Quick Thoughts: Rules We're Meant to Break by Natalie Williamson

Rules We're Meant to Break

by Natalie Williamson 

June 11, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

Honest and full of heart, this clever contemporary romance debut deftly combines utterly relatable family drama with all the sweetness and uncertainy that comes with falling in love.

Rule #1: Don't get attached.

Amber lives by strict rules to survive her mother’s love life: Always keep your eyes on the horizon and never get close to anyone connected to Mom's boyfriends.

But after they move in with Kevin, the latest of her mom's “soul mates,” the rules become increasingly difficult to follow. Kevin’s daughter, Cammie, keeps acting like Amber’s friend, even though she’s definitely not. And Jordan—star basketball player, hottest boy in school, and Cammie's best friend—keeps showing up at the most inconvenient moments.

Amber has reasons for every one of her rules, and following them is the only way to protect her heart when her mom inevitably moves on. But as she spends more time with Kevin, his daughter, and especially Jordan, she starts to wonder if the rules might be worth breaking this time.

Review

Rules We're Meant to Break was a nice change from all the fantasies I've been reading lately. The story was easy to digest and the romance had butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

What I Liked:

- good pacing

- the ups and downs of coming of age

- the feeling of insecurity that comes with changes

- imperfect but present parents

- realistic family issues

- not too dramatic

- I understood that Amber needed the list to protect herself (from getting hurt repeatedly)

- communication is key

- Amber doing all the hard work to achieve her goals

- the sweetest and most supportive friendship between Amber and Hannah

- Jordan was all kinds of swoons

- super cute interactions between Amber and Jordan

- an uncertain but hopeful future

The Not So Much:

- the story was a bit simple

- the synopsis is somewhat misleading regarding Cammie and Amber

"Learn to tell the difference between when to depend on yourself, and when it's okay to ask for help." (p. 289)