I thought this was a really great second chance romance with a bonus accidental marriage thrown in for good measure.

Nora and Derek were such a great couple and seeing them fall back in love as these new, older versions of themselves was so nice. And fun. There were a lot of really tender moments and they complemented really well with the moments of high sexual tensions.

It was funny and it was good to see the characters from The Cheat Sheet again. Overall, a fun read.

I'm currently in my Sports Romance era and The Rule Book by Sarah Adams did not disappoint! I had the absolute best time with this one from beginning to end. A truly feel-good and low-stakes romance with a lovable cast of side characters, The Rule Book is a Summer must-read in 2024.

I think one of my favourite aspects about this book is surprisingly the side-characters. There's nothing I love more than a meddlesome group of friends that mean well and yet ultimately over-step and annoy the main character. I genuinely couldn't stop grinning throughout the story as witnessed the development (and downfall) of Derek and Nora's list of rules. I will admit after learning about the demise of their relationship from college I was concerned about how both characters could find their way back from that, especially after a drunken night leads results in them being married and thrust into the public eye, but I adored Nora and Derek's progress as we watched their emotional connection grow and then thrive.

Also... can we just recognise that whilst being a fun and 'fluffy' romance, The Rule Book manages to recognise and address real life struggles. Derek's recovery from a near-career ending injury, and his late-dyslexia diagnosis as an adult. Nora's struggles in the workplace with sexism and what it's like to be a woman in 'a man's world.' I personally enjoyed how author Sarah Adams approached these conflicts with maturity and care, and I found that this content acted in support to an otherwise cheerful and light-hearted storyline. These plots enabled Derek and Nora to connect on a much deeper level, and I found that these were amongst my most favourite scenes to read.

The Rule Book is very much a 'right person, wrong time' second chance romance and it was a true delight to be able to watch Derek and Nora fall in love all over again. Fans of The Cheat Sheet will also enjoy the presence of familiar and recurring characters, and

Sarah Adams is yet to disappoint - this was another fantastic book from her and I was hooked on every page of this second chance romance. With their history, it’s no surprise Derek and Nora are off to an extremely rocky start, in desperate need of clearing the air now that they’ve run into each other again. This was a classic case of grumpy vs sunshine, with Derek in a funk from more than just the return of Nora to his life, but Nora remains persistently cheery, determined to win with her cute quips and happy demeanour. I loved her cute phrases and upbeat nature, and she had me totally charmed - it’s no wonder Derek felt like he was in trouble! The plot around the romance was also interesting, with some difficult topics explored that will definitely make you feel for these two characters, and root for them! This book is fun, flirty, and impossible to put down.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Feels sooo warm!!! Perfect for anyone who’s looking for a light and cozy reading, with a little depth. I thought this will be 100% closed door but wow it got some spice. The characters got a background story and it carries throughout the book. I can't really put it down. 5stars for me.

Sarah Adam's writing is compelling with lots of puns, funny banter and catchphrases (a bit overdone for me but I LOVE it).
It’s so refreshing to read that the FMC doesn’t feel the prick on the neck or somehow just know that the MMC is in the room for weird reasons, other than she already saw him or made prior appointments or know beforehand 😂😂😂

This really feels like cheatsheet, the banter, the plot, even Nora’s character reminds me a lot with Bree, but there's another depth in this book. It feels familiar and new at the same time (does that make sense?)

College sweethearts
Second chance romance
Accidental marriage
Sports romance
Bright & bubbly main character
One bed

So many tropes, and I love every single one of them 🥰

Nora & Derek dated in college - he a football (American) player, and she a sports agent. They broke up (Nora shattered Dereks heart! 💔) and moved on with their lives.

Well, kinda.

But now Noras first client is Derek after his old agent had to take time off due to personal reasons (we never got to know what that was… just a loose end I’d wish someone just sorta mentioned) but he has no idea it’s her as she goes by Mac in this boys world.

One thing leads to another and BAM they’re married.

How do they cope with all this? Well read and find out!

——

Honestly one of my fave reads of the year. Hands down. Yeah, I know it’s only March but I’m putting it in stone already.

I love Nora’s bubbly personality, and all of Dereks friends. I love Derek too, but that’s obvious. what’s not to love about a gorgeous beefy NFL man who stands up for his missus? Nothing that’s what. So of course I love him.

My fave line? It’s gonna be my morning mantra from now on:

“You can do this. You are a strong, smart, sexy muffin of a woman and you can do this.”

Just Nora all over.

3.75/5

This book was interesting and I enjoyed it but didn't love it. I love accidental marriage and second chance romance but this book didn't scratch the itch.

The characters were bland. Nora was both over the top and boring and I have no idea how that's possible. Her catchphrases were corny and she tried to be not like other girls so much to the point of caricature.

Derek annoyed me with his constant "I love Nora but will make her life a living hell", like come on dude. She was working her ass off trying to get you the deals and save your career and you played her like she was a pawn in your game. What's worse, he played with her career as well. No wonder she had dumped him at college. If he was so flippant now, I don't even want to know what he was like when they were younger.

One good thing: he redeemed himself. The way he protected her career later was nice and I liked it. I'm glad that they talked about their past and cleared the air. I hate the miscommunication trope. And a huge plus for the lack of the third-act breakup!. Instead, they talked and took a chance.

The writing wasn't my favourite. Some of the phrases were cringe and I hated seeing them. Some of the dialogue felt a bit wonky. The pacing was weird, sometimes it felt rushed, and the others, nothing was happening.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for providing the ARC for an honest review.

✨ I absolutely adore Sarah Adams so I was over the moon when my request got approved to read the rule book ✨

Sarah’s writing is so moreish and I am just in love with Nora and Derek! Nora is just so fun and so uniquely herself, without shame, such a strong lead. Derek was so soft and sweet throughout ( he definitely could not stay mad with Nora for long).
I loved the fact that this was low-conflict so we got a chance to get to know both characters without any huge drama! The marriage of convenience side of this book was done so well (especially when they were both so obviously in love with each other) and the flirty way Nora and Derek came up with the rule book had me on the edge of my page 😉.

The themes of this book felt more mature then Sarah’s other books, Nora fights standing up to sexism in the workplace as well as family issues which affect her other relationships and Derek, whose not only battling with his injury, which threatens to ruin his career, but also his late dyslexia diagnosis which has been a huge unresolved issues in his life for years. Both characters are hugely supportive of one another which makes you root for them even more.

An extra bonus we get from this book is we get to see the sharks again! Loved Nathan and Bree in ‘The Rule Book’ and I’d get so excited seeing them two pop up in chapters. Overall, this book was such a fun, witty read and I loved the ‘open door’ part of this book - it was done beautifully 🫶🏻

*Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the opportunity to read this ARC*

Thanks so much to Headline Books, Sarah Adams and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I am convinced Sarah Adams can do no wrong and this is proof. What a delightful and tension filled second chance romance. I love the encounters between Derek and Nora and the chemistry between the two is palpable. The way they complement each other is excellent and their character development is well paced and realistic.

Adams does a fantastic job of sharing the struggles Nora faces as a female sports agent and the way her quirks are defined and perceived. In the same way, Dereks recent dyslexia diagnosis shows the way in which his former years were characterised by the constant pressure to apply himself, I would have loved to have seen more here.

The only element that stops this from being 5 stars is at times the dialogue just seemed outright ridiculous, and unrealistic. Despite this, the plot and accidental marriage was executed seamlessly.

I would highly recommend, I think it’s her best book yet!

4,5 / 5

THERE’S. NO. 3RD. ACT. BREAK.UP.
IT. JUST. DOESN’T. EXIST.
AND WE LOVE TO SEE IT.

Nora was cute, funny, bubbly and absolutely carried the book from start to finish, not only with her personality through her pov chapters, but also the way Derek sees her in his.
Loved their chemistry and the way these two made 100% sense.

My personal highlight of this book was Nicole. Even more so because of the way Nora talks about her. Do I dare to say Nicole might need her own book ?
Maybe.
Definitely.

While this book is more on the lighthearted side, I do think it’s fair to acknowledge the very real issue of women working in a male dominated field and, as in this case, the environment and the sexism that takes place there.

I know this book is a book 2 in a series and I haven’t read The Cheat Sheet (yet) (or any other Sarah Adams book for that matter). I’ve been going back and forth on whether I should read it, but I do have to say that I am now more intrigued to read The Cheat Sheet as well as Sarah's romcom backlog after reading The Rule Book.

I can see this book being a very easy 5 star for a lot of people.

Thank you Headline Eternal for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really struggled to sit down to write this review because putting my finger on exactly what didn't work so well for me in this book was difficult. I only rated The Cheat Sheet 3 stars too, but it was a high 3 star vs this one which is at the bottom end of the sliding scale.

I really rated Nora as a character; her take-no-nonsense attitude was refreshing to read and I was really rooting for her. But I didn't ever find myself rooting for Derek, and therefore I wasn't interested in the relationship at all. And then Nora started to grate on me because I didn't see the hype with Derek, which then made me dislike all the one-liners that might not have bothered me if I cared more. Perhaps there wasn't enough back story for met to really believe they were ever in love, which is what I need to really pine over a second chance romance.

I was really looking forward to being back with the boys from The Cheat Sheet, but the dialogue and relationship that seemed unrealistic in the first book in the series felt even more unrealistic. I felt like I was reading a conversation between teenage girls, not grown men with wives and children.

This isn't a bad book by any stretch, it just didn't work for my tastes. Although I felt very validated by the reference to Betty Spaghetty; I'm not sure if that says more about the book or me though.

Tropes:
• Sports romance (American Football)
• Dual POV
• He falls first
• Second chance romance
• Marriage of convenience

If you know me, you know I'm an absolute die-hard enemy to lovers, fake marriage, forced proximity and grumpy meets sunshine. Now this book has it all, so when hearing it had been accepted I couldn't wait to pick it up.

The book encompasses the most engaging story, including Derek and Nora, who used to date in college. Nora left things on bad terms after she let her grades slip and her attendance for Derek (an aspiring young footballer). Deciding that they needed to go their separate ways, they meet again due to Nora working for a sports agency where her first assignment is none other than the beautiful, talented, tall, dark and handsome Derek to help his career get back to a better place after an injury.

Still angry and full of vengeance, Derek decides to get back at Nora, ensuring he does everything he can to ensure she quits or the contact is dissolved. However, Nora does everything she can to prove she is a talented agent and will support Derek's career in any way.

Review:
This book had me so hooked, that I couldn't put it down. Those books are so easy to follow, and the romance is very clearly a slow burn not just the protagonist being so self-absorbed that he just recognises her at the end. I adored their history so much, Derek being so emotionally damaged from their relationship that he's learning to not be so angry all the time and to open up about how it made him feel. Their relationship grew so swiftly, and finally, characters that can communicate! Sarah Adams thank you for such a lovely book, ill recommend it it all my lovely book friends forever!

I absolutely loved this book! I adored The Cheat Sheet but The Rule Book is even better!
The relationships and the banter between Derek and Nora is top notch! Nora is a relatable character for me!

The Rule Book is cute, sweet and a little bit steamy - it's everything you need for a quick romance read!

Second-chance romance is not my favourite trope but The Rule Book did it very well! I often find myself getting annoyed by the lack of development in these romances but there was a lot here thanks to the flashbacks and conversations about Derek and Nora's past. I enjoyed the connection between the pair and how their dynamic had changed over time.

I liked getting to see the characters from The Cheat Sheet, I love interconnected romance stories so much and the cast of characters in this duology are so fun.

I'm fairly sure Nora is neurodivergent in some way but it's never really explored, there's a heavy focus on how 'quirky' she is but it doesn't go any further than that. A bit like Derek's dyslexia diagnosis, it's mentioned in passing but I was expecting it to be a bigger part of the story.

This book fell a bit flat for me. I enjoy contemporary romance/sports books, but I just couldn’t connect with these characters. Nora’s constant one liners and joking were so often and cringey that it became very distracting. Also the way the men talked to each other seemed completely unrealistic and made me roll my eyes at times.

I did appreciate the focus on women working in a male dominated field and all that that entails. I would love to read a book dedicated to Nicole!

Thank you Net Galley and Headline for an ARC copy in exchange for a review!

Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I’ve been able to read The Rule Book early!! I got the book as an ARC from NetGalley and I was over the moon when I received the email saying my wish had been granted (you can wish for a book on NetGalley and the publishers sometimes grant the wish)

Okay so my thoughts: I couldn’t put the book down since the first chapter (I was obsessed), Derek and Nora are my absolute favourite book couple in the whole wide world. I loved Nora’s character, she was such a positive FMC and made me smile on more than one occasion. Derek is officially my new book boyfriend, he was the best. I really enjoyed getting more insight into the team as a whole and loved how much they were included, it made the book way better.

I appreciated that Sarah Adams said which chapter to skip in the content warnings if you wanted it to be a closed door romance, which I did. This made it a much better reading experience and I’m grateful when authors do it. Although it was quite a predictable rom com, I didn’t mind because it gave me so many butterflies. 5 STARS, read this book now (or when it comes out hehe)

*All my thoughts are my own and this my honest review*

I heard great things about Sarah Adams' books so I was so excited to receive a copy for review from NetGalley.

I love love loved the first half of this book. I was literally giddy reading it, swinging my little feet around, feeling all the emotions. I absolutely loved the "enemies" to lovers trope and thought it was done really well. I would give 5 stars to the first half for sure.

** spoiler alert ** I sort of lost interest, though, when they went to to Cancun. The tone somewhat changed, and it was all of a sudden super lovey dovey and had no more of that fired-up banter that I came to love. I ended up dragging my feet finishing, because it became a little too predictable as well. I would give this half only 3 stars.

That being said, I would probably re-read the first half again and again - and will definitely be looking into more books by Sarah in the future.

.Second chance
.Marriage of convenience
.One bed
.Workplace
.Forced proximity
.No third act breakup

Was this Sarah Adams best work? Perhaps not, but did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Certain parts gave me butterflies, as this author always manages to do. The angst, the longing, the secret pining, it's all there, and I love it. I really enjoy this author's writing. She has a way of conveying warmth and sweetness that is rare.

Derek is the cutest and sweetest cinnamon roll, and Nora is the classic bubbly FMC who's actually very competent at her job. Though I have to admit she felt a bit too much at times, somewhat unrealistic. But we love her all the same, and I could see myself reflected in her on some occasions (mostly my inability to stay under the sun for 5 minutes without burning to a crisp; the struggles of being a redhead, I guess).

I loved seeing Nathan and Bree again, thriving. The whole gang doing well, really.

But here's the twist: having read other books by this author, all of which were closed-door romances, I've come to appreciate her ability to craft compelling stories without relying on explicit scenes. I know, me saying that, surprising, right? 🤯 So, imagine my astonishment when Chapter 34 arrived with an open-door scene. With that said, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. It felt somewhat tepid, lacking the depth and significance typically associated with such moments. I think this book is trying to cater to both sides of romance readers: those who enjoy open-door scenes and those who prefer closed doors. For those inclined to skip over such chapters, it's essential that they don't contain crucial plot developments. Typically, steamy scenes in romances offer more than just physical intimacy; they often serve as catalysts for character growth or revelations. In this instance, though, it felt more like a token gesture to cater to open-door readers, rather than an integral part of the narrative. Perhaps I'm overanalyzing, but it left me feeling as though it was filler content in an otherwise perfectly good book.

However, despite this minor hiccup, I did enjoy reading this book. It was sweet and fast-paced, and will keep you hooked from start to finish. And while it may not be the author's magnum opus, it has some favourite tropes that are going to make it a hit as soon as it comes out.

Finally being given the opportunity Nora is determined to make the most of her first client until she finds out who it is. Derek Pender the famous NFL linebacker who’s heart she broke back in college, this won’t be easy. Rules are quickly set in stone but they’re dead set on making each other’s lives miserable until one drunken night in Las Vegas. A marring changes things, the rule book is thrown out the window as they try to save their image and Noras career.

If you’re in the mood for a comfort read look no further, this is it! A romcom filled with all the best tropes, light moments to make you laugh and arguably one of the sweetest mmcs ever. Derek is truly out of this world he’s so attentive and caring, after all this time he still remembers everything about Nora. He’s an athlete but there’s so much more to him then what meets the eye. He’s so giving and kind despite his own insecurities and struggles. Nora is just as good, so outgoing and quirky and I love her relationship with her mother.

If you love some spice, a dual pov, sports romance, the enemies to lovers, second chance and one bed trope this one’s for you. The fake marriage ordeal is a bit over the top imo, something less drastic would’ve worked too. If I could change one thing that would be it as well as Derek’s drastic career choices.

It’s a light hearted read with lots of tension and buildup but the slow burn is so worth it. All the Cheat sheet fans this one’s for you, hopefully we’ll get to see even more of the guys get their happy ending.

In short, Derek is an NFL player and Nora is a sports agent who had a relationship in college, but after their breakup, they each go their own way to fulfill their dreams. However, it was predestined that they would run into each other again, as they are both involved in the world of sports. Even when they are in the position of sports agent x athlete together. Derek, still holding a grudge, will not hesitate to make her life miserable, while Nora, for her part, won't give up and will put up a fight. More so, when they create this rule book to keep their relationship strictly professional.

I was fascinated by the book. This light-hearted story coated with sweetness, with a few fun touches and gut-wrenching moments where the main characters give each other a second chance, it's to die for. A good decision to have dual pov so you can read how both are in the same position of pining for each other. Nora and Derek are annoyingly hilarious and painfully competitive, yet deeply in love. At the same time, both are characters portrayed as humanly realistic, with their insecurities, fears, and backstory making this something that readers can relate to. I always advocate for these types of books where you can find good representation of situations you deal in your daily lives.

Sarah's writing keeps getting better and better. This transition can be seen in the way she writes in her stories, and in this one she doesn't fail to demonstrate her growth as a writer and at the same time maintaining her charismatic and charming way of conveying them. The whole story was cute, adorable, easy to read and for me, it had a good pace. Though, I loved that as a reader, I realize the twists that the plot is going to take, I still find this enticing to read.


Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Sarah Adams' writing, so you can imagine that I was shocked when I discovered that my first Netgalley wish granted in years turned out to be for her newest story The Rule Book. I enjoyed the first book The Cheat Sheet back when I read it in 2021, although I admit it wasn't my absolute favorite among her books... Still, I was VERY excited to receive the opportunity to read The Rule Book early. And WHAT a read it turned out to be! I loved every single minute of this enemy-to-lover slash second chance romance, and it's probably one of my top favorites by her.

While set in the same world as The Cheat Sheet and futuring a lot of the same characters, The Rule Book can easily be read as a stand-alone without missing out on too much. This is because this very much Derek and Nora's story, which is completely new. I can't deny that I loved seeing the rest of the characters again though, and their banter and friendship brought back great memories of the first book. The banter in general is one of the things that makes this story stand out; the interactions between Derek and Nora are simply brilliant and especially Nora uses some extremely hilarious phrases.

The Rule Book is part enemy-to-lover and part second chance romance; while the enemy part was shorter than I hoped it would be, there were plenty of funny moments to be found along the way. The story does feel more like a second chance romance during most of the plot, as it is pretty obvious how the two main characters still feel. The building up of tension is really well done though, and I especially loved the whole fake honeymoon and scenes set in Mexico. The whole story seems like an Easter hunt for romance tropes!

Part of the reason this story works so well (and her books in general for that matter) has a lot to do with its characters. Sarah Adams has a way of creating the most fantastic, relatable, flawed and likeable characters, and it was SO easy to start rooting for both Derek and Nora. True, certain aspects of their appearance and personality are quite cliche, but I personally didn't mind as I was having too much fun getting to know them better. The secondary characters are great as well, and already knowing most of them only made me enjoy meeting up with them even more.

The writing is flawless, and I literally couldn't stop reading. The Rule Book isn't just about the romance though, as there are quite a few more serious topics incorporated along the way. I especially appreciated how the story shone a light on dyslexia, parental pressure and gender inequality in the workspace, although they aren't the only topics discussed. The more serious topics helped balance out the lighter moments and resulted in a richer and dynamic plot. The sports/injury recovery angle also made for a great addition.

I might be biased, but I consider Sarah Adams to be one of my favorite romance authors and The Rule Book is one of her best stories to date. There is so much to love in this book, and I cannot recommend it enough if you enjoy the genre!