Rules

Confessions #2

by Jessica Sorensen

Willow
It started with a kiss but the middle is a bit more complicated.
The list of rules is supposed to protect mine and Beck’s friendship and stop us from accidentally kissing again. But most of all, it’s supposed to protect my heart from getting crushed and keep me from ending up broken like my mom.
I’ve always been great at following rules. But the more time I spend with Beck, the more I can’t stop thinking about that kiss and how amazing his lips felt against mine. For the first time in my life, I wish I was a rule breaker. But I can never cross that line. Not with Beck. Not with anyone.

Besides, I have bigger things to worry about than getting kissed. Like taking care of my mom, my boss trying to force me into a shameful job position, and a potential stalker.

Beck
It started with the most amazing kiss ever and led to Willow handing me a list.
That stupid list. When she gave it to me, I wanted to shred it to pieces, pull her against me, and kiss her until she realized a piece of paper wasn’t going to stop me. Willow’s been my best friend since forever and she should know by now that I’m not a follow-the-rules kind of guy.
She may think that kiss was a mistake, but she’s wrong. Kisses like that can’t be a mistake. Willow and I belong together, have since the day I promised to always protect her from the bad stuff in her life. And I’ll always protect her, from anything or anyone who tries to hurt her.

Please note: This is an alternative version to my novel, Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl. It has a few changed scenes, more suspense, an entirely different ending, and ends in a cliffhanger. You do not need to read Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl to read Rules.

Suggested reading age 18+

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Young Adult, College, Contemporary Romance

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2016

About the author

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.


http://www.jessicasorensen.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica...

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl is a great new friends to lovers story from Jessica Sorensen. It’s marketed as a stand alone, and it is, but if you’ve read Confessions of a Kleptomaniac by Sorensen, then you’ve already met Willow and Beckett.

Willow has rules in place to protect her. To protect her heart. One of those rules is not letting her lips touch those of her best friend, Beck and Willow have been best friends since they were kids. Their lives are so different. Beckett comes from a well off family, and Willow is the adult in her household. Her mother is pretty terrible and as hard as Willow tries to keep things together in her household, sometimes she needs help. She really hates that she needs it, but Beckett is always there for her when she needs him.

“Taking care of you is one of my favorite things to do, so quit arguing and let me do what I love.”


Beckett has real feelings for Willow, and has for a while now. Feelings that run much deeper than friendship. Willow has those feelings too, but she can’t act on them. Beck is the one person in her life that she can always count on. The one person she loves and leans on. She can’t risk their friendship if things don’t work out. When Beck kisses Willow, she’ll try to stand strong with her ’no kissing’ rule, but will she be able to withstand him…

Beckett is one of the best characters Sorensen has written in a while. I loved him. He had such a big heart and so much love for Willow. He was understanding with her hesitations, and knew when to push and when to hold back. I wish Willow would have gotten with the program a little earlier, but I completely understood where she was coming from. Her life was so difficult and it’s scary to make big changes like she did. And being stubborn and not wanting help is something I totally understand, being a stubborn woman myself.

This is one of those quick and easy reads I read in one sitting. It was a sweet friends to lovers romance that left me with a smile on my face!

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl
Series: Standalone
Author: Jessica Sorensen
Release date: August 26, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes



This was my first book by Jessica Sorensen in a few years and it was such a pleasure to read! Beck and Willow were just adorable together and their connection was so unmistakable it couldn't be denied. I was immediately drawn in by the cute cover and synopsis and I'm so glad that I decided to read it.

From the very beginning, we get a peek into the type of neglect that Willow endures from her mother. I grew an immediate loathing for her and it only increased a hundred fold as the story wore on. The horrible conditions that she forced her daughter to endure made my stomach turn. As a parent, she was completely selfish and uncaring. Even cruel. And I immediately sympathized with Willow's plight. Her childhood memories grew more grim by the page, but since her very first recollection there was always one common factor: Beck. He came into her life and became the one source of comfort and sense of safety.

Sometimes, I wished I could stay in his arms forever. Life would be so much easier that way.

Her father's abandonment took its toll on her mother when she was young. She turned from a woman who cared for her and did all the things a mother should do to an emotional wreck. She spiraled as far as she could go, turning to drugs and alcohol and leaving her child alone for days with no warning. She had a revolving door of dangerous men that dictated her happiness. Instead of Willow following her mom's bad example, she struggled day by day to feed herself, pay the bills, and make good grades so that she could escape the life that she was enduring. Along the way, she vowed to never make the same mistakes and depend on a man for happiness.

I just prefer not to think about boyfriends: of having one, of ruining my life to have one, of getting consumed by one, of ending up like my mom.

After high school graduation, it's becoming clear however that her no dating rule is in danger of being broken. Her feelings for Beck have been evolving over time and are becoming harder and harder to ignore. The sexual tension that crackles between them can only be stretched so far before it snaps.



Tumbling, falling, out-of-control-that's how I feel when I'm around him. I like him too much.

There wasn't a lot of descriptive physical moments in this book. But the angst of will-they-won't-they tension was done so well that it more than made up for it. I never felt like I needed any explicit scenes between these two, there was enough sexual tension between them and bursts of surrendering to their attraction that kept me more than satisfied.

This was one of the cutest friends to lovers stories I've read in a long time. Beck was the epitome of chivalrous, adoring, and protective. There was absolutely nothing he wouldn't do to make her safe, happy, and comfortable. Being best friends with her since childhood, he knew everything there was to know about her. The shameful parts and the best parts. And he loved every side of her without exception. Total unconditional love. I loved this guy so much, he was one of the sweetest I've come across in a long time, and together they fit together so effortlessly and completely.

Willow's rules to keep him in the friend zone are doomed to fail because once Beck gets a taste of her, there's no stopping him from making his perfect girl his.



But she's hiding things from him, and when the truth comes out will he still see her in the same light?

If you're looking for a sweet, feel-good friends to lovers book this will definitely be the one for you. This will not disappoint!

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[Tink Magoo is bad at reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly, I was in the mood for some drawn out angst because I really enjoyed this one.

Loved how obsessed Beck was. Didn't even care that Willow was a bit of a whinger. My only complaint is not having more of them together.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Teen Angsty Stars

Jessica Sorensen is my go-to author for teen angst. Rules of a Rebel and a Shy girl has the things you like in a Jessica Sorensen read, you have the Heroine with a slew of mommy issues, the Hero with a slew of Daddy issues and the forbidden best-friends romance.

I read Jessica Sorensen books because I know that is what I am going to get. I know it will have angst and I know it’s always about two characters with a lot of issues because let’s face it, they are too nice and they let people take advantage of them.

Willow is a poor girl with a drug addict mother. Does she enable her mom? Yes, she pays for the rent, let the mom take advantage of her and let her mom brings guys over and trash the place. You would think common sense would kick in and Willow would leave, but it just doesn’t happen. I’m okay with this because this is the angst I am looking for.

Willow is a hard worker and she loves her best friend Beck, but she would never do anything about it because she doesn’t want to ruin the friendship.

Beck is rich, of course right, handsome and he is in love with Willow. He wants her so badly, but the girl just doesn’t want to let him in.

Beck spends majority of the book trying to get Willow to get some common sense, meaning, to get her to break away from her crazy mama.

There were some highs and lows with this book. I really liked the damsel in distress moments, like when Willow’s car would break down and she would call Beck for help. I like Beck as the Hero because he chased after Willow and I LOVE it when the Hero chases after the Heroine.

Then, there were some lows. I found the first 70% pretty engaging, but towards the last 30% the story starts to feel a little too repetitive and flat. There are only so many times Willow can push
Beck away before my eyes roll to the back of my head. Also I felt like the ending was wrapped too neatly in a pretty bow.

With all of the Jessica Sorensen books out there I felt like this one was really rushed and there wasn’t too much of a story. BUT the angst was good. So it was an okay book in my opinion. I don’t regret reading it.

[Pao]

You know what that blurb reminds me of?



TBR simply because Mr. Brightside is my favorite song ❤.

[A_Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 25%

A good idea.
But I just did not enjoy this writer's writing style.

[Madeleine Knutsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willow and Beck?

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

The lesson I learned here is don't trust Amazon reviews, come to Goodreads before a purchase.

There were a lot of little things that bothered me about this book, and they all sort of merged together into one large unhappy.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I blame the cover.

It totally hypnotized me.

I am way too old for books like this I think. Well, not always but I was for this one.

I didn't like it all that much. I didn't like how serious this shit with Willow's Mom was but was kind of made to be not so. I don't know. From the beginning that story line just did not sit right with me.

Willow was a contradiction to me. She was described one way but her actions and behavior made her a totally different person. I dunno. I didn't get her at all.

And Beck. I didn't really get him either. Um, you are a rich boy who was given everything. Was he even in college? I can't recall. It sounded like he had his own business or something but I will tell you there is noway he bought his own house and BMW out of high school. Something just didn't mesh with his story. I just didn't get it.

I think honestly they were just kids and that kind of made me feel very uncomfortable with what was happening in their lives. They need parents.

I still really like the cover though.

[Glire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jessica Sorensen = padres abusivos.

Alguien podría pensar que luego de escribir tantos libros repletos de padres abusivos (alcohólicos, drogadictos, golpeadores, psicóticos), Sorensen se cansaría de repetirse y cambiaría la fórmula. Ese alguien estaría equivocado.

[Mojo_Mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fluffy bunny.

The bane of my existence.

No drama. Sweet and happy.

SG LADIES: Another 5 stars for no OW and a seriously devoted H.

I think it gave me a lobotomy. I sure don't have any brain cells left to write a review.

[Fanny]

DNF at 30%.

Este segundo libro me llamaba mas la atencion que su predecesor, sin embargo, cuando lo inicie no me encontre con lo que imaginaba despues de leer la premisa, sinceramente despues de las primeras 25 paginas mis ganas por conocer esta historia desaparecieron por completo.
Puede ser que si lo hubiera leido hace unos años esta novela hubiese recibido una reseña mucho mas positiva, pero con el paso del tiempo me he ido cansando de ciertos cliches y uno de esos topicos es el de la chica desvalida que necesita a un chico que le arregle su vida de principio a fin sin ella mover ni un solo dedo, y Willow ( la protagonista femenina ) es justo ese tipo de personaje.
A diferencia de su antecesora, esta secuela no me resulto tan grata de leer, todo sucede a paso de tortuga y cuando una lectura tiene un ritmo lento yo tengo la costumbre de desconectar, ni siquiera Beck que es un cielo de protagonista consiguio que yo llegara al final de este libro.
En definitiva, la primera parte de esta saga no es que fuera inmejorable pero al menos era entretenida de leer, en cambio, este tomo ni siquiera tiene ese punto positivo.
Rules Of A Rebel And A Shy Girl me parecio aburrida y plagada de cliches, ademas la pluma de Jessica Sorensen no brilla en lo absoluto en esta ocasion.

[Mary Tatar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good best friend's romance, and Jessica Sorensen sure knows how to write a wonderful one. Rules Of A Rebel And A Shy Girl had the knight in shining armor in Beckett (The Rebel), and Willow the flawed in need of rescuing (Shy Girl). There were some great moments in this story that made me not want to put the book down. The story revolved around Beckett, and Willow, but also included a group of friends who added to a fantastic dynamic of the story. It was a book that I didn't want to put down, or end. It was another outstanding book from the author.

Willow comes up with this list for her and Beckett her best friend. He's been there for her in good times and bad. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her. Her home life isn't at all a typical one with a mother who is the farthest from motherly. Beckett's upbringing is the opposite of Willow's, but not perfect either. Who's ever is? Seriously though Willow has a train wreck of a mother, and I felt a lot of sympathy for her. So this list helps keep Beckett and Willow's friendship platonic, which is extremely difficult for the both of them. Beckett has been pining for this girl for years, and she's just too scared, and damaged to see what is right in front of her. Nothing has ever come easy for her, and Beckett is the only constant that she has hung on to. So you will get her trepidation, the almost moments between them will make you want to scream, but the ending is worth all the angst.

I loved this book from beginning to end. It took me back to the time when I discovered what true love meant. It isn't ever easy, or pretty, but once you find it. You have to hold on to it. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys reading good friends to lover's romance.

[Soany · Rating 2 out of 5]

No soy partidaria de una protagonista que cree que no vale nada a menos que se lo diga el chico que te gusta😑.

[Neus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opinión completa en La Coneja de Papel :)

La forma en la que Sorensen escribe la relación de Willow y Beck me ha encantado, ¡Beck es demasiado mono! No me cansaré nunca de decirlo. Se trata de un libro corto y adictivo, muy muy rápido de leer. Lo único que le ha restado puntos ha sido, por un lado, el diálogo que no lleva a ninguna parte la mitad de las veces, y, por otro lado, la cantidad de clichés: la chica rota que necesita ayuda, el príncipe azul, el padre-tirano, etc. A pesar de esto, admito que quiero más historias como esta.

[Irma *Irma The Book Whisperer* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read.

I loved it so much. I was captivated by it the whole time. Even when I wasn't reading. I loved both characters and just hated her mom. I despised her.

I so loved Willows and Becks love story.

And I think I found me a new book boyfriend. Beck is perfection.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I missed reading a Jessica Sorensen booook! loved this one!

[herdys · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book didn't really have anything to do with the actual plot but for a standalone it was nice enough.

[Tandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Tragical, angsty, melodramatic. Those are my words (real and made up) for this. It should've been a short story, drawing things out took away most of my enjoyment.

[Rohina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost let fear ruin my life, almost let it control me. And I almost missed out on perfect moments like this one. Because, while life is filled with imperfections, perfection does exist in rare, beautiful moments. Rare, beautiful moments make life really worth living. And I’m glad I’m not so afraid of the bad anymore that I miss out on the good. In fact, I think I’m going to make that my number two rule in life, right after loving Beck.

Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl is a friend to lovers romance. Now this book is a standalone but if you've picked up Sorensen's other standalone Confessions of a Kleptomaniac you've already met Willow and Beckett.

Willow's life is complicated. A mother that puts her boyfriends above her daughter, a father who abandoned her at the age of six. Having to grow up quickly and work three or fours jobs at a time so that she could pay the bills and have food on the table. The only light in her life is her best friend Beckett. She has set rules to protect her heart and one of them is not let her lips touch of her best friend.

Taking care of you is one of my favorite things to do, so quit arguing and let me do what I love.

Beckett is the total opposite of Willow. He is carefree and does everything he wants to do and comes from a wealthy family but that does not mean his parents are grade A.
Beckett has feelings for Willow. He is in love with her and has been for a while now. Willow is in love with Beckett too, but she does not allow herself to be close to him due to her reservations. Beckett is one person that Willow can always count on to be there no matter what the situation is and she is not willing to jeopardize their friendship if things didn't turn out good between them.

Having only read a handful of Sorensen's work, I don't have anything to base my comparison on but what I know is that Beckett is truly one of the good characters. He has a big heart and so much love for Willow, even when she keeps pushing him away. There were so many points in the book where I wished for Willow to jump on the bandwagon and just be with Beckett because she loves him and not let her insecurities get the best of her. And even with all of this, I knew that it would have been hard for Willow to jump and take that leap of faith. Her life is difficult and complicated and she didn't need anything else, even her love for her best friend to complicate things further.

There are moments where you will get frustrated with Willow and her reasons for not wanting to be with Beckett but you have to understand that Willow is just nineteen years old and from such a young age is the parent to her mother, paying bills, working two sometimes three jobs at a time to make ends meet and on top of that go to school and pay for the tuition and the books. It is not easy and I can understand why she is that way.

Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl is a quick, sweet and easy read with very minimal angst.


4 Stars!

★ Buy Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl (Kindle)
★ Buy Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl (Paperback)
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[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Can I keep you, like, forever?"

This book taught me a lesson. To give second chances to authors. A very long time ago I started another book by Jessica Sorensen...I couldn't finish it. I think I never even read 15% of it.
But this one I loved. I love friends to lovers stories and "Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl" is a good one. I loved Willow and Beck and yes there was drama but sometimes I like a little drama so that was absolutely okay for me.

I'm just happy I gave this author another chance becasue this is 4.5 stars read for me.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 to 3.5 stars!!!

I love the friends who fall in love stories. Especially when they have been friends since childhood. Jessica Sorenson is a great author and I was excited to finally read this!

Willow's dad leaves when she is a child leaving her with a self-absorbed, neglectful, addict of a mother. The only constant in her life is her friend Beck, her lists, and her need to control and deny.

I can understand why Willow is the way she is and she isn't unlikeable, but it was hard for me to connect with her. I also felt like she said and did the same things over and over again.

Beck is great. I love his character, I love his personality, and I love how he is ALWAYS there for Wills. His life isn't without its own heartache and baggage but it doesn't cripple him or his decisions.

Over all this is a good quick read. I wish there was more development, more detail.... More something.

I must say, while I love the title and cover of the book, while Willow is a shy girl, Beck is anything but a rebel. He is just normal, but I guess compared to Wills anyone could be considered a rebel.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy the friends to more story line.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really cute!
For years Willow had to look out for herself and even provide for her drug-addicted mother, working several jobs. In all this time her best friend Beck has always been her savior when things got rough. But she swore to never be dependent of a man like her mother has always been, which is why she has a strict no-dating rule. When Willow and Beck kiss at a party, she knows she has to set up rules in order to guard her heart and prevent from turning out like her mother. After all Beck would never want her it he knew everything and she can't lose him as a friend.
I loved Willow and Beck (even though I didn't really see Beck's rebel side). I loved how their relationship slowly turned from friends to something more, even when Willow was constantly fighting it, afraid to rely too much on somebody else. Also Willow's story was captivating. While I don't think this thing about Beck's dad was needed for the story, it didn't hurt either.
I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book - 5 stars!

[CrazyBookLady · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing to me. I love Jessica Sorensen's work. I especially love love loved her Secret series. While I loved the character of Beckett, for me the rest of this book did not do it for me. I was really looking forward to the dynamic of life long friends and a strong girl who was working her way out of a tough situation. Unfortunately, I felt like the story was rushed and tied up too quickly and clichely (<<--pretty sure I made that word up). I kept waiting for a big confrontation with Willow's mom or dad or even Wynter but it never happened. I like the premise of the book but unfortunately, for me, it just fell flat. I finished this one feeling unsatisfied. That being said, I will most definitely still read other books written by Jessica Sorensen in the future.

[n&#x1faf6;&#x1f3fd; · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it at all. The writing seems very juvenile and simplistic which makes the characters sound like a bunch of preteens instead of the 18-year olds they are. The book is also extremely short so everything happens fast and it's not developed or detailed so it's hard to get invested. The book has potential, and maybe with more developed characters and a developed plot and writing that is more complex, it would have been more enjoyable.

[LOVink · Rating 4 out of 5]

really liked this one, fav Jessica Sorensen in a long time ♡ and I really really L O V E Beck

He feels me until I can't breathe. Kisses me until I can't think straight. Loves me until everything seems right and nothing seems wrong.

[Brandy Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lists

Nice story, I feel a little bad about only giving it 2 stars because I really did enjoy it. I just can't stand a long drawn out self conscious heroine and that's what over half the story was. I understand the reasons behind her apprehension but it just went on and on and on.

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon!

[Tangerine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STARS

This was just okay for me.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely 3 stars.
I love all things Jessica Sorenson, but this was dull and repetitive and it totally dragged on.