The Rules

by Kora Nyx

Genres: Forced Proximity, Dark Romance, Forbidden Love

514 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2026

Reviews

[Kayla.bookish26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Author:

🔥stepbrother romance
🔥angst
🔥secret relationship
🔥dark secrets
🔥control vs obsession
🔥psychological dark romance
🔥love triangle

She’s my stepsister. The one girl I shouldn't want... and the only one I can't resist.

Five minutes earlier she was just the new girl in class—
Chaos in human form with her sharp tongue and those scuffed combat boots,
Calling me a coward in front of everyone.
Then we were alone in the parking lot.
She stepped close.
Wrapped her arms around my neck.
And kissed me like she meant it.
Then she stole my wallet.
I was still trying to figure out what the hell just happened when my dad tackled her as she was sprinting away.
“I see you’ve already met your new stepsister.”
Stepsister.
She stares at me. I stare at her.
“Oh, you have got to be forking kidding me,” she sighs.
Because now the girl who kissed me like my life depended on it…
is living in my house.
We should stay away from each other.
But neither of us has ever been very good at following the rules.


My Review:
The “Im not crying, your crying” definitely had me in my feels reading this book. Did I cry multiple times. Yes. Do regret it? No! I loved this book, 5 ⭐️easily. Im glad I had the opportunity to read it, and I already cannot wait for book two. It is an emotional journey riding along with these characters. Both MCs are struggling with different kinds of trauma. Harper is having a tough time letting go of her past after her father plucks her out of the only life that she has known and moves her to Dallas where she now resides with her stepbrother and stepmother. Caleb, her stepbrother depends on control to keep his terrible anxiety in check. Harper is his exact opposite. Harper sees the life that she could have but her promises to escape with her best friend Z are holding her back. That cliffhanger shooketh me……like ummmmm I’m here for it because it was an immaculate story, but I did not see that coming. Like at all. It was savage!

I was gifted an ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts. Thank you T.A.A and Kora Nyx for the emotional damage! Nah jk. Truly thanks.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well where do I start. After that ending I’m real glad book two is on my kindle ready for me to jump straight in. My concentration and interests in reading haven’t been great lately so a book needs to grab my attention quite quickly and I’m delighted that this one did. In fact I found when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about the characters and wondering how it was going to play out. Whatever scenarios I came up with didn’t happen as the author took me on a path that I was hooked on.

I absolutely love the two main characters Caleb and Harper. I was rooting for them all the way through. Harper has had to be so strong that I wanted her to find some true happiness.

This is my first read by this author and it won’t be the last as I’m about to jump right into book two.

[The_first_last_page · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm not responsible for your emotional damage😅 enjoy."...... That is what I got in the message letting me know the author, and or her team approved me for an advanced copy of this book. So me, being my cocky self said "game on challenged accepted." After reading this book I am surrendering. 🏳️‍🏳️‍🏳️‍🏳️‍🏳️‍. I made it until almost the end until my tear ducts forgot how to stop the water works and my youngest is asking what is wrong with me.
This is not an easy read, especially if you can personally relate to some of the scenes in this book. If you have TW please heed with caution.
I have officially diagnosed myself with book character emotional connection disorder, and even though that may not be an actual diagnosis, in my world it's true.
Harper, Caleb and Z have such a complicated entanglement throughout the whole book. Trust, broken trust, honesty and being vulnerable isn't something any of these characters are familiar with handling emotionally. There is anger, jealousy, resentment, and growth these characters experience that pull you in and hold you tight.
Is that my heart breaking, or yours? After you read this, let me know.

[Makayla ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★ ½ (4.5)

I received The Rules directly from the author, and I’m so glad I picked it up. I loved the spice in this story, as it was just the right amount to keep things fun without overwhelming the plot. Even with all the warnings presented at the beginning (and verbally given to me by the author), I was still pleasantly shocked by that twist at the end. I genuinely didn’t see it coming, when I tell you that my jaw was on the floor, I mean it.

I’m counting down the days until the second book in the series, The Ruins, drops on May 12th!

[Anna Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like books where the fmc falls for the step brother with a plot twist you should check this out.

[Güera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was chasing a 5 ⭐️ read that would leave me speechless!
This is my the first time reading a book by Author Kora Nyx. I loved everything about this book. I couldn’t put this book down, the angst , sadness, and I was just in all my feelings. Oh Helen…..

Initially, I was irritated with Harper because of her hesitation about living with her Dad Silas. Her childhood backstory was heartbreaking. Helen was a favorite character of mine.

I can’t stand Z, yes, I feel for his trauma and the physical abuse he endured. I still don’t like him for sabotaging Harper life.

I need to find out what happens to Caleb and Harper. I want to find out about Silas also.

[skia_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:

She’s my stepsister. The one girl I shouldn't want... and the only one I can't resist.

Five minutes earlier she was just the new girl in class—
Chaos in human form with her sharp tongue and those scuffed combat boots,
Calling me a coward in front of everyone.
Then we were alone in the parking lot.
She stepped close.
Wrapped her arms around my neck.
And kissed me like she meant it.
Then she stole my wallet.
I was still trying to figure out what the hell just happened when my dad tackled her as she was sprinting away.
“I see you’ve already met your new stepsister.”
Stepsister.
She stares at me. I stare at her.
“Oh, you have got to be forking kidding me,” she sighs.
Because now the girl who kissed me like my life depended on it…
is living in my house.
We should stay away from each other.
But neither of us has ever been very good at following the rules.



Review:

In the history of reviewing books, I don't think I've ever clapped for any book that ends on a cliffhanger. If you've ever followed along with any of my reviews, it's quite the opposite. Although this book ends on a major cliffhanger, I'm sooo excited to read the second book in this series.

I'm so excited, I'm getting ahead of myself.

We start with Harper, stuck in East Texas with a mother who cares more about her next fix than her own daughter. Survival mode is all Harper knows. Her only real lifeline? Z—her best friend, her escape plan, her way out. They’re ready to do whatever it takes to break free… even if that means making reckless, life-altering decisions.

But before Harper can choose her own future, it’s taken from her.

Enter Silas—the father who’s been absent her entire life—suddenly deciding to play hero. He uproots her and drops her into a brand-new life in Dallas… complete with a picture-perfect home, a stepmother… and stepbrother Caleb.

Harper is a strong and fierce young woman who's dealt with a boatload of trauma in her life.

While Caleb is a sweet, controlled, structured, rule driven. His world runs on order, routines, and a rulebook he doesn’t break. Ever. That is, until he meets Harper.

"She just called me cute.... Does she mean puppy-dog cute or handsome cute?"

What starts as curiosity turns into something neither of them is prepared for. Because Harper doesn’t just challenge Caleb..she unravels him. And Caleb? He makes Harper feel something dangerously close to safe… which might be the most terrifying thing of all.

But that ending you never see coming oooh chileeeeee

Caleb's next move is gonna be one for the books. I can feel it!!!

This was a 6 star read!

I received an arc from Booksprout in exchange for my honest review

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Cora Nyx’s (aka Stasia Black) storytelling; she writes stories that aren’t exactly pretty. They’re unsettling, heartbreaking, and surprising. This book is the first part in this duet and ends on a cliffhanger—and once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. This coming-of-age love story is very well written and full of emotion, action, drama, trauma, angst, twists, intrigue, and spice. It took me a while to realize that Harper and Caleb’s story is actually a prequel to the author’s “Carnal Games” series, and that I already knew Caleb as an adult and would now learn more about his background.
The tropes of this part are:

- Young Adult
- Forbidden Love
- Step-siblings to Lovers
- Close/Forced Proximity
- Opposites Attract
- Good Guy x Bad Girl
- Love Triangle

Both protagonists are broken in different ways, making the reader fervently hope that they will find healing. Harper is a tough, independent heroine who used to live in a toxic, abusive environment, and Caleb who has OCD, has devoted his entire life to fulfilling his sick mother’s dream by being perfect in every possible way. I loved the chemistry between them and how Caleb wanted to help her despite his own insecurities. They are perfect for each other. Harpers dedication to helping her childhood friend was also admirable. I can’t wait for the next part of their story.

Harper Tucker, a teenager who grew up in a trailer park with her alcoholic mother, has learned to survive by fighting and stealing. Together with her best friend Z, who is abused by his stepfather, she plans to escape her surroundings and start a new life together. But then her criminal father, a con artist, who had disappeared years ago and was in prison, unexpectedly shows up and takes her to his new family. Harper is heartbroken to have to leave Z behind, but she is determined to return on her 18th birthday in a few months to free him.
Although everyone in her new home is kind to her, Harper feels out of place; yet at the same time, she is drawn to her quiet, polite, and self-controlled stepbrother Caleb Graham, who covers for her and her secret escapades.
Ever since his mother’s cancer diagnosis years ago, Caleb has wanted to be perfect for her and keeps himself under strict control to make her happy and proud—so much so that he has developed nervous tics. He, too, is drawn to Harper, but she is the complete opposite of him and, as his stepsister, off-limits. However, their feelings for each other and Harper’s desire to save Z have far-reaching consequences…

If you enjoy dark, emotionally charged young adult and new adult romance novels - featuring likable, troubled protagonists, love triangles, plenty of action, heartache, intrigue, drama, and spice - and no happy ending (in this book)—that tear you apart inside and move you to tears—then this book is just right for you. l I'm already looking forward to the next part of the story.

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper grew up in a trailer park in east Texas, with her mother and a string of predatory boyfriends. Forced to grow up long before she should have had to, she found solace in her best friend, a boy from the other end of the park whose home life was just as dark as hers. When her mother gets sick of her getting all the attention, she calls Harper’s ex-convict father to come get her, and before she knows it, Harper is on her way to Dallas to meet her new stepmother and stepbrother. But good things don’t last in Harper’s life, and the guilt she feels for leaving her friend behind eats her up inside. As much as she is beginning to love the life she’s found, including her straight-laced stepbrother, she is determined to keep the promise she made her friend, that it would always be the two of them until the end.

When Caleb’s life was turned upside down at age 12, he bound himself in order and rules to make sense of everything. Now, years later, his penchant for control has reached obsessive levels, but nothing can make him stray from the path he’s designed, until her. Harper comes into his life as the embodiment of chaos, and yet somehow, she makes everything right. While he first struggles to reconcile his feeling for her with what he knows he should do, he finds solace in the way she quiets his mind, and sees him as more than just the perfect son he tries to be. When he finds out she’s planning to leave, he is determined to do whatever it takes to be able to keep her.

You know those books that you finish at 1am and you’re left staring at the ceiling for hours because your heart won’t stop racing? This is one of them. I received an early copy of this book from the Author Agency, and I was absolutely blown away. The connection between Harper and Caleb is undeniable right from the beginning, but while the author could have made it sinister, it was probably the most wholesome thing either had experienced. While Harper’s trauma is definitely on the darker side, given her past, we can’t ignore that Caleb’s obsessive compulsive tendencies also stem from his own trauma, and yet somehow, the two of them manage to heal something in the other. While they did everything possible to keep their love a secret, things have ways of coming out, and while I had a feeling something would happen, the last few chapters left me absolutely reeling. That cliffhanger absolutely broke me, and I really hope The Ruins will be able to put me back together when it comes out next month.

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure unadulterated, emotional elixir that shall sate every crier-reader. I was totally enamored by her sentimental plot. The characters mesmerized me. Two kids, down on their luck. One escapes, finds refuge in calm, peaceful environment then comes back for the other.

“Like old times.
But I don’t think I’m that girl anymore—the one who curled up in Z’s bed and thought that love was whatever scraps someone gave you if you were pretty enough and quiet enough and useful enough. That girl thought being held was the same as being seen. That girl thought survival was the same as living.”

I'm like, okay....this story has ethos, vulnerability....but at least there's light at the end of the tunnel.
But Whoah there!!!! like “WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!”
The whole story had me teary eyed, sympathy seeping outta my pores for Zedekiah and Harper Tucker, abandoned, abused kids from Grass Valley Trailer park

“he doesn’t even know how to let go. And I don’t know how to hold on. He’s giving me everything, and I don’t even know how to love myself.”

And then..... “WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST READ KORA!!”
What have you done in the “ LAST CHAPTER”
My God, what a “DIABOLICAL TWIST”

I'm on the floor bawling, howling with Caleb Graham. My sweet, sweet boy ahhhhh gawd!!!
My jaw dropped to the bottom of the he'll...wait, “HOW, WHY, WHEN”
Gimme the next book, you evil, evil woman!!
“5 stars cause Life's a bitch, and then you die”
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[Arely · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this 10 stars, I would. I haven’t been able to shut up about that ending. It’s been living in my head nonstop.

Harper is the kind of character that gets under your skin. Not in a dramatic, overdone way, but in a real, aching way. She’s been failed by every person who was supposed to protect her. An alcoholic mother. A father who disappeared into prison. The only constant she’s ever had is Z, her best friend, her shield, her equal. They survive together. They protect each other. They plan their way out.

Then everything shifts.

Harper is pulled out of that life and dropped into something that should feel like a fresh start. Money, stability, a home that actually feels like a home. But nothing about it is simple for her. She doesn’t know how to accept safety. She doesn’t know how to trust something good when she’s never had it before.

And then there’s Caleb.

Caleb is controlled, precise, constantly trying to stay ahead of his own mind. He clings to patterns and numbers just to keep his anxiety in check. On paper, they shouldn’t make sense. But the connection between them is immediate and intense. Quiet, but undeniable. It builds in a way that feels natural and consuming at the same time.

What really hit for me was Harper’s internal conflict. She’s physically in a better place, but mentally she’s still in survival mode. She’s planning, calculating, trying to get back to the only person she’s ever trusted, Z. Even when things start to shift, even when she starts to feel something new, she can’t let go of that past version of herself.

And then everything falls apart.

That ending completely blindsided me. I had a feeling something was off, but not like that. Z didn’t just cross a line, he shattered everything. The level of manipulation, the way he played everyone, it completely flipped the story on its head.
I’m still not over it.

I need The Ruins immediately because that cliffhanger was BRUTAL.

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

[Hollollolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is an angry five stars. I knew I was headed to a cliff, I even expected the potholes along the way, but there was one major pothole that turned out to be a sinkhole. Came out of left field and destroyed me.

The rest of the book is good. Dramatic in the way only 18 year old love can be. MMC Caleb gives naive to street smarts, carefully controlled, and such a mamas boy. He’s just so Good. His stepsister, FMC Harper is sullen and angsty, as expected with someone who’s had a hard life. The sulking gets to be a lot at times, but she’s 18 so it fits, and the character growth is gorgeous.

The entire time I was reading I kept thinking: I want them to get together but I want them to have a chance to grow up too. I guess wish granted? I’m hoping for a well deserved happily ever after.

I felt some chemistry at first between Caleb and Harper, but the large time gaps makes their romance difficult to feel. I feel more of the intense hormones, big life events, and overwhelming pressure. Loved how OCD, panic attacks, and mental health is written. Surprisingly fast read for being 500+ pages.

I’m going to read the next/final book, but I’m going in with a chip on my shoulder. The cliff is cliffy. Thanks to Booksprout I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Spoilers! Below are the tags I included in my personal tracking that other readers may find relevant: cliffhanger, contemporary, dark, fmc-harper, golden retriever, high school, mental health, mmc-celeb, sexual assault, start of series, step siblings, Texas, virgin

Fiction, contemporary, romance, dark, emotional, funny, hopeful, reflective, sad
Plot or Character Driven: plot
Strong character development: yes
Lovable characters: yes
Diverse cast of characters: no
Flaws of characters a main focus: yes
Recommend to friends: yes, if they were looking for a hormonal, dramatic, emotional high school story
Meet Cute: She steals a kiss and his wallet
POV: first person, dual (mostly)

[Dani's Shelf Indulgence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for the Advanced Reader Copy of this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this book expecting to read a smutty and spicy book about a stepbrother and stepsister. What I got instead was a deep and emotional story about two young adults navigating the darkest parts of their lives, but in very different ways. This is not a book I would normally pick up, but it got it's hooks into me and it left me in an absolute book slump! I couldn't get these characters out of my head, not to mention ending on the biggest and emotionally devastating cliffhanger!

The Rules pulled every emotion out of me. This book had me rooting for both of our main characters, crying when they were crying, and wanting to throttle a fictional character. It was an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire book, and the ending....left me shattered!

To give the briefest amount of plot;
Harper (our FMC) has had to survive. Survive her drunk mother, abusive men, poverty, bullying, and trusting no one but herself to make it through. Harper has one friend in the whole world, Z, who is also trying to survive. With both of them nearing 18, they make a plan to get married, so that they can be emancipated from their parents.
Their plans fall through when Harper's father comes and takes her with him back to his new family.

Caleb (our MMC) is a rule follower, gets straight As, doesn't cause a fuss, and believes nothing bad will happen if he just follows the rules. (While its not said in the book, Caleb's obsession with rules and numbers, makes it seem like he suffers from an obsessive complusive disorder.) All his rules though, go out the window when he meets Harper, his new step sister.

Two young adults, both trying to survive their own darkness, in their own ways.
This is a slowburn romance, but when they fall, it leaves the reader rooting for them and their happily ever after. Prepare to be an emotional wreck, and get ready for the cliffhanger, because it is devastating.

I'm ready for book two now! The Ruin, coming soon!

[Beth H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all The Rules was a good book, but it was not what I was expecting. From the description and the author's TikTok videos (how I found this book), I was picturing a completely fucked up, dark story. While there were some fucked up parts of the book (an almost grape and the ending), I would not consider this dark. So if that's what you are looking for or if you were concerned it might be too dark for you, know that it almost feels like a contemporary taboo book.


Now for my actual review.

⭐⭐⭐.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Harper is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She has been abandoned by her con artist dad and lives with her drunk of a mother. She has one person she can depend on Z, the boy a few trailers down whose situation isnt much better than hers. They have a plan to get out, get married and gain emancipation. But before that can happen her father shows up to "save" her. Harper doesn't want to go, but at 17 she has no real choice and her father takes her away to meet her new step mom and step bother.

Caleb is the perfect son, friend, and student. He gave himself rules and he follows them. Every rule has a purpose, don't break them and he will be perfect. But then Harper falls into his life and his rules slowly start going out the window. He doesn't care if he is perfect. He just needs her. The problem? Harper is his step sister and completely off limits.

I was 100% invested in this book. Kora Nyx gave you just enough to keep you reading and her writing style is addictive.

The spice was hot and heavy, but I wish there was more of it. I can think of 3 scenes and for a taboo romance I would expect more.

The whole Z situation was an interesting aspect to this book. When he gets "rescued" I could instantly tell things were not going to go well and I wish the author could have hidden that a bit better to make the ending more surprising.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good plot with just a hint of spice.

[Alyssa Kunz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for reaching out to me and providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Well I’m pretty sure I have a broken heart now after reading The Rules. A step sibling dark romance is devastatingly beautiful.
I really can’t wait to read book 2 because it left on a HUGE cliffhanger. I really didn’t expect for this book to leave such a strong mark on me. Caleb and Harpers connection was off the charts, their push and pull.. the chemistry.. the intensity..and the angst. Gosh there was no denying it, because they were instantly drawn to each other. I am obsessed with them and love their love. And I really loved the whole good boy/bad girl concept, even though Caleb is a good boy he’s got teeth so don’t let him fool you.

Harper has quite the story behind her. Her mom is an alcoholic who has these boyfriends that come and go and are absuive towards hands Harper, all while her mother just didn’t give a crap. Her dad walked away from her when she was a kid. So Harper is a very broken soul. And she is just looked as “trailer trash”.

Caleb is honestly beyond a sweetheart, the way I fell in love with his whole character, his own personality. He lives inside his head, he has anxiety and calculates every little thing down to smaller increments to keep his anxiety at ease. He does this for a reason and it started when he was 12 I don’t want to say why because it could be a spoiler. I just love how Harper actually pays attention to him, knows what he’s doing and keeps him calm before he gets a panic attack.

I DID NOT expect that ending!!! Like wtf??!!!
Harper’s best friend Z that she would do anything for and she did and that is how he repaid her!!! Ughhhh I thought I liked you Z, but that changed real quick!!! You are a real asshole 😡 i hope you get what’s coming to you in book 2.

5⭐️
4🌶️

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG!! This book wrecked me. My mom just passed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, so I cried alot and i just wanted to hig Caleb and Harper and Helen and Silas. I also understood Harper and how she grew up, and my heart breaks for Caleb and what he goes through with his mom when she had Cancer making him the man he is today. Harper grew up too fast at such a young age, I understand why she is mad at her father but people do change sometimes. And her dad proves that! And Harper finally has the family she deserves a mother that actually loves her, and someone who loves her unconditionally and whole heartedly. Caleb went through alot when his mom got cancer the first time, and dealt with his own father issues, but finds a new family when Harper's dad marries his mother and then Harper comes into his life like a chaos demon just bulldozing through all of his finely tuned perfect Rules he has set up, smashing through his control. But of course every story has a villian and most of the time the villian is the closest one to your heart, one you never would have suspected. And this villian doesnt care who's collateral damage, as ling as he gets what was never his to begin with. I really wish I could reach through the book and hug Caleb and Harper and tell them who did it. Because I cried and am so mad at that ending I need The Ruin Now!! I cant wait to see Karma catch up to the villian.this was a slow burn but worth every second of the tension and raw moments between them.

Quote
"He's the closest thing I've ever had to family.
But looking at him now - raw & desperate & trying so hard to rewind the clock- I see it for what it is.
Not safety. Not love.
I think... I think maybe its a trap shaped like loyalty." ~ Harper's thoughts

[Spilled_Ink_Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my very first book from Kora Nyx, and I think I may have found a new favorite author.

“𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖓𝖔 𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖆, 𝕮𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖇 𝕲𝖗𝖆𝖍𝖆𝖒, 𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖒𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝕴 𝖈𝖗𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

You first meet Harper, a young teenager full of pain trapped in constant survival mode while living in a trailer park with her alcoholic mother and all too friendly stepfather.

The only person she can count on is Z, her best friend, who is also stuck with an abusive stepfather. They are each other's only escape with promises of leaving them behind once they turn eighteen until one day Silas Harper's absent father, who has been in and out of jail her whole life, shows up to take her home to his new rich wife and stepson, forcing her to leave Z, the only family she has ever known, behind.

This is where she meets her rule-following boy scout stepbrother Caleb. Caleb is controlled, calm, and reserved, while Harper is pure chaos. While their two different worlds should clash, instead deep pure understanding and connection build.

Throughout the story Harper struggles with what a possible future could be with her newfound family and Caleb while still struggling to hold on to the past promises she made with Z.

When the secrets spill and everything crashes down at once, you are left speechless and full of mixed emotions. The cliffhanger had me flipping the last pages back and forth, needing to know what happens next with my heart in my throat. Only a handful of books have been able to leave me in tears and full of feelings, this one is definitely one of them.

I am already Ruined for The Ruins!

[Bs_Bookish_Things · Rating 5 out of 5]

😭😮‍💨 I am emotionally wrecked is that a spoiler or a warning?

😮‍💨 I wish I had book 2 right now (it IS a duet) there is a giant cliffie and my heart was broken before we even went over the edge.

This is my first book by this author— I stumbled on her ARC sign up, and the premise of the book resonated with me.

🌶️ Spice level | 1 1/2 on page everyone is 18.

🛑 Some trigger warnings for attempted SA of FMC not by any MCs. Child abuse, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, addiction. 🛑

📖 Story line | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 Well written, well paced.

👩🏻👦🏻 Characters | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Raw, Realistic, easy to empathize with.

🔤📖 Writing | Few errors, some minor edits remain but nowhere near so many indie books I’ve read of late, I don’t feel they interfered with the enjoyment of the story.

Story is told in dual POV.

📖 Tropes 📖

Step-Sibling Romance
Found Family
Forced Proximity
Secret Relationship
Taboo Relationship
Dark Romance
Early Adult

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖

Character’s feel very realistic down to trauma responses, broken family dynamics and how one might pick up the broken bits and try to go forward.

The MMC has OCD and I feel this was written really well and felt very realistic. I never found myself scanning past his ticks — I went through them and experienced them with him and my heart cracked a little each time for him.

Broken people can either try to help you up or pull you down so they’re not alone, the FMC gets to meet several people who are prime examples of this and we get to feel her own struggle with it and what kind of person she wants to be. 😮‍💨 really hoping for a HEA in book 2.

[Sally Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I loved everything about it - the characters and the storyline are great. It's an emotional journey for our main characters, with lots of drama along the way. So Harper is the "bad" girl and Caleb is the "good" boy - an A* student, from opposite sides of society. Following an incident with her Mum's boyfriend, Harper ends up living with her ex-convict father and his wife and her son Caleb. She goes from living in a trailer park to living in a beautiful house in an affluent area of Texas. At first, Harper tries to fight this lifestyle change and get back to what she knows, but it is not long before she starts to like her new life and the feelings of being safe and cared for. The one thing stopping her from committing to this new family life is the thought of her best friend Z still at the trailer park and the plans they made to escape together. At the beginning of the book I was thinking please don't let anything bad happen to Z before Harper can help him, by the end of it, I was thinking please let something bad happen to Z ! I loved Harper and Caleb's secret relationship. They both have their trauma but they helped each other to grow and became stronger together. It was great to see side characters featured and places mentioned from Carnal Games, a series written by Kora under her other pen name of Stasia Black.
There is a twist and a massive cliffhanger at the end of the book. I cannot wait to read book 2 and have everything crossed that Harper and Caleb get their HEA. In the meantime, I will just have to nurse my book hangover for a little longer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodi Warne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC ebook copy received from The Author Agency and author Kora Nyx.

When this popped up as part of a duet based on a forbidden romance my immediate response was sign me up.

I was excepting teenage angst, with a little miscommunication maybe a third act breakup.

What I read was a teenage girl's constant fight for survival, dealing with abandonment, abuse, walls up to protect herself but underneath all of that a glimmer of hope that one day someone will love her and care for her. That just once someone will show up for her, in her time of need.

Enter the 'Boy Scout' her step brother who's perfect persona isn't all that it seems as he is struggling on a daily basis with OCD. He needs rules to survive because when rules are broken his life is turned upside down.

Harper brings peace to Caleb's mind, whilst Caleb softens Harpers heart. If only life was easy bringing out a new, happier and stronger side in each other. Unfortunately Harper's loyalty to her best friend is going to be the ruin of them all.

**************

For me this story hit hard as Harper deals with a grief of a mothers love she's never received and when she does, it's ripped from her when she needs it most, betrayal from those closet to her, finally seeing that she doesn't have to settle for less but that choice being taken from her. As for Caleb he may not have experienced abuse on a similar level to Harper but neither have had easy start in life. This was a well written representation of someone dealing with childhood trauma for both characters.

[Nicole M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to read an ARC of The Rules by Kora Nyx, and I’m already counting down to book two.

Harper and Caleb completely pulled me in from the start. Their dynamic has that perfect black cat/golden retriever energy, but with so much more depth because of their pasts. Both characters carry trauma, and I really appreciated how differently they cope it made their connection feel raw, complicated, and real. Caleb especially stood out to me. He’s so controlled in every aspect of his life except when it comes to Harper, and watching those walls crack for her was one of the best parts of the book. He’s truly such a soft “cinnamon roll” underneath it all an absolute baby boy who deserves the whole world.

Their relationship is intense, emotional, and messy in a way that feels authentic rather than forced. You can feel how much they need each other, even when things aren’t easy. The author does a great job building that tension and emotional payoff.

Another standout was the representation. The neurodivergence and OCD elements felt thoughtfully written and added another layer to the characters without defining them entirely. It’s clear care was taken in portraying those experiences.

And that ending… diabolical. No spoilers, but it completely caught me off guard in the best way and left me desperate to know what happens next.

I’m fully invested in these characters and their story, and I cannot wait to see where things go in book two.

[Sarah Sach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me up half the night reading it, as I could not bring myself to put it down for more than a minute. The way the MFC is portrayed comes off as someone who has this big trauma that the MMC ends up helping her heal from in certain aspects, until it is the MMC turn to face something he wished and hoped would never happen. The way that the author wrote about the MMC is in such amazing detail you can really tell a lot of thought has gone into writing this book.

It starts off from the MFC perspective and it naturally flows through chapters whether it is the MFC or MMC. It is a slow burn forbidden love story riddled with suspense and trauma. Kora Nyx did an amazing portraying the difficulties that young people face with their mental health and self confidence. This book has the perfect balance between smut, lust and the darkest points in their lives.

I have fallen inlove with the characters in this book, it has kept me up at night while simultaneously making me wish the next book was out already, so that I can continue to read there story.

I am beyond thankful to the author for letting me read this book, and I am extremely excited to see where the story unfolds too.

Kora Nyx

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 6/5
🔥 6/5
🌶️ 4/5
💧 6/5

The Rules by Kora Nyx, provided via The Author Agency, is a psychologically intense dark romance filled with emotional tension, trauma, secrets, and deeply layered character dynamics.

The story follows Harper as she navigates complicated relationships with Caleb, her stepbrother, and Zedekiah, her best friend. The emotional conflict between the characters creates a constant sense of tension that drives the story forward while keeping the emotional stakes high throughout.

What stands out most is the emotional weight carried by each character. Every relationship within the story is shaped by trauma, pain, and unresolved emotions, making the atmosphere feel heavy in a way that remains deeply engaging.

The story balances angst, emotional vulnerability, and psychological tension in a way that creates a strong emotional reaction while reading. Rather than focusing only on romance, the book explores the emotional damage and inner struggles each character carries.

One of the strongest aspects of the story is how immersive the emotional tension feels. The writing creates a lingering emotional ache that stays with you even after putting the book down.

Overall, The Rules is a dark and emotionally intense romance that delivers high emotional stakes, compelling character dynamics, and an ending that leaves a strong need for the next installment.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

They didn't just break the rules, they obliterated them.

Very dark and sexually explicit romance about step siblings, with no shared parent I feel compelled to add. The FMC, Harper, grew up in a small southern Texas town trailer park. Caleb grew up, well let's just say on the other side of the tracks. Prep school, debate team, and Harvard bound. Both of them have their own issues, to put it kindly, but when their lives implode it is a spectacular conflagration, events neither of them could have predicted lead to circumstances they didn't see coming.
The main characters are high school students, seniors, and pretty typically angsty. The FMC and MMC fall in love and have no idea wat kind of sh*# show is brewing behind their backs. Their story had me riveted from the first page, and while I was kinda rooting for them, I was also always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Anger, betrayal, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, as well as some surprising and unexpected twist and turns in the plot, and a cliffhanger that left me reeling. This book made me laugh and cry and thank goodness that I was in high school long before cell phones were a thing. While this book might not be for everyone, I enjoyed it and will gladly recommend it to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ ARC Review 'The Rules'

✨ Stepbrother Romance
✨ Obsession
✨ Dark Secrets
✨ Childhood Trauma
✨ Mental Health
✨ Forbidden / Taboo
✨ Suspense
✨ Angst / Passion

I can't wait for this second book in this series. The cliffhanger towards the end left me hanging for more.
This story follows our FMC a girl named Harper. Her life has been a series of emotional and physical trauma. Always in a state of survival. Harper is battling an internal conflict within herself and how she's feeling, especially now.
Our MMC Caleb is a boy who's spent most of his life battling anxiety, but has learnt to control his emotions with being the best version of himself be it school academics, numbers or patterns within his life.
After Harper's biological father comes to retrieve Harper to live with him, and not willingly might I add. Our two main characters soon realize since meeting at school they are more aligned in each other's life which is the biggest shock they both could have ever possibly thought of.
Forbidden desires and thoughts but also a start to building trust and confide in one another. These two may somewhat be opposites but they definitely compliment each other in certain aspects that the other may be missing.
This story is a lot different than I initially thought it was going to be when signing up. It is very raw emotionally and in mental health, and in that sense it is done and written well.
There is tension, forbidden passion with a great amount of suspense. I had a good time reading this and can't wait for the conclusion.
Thank you to Kora and the Author Agency for this ARC opportunity 🩵

[Dee Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book was amazing!! I have never wanted a book to end on a cliffhanger and this one did and I was so for it. I'm sooo excited to read the second book in this series.
This book starts off with Harper who has a mother that just don't give a crap. Her mother is only concerned with herself and her habit as opposed to being a mother to her child. Harper and her friend z decides to make an escape plan but before she can her father who disappeared most of her life. He decides to play Captain save A hoe and jump in and bring her to his home where he now has a new wife and a stepson. Here enters Caleb, Caleb is a very through the point, by the book young man. He thrives on order and organization. He's the exact opposite of Harper, because Harper is the epitome of a strong independent woman, who absolutely thrives on chaos. But with all her trauma that she's been through I think she's handled it pretty well. Now this is the part that really made me excited the fact that Harper very thoroughly is starting to unravel Caleb. She is making him become something that he never thought he was. Now I'm so ready for book two I don't even know what to do. Overall, this book was fantastic I absolutely love it I think Kora Nyx really kicked ass when she wrote This Book. I think the second book is going to be just as freaking amazing. Now I'm so ready for it.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - 4.5 stars

This step sibling romance had me captivated from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down! Harper is this incredibly strong fmc, who grew up in a trailer park with her mom. She is incredibly resilient and has mile high walls due to her situation, but at the end of the day just wants to be loved. Caleb has this intense need to be perfect. Because if he can be perfect, what could go wrong? I really fell in love with Caleb. He loves fiercely and is incredibly loyal. I loved Harper and Caleb together. They were from different sides of the tracks but at the end of the day they balanced each other out. They weren’t afraid to challenge each other and yet they were also so attuned to what the other needed. I loved watching Harper adapt to her new life, like there could be something stable in her life. Enter a third character, Z. Z has always been there for Harper. He was Harper’s best friend at the trailer park, and from the get go you get this inkling something is there - maybe good, maybe bad. His true colors will be soon be revealed. The ending of this book was absolutely crazy! All the moving pieces that came together for this cliffhanger ending took me by surprise. I really need book 2 like yesterday! This was my first Kora Nyx book and it’s safe to say I will definitely be reading more of her books.

[Jade Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Just… WOW. I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this book, and I genuinely have not recovered 😭

This book completely consumed me. It made me laugh, cry, scream, kick my feet and fall hopelessly in love with these characters… only to leave me destroyed by that cliffhanger ending!!

The FMC’s story absolutely broke my heart. She grew up in a trailer park, surviving a horrible childhood with only her best friend by her side. Their bond, the history between them, the tension? PERFECT. Then suddenly her entire life is ripped away from her when she’s thrown into this rich, picture-perfect family she never asked for.

Her dad’s new wife is the definition of perfection… and so is her son. Cue the drama, the tension, the forbidden step-brother romance, and ALL the angst 👏

Every single character felt so real and layered. I became obsessed with the relationships, the secrets, the jealousy, and the emotional pull between everyone. And don’t even get me started on the best friend being back in her life still wanting her, still waiting for the chance to take her away from that family. The chemistry was INSANE.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter and I could not put it down. The romance, the heartbreak, the drama, the twists… EVERYTHING hit perfectly.

And that ending?! Criminal. I need the next book immediately 😭

[Chasary Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance Copy Review !!!

WOW!!
This is a new to me author and they did not disappoint at all!!

Harper!! Gosh Harper what she went through since she was a little girl to adulthood. Is truly heartbreaking. Until her dad Silas comes to pick her up from her Grass Alley. Darlene is another worthless person in her life. Silas and Harper start off rough fighting arguing. Gosh finally getting to know what family and love feels like.

Caleb the golden boy, the one who needs rules control. Helene the apple of his eye. They way he’s loves is just so beautiful. Caleb Meets Harper in an AP English class where they challenge each other. Whoosh gosh they kiss in the parking lot….
No spoilers!
Gosh this book was a total emotional roller coaster ride.

Do not even get me started on Z!! I never wanted to hurt a fictional character in my life. Harper trust him the only family she’s ever known. He’s selfish, inconsiderate and trying to bring Harper down and hold her back ugh!

The cliffhanger was so devastating… I need this second book like I need air!!

Kora NYX really wrote this book with such gusto. It’s written so phenomenal. I have no words to describe how they write I’m utterly completely speechless.

Please check your trigger warnings!!

[Ashley Bolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and drama to go along with it. I could not help but fall in love with Caleb. He was such a kind and caring soul. Even when he made mistakes he tried to fix them immediately. He never left people to wonder what kind of person he really was. He had a lot of rules that he made and followed for himself because he needed a way to control the world around him. He developed OCD tendencies to help him cope with his moms cancer. He thought if he did everything right his mom would be alright. His mom met his new stepdad and he had a seedy past. They developed a bond and he finally went to get his daughter Harper. She was already a senior in high school by this point. She had a rough life. Her mom was pretty much a dead beat and she developed a friendship with a boy named Z. He was from a bad background as well. Her dad came and took her away to give her a new life. She was very resistent to the new life because she had never had a good life and didn't feel like that was something she could have. She and Caleb started to form a bond to each other. Even though it was sort of forbidden they still embarked on a relationship. They were each others other piece but their are shadows in the background lurking and trying to tear them apart. There were so many secrets and lies left in this book. I will be honest I was not expecting all the craziness that happened at the end. I was not ready for that cliffhanger. Boy was I not happy but at the same time I think it was essential to this story. If we did not have any drama that came from all this, it would not have been such a powerful story. I cannot wait for the conclusion of their story and for the people lurking in the shadow to be their just desserts.