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16 Simple Rules: An Opposites Attract, Closed-door Romcom
Some things in life can’t be organized into a perfect plan.
Cynthia Pritchard-Kennedy aims for perfection. She’s checked off every detail of Momma’s plan. But then Tom’s simple question reveals the missing piece—up pops a wall to mask her swirling confusion.
Second-guessing her organized strategy, Cynthia lights a match to the perfect plan. The next morning, her anxiety demands structure. So she turns to her friend, and polar opposite, for help. Together, Tom and Cynthia figure out a plan to navigate her new reality.
And in gratitude, she agrees to pose as his girlfriend at a week-long reunion—an event where Cynthia will face the choice to follow the plan or pursue her heart.
16 Simple Rules is the sensible second book in the Seeking Romance series. If you like organization with a side of anxiety, a dash of comical fake dating, and swoony tension as opposites attract, then you’ll love this tidy closed-door romance. Read 16 Simple Rules to disappear into a rule-following romcom today!
Cynthia Pritchard-Kennedy aims for perfection. She’s checked off every detail of Momma’s plan. But then Tom’s simple question reveals the missing piece—up pops a wall to mask her swirling confusion.
Second-guessing her organized strategy, Cynthia lights a match to the perfect plan. The next morning, her anxiety demands structure. So she turns to her friend, and polar opposite, for help. Together, Tom and Cynthia figure out a plan to navigate her new reality.
And in gratitude, she agrees to pose as his girlfriend at a week-long reunion—an event where Cynthia will face the choice to follow the plan or pursue her heart.
16 Simple Rules is the sensible second book in the Seeking Romance series. If you like organization with a side of anxiety, a dash of comical fake dating, and swoony tension as opposites attract, then you’ll love this tidy closed-door romance. Read 16 Simple Rules to disappear into a rule-following romcom today!
352 pages, Paperback
Published March 11, 2025
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 13, 2025
This clean, sweet romance was a delight to read.
I loved how devoted Tom is to Cynthia… he has loved her for a long time and Cynthia has had feelings for him, too, but she believes that they are not compatible so their chemistry would not be enough.
There are humorous moments as well as tearful. Their journey to happily ever after is well written and not rushed. I was engaged through out.
All the characters were relatable and engaging as well as realistic, as is the story.
The author describes this book as closed door but it is really a clean & wholesome book.
This is the first book I have read by Lizzie Bruce but it certainly won't be my last!
I received an advance review copy for free, courtesy of BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved how devoted Tom is to Cynthia… he has loved her for a long time and Cynthia has had feelings for him, too, but she believes that they are not compatible so their chemistry would not be enough.
There are humorous moments as well as tearful. Their journey to happily ever after is well written and not rushed. I was engaged through out.
All the characters were relatable and engaging as well as realistic, as is the story.
The author describes this book as closed door but it is really a clean & wholesome book.
This is the first book I have read by Lizzie Bruce but it certainly won't be my last!
I received an advance review copy for free, courtesy of BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 26, 2025
A charming, sweet romance. Follow one's heart, not the rules. An engaging story with a wide variety of characters. It was a delight to get to their happily ever after. Some amusing moments along the way. Thanks to BookSirens for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.
March 26, 2025
Cynthia is the classic Southern Belle, with a plan carefully designed by her Momma to make sure she gets it all: the perfect looks, the perfect career, the perfect rich husband and of course children. And nothing can get in the way of that plan. Even after momma isn’t there anymore.
16 rules from a 1960’s magazine momma left for Cynthia dictate what the Southern Lady needs to do to achieve the ultimate perfect life. And Cynthia decides to follow them to try and make sense of it all.
Tom, who is anything but perfect and does not fit into the plan, starts helping her and old feelings rekindle. Will Cynthia ditch the plan in favour of a better one, or will momma get the last word?
The book was well written and funny. Also nice to see it overlapped with the previous one so you get another pov on that one, but it does mean you shouldn’t read it as a stand-alone.
I wanted to scream at Cynthia to just burn the rules and tell Momma’s voice in Cynthia’s head to shut up.
As a modern woman, I can’t understand why she would fight her feelings and listen to the old-fashioned advise. I didn’t grow up in the South of the US though, so don’t know if this is realistic. If it is, well done, but it may put readers off or negatively affect reviews. Toning it down a bit would have been good. If this had been a real scenario, all it would have needed was an honest chat with her dad and that would have avoided a lot of self-doubt.
I did like the book, and can’t wait to read the next one.
16 rules from a 1960’s magazine momma left for Cynthia dictate what the Southern Lady needs to do to achieve the ultimate perfect life. And Cynthia decides to follow them to try and make sense of it all.
Tom, who is anything but perfect and does not fit into the plan, starts helping her and old feelings rekindle. Will Cynthia ditch the plan in favour of a better one, or will momma get the last word?
The book was well written and funny. Also nice to see it overlapped with the previous one so you get another pov on that one, but it does mean you shouldn’t read it as a stand-alone.
I wanted to scream at Cynthia to just burn the rules and tell Momma’s voice in Cynthia’s head to shut up.
As a modern woman, I can’t understand why she would fight her feelings and listen to the old-fashioned advise. I didn’t grow up in the South of the US though, so don’t know if this is realistic. If it is, well done, but it may put readers off or negatively affect reviews. Toning it down a bit would have been good. If this had been a real scenario, all it would have needed was an honest chat with her dad and that would have avoided a lot of self-doubt.
I did like the book, and can’t wait to read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
✨16 Simple Rules by @lizzie.bruce.writes ✨
Lizzie Bruce does it again, delivering a sweet romance in which her characters must endure hardship to grow and become who they are meant to be. I loved this story so much! Cynthia is a lot like me in some ways, including being a woman with a plan and a strong desire to please the people around me, (especially my parents when I was young). Her journey through this story felt so real and raw, and yet still the sweetest romance blossoms even in difficult circumstances. The way Tom loves her and cares for her as she processes and grows is one of my favorite things about him.
Just go read it. It is so good!!!
Fun fact: my parents names are Tom and Cynthia! It only took me halfway through the story to realize lol 😂
Thank you Lizzie for the ARC, my thoughts and opinions are my own. 5⭐️!
Lizzie Bruce does it again, delivering a sweet romance in which her characters must endure hardship to grow and become who they are meant to be. I loved this story so much! Cynthia is a lot like me in some ways, including being a woman with a plan and a strong desire to please the people around me, (especially my parents when I was young). Her journey through this story felt so real and raw, and yet still the sweetest romance blossoms even in difficult circumstances. The way Tom loves her and cares for her as she processes and grows is one of my favorite things about him.
Just go read it. It is so good!!!
Fun fact: my parents names are Tom and Cynthia! It only took me halfway through the story to realize lol 😂
Thank you Lizzie for the ARC, my thoughts and opinions are my own. 5⭐️!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews