YOUR RULE TO BREAK IS A STEAMY FOOTBALL ROMANCE WITH FAKE DATING. It's the second book in The Play Caller series and can be read as a standalone.
What do you do when your sister is marrying your ex? If there’s an answer, Emilie Hayes would love to know.
What’s supposed to be a night spent enjoying the charity event she spent months planning, Emilie’s is interrupted when her sister and future brother-in-law won’t stop discussing their destination wedding. Just as Emilie counts the seconds until escape, Zack Andersen steps in.
Zack, a Super Bowl-winning long snapper for the Upstate Cosmos, sees Emilie trapped in the awkward conversation and swoops in, introducing himself as her boyfriend. And when they ask if Zack will be Emilie’s plus one to the wedding, he surprises everyone—especially Emilie—by saying, “Absolutely.”
Already friends and running in the same social circles, Emilie and Zack decide on a few rules to keep everything believable. But what started as a fake relationship soon feels more real than either of them expected.
As secrets surface, surprises unfold, and wedding weekend tensions rise, Emilie and Zack face a choice: risk it all for a shot at something real or walk away from the connection they never saw coming.
This book was just as sweet as the first in the series, and I couldn’t get enough of Emilie and Zack! Fake dating turning into something more is always a fun trope, and this one had such great tension.
Zack and Emilie took their time getting to know each other, and the flirtation was so much fun to read. What I loved the most was how they were able to be vulnerable with each other, something Emilie really needed.
The mental health representation was also beautifully done. Emilie’s struggles with OCD felt honest and real, and the way Zack stepped up to support her in such a caring way was so sweet.
Honestly, my only complaint is that I wanted more! More dates, more of their relationship, just more of these two! It’s a slow-burn romance that builds tension so well, and I devoured it in a single day.
Read this if you like: ❤️🔥 Fake Dating ❤️🔥 Slow Burn ❤️🔥 Football Romance ❤️🔥 Family Drama
This was my first book from Rachel LaBerge. I won't lie, the pretty punk cover definitely got my attention. Haha! Little did I know how important that color pink would be. At least in clothing form. If you know, you know.
I thought this would be a pretty light-hearted fake dating romance but it did still have some hard hitting topics. Particularly Emilie's OCD and intrusive thoughts. Though I do think it was handled well and didn't make the book overly heavy, but they were present and discussed in the story. I loved how Zack tried his best to understand her and be available to help.
Zack was a wonderful surprise in other ways as well. He may have been or seem to be a playboy athlete, he really was just waiting for the right woman to be serious over. When he steps in to be Emilie's fake date to her sister's wedding, they end up needing to sell the story for awhile before said event. He isn't upset about that at all.
These two really were so charming together and I enjoyed experiencing their journey. Though, the amount of times we are left with blue balls was about 3 times too many for me. hahahaha! I would read this author again.
4 stars 2.5 on the spice scale
CW: OCD, critical parents, mental health struggles, panic attacks
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
first off, wow these two are absolutely perfect for each other!! && who doesn’t love a good fake dating romance?? second, ummmm the mental health/ocd rep in this book in absolutely INCREDIBLE!! i swear rachel is always hitting such deep topics & mental health rep in her books!! also, can someone pls tell my husband about the coffee & croissants??? i. need. that. date. PLEASE.
such a cute read & i absolutely love these characters🥰
This slow burn had me on the edge of my seat for these two to finally get together for REAL! (But was is ever fake?!) Zack & Emilie worked so well together. Emilie struggles with intrusive thoughts and I found her character insanely relatable! 🥹
Zack was one heck of a devoted “fake” boyfriend! I love a reformed playboy and dangggggg, and loved this man so much!
This book was sweet while also tackling some heavy feelings and mental health moments. Everything involving Emilie’s family was tackled so well and I’m so happy how the end played out!
The steam in this book was great! Rachel really had these two put in WORK to finally be together but it was worth the wait!
“𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍?”
I need all my friends who LOVE fake dating stories to go add, 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌, to your TBRs!
Arc read so thank you to the author for letting me have this opportunity to read their work🖤 Rating:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️.5 (Some smut but not over the top)
Tropes: Fake dating Football romance Mental disorder representation Found family Surprise family?
This was an enjoyable and quick read. I do love a good fake dating trope cause let’s be honest usually the tension and chemistry is chef kiss til one or both has a fuck it moment and gloves come off. The characters and dynamics seem super realistic, that being said I am not a sports watcher or info of the ins and outs so I can’t say how well this did for football terms and references. I can say this was a cute, fun, and entertaining read perfect for someone looking for a new sports romance.
Pacing was good, writing style easy reading, and fantastic in depth characters.
Emilie and Zach where MADE for each other from the start. You could just feel the chemistry coming off the pages! The fake dating added a nice little twist. And the slow burn romance was 🥵😮💨
My favorite part had to be the last 5% of the book. Don’t want any spoilers. But her sister coming in clutch for her, the heat, THE EPILOGUE 🥹 very well done !
HUGE bonus, the chapters are short and flow so dang well! Thank you Rachel for the ARC of this wonderful book!
ARC of this book that I could not put down!! OMG Zack is one of the most perfect book boyfriends I have ever read about, and I need a Zack in my life. Sometimes the couple in fake dating books are annoying but Zack and EJ were everything but annoying, their relationship was did not spawn out of nowhere, it had a friendship foundation and thats what made it even better. I love love love this book and found it a perfect distraction from exam season!
* 𝕄𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥. Melting, swooning, in a puddle. As always Rachel has brought me another story that has made me a total mess in the best way. And I instantly missed them the moment I read 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕟𝕕.
* 𝔼𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕖 & ℤ𝕒𝕔𝕜, these little sweetie pies. I couldn’t love them more. Seriously. Emilie, my caring and amazing babe. That family of hers makes me rage. I want to go to a cooking class with her. Her life is something to envy, sounds like a pretty sweet set up in my opinion, her work? Ahhh. She has her fair share of struggles that’s for sure though. And Zack. Our little playboy.. I love his whole aura. From his style to attitude, he’s a whole vibe. His family is too cute, not without its own “stuff.” These two together were just 🥰 𝕀’𝕞 𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕..
* Alsooo seeing my babies 𝕋𝕣𝕚𝕡𝕡 & 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 made me smile super duper big.
* I cannot wait for what comes next. Rachel cannot write her books fast enough 😂 give me it all. I love the stories created in that beautiful mind of hers.
* I think you can tell I suggest this one. But you need to go read 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕋𝕠 ℂ𝕒𝕝𝕝 first. It’ll just make everything so much better for you xo
I really adored the first book in this series, but Your Rule to Break was even better. Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes, and LaBerge executed it perfectly here.
What truly sets this book apart is the depth of its characters. Emilie’s struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD are portrayed authentically and respectfully, making her feel like a real, relatable person. Zack, on the other hand, is the definition of a dream partner—he doesn’t just tolerate Emilie’s challenges; he loves her through them. Their relationship is tender, supportive, and heartwarming, showcasing what it means to truly find someone who embraces you as you are.
LaBerge has a knack for blending emotional depth with romantic chemistry, and it shines through in this story. I couldn’t put it down and found myself rooting for Emilie and Zack every step of the way.
Here’s hoping there’s another book in this series because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet! Fingers crossed.
Honestly Your Rule To Break was so good and I was invested in it from the first chapter. This is book two in The Play Caller Series and features Emilie and Zack, two friends who agree to fake date. Their chemistry is undeniable and they are so perfect for each other. The way they support is each other is beautiful. I loved how Willow and Tripp are mentioned throughout the story as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I adore everything Rachel writes. I received a complementary copy from Book Sirens.
Aşırı eğlendim ve çok sevdim. Beklediğimden daha güzeldi. Evet yine beklentisiz başlamak lazım ama beni çok eğlendirdi. Çünkü karakterleri hem konuşabiliyordu hem de iletişimleri çok güzeldi. Birbirlerini rahatlatmaları, en zor anlarında birlikte olmaları, ve arkadaştan aşka dönen sahte ilişkileri. 💕💕Aşırı sevdim. Sizi yormayan bir kitap istiyorsanız hemen koşun😁 İlk kitabımızda okurum serinin ve yazarın diğer kitaplarına bakacağım. 🥹😍💖
Football romance Mental health rep Fake dating Mutual pinning Slow burn Dual POV
Zack is an absolute doll. I loved every bit of him. He’s so dang happy, and a genuine guy that takes care of what’s his. Emilie is so sweet and kind despite her family and circumstances that could have left her cynical.
Loved how the mental health was handled and taken care of in this one. Emilie has OCD and watching Zack adapt to never make her feel badly was so nice.
This was a perfect slow burn, getting to watch that slow progression of falling for one another. Nothing felt rushed or forced for the sake of the story.
Another touchdown in the series! I loved this couple more than the previous one? Gasp?? How dare I. Tripp and Willow were amazing but I DEVOURED this book. I love that Zack is super confident, loves fashion and bright colors, and makes it his goal to make EJ’s life better/brighter. I almost pulled my hair out reading about her family, so I’m so so glad she found a deserving family and partner in Zack instead. OCD is a big part of this book, so watch your TWs if that may be a trigger for you!
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for sending me this eARC!
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
I will always sign up for a book that has a fake dating trope so when I received the ARC for this I was so excited! This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. It was such an easy read and I loved the characters, especially their chemistry from the outset.
So far I’ve only read these two books of Rachel’s but I love the mental health representation in them, as well as the communication between the characters. We love a man who can communicate! If her other books are anything like this then I will definitely be picking them up!
ARC Review for Your Rule to Break by @rachellabergeauthor ❤ I absolutely loved this book. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first book in the Play Caller series, Your Play to Call. Your Rule to Break is a fantastic fake dating sports romance between main characters Emilie and Zack. The author does add spice to the plot as well which I always find enjoyable. 😘 There are many laugh out loud moments throughout this book as well as serious and intimate moments shared between Emilie and Zack. There is talk of OCD and Intrusive thoughts which I really appreciate the author discussing as I believe mental health is very important and should be taken seriously. Grab your copy of Your Rule to Break on January 10, 2025, in my opinion you won't be disappointed! 😍
I adored this book! I felt all the feels. I will say, I recommend reading "Your Play to Call" first just to get some background on the 2 main characters and how they got to where they are and to understand some of the side characters within this book. I love how the author writes about mental health issues that people don't know much about and help brig awareness to it. I love Emilie and Zack, they felt so real and flushed out characters. And I enjoyed seeing how they were opposites but still worked so well and were there for each other in so many ways. I love them. I once again appreciate and love the authors football knowledge cause it just feels like an actual football romance which I love. I love seeing a unique position get the limelight. And seeing Emilie dealing with things outside of the relationship was just done so good. It even made me tear up at times seeing the progress she makes along with those around her. This is a girl I would want as a best friend. And I love how Zack was always putting Emilie first, her made sure she was comfortable and happy and protected. And I love how Zack was a golden retriever kind of guy, I just adored him. The biggest complaint I really have was I wish the whole incident with Zack was more focused on. It felt very brushed under the rug with no repercussions. It just didn't feel very realistic considering before they mentioned him walking thin ice with his socials and posts before. I feel it could've been around or had more of an impact longer.
Overall I have enjoyed this books so much! It was such a quick read and short chapters (i know how much readers love that) that I say pick them up for a cute quick read!
Thank you to the author, Rachel LaBerge for the ARC and a chance to read early!
“Your Rule to Break” by Rachel Laberge 🏈🩷 pub date: 01.10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
wow I flew through this!!! everything about this story was fully encapsulating, impossible to put down! as always, I am completely enamored with Rachel Laberge’s storytelling 🥰
Emilie is such a kind, tender, genuinely lovely character. she cares so much for people, always wanting to show as much love as she can for everyone in her life, even when they don’t always deserve it. I love the way she’s able to put her foot down with her family.
and Zack. ZACK MY BABY BOY! he is the best MMC to ever MMC!!!! he is full of so much joy and love and magic and excitement and devotion. he cares so much for the people in his life. he loves people so fiercely and fearlessly. the way he cares for Emilie is unmatched and exactly what she needs and deserves. I love Zachary William Andersen with my whole heart and soul. and I love Zack and Emilie together more than anything else in the entire world.
I didn’t think I could love a book couple more than Holland and Ivy. then I didn’t think I could love a book couple more than Tripp and Willow. and now I can’t love a book couple more than Zack and Emilie. Rachel Laberge is out here smashing expectations she set herself and I am so immensely grateful for her and her beautiful stories 😭🙌🩷
Nobody does mental health rep in books quite like Rachel. Witty, relatable, an with a little dash of spice and steam, her books are easily binge-able.
Y'all should know I'm a sucker for fake dating, so of course I was all in with this book.
Our MMC, Zack, is a Super Bowl-winning long snapper with the reputation of being a major playboy. Our FMC, Emilie helps run and manage a record label for global superstar, Willow, who just so happens to also be dating one of Zack's teammates. Emilie and Zack run in the same circle due to their friends, but what Emilie doesn't expect is for Zack to offer to be her fake date to her sister's wedding. Her sister who just so happens to be marrying her ex... OOF. Enter Zack and his proposition for fake dating. But Emilie is all about organization and structure, so of course there needs to be some ground rules. But we all know rules are meant to be broken...
This one is definitely a slower burn, and Rachel made our character's WORK to develop their relationship before jumping to the spicy stuff, and I respect that so much. I loved how hard Zack fell for Emilie and how much he supported her, especially when it came to her god awful parents... Even though Zack and Emilie's relationship was built around fake dating, they certainly took the time to care for each other and build a foundation of trust. Get yourself a partner who builds you up, loves you for your "beautiful brain" (as Zack would say), and helps you maneuver life's challenges. Because that's a partner worth keeping.
Thank you, Rachel, for creating couples with real life struggles and being such an advocate for mental health in books. I adore your writing, and I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to ARC read this book. And dare I say this might be my favorite Rachel LaBerge book to date?
If you need a little extra convincing to dive into Your Rule to Break, I'll leave you with a lil quote: -"Quit looking at me like that." -"Like what?" -"Like I'm on the menu."
and another one because I can't help myself...
You're the type of woman who's worth the wait." *FREAKING SWOON*
Read if you like: - pro football romance - mental health rep - fake dating - dual POV - HEA
Your Rule to Break was a cute and fun fake dating romance book. I loved watching Emilie and Zack's relationship grow and them both experience feelings but not want to fully admit to them. The slow burn was perfect 😚🤌🏼
Emilie was relatable with her anxiety and panic attacks. I've struggled with those most of my life, so reading her episodes definitely had me relating. Zach was absolutely lovable and pure perfection. The way he easily came to help Emilie without a second guess, absolutely has him passing pushing himself to my top 5 book boyfriends.
Emilie's parents can go right in the poop shoot, her sister, while she started out on my crap list, definitely redeemed herself. Meanwhile, Zack's family can adopt me and I can be the new sister. 5/5⭐
I absolutely did devour this book in a day yes I did cause it was amazing when I say amazing I mean it. Emilie and Zack are literally the best ❤️❤️ I loved how their story was written and how beautifully it was portrayed. The storyline and plots were very good aswell. The suitations in the book were handled maturely which I love to read about. I can’t wait to read more of the authors books ahh 😍🤭
🩷TROPES🩷
Fake dating Slow burn Text on page Nicknames Dual pov Golden retriever mmc Tattoo moment Sports romance
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Your sister's wedding should be a happy occasion, except when she's marrying your ex and you don't have a plus one for the wedding. Emilie is surprised when her friend, NFL player Zack, offers to be her fake boyfriend and wedding date. The two set rules for their fake relationship, but as they help each other navigate difficult family relationships and the reveal of life-changing secrets, it becomes clear that rules are made to be broken.
I loved Emilie and Zack! Their romance was a steamy, slow burn set in the glamorous world of the New York City elite. While there is a fun fake dating storyline, there is also a lot of true emotional character growth going on in the book. I appreciated the portrayal of Emilie as a successful woman who manages her OCD in a healthy way. Zack is every green flag and just a ray of sunshine. The things he said to Emilie about her anxiety were beautiful and will stay with me for a while. This was my first sports romance and I will definitely be back for more. Grab this book immediately!
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Zack is a playboy football player who proposes fake dating to Emilie because she needs a date to her sister’s wedding. BTW, her sister is engaged to her ex boyfriend.
Zack and Emilie are both falling for each other and the part where they are “fake” dating seems to blur a little. There are so many sweet moments throughout the book of Zack surprising her and taking care of her.
Check out this book, if you love: Fake dating Slow burn Sports romance Dual POV Secret tattoo Golden retriever MMC Open door romance 🌶️
I loved this book! As soon as I seen there was a first one I had to read both! I love Rachel’s writing it flowed so well! Tripp and willow, Zack and Emilie’s stories are worth the read! Their fake dating, slow burn had me giggling like a girl that has a crush on the edge of my seat I just couldn’t put it down! Read book one and two in about two weeks?! I adore these characters! Zach has this playboy reputation but when he starts to fake date Emilie he starts to change his ways, he cares for Emilie, and they start to fall for each other! (Swoon) Emilie goes through some mental health and OCD and Zach is there for her supporting her. Highly recommend the SERIES! I absolutely loved, thank you Rachel for letting me read ARC I can’t wait for the next book!
AHHH OMG!! I absolutely adored this read. Zack and Emilie were just perfect, i couldn’t put the book down. I’ve been in a fluffy romance mood lately and this read hit the mark perfectly. Even though i am not really a fan of the friends to lovers trope Your rule to Break was an exception, it wasn’t boring or too slow it is a perfect pace and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book. I haven’t read the first book yet but i absolutely will now! Also I loved the fact that there wasn’t a 3rd act break up, that genuinely might have been my favorite part. We love Healthy COMMUNICATION🙂↕️
What's worst than running into your ex at a charity event? Running into him AND he's marrying your sister. Emilie is supposed to be enjoying herself at a charity event she helped put together and is cornered by her sister to discuss upcoming nuptials. Zach decides she needs a rescue and inserts himself into the conversation as her boyfriend. To keep up the story, the two has to be seen out and about on date night, but they have rules in place to protect their hearts. Zach burrows his way into Emilie's heart and she was not ready. I found Emilie to be relatable and was rooting for her the entire time. There was palpable tension between the two of them immediately and perfectly represents fake dating and why I love this trope so much. Thank you to the author for the free eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
Huge thank you to Rachel LaBerge for providing me with an e-ARC of Your Rule To Break in exchange for an honest review!
Y'all, this book!!!!!👏👏 I'm a huge fan of the fake dating trope when it's done well, and Rachel absolutely nailed it! Emilie and Zack had me hooked from the start, and I loved watching their relationship blossom. The setup with Emilie needing a date to her ex's wedding, was the perfect way to integrate the fake dating trope into the story. I also really appreciated the mental health representation around OCD and panic attacks, and I felt that it was executed well in the story.
I did have one minor issue and that was that I felt like there wasn't enough tension. Since Emilie and Zack were already friends, the shift from fake dating to more wasn't as pronounced as I usually like, it all kind of bled together, and I missed that pivotal breaking point. But overall, if you're into fake dating with a reformed playboy, this book is a must-read!💖💖
I was lucky enough to get this ARC!! I am a proud member of her ARC team! This book was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me! The writing was impeccable, I was drawn into the story the whole time! This was a very fun read, that highlights issues that can be tough. I really appreciated the mention of OCD and panic attacks it was very relatable!
I really enjoyed book 1 of this series (Your Play To Call) and I was very excited to be picked for an arc of this book! I loved EJ and Zack but there were some parts of this book that felt really rushed and because of that some things weren't tied up at the end. There was a reveal towards the end also that kind of threw me off and made me give the side eye, and that's why I gave this book 3 stars!
————————— thank you to Rachel LaBerge for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.