Rewriting the Rules

by Nicole Crystal

When driven college senior Arden Cooper crosses paths with her former flame, the notorious heartbreaker Mark Bell, she finds herself drawn back into his orbit, unable to resist the sizzling chemistry between them. Determined to keep their reunion casual, Arden and Mark agree to a few simple don't fall in love and don't make any demands about the future. But as stolen moments turn into weekends filled with laughter, secrets, and tender touches, the lines between casual and committed begin to blur.

With graduation looming and the expiration date on their romance approaching, Arden must decide whether to stick to her carefully crafted plans or take a leap of faith and risk everything for a chance at true love. In this enchanting tale of second chances and unexpected romance, Arden and Mark will discover that the heart wants what it wants - and that sometimes, the best things in life are the ones we never planned for.

As a prequel spin-off to "Rewriting December", "Rewriting the Rules" is a heartwarming and witty romantic comedy that will have you laughing, crying, and falling in love with Arden and Mark as they navigate the ups and downs of their unconventional relationship. Author Nicole Crystal delivers a fresh and engaging voice, crafting a story that is both relatable and swoon-worthy. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren, this delightful novel is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of second chances and the magic of unexpected love.

Genres: Romance

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2024

Reviews

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewriting The Rules is a second chance opposites attract romance with a great cast of characters. Mark is a playboy who hates commitment thanks to his parents and Arden is career driven just trying to get approval from her over bearing parents so both with family issues. Their first meeting was full of instant attraction which didn’t end well so we fast forward to their second chance encounter where Arden really wants nothing to do with Mark. This story takes you on a range of emotions while they both learn what they really want out of life. I got a little confused with the timelines at times but the story was beautifully written. I really enjoyed this one and I personally hadn’t read the first book in the series and had no trouble following along. I received a complementary copy from Booksirens.

[Claudia M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute and heartwarming romance.

Mark has a reputation for being a player with no strings attached.
Arden is an ambitious overachiever about to graduate.

they decide to spend their time together before she leaves for Florida to start off her career.

The plot, as every romance, is known: the fall in love and live happily ever after.. still I read it in 2 days as it’s an easy read leading to good feelings.

the alternate pov is very sweet as the reader knows exactly what is going on and how their feelings evolve.

Cute, heartwarming and feel good reading overall

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story line is simple, girl meets play boy. The ending is predictable...
But the book surprised me.
From the start, the characters are intense. The emotions start off high, and never let up. Not for a second. The author conveys Arden and Mark’s story so raw, so dynamic, and so real.
Anyone with a beating heart can relate to it.
From start to finish, I was gripping the book with anticipation of what’s next.
The love between these two characters is tangible, pure and wholesome…
Excluding the handcuffs.
I’m very happy with this book. It’s fun, cute, and steaming hot at times.
A truly feel good story.

Notes of non-importance!
Page 20, repetitive line about Arden “settling in” next to Mark, with heat “radiating off her skin” repeated.
Page 165, similar repetition. “With that, she turns and walks away.” Is said twice with different wording.
Page 234 “Damn me and my and my promises.”
(Spoiler) Possible error: Arden invites Mark to spend the night at her apartment, and her room mate is out of town. Okay, so does Arden share a bed with her room mate? Do they not have a couch? Why didn’t Arden suggest he sleep on the floor with a blanket and pillow? Not sure what the author had in mind, or if they purposefully let the detail slide just to get Mark and Arden sharing a bed. Seems like an oversight. But really, who’s complaining? I’m just surprised it didn’t happen sooner!

[Stephanie Hemry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark and Arden's story ties in the timeline from Rewriting December to reveal how the playboy got with the good girl. It's amazing seeing how the two books intersect at different points to give you more details about all the characters.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the characters. It's easy to get invested and feel their emotions through the pages, which is a very important part of connecting to the book to keep you from wanting to put it down.

Definitely would recommend reading these books in order - Rewriting December then Rewriting the Rules - as it brings so much more appreciation to each page. Loved both books and can't wait to see what else this new author releases!

[Jenn (booksspicycoffeeicy09) · Rating 4 out of 5]

good mix of plot and steam

This book was a really good mix of plot and steam. A lot of authors will lean heavily to one side or the other. The spice was like a 🌶️🌶️ or 🌶️🌶️🌶️. It was steamy without being raunchy and over the top.

I’m also glad that the flashbacks were only a few and at the beginning. I always have a hard time following along if they’re throughout the whole book.

And I loved the fact that it went back and forth each chapter for POV. I feel like sometimes the FMC is focused on more than the MMC. If you’re going to do dual POV then make it somewhat even.

[Dana Eisinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads kindle giveaway. I liked this book and would read more by this author but a couple things annoyed me. Main characters were just out of college and the “athletic trainer with a bachelors degree” was already working for a professional baseball team and the consultant was already leading teams at her brand new consulting job. Not realistic. Other than that good romance

[Nerida · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 Update: This book read better the second time around. I appreciate the nuances of Arden's arc better now. Still don't love it quite as much as Rewriting December but I do appreciate it. A lot.

Original review:
Arden is a type-A, career-driven, over-analysing girl who knows she’ll never please her parents. Mark is a playboy who’s scared of commitment because his parents constantly cheated on each other (which I didn’t get any vibes of in Rewriting December?), but can’t forget meeting Arden a year ago. They meet in the hospital after the car crash that Cora and Jake are both in (see: Rewriting December), but don’t reconnect properly for another six months, at which point they embark on a steamy, six-month-limited relationship that turns both of their worlds upside down.

My problem was, Arden doesn’t show heaps of character development, aside from recognising eventually that love is worth doing crazy things for, including spontaneous plane trips and asking for different work placements. Mark, on the other hand, is depicted in the flashbacks as this crazy party boy, with a different girl every night, and afraid of commitment… but put him with Arden, and he’s suddenly the perfect boyfriend? And never really afraid that Arden will let him down the way he saw with his parents? He’s just… too much better, too quickly. It’s not believable.

Where this was definitely an improvement over Rewriting December was the spice. Yes, there was a lot more of it (it’s way less of a slow-burn), but it was just better written all around. My favourite scene in this book was probably the shower scene — and then Jake walks in and gets mad at Mark!!! So funny.

So yeah. Pretty good read, but it just lacked the character conviction I found in Rewriting December. Cora and Jake hold a special place in my heart.

*I received a free review copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.*

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute second chance romance that was easy to read even though I don’t normally like a SCR.
Initially I was thrown off by the playboy attitude and cheesiness of Mark but he did eventually grow on me. I would have liked to know a bit more about our FMC but both main characters had good depth.
In terms of the writing I did find my edition had a few typos and errors in it (but that’s more of an editing thing) - hopefully newer editions will have fixed those up. This is a good read for someone who doesn’t mind the cheesiness of romance books, and loves a HEA against all odds.
There is also enough drama to keep you reading and I definitely want to read the other book (‘Rewriting December’) which follows the side characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this from the author via Voracious Readers Only

[KGillespie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I really loved how it flowed and I liked the characters. I didn’t mind that the story took place in the past and the present. This is the second book I have read by this author and I would definitely read another book by this author. I do plan on reading more by this author.

I received a copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only.

[JEAN OSMOND · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. couldn't put it down
The book shows how long distant love can work out if it is meant to
I loved Arden and Marks story. If you want a goid love story read Rewriting the Rules.

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I receive a copy of the novel from Voracious Readers Only. This is a very enjoyable romance genre book. Arden is a young woman who meets a man named Mark at a party. They seem to be perfect for each other but as soon as things start to get sexual, Mark tells Arden to go home. She's very hurt and has no idea why he did that. Arden's sister gets into a serious car accident and ends up in the hospital. Arden goes to the hospital cafeteria and she runs into Mark. He's quite friendly, despite ignoring her for months. He even suggests that they get together for a coffee sometime. However, Arden decides that there's no way she'll do that, not after the way he treated her that night. They run into each other again at a night club and neither can deny how much they're attracted to each other. When they decide to see each other, Arden provides a set of rules for their relationship so she won't be hurt again. One of them is that their relationship is not exclusive, so they don't feel the need for commitment. What will end up happening? You'll have to read the book to find out!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a new reader of author Nicole Crystal and the book summary for Rewriting the Rules sparked my interest.
Rewriting the Rules delivered all the feels and swoon-worthy moments of a second chance romance and watching unexpected love blossom.
Mark and Arden have incredibly chemistry but both are not looking for anything serious. Mark is a playboy with commitment issues and Arden is driven and focused on her next steps after college. Their attraction and connection can’t be ignored and they agree to a short casual fling with rules in place so neither will get attached. We all know rules are meant to be broken and boy do they!!!
I did find myself getting lost between the timelines but overall, very good!!
I am looking forward to reading Rewriting December for Cara and Jake’s story.

[Laura Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rewriting the Rules is a second chance romance that you won't want to miss! Mark and Arden have met before...at a party and shared a night of life-changing kisses and intense conversation. Even though Mark asked for Arden's phone number, he doesn't follow up because he is scared of the feelings he developed after just a few hours.

Fast forward one year and Mark gets a second chance. But now it's Arden's turn to be apprehensive. When their no-strings six week fling turns into love, they both wonder where they can go from here.

Mark and Arden's journey will have you up late because you won't be able to put them down! Their love is the kind that we all want. 10/10 - highly recommend!

[Lauren M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I took a few days to finally write this review. I needed to let things marinate. In the beginning I was hooked, I loved the story, the history, and the banter between the MCs. But, here I am three days after finishing this book, and I can't for the life of me remember the names of any of the characters. Somewhere in the midst of this story they got lost to a bunch of random nicknames, pointless banter, and a story that moved forward in time but somehow managed to do so without the characters developing more depth, and well, character. Overall its a fine story, but it is missing something for me that would have taken it from "its okay," to "that was great!"

[╰⊱♥⊱╮ღ꧁Kathy,Ahmazing Book Faerie꧂ღ╭⊱♥≺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came to me from the author, through Voracious Readers.

What a great story, it's quite a long read, but always keeps the reader interested.
Arden, starts the story, of all places, in a hospital emergency waiting room. You may ask how is this going to merge into a romance, and then, across the room, there he is. . . Ardens one night stand, from forever ago. Mark Bell, the cocky playboy, who dumped her as fast as it took him to pick her up. Ugh, how to escape?
And so it begins, the unplanned romance.
Funny how the universe has plans for us, and we don't even realise!

This was a really good read by a new to me author, and now I want to read the second book!!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to read Arden and Marks story after getting to know them a bit in Rewriting December!

Is there anything better than watching a reformed player trying to win over his girl, even when she isn't his girl.....yet?

I got lost a few times focusing on timelines and if they were the same as in Rewriting December (my memory had different timelines) but this story was very well written and enjoyable. I couldn't put it down until it was done.

I love a book that has me laughing and feeling emotional at times.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful second chance romance. Arden, the typical type A driven to succeed girl, and Mark, the typical playboy with a reputation of love em and leave em, meet at a party and sparks fly but they part. A year later they meet again and this time Mark has to step up and prove that he is more than his reputation. Their story is emotional and funny and hopeful, there is love and family drama and a heartwarming HEA. I really enjoyed reading their story after getting to know them in Rewriting December.

[Wendy Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. I have not read the first book and had no problem following along in the story. We learn of the main characters overcoming day to day issues while growing up and finding their way to each other. At times the timelines get confusing but you can figure it out. Felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster at times while reading this story .

[Catisleco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rewriting the rules is a quick, easy & fun read! I really enjoyed the back and forth timelines at the beginning. The spice is minimum which is refreshing. Overall, I really like this book, the characters were easy to connect with, and I’d read again!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nancy Gisvold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry to admit that I didn't particularly care for this book. I found it too predictable and certain phrases and actions repetitive. The main characters, Arden and Mark, did not appeal to me as they did not seem that realistic. There were too many references to playing with each other's hair and I can't imagine all that humming going on all the time.

[Mayzee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this Romance down. Loved the characters and the plot. Very touching and relatable. Puts life into a perspective I don't seem to view often . I enjoy books that remind me to be thankful and find little treasures in life,this novel definitely delivered that.

[Lynette Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rules are made to be broken.
I received a copy from voraciousreaders only. I loved this couple while have their own ideas and ambition, fighting their feelings becomes the hardest task. You feel their chemistry and want to know what happens with the clever writing. Well worth the read.

[Debbie Pyette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, slow burn romantic comedy that was delightful to read. With the sexy sports guy and the high achieving college girl it was both amusing and endearing. It is an enjoyable fast read.

[Princess Fiona Applebees]

I’m so glad everyone seems to love this, but this is not for me. I tried 3 times to get into it and could not make it more than a few chapters. The characters make me irrationally rage-y and I can’t stand the way they speak.

Sometimes, things just aren’t for you I guess.

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, so I’m happy to be able to donate it to someone who will love it.