfriend got hit by a truck would she just stand there and crack a joke like she did the whole time (she literally did not take one single thing seriously this whole book)
another thing is that the author kept describing her awful outfits in way too much detail. first of all, i don't even like hearing about what the characters are wearing in any book i read because it's almost always 1)ugly as shit, or 2)super outdated.in this one, they happened to be ugly as shit. she was described as wearing the ugliest clothes. at one point she was wearing neon yellow sneakers (what the fuck) and another time she was wearing bright daisy overalls. and there's nothing against those things, but picturing her wearing these things to WORK just makes it seem weird and childish
and DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED on how the main character was speaking. she kept saying these awful catchphrase joke thingies that gave me so much secondhand embarrassment that i had to get up and take a walk for a bit.
a few examples of what she said are :
- "that makes me angrier than a hornet stuck in a sweaty persons shirt"
- "let's do this hokey pokey!"
- "that's sadder than a wet Pomeranian puppy."
- "you saved my ass, and now i'm going to save your deliciously firm butt cheeks too"
my reaction after reading those lines :
what. the. actual. FAWKKK🧍♀️for context, this book is written for (what i'm assuming) is adults, and the main characters are almost in their thirties. ew.
okay i'm sorry for absolutely going off on nora. im sure sarah adams didn't mean to make her as annoyingly unbearable she was.
❀ | derek : this man oh my gosh. sarah adams is so good at writing a good male character. she did it with nathan, noah, and now derek. he was such a sweetheart, i don't know he was able to put up with nora but it's so sweet of him to do that LMAOO. but in all honesty, his thoughts about nora were the cutest thing ever. let me insert a cute quote from his pov below.
"we were lying there on the beach and the sand was in her hair and the sun was golden on her skin and i couldn't help it. i wanted her. still want her. will likely spend forever wanting her.
but not just in a physical sense. i want her as my best friend, my favorite person to talk to, the one who i walk with through every good and bad season. i want so much more with her than just that kiss on the beach."
LITERAL CHILLS. that man can have it any day of the week 😩♡♡
� | nathan + bree : thank GOD we got some crumbs of my fav sarah adams couple. (AND THE ENDINGGG!!) ugh i love them so much, i will never get tired of reading about them. so glad she added the little surprise at the end (i won't say what it is since its spoiler free hehe).
｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ�
ﾟ�thoughts and opinions!
〶ﾟ･｡･�
˚₊� ͟͟͞͞➳❥ besides the fmc + some cringey things that were done and said... i think it was a pretty good read, it just was not a favorite. (or anywhere near it for that matter😔) i personally feel like the cheat sheet universe could have been left alone, but that also means i wouldn't have been able to read about derek pender.
anyways thank u for reading my ridiculously long review (more like rant). these are all my personal opinions so don't come for me x
October 17, 2024
� 3 �
this book was exactly what i had in mind—comprehensible, facile, and stereotypical—albeit, a good time. this type of story telling is 100% dependent on one's disposition and their overall feelings. in my humble opinion—that no one asked for—these books are not objectively substandard stories. however, they are also not life changing—again, according to my unwanted opinion—but rather, pleasant romance stories with passable prose and simple narrative structure.
� nora ~ nora is unfortunately the typical sarah adam's heroine archetype. she is jejune, unfledged, and very banal. this deportment and portrayal of grown women will never not be jarring. she is a lot more bearable than sarah's other FMC's, but at this stage, the bar is below hell. there weren’t any unique traits that nora possessed, and she did not have a personal nodus that made her stand apart from other characters.
� derek ~ certified fuck boy athlete. derek was a character my fatass completely forgot existed in the cheat sheet LMAO?? i had no real emotions when it came to him, howbeit, i could indulge in his antics more than nora. there were a few peculiar factors that set apart derek, from your stereotypical play boy archetype. overall, his character was equally unambiguous and stodgy. i assume that was the point of his character?
these are perfect books that get me out of slumps + are pallet cleanser novels between my darker books. none of these novels are transformative—just fast-paced stories, if you have leisure.
on a positive note : it was better than the cheat sheet!
“i only lost because i want to show you in a physical way that i’m intentionally and completely vulnerable to you, nora. that i’ll gladly lose to you every day of my life—because for me, the prize is just being near you.�
this book was exactly what i had in mind—comprehensible, facile, and stereotypical—albeit, a good time. this type of story telling is 100% dependent on one's disposition and their overall feelings. in my humble opinion—that no one asked for—these books are not objectively substandard stories. however, they are also not life changing—again, according to my unwanted opinion—but rather, pleasant romance stories with passable prose and simple narrative structure.
� nora ~ nora is unfortunately the typical sarah adam's heroine archetype. she is jejune, unfledged, and very banal. this deportment and portrayal of grown women will never not be jarring. she is a lot more bearable than sarah's other FMC's, but at this stage, the bar is below hell. there weren’t any unique traits that nora possessed, and she did not have a personal nodus that made her stand apart from other characters.
� derek ~ certified fuck boy athlete. derek was a character my fatass completely forgot existed in the cheat sheet LMAO?? i had no real emotions when it came to him, howbeit, i could indulge in his antics more than nora. there were a few peculiar factors that set apart derek, from your stereotypical play boy archetype. overall, his character was equally unambiguous and stodgy. i assume that was the point of his character?
these are perfect books that get me out of slumps + are pallet cleanser novels between my darker books. none of these novels are transformative—just fast-paced stories, if you have leisure.
on a positive note : it was better than the cheat sheet!
January 9, 2025
╰� 3 stars!
i didn’t really expect that much from this book, but it was such a warm, and fluffy story!
i didn’t really expect that much from this book, but it was such a warm, and fluffy story!
April 3, 2024
much better than the cheat sheet 😭 it’s fun and i love the romance between these two
July 1, 2024
★★★★� - 4.25 - (reread review)
this book is by no means perfect, but i’d be lying if i said i didn’t enjoy it. i will never stop blushing. this was so swoon-worthy and heartwarming.
i liked both characters! even though Nora was a bit quirky, she was so kind, and very strong for being able to put up with certain characters. i love her beliefs about women and independence! and a character willing to stand up for herself and others is always the best.
Derek was HOT. and i mean, insanely hot. Nora wouldn’t shut up about the muscles and oddly…i wasn’t mad. tell me all about them. anyway, he was sweet, and so broody. he was mostly responsible for making me blush, so i can’t complain. i loved all his moments with Nora and i’m glad he was able to find happiness.
and yes, i did find the Nathan and Bree content i was looking for. they’re both such cinnamon rolls and i love them! that surprise at the end had me tearing up. (if you know, you know.) i’m glad i read the cheat sheet, even if I forgot to the first time around.
the FRIEND GROUP. i will not shut up about them. they’re iconic. Jamal does carry it a bit, but as a whole, they literally make me giggle and kick my feet. their dynamic is the best, especially before the games. i love their dramatic speeches and teasing. it makes it seem like a little movie. sadly, this book made it feel like this would be the last we’d see of them. and i’m going to cry if that’s true!! please. i need ONE more book with this group. i cannot say goodbye yet. Jamal, Derek, Nathan, Lawrence, Price, i love you all so much!
They’re my family. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be close.
this book’s plot was fun. honestly, not my favorite trope. i’ve never been a fan of second chance romance. but luckily, this book had some good emotional connection. i overall really liked it!
i’d recommend this if you liked the cheat sheet!
quotes
“I’m glad you told them they’re not allowed to airbrush your images.� He lingers there and nips at the strap of my bikini like he can’t resist. “Because smoothing away any part of your gorgeous body would be a travesty.�
“Nora, I want you to know, I plan on breaking every single one of our rules.�
“W?�
“Because I regret ever letting you go in the first place. Because I’m not convinced that what we had is really over between us. Because when we kiss, it feels right. Because when you smile at me my world feels whole.�
“You, Nora, are beautiful, rare magic and nothing less.�
“I just…� He shakes his head. “I hope you know. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Nora.�
“But I’m not afraid anymore, and I want you to know that I’m so completely in love with you.� His hold around my waist tightens and I’ve ember had a more captive audience. “I don’t want an out. I want this—me and you—for real if you’re up for it.�
“I’m yours, Nora. I always have been. Always will be.�
- - -
1st read: 4.25 stars!! this was SO good. i was blushing nonstop. not really gonna write a review for this one now but a reread is planned in the future!
this book is by no means perfect, but i’d be lying if i said i didn’t enjoy it. i will never stop blushing. this was so swoon-worthy and heartwarming.
i liked both characters! even though Nora was a bit quirky, she was so kind, and very strong for being able to put up with certain characters. i love her beliefs about women and independence! and a character willing to stand up for herself and others is always the best.
Derek was HOT. and i mean, insanely hot. Nora wouldn’t shut up about the muscles and oddly…i wasn’t mad. tell me all about them. anyway, he was sweet, and so broody. he was mostly responsible for making me blush, so i can’t complain. i loved all his moments with Nora and i’m glad he was able to find happiness.
and yes, i did find the Nathan and Bree content i was looking for. they’re both such cinnamon rolls and i love them! that surprise at the end had me tearing up. (if you know, you know.) i’m glad i read the cheat sheet, even if I forgot to the first time around.
the FRIEND GROUP. i will not shut up about them. they’re iconic. Jamal does carry it a bit, but as a whole, they literally make me giggle and kick my feet. their dynamic is the best, especially before the games. i love their dramatic speeches and teasing. it makes it seem like a little movie. sadly, this book made it feel like this would be the last we’d see of them. and i’m going to cry if that’s true!! please. i need ONE more book with this group. i cannot say goodbye yet. Jamal, Derek, Nathan, Lawrence, Price, i love you all so much!
They’re my family. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be close.
this book’s plot was fun. honestly, not my favorite trope. i’ve never been a fan of second chance romance. but luckily, this book had some good emotional connection. i overall really liked it!
i’d recommend this if you liked the cheat sheet!
quotes
“I’m glad you told them they’re not allowed to airbrush your images.� He lingers there and nips at the strap of my bikini like he can’t resist. “Because smoothing away any part of your gorgeous body would be a travesty.�
“Nora, I want you to know, I plan on breaking every single one of our rules.�
“W?�
“Because I regret ever letting you go in the first place. Because I’m not convinced that what we had is really over between us. Because when we kiss, it feels right. Because when you smile at me my world feels whole.�
“You, Nora, are beautiful, rare magic and nothing less.�
“I just…� He shakes his head. “I hope you know. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Nora.�
“But I’m not afraid anymore, and I want you to know that I’m so completely in love with you.� His hold around my waist tightens and I’ve ember had a more captive audience. “I don’t want an out. I want this—me and you—for real if you’re up for it.�
“I’m yours, Nora. I always have been. Always will be.�
- - -
1st read: 4.25 stars!! this was SO good. i was blushing nonstop. not really gonna write a review for this one now but a reread is planned in the future!
April 1, 2024
😭 the girl who feels like she’s too much meets the boy who feels like he’s not enough 🥹
✔️ second chance🫂
✔️ athlete x agent 🏟�
✔️ college lovers to ex-lovers to idiots to lovers 🤪
✔️ vegas marriage 💍
✔️ no third act 🥰
✔️ no owd/omd(mentions of other people in the past)😋
🎶 what happened to the wonderful adventures
the places I had planned for us to go?
i have to admit that i didn’t like him at first. he was acting like a petulant child, throwing tantrums and making everyone around him miserable😔 after Nora and his friends put some sense in his head he became such a lover boy🥰
i love that both kept loving each other all those years but also they tried moving on. they didn’t know if they would see the other one ever again so i’m glad both of them tried to move on🤗
their love was so strong🥹 he tattooed her initial on his arm after they broke up to remember her always😭 he found a charity for her&her mom, kept something for her on his bedside table🥹, and she watched all of his matches, bought all of his team jerseys😭😭😭😭😭😭 they just kept waiting and watching the other from afar💔💔💔
💌 Do I hate her?
I hate that when your mouth curves into a smile, I can't kiss it. I hate that you hold my heart in a vise grip and you have no idea.
I hate that I've never been able to move on from you-not for a single day. I hate that if I were to tell you all of this, you'd leave, and I'd be left vulnerable and bleeding out at the bar.
💌 "Why? Especially after the way I hurt you? Why would you get my initial?"
"Because regardless of how it ended, I needed a way to prove it existed." He says the words just above my mouth. "I was scared of forgetting what we had. The tattoo was a way to admit to myself that you were important to me and would always be a part of me no matter how much time passed."
💌 I wanted her. Still want her.
Will likely spend forever wanting her.
But not just in a physical sense. I want her as my best friend, my favorite person to talk to, the one who I walk with through every good and bad season. I want so much more with her than just that kiss on the beach.
💌 I'll see that she's more gut-wrenchingly beautiful than ever, and no matter what she does or where she goes, in my heart she'll always be mine.
And I hate her for it.
💌 “And I want to use this week where you're not my agent and I have no other obstacles in my way . .. to woo you."
She shakes her head slightly, trying to dislodge her words.
"You're going to� woo me?"
"Yes. I'm going to woo you."
She shifts on her feet. "No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not!" she says an octave higher.
"Okay, I'm not."
thanks to netgalley for the arc!! 🎈💗
~~~~~~
Wishes do come true! The Rule Book now available for you 😭😭😭😭😭
THANK YOUUUU NETGALLEY for finally approving my arc🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
✔️ second chance🫂
✔️ athlete x agent 🏟�
✔️ college lovers to ex-lovers to idiots to lovers 🤪
✔️ vegas marriage 💍
✔️ no third act 🥰
✔️ no owd/omd(mentions of other people in the past)😋
🎶 what happened to the wonderful adventures
the places I had planned for us to go?
i have to admit that i didn’t like him at first. he was acting like a petulant child, throwing tantrums and making everyone around him miserable😔 after Nora and his friends put some sense in his head he became such a lover boy🥰
i love that both kept loving each other all those years but also they tried moving on. they didn’t know if they would see the other one ever again so i’m glad both of them tried to move on🤗
their love was so strong🥹 he tattooed her initial on his arm after they broke up to remember her always😭 he found a charity for her&her mom, kept something for her on his bedside table🥹, and she watched all of his matches, bought all of his team jerseys😭😭😭😭😭😭 they just kept waiting and watching the other from afar💔💔💔
💌 Do I hate her?
I hate that when your mouth curves into a smile, I can't kiss it. I hate that you hold my heart in a vise grip and you have no idea.
I hate that I've never been able to move on from you-not for a single day. I hate that if I were to tell you all of this, you'd leave, and I'd be left vulnerable and bleeding out at the bar.
💌 "Why? Especially after the way I hurt you? Why would you get my initial?"
"Because regardless of how it ended, I needed a way to prove it existed." He says the words just above my mouth. "I was scared of forgetting what we had. The tattoo was a way to admit to myself that you were important to me and would always be a part of me no matter how much time passed."
💌 I wanted her. Still want her.
Will likely spend forever wanting her.
But not just in a physical sense. I want her as my best friend, my favorite person to talk to, the one who I walk with through every good and bad season. I want so much more with her than just that kiss on the beach.
💌 I'll see that she's more gut-wrenchingly beautiful than ever, and no matter what she does or where she goes, in my heart she'll always be mine.
And I hate her for it.
💌 “And I want to use this week where you're not my agent and I have no other obstacles in my way . .. to woo you."
She shakes her head slightly, trying to dislodge her words.
"You're going to� woo me?"
"Yes. I'm going to woo you."
She shifts on her feet. "No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not!" she says an octave higher.
"Okay, I'm not."
thanks to netgalley for the arc!! 🎈💗
~~~~~~
Wishes do come true! The Rule Book now available for you 😭😭😭😭😭
THANK YOUUUU NETGALLEY for finally approving my arc🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
April 1, 2024
if bad for business by sabrina carpenter was a book! | review to come 🌴
July 5, 2024
The Rule Book wins for my favorite romance book of the year, so far! I am not a big sports fan, so I honestly didn't have high hopes going into this book with it being sports themed. But whoa, this book delivered and took me by surprise!! I loved Nora's character so much; she kept me giggling all through the book. Her quirkiness and her silly little sayings were hilarious. I enjoyed her tenacity and her drive. I could feel Derek and Nora's chemistry jumping off the pages. Their conversations and bantering back and forth was so entertaining, I loved every minute of it! Derek and his tight-knot friend group were hilarious, too. I need to go back and read The Cheat Sheet by this author that is about Derek’s friend, Nathan's story. Definitely looking forward to more from this author and am putting her on my radar!!
Thank you, Dell Books, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you, Dell Books, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
March 10, 2024
3 ⭐️
Oh how it PAINS me to rate a Sarah Adams book less than 4 stars. who knows me knows I adore Adams, with When in Rome being one of my all time favorite romances. Cheat Sheet though unfortunately falls to the bottom of the list for me.
Read if you love:
� Sports romance
� Second chance romance
� Marriage of convenience
� Dual POV
� He falls first
Overall this book was cute and easy to read, and had that signature Sarah Adams joy filled writing we all love. However, as much as I wanted to love the FMC she gave off major manic pixie dream girl vibes and her continuous one liners got me less and less interested in the story overall. I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between Derek and Nora, and her constant ruminating gave me whiplash.
I don’t think this hit for me because of how cheesy the writing and dialogue felt. The way the boys spoke to each other seemed so unbelievable that it took me out of the story because I kept thinking “nobody talks like that�. Some of the lines Derek and Nora share with each other were too Hallmark-y that it didn’t feel human, and that human element is usually what I love so much about Adams� writing.
I will OBVIOUSLY continue to read anything SA releases and can’t wait to see what’s next. This one just didn’t hit for me!
Oh how it PAINS me to rate a Sarah Adams book less than 4 stars. who knows me knows I adore Adams, with When in Rome being one of my all time favorite romances. Cheat Sheet though unfortunately falls to the bottom of the list for me.
Read if you love:
� Sports romance
� Second chance romance
� Marriage of convenience
� Dual POV
� He falls first
Overall this book was cute and easy to read, and had that signature Sarah Adams joy filled writing we all love. However, as much as I wanted to love the FMC she gave off major manic pixie dream girl vibes and her continuous one liners got me less and less interested in the story overall. I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between Derek and Nora, and her constant ruminating gave me whiplash.
I don’t think this hit for me because of how cheesy the writing and dialogue felt. The way the boys spoke to each other seemed so unbelievable that it took me out of the story because I kept thinking “nobody talks like that�. Some of the lines Derek and Nora share with each other were too Hallmark-y that it didn’t feel human, and that human element is usually what I love so much about Adams� writing.
I will OBVIOUSLY continue to read anything SA releases and can’t wait to see what’s next. This one just didn’t hit for me!
May 12, 2024
"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
3.5 stars rounded down.
�.ೃ࿔*:�
now playing:
invisible string - taylor swift
� � II � � 1:35 ───ㅇ───── 4:14
: ̗̀� before we get into this review, I just want to let you guys know i’m coming for this book with receipts okay?? 😇
& thank you so very much to tati forsuffering through this buddy reading this with me💌
🍦🦈🩵
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ �
i’m gonna be straight up with you guys. this was weird and if you don’t believe me here’s some proof! (sorry in advance <3)
“And this is why I fear you as much as I adore you, my glorious workplace warrior goddess.�
your WHAT???????
“Too bad he’s a meanie now.�
how old are we??
“You can do this. You are a strong, smart, sexy muffin of a woman and you can do this.�
😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
“What exactly am I doing here, boss?�
“Don’t call me boss.�
“Okay, Derek-bo-berek-fe-fi-fo-�
can we kill her off and replace her with a less annoying fmc?
i could keep going with these but luckily for you i’ll move on 😉
other than the wildly uncomfortable writing style for the majority of the first half of the book, I enjoyed it a decent amount! so let’s get into it, shall we?
•�. *�characters
Derek Pender.
i could talk about this man for HOURS. he is perfect. he’s the epitome of a book boyfriend and if i could reach into this book and drag him out i would (similarly to me being able to reach in and kick the back of the fmc’s knees)😇
the majority of this rating is due to himand that smut scene.
derek went through so much growth throughout this book and i’m honestly so proud of him🥹 he did not deserve to be broken up with like that in the beginning of the book either. for most of his life, his parents compared him to his sister which was so unfair. i felt so bad for him when i read about that. nora, i just wanna talk babes!!! but fr, what is wrong with her. anyway back to derek (my favorite nickname of his being Dere-bear because it’s just so cute what!!) he deserves the world.
Nora Mackenzie “Mac�
well this is awkward..
i didn’t love nora’s character. as stated in the quotes above, she’s just weird. she felt like a pick me for pretty much the entirety of the book except for some parts, AND get this. she had the nerve to be SHOCKED that derek was upset that she broke up with him??????? like yea, people usually are upset when they get broken up with, but follow your heart girl!!! another really funny thing is that she tried to joke her way out of the whole awkward situation with derek. newsflash! usually when you try to joke your way out of something, the jokes are actually funny..
also, why did she keep joking with him when he is CLEARLY not laughing or even the tiniest bit amused. aren’t you embarrassed? no? oh okay.
•�. *�side characters
Nicole
i LOVED her, lived for her character. why was she not the fmc?? like if she had a book dedicated to her i would totally read it. she was the perfect business woman & i respect her sm.
nathan, jamal, price, lawrence
aka derek’s friend group)
they were SO CUTE. i love a good friend group. also nathan is the mmc in the cheat sheet (which sarah mentioned numerous times in the book in case you didn’t know!)
pam
aka nora’s mother
she was so supportive of nora and i loved that. also, a quote i loved from her:
“All I’ve ever wanted- and continue to want for you- is a partner who is going to uplift you as much as I know you will uplift him- and to cut loose anyone who would dare do otherwise.�
•�. *�plot
the plot was really good honestly, i have no complaints here.
•�. *�other notes
- it kinda felt like they were just lusting for each other at some parts in the book. like, ok i get it you’re both attractive and what not, but there’s a time and a place.
ex: “‘I understand that. And respect it,� she says, and I wish more than anything I were there with her- could be having this conversation with her in my arms. Preferably naked.�
sorry did i miss something? i thought she was talking about your future career�
- i don’t understand the whole ‘they kissed and her lips were swollen� concept. that shouldn’t be a normal thing??? people’s lips don't swell after they kiss right.. idk maybe they do😭
- the book really wasn’t that bad, i’m just dramatic <333
•�. *�more (tolerable) quotes
"But also... What if nothing bad happens? What if... it's just wonderful?"
"I want you to hear that there is nothing incompetent about you."
"She's one of those infectious souls you can't help but come to life around."
“All’s well that loves well.�
“You deserve the whole world, and I’d try to give it to you�
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Nora.�
“‘Can I ask you a question?�
‘Anything. Always.’�
“I want her as my best friend, my favorite person to talk to, the one who I walk with through every good and bad season.�
“You weren’t even close to easily replaceable to me.�
ʚˡ�
if you read this whole review ily forever😭 it’s way too long. �
xo
eveonne :)
---------------------------------------
� ‧₊˚ 🍵 � 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
buddy read with tati!! i’ve read when in rome by her and i loved it, so i can’t wait to get to this one :)
3.5 stars rounded down.
�.ೃ࿔*:�
now playing:
invisible string - taylor swift
� � II � � 1:35 ───ㅇ───── 4:14
: ̗̀� before we get into this review, I just want to let you guys know i’m coming for this book with receipts okay?? 😇
& thank you so very much to tati for
🍦🦈🩵
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ �
i’m gonna be straight up with you guys. this was weird and if you don’t believe me here’s some proof! (sorry in advance <3)
“And this is why I fear you as much as I adore you, my glorious workplace warrior goddess.�
your WHAT???????
“Too bad he’s a meanie now.�
how old are we??
“You can do this. You are a strong, smart, sexy muffin of a woman and you can do this.�
😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
“What exactly am I doing here, boss?�
“Don’t call me boss.�
“Okay, Derek-bo-berek-fe-fi-fo-�
can we kill her off and replace her with a less annoying fmc?
i could keep going with these but luckily for you i’ll move on 😉
other than the wildly uncomfortable writing style for the majority of the first half of the book, I enjoyed it a decent amount! so let’s get into it, shall we?
•�. *�characters
Derek Pender.
i could talk about this man for HOURS. he is perfect. he’s the epitome of a book boyfriend and if i could reach into this book and drag him out i would (
the majority of this rating is due to him
derek went through so much growth throughout this book and i’m honestly so proud of him🥹 he did not deserve to be broken up with like that in the beginning of the book either. for most of his life, his parents compared him to his sister which was so unfair. i felt so bad for him when i read about that. nora, i just wanna talk babes!!! but fr, what is wrong with her. anyway back to derek (my favorite nickname of his being Dere-bear because it’s just so cute what!!) he deserves the world.
Nora Mackenzie “Mac�
well this is awkward..
i didn’t love nora’s character. as stated in the quotes above, she’s just weird. she felt like a pick me for pretty much the entirety of the book except for some parts, AND get this. she had the nerve to be SHOCKED that derek was upset that she broke up with him??????? like yea, people usually are upset when they get broken up with, but follow your heart girl!!! another really funny thing is that she tried to joke her way out of the whole awkward situation with derek. newsflash! usually when you try to joke your way out of something, the jokes are actually funny..
also, why did she keep joking with him when he is CLEARLY not laughing or even the tiniest bit amused. aren’t you embarrassed? no? oh okay.
•�. *�side characters
Nicole
i LOVED her, lived for her character. why was she not the fmc?? like if she had a book dedicated to her i would totally read it. she was the perfect business woman & i respect her sm.
nathan, jamal, price, lawrence
aka derek’s friend group)
they were SO CUTE. i love a good friend group. also nathan is the mmc in the cheat sheet (which sarah mentioned numerous times in the book in case you didn’t know!)
pam
aka nora’s mother
she was so supportive of nora and i loved that. also, a quote i loved from her:
“All I’ve ever wanted- and continue to want for you- is a partner who is going to uplift you as much as I know you will uplift him- and to cut loose anyone who would dare do otherwise.�
•�. *�plot
the plot was really good honestly, i have no complaints here.
•�. *�other notes
- it kinda felt like they were just lusting for each other at some parts in the book. like, ok i get it you’re both attractive and what not, but there’s a time and a place.
ex: “‘I understand that. And respect it,� she says, and I wish more than anything I were there with her- could be having this conversation with her in my arms. Preferably naked.�
sorry did i miss something? i thought she was talking about your future career�
- i don’t understand the whole ‘they kissed and her lips were swollen� concept. that shouldn’t be a normal thing??? people’s lips don't swell after they kiss right.. idk maybe they do😭
- the book really wasn’t that bad, i’m just dramatic <333
•�. *�more (tolerable) quotes
"But also... What if nothing bad happens? What if... it's just wonderful?"
"I want you to hear that there is nothing incompetent about you."
"She's one of those infectious souls you can't help but come to life around."
“All’s well that loves well.�
“You deserve the whole world, and I’d try to give it to you�
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Nora.�
“‘Can I ask you a question?�
‘Anything. Always.’�
“I want her as my best friend, my favorite person to talk to, the one who I walk with through every good and bad season.�
“You weren’t even close to easily replaceable to me.�
ʚˡ�
if you read this whole review ily forever😭 it’s way too long. �
xo
eveonne :)
---------------------------------------
� ‧₊˚ 🍵 � 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
buddy read with tati!! i’ve read when in rome by her and i loved it, so i can’t wait to get to this one :)
June 22, 2024
Nie ma lepszej autorki romansów niż Sarah.
Jeśli szukacie nowego książkowego męża to musicie to przeczytać 🩷
Jeśli szukacie nowego książkowego męża to musicie to przeczytać 🩷
April 8, 2024
so cute, fun, fast-paced!!! so much tension, romance, and i loved the lil glimpses of all the other characters. <33
May 3, 2024
4.25 🌟!!! I didn't have high expectations reading this book but it was such a cute and fluffy read. Nora's character and her quirks were lovable.I didn't like Derek at first since he was hell-bent on making Nora's life miserable..but let me tell you,Derek grew on me. DEREK PENDER THE MAN THAT YOU ARE😩🧎🏻♀�..This man and his actions were so thoughtful and he cared so much about Nora..I need to find a guy who looks at me lovingly the way Derek listens to Nora yap about anything happily!!!😭😭😭♥️♥️♥️. Nora and Derek are such a cute couple and I'm so happy that we got a glimpse of their friend group during the book💗
Read
March 7, 2024This is my favorite book by her yet - it felt like it flowed better, was a little crisper and just overall the most satisfying of her books so far. (This book is also a change from her original fully closed-door writing of the past).
July 1, 2024
70th book of the year!! sarah adams books are so. freaking. good!! theyre so cheesy and the writing is not, in my opinion, the best. these are the types of books i would usually hate and write raging reviews for but i literally eat them up every single time. i love nora and derek SO MUCH!! they remind me of the songs 'lovesick' and 'bewitched' by laufey (can you tell i listen to laufey while reading?) . i dont usually reach for second chance romance and i didnt know this was second chance. if im being honest, i was kind of disappointed when i found out it was BUT the tension in this??! 😮� i js loved every page of this book and i js ate it uppp, finished in three hours. also, im sorry i havent been writing full reviews lately. its js that writing reviews have gotten tiring and more like smth i have to do than smth i want to do and these short small reviews where i js rate based off of vibes are js so freeing and sm more fun to write lol. also, my last three books were peaceful fluffy brainrot romances, so not much to write abt. i promise ill write a full review soon!! anyways, i cant wait to read more by sarah adams!
-ˋˏ✄┈�
�.� pre-read: another sarah adams!! ive been loving her books 😋 i read the cheat sheet last year and i didnt love it but i hope that this one will be better!
-ˋˏ✄┈�
�.� pre-read: another sarah adams!! ive been loving her books 😋 i read the cheat sheet last year and i didnt love it but i hope that this one will be better!
April 11, 2024
4.5 stars
I finished The Rule Book on Monday and I was soooo in love with this audiobook! It’s an angsty second chance romance where the heroine broke up with the hero in college and broke his heart. Now he’s a football player recovering from an injury and she’s an agent and he is given to her as a client. I loooved the dynamic between them and how the hero is definitely not ready to forgive her. But they have to spend time together and there’s *only one bed* and I was swooning and kicking my feet so much in this book. If you love an athlete hero and second chance (and some fun in Vegas 👀), you need to pick this up!!!
I finished The Rule Book on Monday and I was soooo in love with this audiobook! It’s an angsty second chance romance where the heroine broke up with the hero in college and broke his heart. Now he’s a football player recovering from an injury and she’s an agent and he is given to her as a client. I loooved the dynamic between them and how the hero is definitely not ready to forgive her. But they have to spend time together and there’s *only one bed* and I was swooning and kicking my feet so much in this book. If you love an athlete hero and second chance (and some fun in Vegas 👀), you need to pick this up!!!
February 27, 2024
Women who enjoy romance books are not stupid. I do not understand how this industry continues to undervalue this genre and publish nonsense.
You can tolerate this book if you can overlook:
*Terrible male POV chapters sprung from imaginary men who do not exist. I asked my husband to read one chapter and he could not get through it. I actually did not realize this was related to The Cheat Sheet until the men convened en masse the same way as the other book. I cannot believe that one football playing man read one of these POV chapters and felt represented. Or just a non football playing man. Just a man. This book should be labeled in the fantasy genre. A weird, over bearing, fantasy. PROVE ME WRONG.
*Basic legal principles, like contracts and what can be included in them and that actual attorneys review them for enforceability. Not sports agents.
*The sport of football and that a team can have two players who play the same position and remain on the same team at the same time. In the age of T swift and women flocking to football, an opportunity to actually include the sport in a meaningful way was missed and the book just assumes that the reader knows nothing about the sport.
Again, women readers are NOT stupid. Just stop. I urge publishers and writers to do better than spew basic bullshit and label it as romance.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can tolerate this book if you can overlook:
*Terrible male POV chapters sprung from imaginary men who do not exist. I asked my husband to read one chapter and he could not get through it. I actually did not realize this was related to The Cheat Sheet until the men convened en masse the same way as the other book. I cannot believe that one football playing man read one of these POV chapters and felt represented. Or just a non football playing man. Just a man. This book should be labeled in the fantasy genre. A weird, over bearing, fantasy. PROVE ME WRONG.
*Basic legal principles, like contracts and what can be included in them and that actual attorneys review them for enforceability. Not sports agents.
*The sport of football and that a team can have two players who play the same position and remain on the same team at the same time. In the age of T swift and women flocking to football, an opportunity to actually include the sport in a meaningful way was missed and the book just assumes that the reader knows nothing about the sport.
Again, women readers are NOT stupid. Just stop. I urge publishers and writers to do better than spew basic bullshit and label it as romance.
I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2024
This book made me so mad. Like genuinely how does it not have more unfavourable reviews???
I have a whole list of things that were bad.
For one, the writing style. It was clunky and a lot of the time Sarah Adams was overexplaining Nora and Derek’s feelings. She was telling us and then repeating to us how they felt at a particular moment and then made sure we knew exactly how they felt so there would be no questions asked. It was exhausting as well as annoying and boring. Like we’re not children - we can gather context, you don’t have to explicitly state how each of them feel at a moment in time.
Next, there was the whole conflict at the start??? Like Derek was just being a fucking asshole because he didn’t want to communicate with Nora. Like you’re 30, have some fucking maturity. Genuinely, at the start I was so confused how this was even a book because that conflict could have been entirely avoided if he stopped being a fucking baby. Like the trope of being enemies is fun but not when it’s not even warranted or written well. It made me so mad that he wanted to “punish� her when he was also still in love with her. Also like they did that “almost kiss� at the start of the book, which is so dumb because from the way the characters were planned, their first kiss should’ve happened way later because then it would’ve felt like they earned it. Also like he kind of randomly and immediately stops being an asshole, I just didn’t get it.
Also the rule book was immediately thrown out of the story. Like was there even a point when it wasn’t even integrated with the story again. Yes, it was mentioned several times later but I highly doubt anyone remembered what the rules were while reading. They were so inconsequential, that the title of the book was moot. So dumb. Like we could’ve nixed the first conflict and just start when they’re in Vegas or whatever and named the book after their fake marriage????
That’s my other gripe, why the hell did the plot suddenly twist and grab onto a different romance trope. It was so uncalled for. And as I said before - makes the rules redundant because then they’re not the main part of the story.
The characters were also basically NPCs (non-playable characters). I mean this as they didn’t have a personality - like they were sooooo boring especially Derek. Nora was just your average quirky girl but also so boring. 🥱 This meant when they had sex, it was also boring and so vanilla and I basically skimmed over it.
I also thought it would be more of a sports romance seeing as HE’S AN NFL PLAYER AND SHE’S A SPORTS AGENT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO SPORT ASPECT. LIKE WHAT IS THE POINT. HE COULD’VE HAD ANY OTHER CAREER. At no real point does she actually do her job - at least not that you can see. He also doesn’t do his job until literally 3 chapters from the end where - SPOILER ALERT - HE QUITS???
There’s also the weird feminism and misogyny plot. Like she is the whitest feminist I’ve ever seen. Nothing about her screams I’m a feminist except Sarah Adams explicitly telling us she’s a feminist. It was such a poor portrayal of a feminist. Also we were also supposed to empathise with her being in a misogynistic workplace but it literally didn’t matter. I was just like oh they’re misogynists - okay. Then moved on.
The side characters also annoyed me. I didn’t get the point of the backstory with her dad. And the fact that she didn’t have any friends besides her boss who didn’t even want to say that they were friends annoyed me. Because like that’s kind of cruel and I do believe that everyone has at least one friend in their life. His friends were annoying because they did nothing and were nothing. There was nothing special about them.
I can’t remember if there was anything else I had to say but I will say that it was entirely too long but maybe that was just because I found it so incredibly boring. As cheesy and tropey as Ali Hazelwood’s books are - at least the characters have character. At least there’s a sensible plot. At least her writing flows.
I have a whole list of things that were bad.
For one, the writing style. It was clunky and a lot of the time Sarah Adams was overexplaining Nora and Derek’s feelings. She was telling us and then repeating to us how they felt at a particular moment and then made sure we knew exactly how they felt so there would be no questions asked. It was exhausting as well as annoying and boring. Like we’re not children - we can gather context, you don’t have to explicitly state how each of them feel at a moment in time.
Next, there was the whole conflict at the start??? Like Derek was just being a fucking asshole because he didn’t want to communicate with Nora. Like you’re 30, have some fucking maturity. Genuinely, at the start I was so confused how this was even a book because that conflict could have been entirely avoided if he stopped being a fucking baby. Like the trope of being enemies is fun but not when it’s not even warranted or written well. It made me so mad that he wanted to “punish� her when he was also still in love with her. Also like they did that “almost kiss� at the start of the book, which is so dumb because from the way the characters were planned, their first kiss should’ve happened way later because then it would’ve felt like they earned it. Also like he kind of randomly and immediately stops being an asshole, I just didn’t get it.
Also the rule book was immediately thrown out of the story. Like was there even a point when it wasn’t even integrated with the story again. Yes, it was mentioned several times later but I highly doubt anyone remembered what the rules were while reading. They were so inconsequential, that the title of the book was moot. So dumb. Like we could’ve nixed the first conflict and just start when they’re in Vegas or whatever and named the book after their fake marriage????
That’s my other gripe, why the hell did the plot suddenly twist and grab onto a different romance trope. It was so uncalled for. And as I said before - makes the rules redundant because then they’re not the main part of the story.
The characters were also basically NPCs (non-playable characters). I mean this as they didn’t have a personality - like they were sooooo boring especially Derek. Nora was just your average quirky girl but also so boring. 🥱 This meant when they had sex, it was also boring and so vanilla and I basically skimmed over it.
I also thought it would be more of a sports romance seeing as HE’S AN NFL PLAYER AND SHE’S A SPORTS AGENT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO SPORT ASPECT. LIKE WHAT IS THE POINT. HE COULD’VE HAD ANY OTHER CAREER. At no real point does she actually do her job - at least not that you can see. He also doesn’t do his job until literally 3 chapters from the end where - SPOILER ALERT - HE QUITS???
There’s also the weird feminism and misogyny plot. Like she is the whitest feminist I’ve ever seen. Nothing about her screams I’m a feminist except Sarah Adams explicitly telling us she’s a feminist. It was such a poor portrayal of a feminist. Also we were also supposed to empathise with her being in a misogynistic workplace but it literally didn’t matter. I was just like oh they’re misogynists - okay. Then moved on.
The side characters also annoyed me. I didn’t get the point of the backstory with her dad. And the fact that she didn’t have any friends besides her boss who didn’t even want to say that they were friends annoyed me. Because like that’s kind of cruel and I do believe that everyone has at least one friend in their life. His friends were annoying because they did nothing and were nothing. There was nothing special about them.
I can’t remember if there was anything else I had to say but I will say that it was entirely too long but maybe that was just because I found it so incredibly boring. As cheesy and tropey as Ali Hazelwood’s books are - at least the characters have character. At least there’s a sensible plot. At least her writing flows.
April 21, 2024
This is a petition to bring back indie Sarah Adams.
Remember when her books weren't all 'men are terrible'? (Other than the hero and his buddies, of course.)
I miss those days.
Also, I hate how the book kept bringing up the couple's physical relationship from college. Ugh. No thanks. I don't want to hear about that one time much less dozens of times.
_____
Here's to hoping that The Rule Book is even better than The Cheat Sheet.
Remember when her books weren't all 'men are terrible'? (Other than the hero and his buddies, of course.)
I miss those days.
Also, I hate how the book kept bringing up the couple's physical relationship from college. Ugh. No thanks. I don't want to hear about that one time much less dozens of times.
_____
Here's to hoping that The Rule Book is even better than The Cheat Sheet.
June 3, 2024
This book had me giggling and kicking my feet. I also laughed out loud multiple times.😂
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