The Rule Book: A Novel

The Rule Book, by Sarah Adams was a joy to read. This sweet, sports romance is an engaging, humorous, feel-good story. We follow Nora and Derek, two former college sweethearts who abruptly break-up on the verge of graduation just as Derek’s career is beginning to take off. Years later they find one another once again, quite unexpectedly, under rather awkward circumstances, with a determination to hide their past and what they once meant to each other.When Nora is given the tremendous opportunity to manage the famous football player, Derek Pender, as his sports agent, she has no doubt that she can do it even though she’s a rookie. What she doesn’t know is if she can handle working so closely with him given her lingering feelings for him from years ago. When they drunkenly get married one night and Nora subsequently faces the possibility of being fired, the two decide to sell their impromptu wedding as legitimate and intentional. But what does this actually mean for them as a couple and is it just for the sake of saving Nora’s career?I truly loved this story! There is a depth beneath the romantic plot line that explores various insightful issues. I adored Nora with her bright, sunshiny ways, undermined by a steely strong, creative, clever spirit. She knows who she is and isn’t embarrassed by it. Derek is a generally good guy, as well as a star football player who is currently rehabbing a potential career-ending injury. Despite the lack of communication trope that creeps up repeatedly and is a bit frustrating, I was charmed by everything else in this story. The banter, the chemistry, the friendships, and the mutual female support in the workplace made this story a winner.The manner in which Nora and Derek treated each other was touching. The honest view of the issues the characters struggled with, as well as the mental health representation and learning differences with made them realistic and relatable. The Rule Book is a quick-reading, entertaining, delightful story that will warm your heart and leave you smiling.

Based on my reading habits, I shouldn't be as in love with Sarah Adam's books as I am. But alas, every time... she just sucks me in and leaves me smiling.📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone-ish. 📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book on Kindle. Borrowed from Libby.📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Sports romance (football), grumpy/sunshine, second chance, fake marriage, all the feels, dyslexia representation.📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Derek and Nora dated in college, before abruptly breaking it off. Years later, Derek needs a new agent and Nora is assigned to him. He's at a crossroads - coming back from an major ankle injury - and she's trying to prove herself in a male-dominated industry. But sparks from the past are immediate and distracting for both of them.🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: The last few Sarah Adams books I've read have been such great reads. And I leave them with a warm fuzzy feeling, which is the goal, right?The Rule Book was one I wasn't sure I would love - since I had such a meltdown over the ending to The Cheat Sheet. But this book was so well-rounded and featured two characters I couldn't help but love. Nora is eccentric - and while I typically can't deal with FMCs like that, she was not only extremely likeable, but funny and unique and relatable in a way that made me smile. Derek? Impossible not to fall in love with that guy.The one thing I absolutely love was the mutual pining. Nothing like two people who see one another again and immediately their hearts start pounding and they're completely gone for each other. There were parts of this book that should have felt stereotypical - a Vegas wedding, a staged honeymoon, etc. - but read so romantically I couldn't find it in me to care.I think it's safe to say I just love the warm hug of Sarah Adams' writing... and I can't wait to continue along for the ride.𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: I absolutely adore her other series, When in Rome if you're looking to read more Sarah Adams.

Definitely a beach read. Totally unbelievable but sweet. Hot guy falls for hot girl. Hot girl dumoed Hot guy years ago . The rest is history!

Such a cute book! Read it in one day!

Same formula as The Cheat Sheet.Couple from high school/college totally in love. She abruptly breaks it off with no explanation and ghosts him for years. They are forced together and fake a romantic relationship.You can probably take it from here.Charming characters. But a little creativity with the entry would be welcome. And a rest from over the top wacky females.