Literally so so happy I got this when requested. As a big old Elle Kennedy fan, and after loving the Graham effect, I was DYING to read this. I was hoping for another one of the OG couples children, but I’m so glad it wasn’t.

Diana and Shane were literally everything together. From Shane being an insufferable golden retriever and Diana being the ultimate girl boss, I love reading their story and how they constantly bickered but in a hilarious way.

There are some super serious/sad moments that I won’t go into detail of that I think the author handled excellently and with the right touch.

I’m just so excited to see if there will be a third book in this series.

Ufffffff I loved it!
.
The spice? Yes.
The relationship growth? Yes.
Did it make me cry? Yes.
.
Thank you so much for the copy @netgalley, sorry I can't do better than this!

I really enjoyed this. I read it in my sitting.
I loved the banter had. Few laugh out loud moments
The characters are fun interesting and witty.
I laughed I cried I was fuming. So many emotions which I find you need in a good book.

[#adpr]

✨ B O O K R E V I E W ✨

The Dixon Rule by @ellekennedy33

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Thank you so much to @ellekennedy33, @yourswithlovex and @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for this e-arc from @netgalley. I absolutely devoured it and my review is honest.

I loved this so much 👏🏻. I’m a sucker for a playboy MMC turned sweetie and Shane was exactly this; Diana was a sassy FMC who knew who she and wasn’t changing for anyone.

“𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝘿𝙞𝙭𝙤𝙣. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚….𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬.”

I got whiplash from the emotions I felt reading this. I was laughing at one point and then next page crying my eyes out.

Elle is a queen at writing smut but this took a turn, which I guessed was going to happen, but wasn’t quite expecting at the same time 🥵

Both characters are amazing. Felt that Shane had some 🚩 that maybe weren’t needed but our sassy Diana put him in his place very quickly.

The last 10-15% was an emotional rollercoaster and whilst I guessed it, it still hit hard.

One thing I loved so much about this was the OG off-campus and Briar U characters cameos - need more of them always!

Read if you like:-
💜 fake dating
🤍 forced proximity
🩷 dom/sub
💜 “enemies” to lovers
🤍 hockey romance
🩷 dirty talking MMC

This book handles a few very difficult topics. Please check TWs.

[I won’t post my full review on my bookstagram until approved by publisher or within the 2 week period]

Started this book and next thing I know it's 4am and I've finished. It had me squealing out loud at parts and then also teared up at parts. I'm so obsessed with Diana and Shane! I adored everything about their relationship - from their banter to the sizzling hot sex scenes! I'm not even a fan of fake dating, but I love the way they went about it here. Also love the found family moments we get, I'm just a sucker for a good friend group. I also cannot wait for a Beckett and Will book, I ate up all their crumbs up like crazy. This book was such a fun ride and I wish I could scrub it from my brain so I can read it again for the first time. You're definitely going to want to mark your calendars for May 14th!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Veers hard from romcom into thriller at various moments - rather than raising the stakes it felt tonally confused. I liked the chemistry between the pair but quite often Diana feels almost cliche/stereotypically hysterical at Shane's actions - it starts to improve when they get together, but it's grating before that.

I’m absolutely loving this series so far and want to say a big thank you to NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, and the publisher for an arc copy of this book!!

Tropes include:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Hockey romance
Fake dating

This was a great book, much like all of her other books, I could not put it down and read this so fast!! I highly recommended it to anyone wanting to read this series!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc, in exchange for an honest review!

i almost always have a good time with an elle kennedy book - she just knows how to create such loveable main characters that you can’t help but root for, and her romances are always so fun and hot!!

diana and shane were no exception! the banter was great, the chemistry was great, the tension built as the book went on and you got to actually see the development between them in their interactions which was good!

i’ll always be eager to read an elle kennedy book, because it’s always super fun to jump back into the briar universe!!

I am a new fan of Elle Kennedy and have read most of her back catalogue. Loved this as an addition to her next series.
The characters are strong and have depth, love the enemies to lovers romance genre and this one fulfills that brief very well.
I think the ending was a little rushed. Felt like lots of drama in only a few chapters which could have been spread out a bit.
However I loved Diana as a leading lady and Shane fit the bill for our leading man. A little dabble in watching others as well.
We now need Wills story and Beckett's storey. Thank you :)

✮ ✮ ✮ ✮.5 / 5

This book had me squealing and kicking my legs in the air! After becoming obsessed with The Graham Effect last year I had very high expectations for The Dixon Rule and let me tell you, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! 👏🏼

Shane was such a playboy in the first book but I really loved seeing the real him in this book! He’s a girlfriend guy through and through and I loved how his a Diana’s relationship developed. The transition from enemies to friends-with-benefits to lovers was done so well and we really saw Shane’s true character come out to play. He reminded me a lot of Dean, the rich boy who had everything handed to him, but then being hit with a dose of real life hardships. He was so supportive of Diana, his family and friends, and he was always putting them before himself. He had me swooning one minute, laughing another and then bawling crying the next!

Diana was pure sunshine! ☀️ She was like the perfect blend between Allie and Summer and she just lit up every room! She was fierce, sassy and so strong. She was a tough girl and tried to fight all of her own battles, but I really loved when she finally let Shane in to fight alongside her. Their relationship was fun and carefree at the start, but I really loved how they stepped up for one another, and of course the moment they realised they weren’t faking it anymore 😍

One of my favourite things about the Briar Universe is the found family element. We get loads of cameos from Gigi and Ryder, aswell as the OG Off Campus couples and their kids. Blake deserves a special mention because that girl was 🔥 I hope we get her book next and I REALLY HOPE it’s with a certain DiLaurentis’ son 🤞🏼

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
- Hockey Player x Cheerleader
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- Friends with Benefits
- Forced Proximity
- Found Family
- 2nd Generation at Briar

this was an enjoyable read and even made me cry at one point which I was not expecting but I definitely enjoyed this a whole lot more than the first book. I like Shane, I liked Diana and I really liked them together. They were fun, sassy and light hearted but also knew how to be there for each other in more serious times. I also felt the progression of their relationship was natural and just flowed with the perfect amount of spice and this one is spicy!!! however so far this series isn’t what I expected from a second gen kids series. I feel like we’re reading hockey romances with mentions of the off campus’s kids? It also did feel a little all over the place at times for me but I probably will continue because I’m intrigued about the other characters.

tropes:
-hockey romance
-fake dating
-frenemies with benefits

tws: domestic violence

thank you NetGalley and little brown book for the arc!

I don't know how much I have to say about 'The Dixon Rule', if I'm being honest. A lot of the issues I had came down to personal enjoyment - for example I didn't appreciate the way in which Diana was quite nasty towards the beginning of the book. I'm not sure either if the switch up in tone was done particularly well.

This book heavily features domestic abuse and so I think there should be a trigger warning included, but I think that the topic itself was handled well.

Otherwise, this was an enjoyable read with just the right amount of spice. I think any fan of Elle Kennedy will enjoy this just as much as the rest of her books.

What starts as a light hearted romance tackles deeper issues of domestic violence and the fear and paralysis this can cause. This isn’t the first time Elle Kennedy looks at the darkness that can happen and balances it well with the more every day romance. The plot bounces along well, with small bumps of exes, parents and siblings entering in to keep things moving. The small glimpses of life of the original Briar U players is great and a nice flashback to previous books - I couldn’t help wanting more of that! This was a charming book, that didn’t say away from loss and violence when they came up and dealt with this sensitively.

From the bustling backdrop of ballroom dance competitions to the drama of apartment living,

Protagonist Diana Dixon's life is already packed with responsibilities and challenges, but when the handsome and persistent Shane Lindley disrupts her routine, sparks fly in all directions.
Kennedy expertly crafts a dynamic between Diana and Shane that crackles with witty banter and undeniable attraction. Diana's determination to keep Shane at arm's length clashes amusingly with Shane's earnest desire for a genuine connection. As they navigate the complexities of fake relationships and real emotions.

What sets "The Dixon Rule" apart is its vibrant cast of characters and the authentic portrayal of modern relationships. Diana is a relatable and fiercely independent heroine, while Shane's vulnerability beneath his charming exterior adds depth to his character. The supporting cast, including Diana's cheerleading squad and Shane's ex-girlfriend, inject additional layers of drama and humour into the narrative, keeping readers thoroughly engaged.

4.5 ⭐️ Okay so this maaay have been Elle’s spiciest book yet 🥵🌶️ Shane Lindley??? HELLO??? THE BALCONY????????? Yeah this was great, really really good!! Super swoon worthy, one of my favourite hockey romances, we love the off campus crossover 🥹😭 Enemies to lovers, fake dating, friends with benefits, forced proximity - LOVED IT ALL!!! Shane and Diana’s love hate banter and chemistry throughout was just perfect. Soooo can we have book #3 now?!

The Dixon Rule is the second book in the campus series and is as funny and ‘hot’ as the previous books from this author.
Diane Dixon is a cheerleader and has always despised ice hockey player Shane Lindley as being too handsome, rich and cocky also working his way through the girls in her team. When he moves into the apartment next to her sparks fly which provides some great funny dialogue between them.
Shane needs a favour and asks Diane to be his pretend girlfriend and she agrees, this leads to some more funny situations and due to a growing attraction they add sex to the relationship as false as it is.
You’re lulled into a false sense of happy security when suddenly this book takes a devastating turn with serious issues that lead to traumatic and heartbreaking events. So well written with great depth and emotion one is drawn even more into this great couples life, this is a romance that has much depth and draws you in to investing in our two main characters and their relationship.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next in this great series.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book early!

First of all, anything that Elle Kennedy writes I will eat up straight away! This book has blown me away, an instant 5 star read!! I didn’t think that The Graham Effect could be topped but The Dixon Rule is pure perfection.

Elle Kennedy definitely knows how to write the perfect enemies to lovers with a sprinkle of forced proximity and fake dating, anything that has fake dating in it is top tier for me!

In this book we follow Diana Dixon who is head cheerleader at Briar U and Shane Lindley who is a hockey player. Diana has a no cheerleader rule for Shane but does he follow it, no he doesn’t! However one unfortunate night where Shane’s ex girlfriend brings her new boyfriend to Shane’s apartment, who else is better to play the doting girlfriend and make his ex jealous then his next door neighbour, Diana Dixon.

At the beginning Diana is reluctant to participate as this girlfriend but along the way, her walls slowly start to break down and is also a perfect solution to sort out her own ex issues. After several rules that she created have been broken, her romance with Shane blossoms into something more. Their fake relationship has transformed into a friends with benefits situation yet it gets too real!

Expect this book to make you laugh,smile (the cameo of all the off campus boys- my babies!!), cry and cry even more (Elle Kennedy, you know what you did!) If you loved The Off Campus Series, The Briar U series and The Graham Effect then this book is like a warm hug and it feels like home, you DEFINITELY have to read it!

so grateful to be given the chance to read this early thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Books!

Finished it in 48 hours and ate up every page! I don’t know how Elle Kennedy hits the spot every time :) It had everything you could want in a hockey romance and follows the Off Campus and Briar U series perfectly!

LOVED Diana and Shane so much - their chemistry wasn’t just romantic which made it so much more realistic and the witty remarks had me smiling into my kindle so often!

Would recommend to all who love a fake dating, forced proxmity, enemies to lovers (ish) and a HEA 🫶

So grateful to have had the opportunity to read, is perfect for the hopeless romantic girlies!

Thank you Netgalley, Little Brown Group UK and Elle Kennedy for the eARC of The Dixon Rule - I loved it!
I was so excited for this book and the second in the Campus Diaries did not disappoint! After seeing glimpses of Shane and Diana in The Graham Effect, it was great to get to know them better and see them fall for each other. The Dixon Rule is a great neighbours dislike-to-lust-to-love romance with forced proximity and fake dating.
Being a big fan of Elle Kennedy, this series and her Off-Campus series, The Dixon Rule gave me all the spicy, fun and emotions I've come to expect from her - although it was definitely the spiciest in the series, to date!!! I can't wait to see what she does next with Beckett's book!
Diana was such a strong and sassy character and I loved seeing her interactions with Shane. She went through some tricky situations which gave me a lot of feels - I definitely got emotional in this book! I also love that Shane is a mixed-race MMC as I feel like we've not had much of that in Elle Kennedy's books so far.
This story in particular gave me strong The Score vibes (book 3 in Off-Campus and my joint favourite in the series) although it was still unique in its take for their romance. But, if you loved Dean's romance in Off-Campus, I highly recommend this one too!
I will always recommend Elle Kennedy's books and this is so no different - read for a great hockey romance with spice, fake dating and friends with benefits!

I’ve been waiting to read this book the moment I finished ‘The Graham Effect’ and boy, it did not disappoint.

Dianna Dixon and Shane Lindley were put on this planet to wind each other up. After moving in across the hall from each other the more they clash the bigger the sparks fly. Throw in some fake dating and a dance competition and there’s no chance either or coming out of this without feelings.

This book was the perfect Elle Kennedy enemies to lovers, with fake dating, delightful side characters and a hell of a lot of spice.

What I wasn’t expecting was to end up crying at some of the more serious issues that come up in the book (read trigger warnings) - but it just made me love the characters more.

I’m already patiently waiting for the next book in the series and re-reading the Off Campus series whilst I wait.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for the ARC.