What do you think?
Rate this book
Breaking the Rules of Revenge
Mallory Jones is tired of being the girl who stays home and practices French horn while her identical twin, Blake, is crowned homecoming queen. So when she has the opportunity to pretend to be Blake, she takes it. At Camp Pine Ridge, she will spread her wings and emerge a butterfly. Or at least someone who finally gets kissed by a cute guy. That is, until bad boy Ben Iron Cloud shows up, ready to get revenge on Blake—aka Mallory. If it weren’t for that infuriating girl, Ben wouldn’t even be at camp. Luckily, he now has six weeks to soak up some rays and get even with his nemesis. But the more time he spends with Blake, the more he realizes she’s nothing like the girl he thought she was—she’s kind and innocent and suddenly way too tempting. And soon enough, revenge is the last thing on his mind. Unfortunately, the girl he’s falling for is keeping a major secret... This book contains a super-hot bad boy out for revenge, all sorts of camp hijinks, and a girl who realized she’s been a butterfly all along.
220 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2017
15 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Bohrman
4 books35 followersShortly after graduating from law school, Samantha had three children and started writing novels. She never looked back, though she suspects her husband has. Ruby’s Misadventures with Reality is her first book, but hopefully not her last.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 20, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks toEntangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary romance story about a girl who switched places with her twin sister.
Mallory was a sweet girl and it was typical of her that she’d take her sister’s punishment for her. Ben was an okay character, and he certainly managed to pull off some acts of revenge on Mallory.
The storyline in this was about Mallory switching places with her twin sister Blake, and going to camp for the summer in her place. At camp she met Ben who had gotten into trouble because of one of Blake’s pranks and wanted revenge. I didn’t feel like there was enough romance in this story though, and it was missing something for me.
The ending to this was okay, and everything worked out well in the end, but I would have liked a bit more chemistry and romance.
6.5 out of 10
This was a YA contemporary romance story about a girl who switched places with her twin sister.
Mallory was a sweet girl and it was typical of her that she’d take her sister’s punishment for her. Ben was an okay character, and he certainly managed to pull off some acts of revenge on Mallory.
The storyline in this was about Mallory switching places with her twin sister Blake, and going to camp for the summer in her place. At camp she met Ben who had gotten into trouble because of one of Blake’s pranks and wanted revenge. I didn’t feel like there was enough romance in this story though, and it was missing something for me.
The ending to this was okay, and everything worked out well in the end, but I would have liked a bit more chemistry and romance.
6.5 out of 10
August 30, 2017
Absolutely loved this book! It had everything I like rolled into one beautiful little parcel. Breaking the Rules of Revenge is definitely going on my favourite shelf.
Mallory Jones is an identical twin. She is the quiet, head in a book twin, while her twin is an extrovert. Blake is loud, over confident and a whole dose of trouble. Mallory plays an instrument, follows the rules and keeps her head down. Blake is good at sport, popular, and still Math smart. Mallory is given the chance to swap her life for Blakes and she decides to take her up on the offer. Little does she know Blakes life is about to catch up with her.
Ben hates Blake with a passion. He would go as far as calling her evil. She has made his life a living hell over the last year, and he has had enough. His mother has sent him away for the summer to camp, but his problems have followed him. The root of all evil is at camp too! He decides to take matters into his own hands, and get Blake back for all the trouble she caused him.
This summer Blake seems different to what he remembers from school. She actually seems nice. He might even dare to say he likes her but, Blake isn't what she seems.
This book had me laughing and loving every minute. Twin swap at its best. Mallory is about to get what Blake deserves, and it may just turn out to be the hottest summer ever.
This is a camp story full of pranks and summer fun. 5+ stars out of 5. I didn't want this book to end. I want more!!!
*ARC Received in exchange for a fair review* ***Read this book!
Mallory Jones is an identical twin. She is the quiet, head in a book twin, while her twin is an extrovert. Blake is loud, over confident and a whole dose of trouble. Mallory plays an instrument, follows the rules and keeps her head down. Blake is good at sport, popular, and still Math smart. Mallory is given the chance to swap her life for Blakes and she decides to take her up on the offer. Little does she know Blakes life is about to catch up with her.
Ben hates Blake with a passion. He would go as far as calling her evil. She has made his life a living hell over the last year, and he has had enough. His mother has sent him away for the summer to camp, but his problems have followed him. The root of all evil is at camp too! He decides to take matters into his own hands, and get Blake back for all the trouble she caused him.
This summer Blake seems different to what he remembers from school. She actually seems nice. He might even dare to say he likes her but, Blake isn't what she seems.
This book had me laughing and loving every minute. Twin swap at its best. Mallory is about to get what Blake deserves, and it may just turn out to be the hottest summer ever.
This is a camp story full of pranks and summer fun. 5+ stars out of 5. I didn't want this book to end. I want more!!!
*ARC Received in exchange for a fair review* ***Read this book!
September 11, 2017
3.5 “Twins & Summer Camp” Stars
ARC via NetGalley.
Thank you, Entangled Teen (Crush)!
I'm hardly ever disappointed by Entangled Teen, and Breaking the Rules of Revenge was another good example of how cute their contemporary romance titles can be.
A fan of everything twin-related and the hate to love trope, I was immediately drawn to the premise. In Breaking the Rules of Revenge, we have Mallory and Blake, twin sisters who swap roles so invisible Mallory can fulfill her wish to be popular Blake for a few weeks, while her sister gets away from going to summer camp.
One of the things I liked about this story was the twin's relationship. It wasn't the cliché I sorted of expected it to be. Blake and Mallory weren't the typical inseparable, best friend's forever twins. Neither were they enemies. While it became clear early on that Blake was the selfish person who was used to getting her way and having people follow her lead, she wasn't portrayed as a villain. It would've been easy to make her this super nasty person who bullied her bookworm sister, but I didn't get that vibe from the story. What I got were two flawed teen sisters.
Since this is told from Mallory's POV, we get to see her grow a lot more than her twin, although Blake gets to redeem herself a little in the end. For Mallory, acting as her sister provided her the opportunity to find herself. I liked how she slowly grew comfortable in her own skin, and even though the romance was a big part of the plot, I still didn't feel like she came to accept herself because of someone else (a boy). I think it had more to do with the fact that she realized being her sister wasn't as easy or perfect as she thought it would be.
As to the romance, I liked Mallory and Ben together, but I almost wished there had been a little more drama. With the hate to love thing going on initially, all the pranks and the secret Mallory was keeping, I expected a little more angst than I got. They were cute and sweet together, but I still expected more chemistry.
I also wish we would've seen a little more of Zoe and George, because I loved how they were such good friends to both Ben and Mallory.
Overall, this proved that whenever I'm in a mood for some teen romance I can count on Entangled Teen Crush to give me something quick and sweet.
September 5, 2017
I grew up on the Sweet Valley Twins books and loved them so much. This book had all the fun of the Wakefield twins, but a bit edgier. Mallory was such a relatable character. She's just your normal awkward bookworm teen, only she has to deal with Blake, her uber-popular identical twin sister, who seems to have the air of a celebrity about her at all times. The kind of celebrity who's always in the tabloids for doing something else to embarrass themself.
I sympathized with Mallory immediately. I think all of us know what it feels like to be left in someone else's shadow, especially when you're just trying to be a good person. And it was tough for me to get guys to notice me in high school just like Mallory because I was always reading or focusing on Choir.
This book got very interesting very quickly. First of all, the settings were gorgeous. Huge old Southern plantation mansion. Summer Camp. Two of my favorite settings for books. And of course the Blue Ridge Mountains. As an eastern Tennessee girl, I'm a sucker for the mountains, woods, and trees, and I want to read about romances there.
I loved and hated watching Mallory take the revenge Blake deserved. It was like a trainwreck I couldn't look away from. It was fun to watch Mallory struggle to become more assertive as she tried to become more like Blake.
The best part of this story for me was Ben, and his slow change from hating "Blake" to falling for Mallory. I enjoyed every second of it.
While there's no sex, there were a few F-bombs and some suggestive content, so I would recommend this book for adults who love YA or mature teens.
I sympathized with Mallory immediately. I think all of us know what it feels like to be left in someone else's shadow, especially when you're just trying to be a good person. And it was tough for me to get guys to notice me in high school just like Mallory because I was always reading or focusing on Choir.
This book got very interesting very quickly. First of all, the settings were gorgeous. Huge old Southern plantation mansion. Summer Camp. Two of my favorite settings for books. And of course the Blue Ridge Mountains. As an eastern Tennessee girl, I'm a sucker for the mountains, woods, and trees, and I want to read about romances there.
I loved and hated watching Mallory take the revenge Blake deserved. It was like a trainwreck I couldn't look away from. It was fun to watch Mallory struggle to become more assertive as she tried to become more like Blake.
The best part of this story for me was Ben, and his slow change from hating "Blake" to falling for Mallory. I enjoyed every second of it.
While there's no sex, there were a few F-bombs and some suggestive content, so I would recommend this book for adults who love YA or mature teens.
August 22, 2017
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Carla's Five Star Review
Let me start this review by saying, I freaking loved this book! It is like the Parent Trap for teenagers. Blake Jones appears to have the perfect life. Beautiful looks? Check. Popular? Check. Homecoming Queen? Check. A warm and hospitable personality? Not so much. Her twin sister, Mallory, is the complete opposite. She would rather get lost in a great book than deal with the people around her. In her eyes, her twin has the perfect life, so when the opportunity to be Blake at Camp Pine Ridge arises, she jumps at the chance. However, she soon learns that being Blake isn't all she thought it would be.
Ben Iron Cloud comes from a family just struggling to get by. He really can't stand all of the rich and entitled kids that he goes to school with. His nemesis is Blake Jones. For the past year, she has made his life a living nightmare, but she crossed the line with the last prank that ended with him in handcuffs. As punishment, his mom sends him to summer camp. To say he isn't happy with her decision would be a huge understatement. That all changes the moment he sees Blake. Instead of spending the next six weeks bored out of his mind, he decides to get some much needed and deserved revenge.
This is the perfect summer read. It is funny and sweet. I really loved Ben and Mallory. Now Blake was a different story. That girl needed a good swift kick in the butt. With that said, she does show some promise towards the end of the story. If you are looking for a sweet angst free read, you should give this one a try!
Carla's Five Star Review
Let me start this review by saying, I freaking loved this book! It is like the Parent Trap for teenagers. Blake Jones appears to have the perfect life. Beautiful looks? Check. Popular? Check. Homecoming Queen? Check. A warm and hospitable personality? Not so much. Her twin sister, Mallory, is the complete opposite. She would rather get lost in a great book than deal with the people around her. In her eyes, her twin has the perfect life, so when the opportunity to be Blake at Camp Pine Ridge arises, she jumps at the chance. However, she soon learns that being Blake isn't all she thought it would be.
Ben Iron Cloud comes from a family just struggling to get by. He really can't stand all of the rich and entitled kids that he goes to school with. His nemesis is Blake Jones. For the past year, she has made his life a living nightmare, but she crossed the line with the last prank that ended with him in handcuffs. As punishment, his mom sends him to summer camp. To say he isn't happy with her decision would be a huge understatement. That all changes the moment he sees Blake. Instead of spending the next six weeks bored out of his mind, he decides to get some much needed and deserved revenge.
This is the perfect summer read. It is funny and sweet. I really loved Ben and Mallory. Now Blake was a different story. That girl needed a good swift kick in the butt. With that said, she does show some promise towards the end of the story. If you are looking for a sweet angst free read, you should give this one a try!
September 6, 2017
Breaking the Rules of Revenge by Samantha Bohrman is an sweet, fun, and delightful YA contemporary romance. I love this genre, there is something so innocent about first loves. I love the quirky people and situations in this book, and watching the characters grow over their summer at camp. I found this book to be a quick read, and recommend it to all YA romance readers, young and old.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 28, 2017
Thank you to Entangled Teen publishing for allowing me a chance to read this! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
3.5 stars
This was such a cute little read. Usually most contemporaries are. A bit on the cliched side but it really was just a fun little contemporary. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It reminded me of the Parent Trap but more modern.
The book switched between two POVs- Mallory and Ben. Mallory's twin, Blake, has to be sent to a camp in order to learn how to behave. Mallory takes her place and to her horror, she discovers that Ben is there. The Ben that her sister got in trouble with a very bad prank.
Mallory was awesome. She reminded me of me. She is a book worm that is very shy and would much rather be reading and looking for fireflies. She was anxious and was constantly overshadowed by her amazing twin. Even though this was a short little book, I could see the change that happened to Mallory when she went to camp. Like I've said before, I love a book that has a character growth arc.
Ben was kind of the stereotypical "bad boy" from the "wrong side of the tracks". Although, A plus to Samantha Bohrman for Native American representation. We soon learn that there is more to Ben then what meets the eye. I appreciated him as a character and I appreciated his POV but I didn't bond with him like I did with Mallory. I usually have a hard time bonding with male characters, though, so this is just a me not you case.
Overall, this was a fun pleasant read. It wasn't super deep or anything like but it was a fun break from all the serious novels that I have been reading. I would definitely recommend this if you are in between series or just need a light and happy fun read.
3.5 stars
This was such a cute little read. Usually most contemporaries are. A bit on the cliched side but it really was just a fun little contemporary. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It reminded me of the Parent Trap but more modern.
The book switched between two POVs- Mallory and Ben. Mallory's twin, Blake, has to be sent to a camp in order to learn how to behave. Mallory takes her place and to her horror, she discovers that Ben is there. The Ben that her sister got in trouble with a very bad prank.
Mallory was awesome. She reminded me of me. She is a book worm that is very shy and would much rather be reading and looking for fireflies. She was anxious and was constantly overshadowed by her amazing twin. Even though this was a short little book, I could see the change that happened to Mallory when she went to camp. Like I've said before, I love a book that has a character growth arc.
Ben was kind of the stereotypical "bad boy" from the "wrong side of the tracks". Although, A plus to Samantha Bohrman for Native American representation. We soon learn that there is more to Ben then what meets the eye. I appreciated him as a character and I appreciated his POV but I didn't bond with him like I did with Mallory. I usually have a hard time bonding with male characters, though, so this is just a me not you case.
Overall, this was a fun pleasant read. It wasn't super deep or anything like but it was a fun break from all the serious novels that I have been reading. I would definitely recommend this if you are in between series or just need a light and happy fun read.
September 4, 2017
*Thanks so much to Entangled Teen for sending me over an e-ARC of this! I really appreciate it, and it did not change my opinion in any way!*
I have a thing for camp books. Like, I really like camp books (i. e. why I have a thing for them - wow, I'm being Princess Obvious). Therefore, the moment I saw some trees on the cover, I WAS LIKE, THAT'S A CAMP BOOK AND I WANT TO READ IT. While the book started off strong, it fell apart for me and my camp love couldn't quite save it.
There were quite a few good things that I did enjoy about the novel. As I said, I was fully invested for about 40% of the novel and it was riding at easily a 4 crown rating. Bohrman has a very easy writing style, and it really does feel like the perfect, easy read to pick up when summer is winding down with fall up on deck. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the setting of camp was a lot of fun.
Our main characters were fun as well. Gosh, I could relate to Mallory. She has a perchance for regency romance, and dear gosh, I wanted the book that she was reading so badly. I literally kept going, um, I need an update on the duke and Lydia. They were some of my favorite parts of the novel. I've never been so invested in such a ridiculously small subplot before and I think the author deserves a major round of applause for making me care so much about that. Other than that, I could relate with Mallory in other ways, and I thought she was quite real and realistic.
One of the issues I had was that it seems to get a bit too repetitive. After reading about the pranks and whole keeping a secret thing, I felt like something had to give. Yes, the twist was put in, but it took a little too long to get there and then I grew restless and bored. And then when it did come, I knew it was going to happen and I didn't really care as much because I was so done with waiting for it. I just bored and felt so eh.
And then the characters. While I had an investment in them in the beginning, I thought their growth got a bit stunted. Some of it didn't feel as natural as it should have been, and I really kind of just stopped rooting them on. There was the whole reveal tension, of course, and that was amazing, but then the aftermath didn't feel as satisfactory for me. The ending just felt so meh to me and I kind of just...I felt nothing at the end, and you're usually supposed to have a super happy feeling at the end of a contemporary novel.
I'm not sure if I even explained my thoughts on this properly, but it did feel like this book had an odd switch. The beginning half of the story was very strong, and I thought it was fun and a perfect end of summer read. However, lack of growth in the story and characters brought the ending half down for me, and I failed to get into the ending half due to that. 2 crowns and a Cinderella rating!
I have a thing for camp books. Like, I really like camp books (i. e. why I have a thing for them - wow, I'm being Princess Obvious). Therefore, the moment I saw some trees on the cover, I WAS LIKE, THAT'S A CAMP BOOK AND I WANT TO READ IT. While the book started off strong, it fell apart for me and my camp love couldn't quite save it.
There were quite a few good things that I did enjoy about the novel. As I said, I was fully invested for about 40% of the novel and it was riding at easily a 4 crown rating. Bohrman has a very easy writing style, and it really does feel like the perfect, easy read to pick up when summer is winding down with fall up on deck. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the setting of camp was a lot of fun.
Our main characters were fun as well. Gosh, I could relate to Mallory. She has a perchance for regency romance, and dear gosh, I wanted the book that she was reading so badly. I literally kept going, um, I need an update on the duke and Lydia. They were some of my favorite parts of the novel. I've never been so invested in such a ridiculously small subplot before and I think the author deserves a major round of applause for making me care so much about that. Other than that, I could relate with Mallory in other ways, and I thought she was quite real and realistic.
One of the issues I had was that it seems to get a bit too repetitive. After reading about the pranks and whole keeping a secret thing, I felt like something had to give. Yes, the twist was put in, but it took a little too long to get there and then I grew restless and bored. And then when it did come, I knew it was going to happen and I didn't really care as much because I was so done with waiting for it. I just bored and felt so eh.
And then the characters. While I had an investment in them in the beginning, I thought their growth got a bit stunted. Some of it didn't feel as natural as it should have been, and I really kind of just stopped rooting them on. There was the whole reveal tension, of course, and that was amazing, but then the aftermath didn't feel as satisfactory for me. The ending just felt so meh to me and I kind of just...I felt nothing at the end, and you're usually supposed to have a super happy feeling at the end of a contemporary novel.
I'm not sure if I even explained my thoughts on this properly, but it did feel like this book had an odd switch. The beginning half of the story was very strong, and I thought it was fun and a perfect end of summer read. However, lack of growth in the story and characters brought the ending half down for me, and I failed to get into the ending half due to that. 2 crowns and a Cinderella rating!
September 10, 2017
*Received an ARC from Entangled Publishing in exchange of an honest review.
The story is about the identical twins, Blake and Mallory who has entirely different personality from one another. While Blake is famous/ Queen bee type, and has vindictive tendencies, Mallory is the nerdy-type/ introvert who only had boyfriends from the pages of a book.
Blake got into trouble for bullying so their dad enlist her into a camp for 6 weeks wherein her dad expects her to recollect herself. Not wanting to go into that camp, she convinced her twin Mallory to disguise as her to save herself from attending to it. Mallory agreed because she have been wanting ever since to experience what its like to be on the shoes of her famous sister but things get extra twisted when she found out that the person her sister bullied, Ben, is enlisted at the camp too and now she found herself at the receiving end of Ben's rage and desire to get even with her sister. Not to mention that this person who is taking revenge on her is the same gorgeous guy from their school that she's attracted to.
"Mallory, though, was the kind of girl who the best middle-distance runners at school would happily leave on the side of the road in the pouring rain with nothing but a backpack full of book boyfriends."
I really love Mallory's character, she's an INFP and she loves to read. She's understanding and thoughtful and there were moments that she's hilarious! I can't count how many times I have relate myself to her. She's one of those characters that would not annoy you. Her introverted personality is very realistic and funny at times.
"Benjamin Iron Cloud stood just past the sign-in table, all shiny black hair, dark soulful eyes, and straining pec muscles against a too-tight T-shirt. His hair was a little longer than it was at the end of the school year. If possible, it made him even cuter."
Ben Iron Cloud is a brooding character, a book boyfriend material indeed. I really love how his character develops through out the story. And he will definitely make your hearts swoon.
Overall, i really enjoyed reading it. Finished it in less than 24 hours. The writing style is AMAZING, written in author's perspective. Though I personnally prefer reading a first person POV, the writing style of the author is just so good that i did not mind at all if it's a 3rd person POV, cos I repeat, the writing style is amazing. So good.
The story is a little bit on a cliche side but very entertaining and once you start reading, it's almost impossible to stop. It will make your heart flutter and will leave you a happy feeling once you finished reading it. I would definitely pick up a book from Samantha Bohrman again.
The story is about the identical twins, Blake and Mallory who has entirely different personality from one another. While Blake is famous/ Queen bee type, and has vindictive tendencies, Mallory is the nerdy-type/ introvert who only had boyfriends from the pages of a book.
Blake got into trouble for bullying so their dad enlist her into a camp for 6 weeks wherein her dad expects her to recollect herself. Not wanting to go into that camp, she convinced her twin Mallory to disguise as her to save herself from attending to it. Mallory agreed because she have been wanting ever since to experience what its like to be on the shoes of her famous sister but things get extra twisted when she found out that the person her sister bullied, Ben, is enlisted at the camp too and now she found herself at the receiving end of Ben's rage and desire to get even with her sister. Not to mention that this person who is taking revenge on her is the same gorgeous guy from their school that she's attracted to.
"Mallory, though, was the kind of girl who the best middle-distance runners at school would happily leave on the side of the road in the pouring rain with nothing but a backpack full of book boyfriends."
I really love Mallory's character, she's an INFP and she loves to read. She's understanding and thoughtful and there were moments that she's hilarious! I can't count how many times I have relate myself to her. She's one of those characters that would not annoy you. Her introverted personality is very realistic and funny at times.
"Benjamin Iron Cloud stood just past the sign-in table, all shiny black hair, dark soulful eyes, and straining pec muscles against a too-tight T-shirt. His hair was a little longer than it was at the end of the school year. If possible, it made him even cuter."
Ben Iron Cloud is a brooding character, a book boyfriend material indeed. I really love how his character develops through out the story. And he will definitely make your hearts swoon.
Overall, i really enjoyed reading it. Finished it in less than 24 hours. The writing style is AMAZING, written in author's perspective. Though I personnally prefer reading a first person POV, the writing style of the author is just so good that i did not mind at all if it's a 3rd person POV, cos I repeat, the writing style is amazing. So good.
The story is a little bit on a cliche side but very entertaining and once you start reading, it's almost impossible to stop. It will make your heart flutter and will leave you a happy feeling once you finished reading it. I would definitely pick up a book from Samantha Bohrman again.
August 20, 2017
***I received an ARC through Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest Review***
I gave this book 4 stars. It was fun and diabolical, I loved every moment of it. I'm a sucker for anything with revenge and fake personas. There's always the reveal moment to look forward to. While it is a bit predictable, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment at all. And as of now I am officially back on a contemporary kick.
I loved how Mallory's book lined up with her real life and how she would compare real life events to events in her book. I found it funny because that''s a lot like how I think and do things. She was a very relatable character that I couldn't hate or even dislike. She's a very shy and quiet girl, she never gets into trouble or is even noticed most of the time, all because her sister is a bit oppressive. I know there's more to it than that, but a large part is because of her sister, and considering we meet said sister, it's understandable.
When this book first started out I was a bit worried about the third person. I'm not the biggest fan of third person unless it's a fantasy novel. I feel like I connect to the characters better if it's in first person, I sometimes get the feeling that I'm not getting all of them, someone else is telling me how the protagonist is feeling, they aren't telling me their thoughts and feelings themselves. Anyway, I didn't mind it too much while reading this book, the author did a great job of conveying the thoughts and feelings that I needed to know without a wall building up between me and the characters.
Ben, where to start with Ben. What I love about Ben is he is genuinely a nice guy, he didn't try to mess with "Blake" until after she had spent an entire year doing terrible things to him. Which is why I understand why he needed to get revenge. I wish we had gotten a bit more information about his Native American side. I know it's because he didn't know much about it himself, but it still would have been nice to get more about it.
Mallory and Ben have such great chemistry, they get along so well. Every moment of them together had me on the edge of my seat. I just wanted them to kiss the whole time. It became a sort of chant in my mind.
Mallory went through so much character development throughout this book and it was good to see. Her character development wasn't centered around a man. I mean there was a man amidst the chaos, but she figured out where she belonged on her own.
Overall, another cute contemporary romance. If you like cute contemporary romances then this is definitely for you. If you prefer things a little more hard core, then I wouldn't really suggest this one for you, this one is fluff.
I gave this book 4 stars. It was fun and diabolical, I loved every moment of it. I'm a sucker for anything with revenge and fake personas. There's always the reveal moment to look forward to. While it is a bit predictable, it doesn't lessen my enjoyment at all. And as of now I am officially back on a contemporary kick.
I loved how Mallory's book lined up with her real life and how she would compare real life events to events in her book. I found it funny because that''s a lot like how I think and do things. She was a very relatable character that I couldn't hate or even dislike. She's a very shy and quiet girl, she never gets into trouble or is even noticed most of the time, all because her sister is a bit oppressive. I know there's more to it than that, but a large part is because of her sister, and considering we meet said sister, it's understandable.
When this book first started out I was a bit worried about the third person. I'm not the biggest fan of third person unless it's a fantasy novel. I feel like I connect to the characters better if it's in first person, I sometimes get the feeling that I'm not getting all of them, someone else is telling me how the protagonist is feeling, they aren't telling me their thoughts and feelings themselves. Anyway, I didn't mind it too much while reading this book, the author did a great job of conveying the thoughts and feelings that I needed to know without a wall building up between me and the characters.
Ben, where to start with Ben. What I love about Ben is he is genuinely a nice guy, he didn't try to mess with "Blake" until after she had spent an entire year doing terrible things to him. Which is why I understand why he needed to get revenge. I wish we had gotten a bit more information about his Native American side. I know it's because he didn't know much about it himself, but it still would have been nice to get more about it.
Mallory and Ben have such great chemistry, they get along so well. Every moment of them together had me on the edge of my seat. I just wanted them to kiss the whole time. It became a sort of chant in my mind.
Mallory went through so much character development throughout this book and it was good to see. Her character development wasn't centered around a man. I mean there was a man amidst the chaos, but she figured out where she belonged on her own.
Overall, another cute contemporary romance. If you like cute contemporary romances then this is definitely for you. If you prefer things a little more hard core, then I wouldn't really suggest this one for you, this one is fluff.
August 25, 2017
"Breaking the Rules of Revenge" is a YA contemporary that seems to be "The Parent Trap" meets "Dirty Dancing" meets "Mean Girls." Mallory is tired of being the invisible and boring twin in the shadow of the outgoing and glamorous Blake. However, when Blake landed herself in a lot of trouble with her latest "prank" and is sentenced to go to summer camp (a normal camp/not one for delinquents or anything but you'd think it was the end of Blake's world), Mallory seizes the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and pretend to be Blake.
Attending camp as Blake shouldn't be too hard- or so Mallory thinks. She runs into Ben, the boy Blake had been pranking all year, at the camp- and Ben is set on revenge. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that the Blake at summer camp isn't the same Blake that made his year so miserable (and got him arrested). As he pranks Blake, he starts to realize she (Mallory) isn't the same girl he thought he knew from school, and a reluctant friendship develops- maybe even into something more.
It's a really quick read and has some genuinely funny moments (many clever pranks contained within). The side characters were also fantastic- especially George, whose parents are psychotherapists, and Kipper, the camp counselor obsessed with chipmunks. There are a lot of gender stereotypes throughout the book that I would have liked to leave out, but aside from those, it was a fun, sweet, and delightful story of young love at summer camp. It's a quick read (and good thing too because it's tough to put down)! Overall, I highly recommend it to lovers of contemporary YA romance with a touch of comedy!
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Attending camp as Blake shouldn't be too hard- or so Mallory thinks. She runs into Ben, the boy Blake had been pranking all year, at the camp- and Ben is set on revenge. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that the Blake at summer camp isn't the same Blake that made his year so miserable (and got him arrested). As he pranks Blake, he starts to realize she (Mallory) isn't the same girl he thought he knew from school, and a reluctant friendship develops- maybe even into something more.
It's a really quick read and has some genuinely funny moments (many clever pranks contained within). The side characters were also fantastic- especially George, whose parents are psychotherapists, and Kipper, the camp counselor obsessed with chipmunks. There are a lot of gender stereotypes throughout the book that I would have liked to leave out, but aside from those, it was a fun, sweet, and delightful story of young love at summer camp. It's a quick read (and good thing too because it's tough to put down)! Overall, I highly recommend it to lovers of contemporary YA romance with a touch of comedy!
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
December 27, 2017
Received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review from Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley.
Awww, another great book taking place at Camp Pine Ridge! I really enjoyed this book. Mallory and Ben were such great characters! Mallory decided she was tired of her life as the unseen and boring twin. Her twin, Blake, is the “It” girl with popularity, athleticism, and a mean streak! The girls decide that Mallory is going to go to Camp Pine Ridge in place of Blake. Mallory decides to use this time to channel her “inner-Blake”. Ben is at Camp Pine Ridge because of Blake and he is ready to get his revenge on her! As he gets to know her, he sees a side of her that makes him question everything he thought about her. Mallory is so sweet and kind! Ben is a nice guy with the exception of getting revenge on Blake! The chemistry between Mallory and Ben is fabulous! I loved all of the interactions between them. The pranks involved in Ben’s Revenge Plan are hilarious! I also really enjoyed Ben’s friend, George’s spot on psychoanalysis of everyone. Something that I thought was really fun and clever was the book Mallory was reading paralleled what she was going through in her life. This book had revenge, romance, twin hi-jinks, and a summer camp setting that really had me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book!
Awww, another great book taking place at Camp Pine Ridge! I really enjoyed this book. Mallory and Ben were such great characters! Mallory decided she was tired of her life as the unseen and boring twin. Her twin, Blake, is the “It” girl with popularity, athleticism, and a mean streak! The girls decide that Mallory is going to go to Camp Pine Ridge in place of Blake. Mallory decides to use this time to channel her “inner-Blake”. Ben is at Camp Pine Ridge because of Blake and he is ready to get his revenge on her! As he gets to know her, he sees a side of her that makes him question everything he thought about her. Mallory is so sweet and kind! Ben is a nice guy with the exception of getting revenge on Blake! The chemistry between Mallory and Ben is fabulous! I loved all of the interactions between them. The pranks involved in Ben’s Revenge Plan are hilarious! I also really enjoyed Ben’s friend, George’s spot on psychoanalysis of everyone. Something that I thought was really fun and clever was the book Mallory was reading paralleled what she was going through in her life. This book had revenge, romance, twin hi-jinks, and a summer camp setting that really had me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book!
September 2, 2017
Mallory and Blake are identical twins, but the similarities stop there, because they could not be more different from each other. Blake is the popular girl who gets everything she wants and Mallory is the invisible girl who has spent her entire life in the shadow of her sister.
On this vacation everything can change, as punishment for made too many bad things Blake will be sent to a camp. However she convinces her sister to go in her place.
Mallory wants to be noticed at least once in her life and posing as her sister was her chance.
Problem is that Ben, a badboy with vengeful thirst also goes to this camp and decides to turn the life of "Blake" into a hell.
With a light and funny writing, I delighted in this book that practically swallowed me because I could not leave until I discovered how the exchange and all the confusion generated by the twins would be undone.
I loved the cover very much after all, even though it was a book about the twins overcoming themselves and finding out what they really want, Ben was very important to both of them and deserves to be the cover. I loved that it was narrated from the point of view of Ben and Mallory because it helps a lot in the understanding of each one's feelings.
The end was cute mostly a scene in the middle of the woods with Mallory and Ben.
5/5 stars
On this vacation everything can change, as punishment for made too many bad things Blake will be sent to a camp. However she convinces her sister to go in her place.
Mallory wants to be noticed at least once in her life and posing as her sister was her chance.
Problem is that Ben, a badboy with vengeful thirst also goes to this camp and decides to turn the life of "Blake" into a hell.
With a light and funny writing, I delighted in this book that practically swallowed me because I could not leave until I discovered how the exchange and all the confusion generated by the twins would be undone.
I loved the cover very much after all, even though it was a book about the twins overcoming themselves and finding out what they really want, Ben was very important to both of them and deserves to be the cover. I loved that it was narrated from the point of view of Ben and Mallory because it helps a lot in the understanding of each one's feelings.
The end was cute mostly a scene in the middle of the woods with Mallory and Ben.
5/5 stars
September 9, 2017
Contemporary is my favourite! And this book has my heart. The author did mention 'Parent Trap' a few times and yes, it is kind of having that in this book except the twins know each other and live with their father. But Breaking the Rules of Revenge is not about their parents. The light is shining on the twins and the boy.
The two identical twins were so different in many parts. Blake Jones, she is a popular girl in her school. Many people want to be friends with her especially the boys, however, it's different from her twin sister, Mallory Jones, who is a very low profile person and always has a book with her. It makes Mallory thing that Blake has a really perfect life, people know her and loves her and that makes her want to be like Blake. So, when the opportunity came to her, to be Blake for six weeks at Camp Pine Ridge. She does not hesitate to grab it but being Blake, there are consequences she has to face - the anger from the guy name Benjamin Iron Cloud is unbearable at Blake for what she had done to him, those pranks really makes him hate her. Ben Iron Cloud start to plot revenge when sees 'Blake' at Camp Pine Ridge.
The book really caught my interest from the first page. I love the plot, the story, and the characters. It's really wonderful. What I love even more about the book is that the setting is at a Summer Camp! I'm dying to be in Summer Camp. I really do want to experience it. Nonetheless, just by reading from the book has made feel like I'm at Summer Camp.
The only thing that confused me a bit was when the real Blake came to camp and both of them need to take turn. Well, that what confused me a bit.
To sum up, I really do enjoy the book. Ben and Mallory is perfect for each other. The most importantly, Blake has taken the responsibility to accept the punishment for what she has done. It is a beautiful ending of a sweet, loving story.
Rating: 4.5 Star
The two identical twins were so different in many parts. Blake Jones, she is a popular girl in her school. Many people want to be friends with her especially the boys, however, it's different from her twin sister, Mallory Jones, who is a very low profile person and always has a book with her. It makes Mallory thing that Blake has a really perfect life, people know her and loves her and that makes her want to be like Blake. So, when the opportunity came to her, to be Blake for six weeks at Camp Pine Ridge. She does not hesitate to grab it but being Blake, there are consequences she has to face - the anger from the guy name Benjamin Iron Cloud is unbearable at Blake for what she had done to him, those pranks really makes him hate her. Ben Iron Cloud start to plot revenge when sees 'Blake' at Camp Pine Ridge.
The book really caught my interest from the first page. I love the plot, the story, and the characters. It's really wonderful. What I love even more about the book is that the setting is at a Summer Camp! I'm dying to be in Summer Camp. I really do want to experience it. Nonetheless, just by reading from the book has made feel like I'm at Summer Camp.
The only thing that confused me a bit was when the real Blake came to camp and both of them need to take turn. Well, that what confused me a bit.
To sum up, I really do enjoy the book. Ben and Mallory is perfect for each other. The most importantly, Blake has taken the responsibility to accept the punishment for what she has done. It is a beautiful ending of a sweet, loving story.
Rating: 4.5 Star
September 6, 2017
I've been on a big contemporary kick lately and have probably read just about every topic - okay, not EVERY topic - but I have to admit that this is the first one that I read about twins. I'd like to say that it's sort of Parent Trap-esque but the only similarity there is twins and the story taking place at a summer camp. Oh, and the old switcheroo!
Mallory sort of reminded me of myself in quite a few different ways. I think we can all relate to being bookworms and having book boyfriends. Unfortunately, the awkwardness also comes with it. Mal had a low confidence level and figured that stepping into her sister's shoes would help her get out of her own shell. It's something I've wondered about as well.
I loved that Ben and Mallory fell for each other. There was added drama with him and Blake being enemies - which was the whole reason why both were at the camp - but they were able to put the differences aside while Mal pretended to be her sister.
I do wish she had fessed up once the real Blake showed up. I feel like there would have been less angst and that Ben would have handled the situation better. I'd love to see more of them in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this!
Mallory sort of reminded me of myself in quite a few different ways. I think we can all relate to being bookworms and having book boyfriends. Unfortunately, the awkwardness also comes with it. Mal had a low confidence level and figured that stepping into her sister's shoes would help her get out of her own shell. It's something I've wondered about as well.
I loved that Ben and Mallory fell for each other. There was added drama with him and Blake being enemies - which was the whole reason why both were at the camp - but they were able to put the differences aside while Mal pretended to be her sister.
I do wish she had fessed up once the real Blake showed up. I feel like there would have been less angst and that Ben would have handled the situation better. I'd love to see more of them in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this!
September 1, 2017
I received a free copy from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute read! I really liked Mallory. Blake was actually mean and a lot selfish/self centered. And it was weird seeing 2 twin sisters not being close and not getting along. Twins are usually very close and connected. Mallory and Blake were total opposite, which is usually the case with twins, but unlike most twins siblings they were almost like strangers, like they were not family.
Ben was really mean with those pranks, but he also was cute and sweet. I wanted to kick his @ss for how he acted when he found out that the "Blake" at camp was actually Mallory. And it annoyed me that he didn't recognize the real Blake when she showed up. But in the end he redeemed himself. Both Ben and Mallory had made mistakes.
This was a cute read! I really liked Mallory. Blake was actually mean and a lot selfish/self centered. And it was weird seeing 2 twin sisters not being close and not getting along. Twins are usually very close and connected. Mallory and Blake were total opposite, which is usually the case with twins, but unlike most twins siblings they were almost like strangers, like they were not family.
Ben was really mean with those pranks, but he also was cute and sweet. I wanted to kick his @ss for how he acted when he found out that the "Blake" at camp was actually Mallory. And it annoyed me that he didn't recognize the real Blake when she showed up. But in the end he redeemed himself. Both Ben and Mallory had made mistakes.
September 7, 2017
Very fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed! The story was very well done and had me laughing and smiling all the way through.
A set of twins, one a good girl and one a bit wilder. When Blake finds herself in trouble, again, and doomed to summer camp she convinces her twin Mallory to go in her place. Ben Iron Cloud can't believe his bad luck. His nemesis Blake Jones is at the same camp as he is. She's the one that got him in trouble to start with and now he has to deal with her for 6 weeks of his summer. He's confused though, she's nothing like the girl he knew at home. This Blake is nice, kind, and generally perfect.Which one is the real Blake???
A fantastic YA read that I think you will enjoy. I highly recommend it.
A set of twins, one a good girl and one a bit wilder. When Blake finds herself in trouble, again, and doomed to summer camp she convinces her twin Mallory to go in her place. Ben Iron Cloud can't believe his bad luck. His nemesis Blake Jones is at the same camp as he is. She's the one that got him in trouble to start with and now he has to deal with her for 6 weeks of his summer. He's confused though, she's nothing like the girl he knew at home. This Blake is nice, kind, and generally perfect.Which one is the real Blake???
A fantastic YA read that I think you will enjoy. I highly recommend it.
September 26, 2017
A sweet summer romance, with some laugh out loud lines and a terrific Cinderella story. Wallflower Mallory is so outshone by her glam-doll twin Blake that some kids at her school don't even know she exists. When Blake is sentenced to summer camp after a prank goes wrong, she pressures Mallory to take her place. What they don't know is that Ben Iron Cloud, who went to jail for the prank, is at the camp, too, and he's burning to get back at Blake. But why doesn't she seem as nasty as she used to be? And how is Mallory going to tell him that she's not the girl he thinks she is? This is a fast fun read as these characters try to figure out what they really want, and who they really are.
September 1, 2017
Mallory often wonders what it would be like to be more like her popular sister Blake. She gets the chance to find out when Blake talks her into going to a summer camp for her. What Mallory does not count on is running into Blake's nemesis Ben Iron Cloud. She's not expecting the revenge that Ben is ready to Dole out. Blake has been harassing Ben all year and he is ready to get back at her. He has no idea that it is really Mallory. When he gets to see the softer not so mean side of her he's ready to break all the rules.
In an Oyster Shell - It was a really fun story with a swoon worthy romance. A book you can find yourself getting lost in.
The Pearls - I liked the concept, it was well executed. Twins doing a switch is a fun story. That Mallory had to pay penance for her twins evil doings was amusing. I liked that everything happened in the setting of the camp.
The characters are really what made the story. There were outstanding main characters that you could emphasize with. The supporting characters sprinkled through out the narrative added a nice pizazz to the story. I really liked Fozzie the burly camp director.
Full Review : Writing Pearls
In an Oyster Shell - It was a really fun story with a swoon worthy romance. A book you can find yourself getting lost in.
The Pearls - I liked the concept, it was well executed. Twins doing a switch is a fun story. That Mallory had to pay penance for her twins evil doings was amusing. I liked that everything happened in the setting of the camp.
The characters are really what made the story. There were outstanding main characters that you could emphasize with. The supporting characters sprinkled through out the narrative added a nice pizazz to the story. I really liked Fozzie the burly camp director.
Full Review : Writing Pearls
September 11, 2017
I have a soft spot for books about twins swapping places, and this one was wonderful. I didn't like that Mallory kept her real identity from Ben for so long, but other than that, I loved the book. The only reason I gave this a 4 star was several times the other characters called Mallory by her name and not Blake. I kept thinking she had told everyone the truth and I missed it. It kept pulling me out of the story every time it happened. This was the first book I have read by Samantha Bohrman, but it will not be the last.
August 20, 2017
3.5
This was a YA romance. Her twin sister was a huge drama queen, and yet our geek of a heroine thought it would be a good idea to pretend to be her. It was a very sweet summer camp romance.
This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a YA romance. Her twin sister was a huge drama queen, and yet our geek of a heroine thought it would be a good idea to pretend to be her. It was a very sweet summer camp romance.
This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 29, 2017
Confession, I'm not usually one for camp stories, but this little tale of love and revenge amidst some mistaken identify had me laughing all the way to the last page. Samantha Bohrman's writing style is as smooth as her jokes are choke on your coffee funny. Read this one. You won't be sorry.
May 30, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Identical twins Mallory and Blake couldn't be more different. Mallory the quiet, rule abiding and somewhat invisible book worm who deep down wants to be just like her sister. Blake is popular, beautiful and self centered. blake gets everything she wants and when she lands herself in trouble she wants her sister to pretend to be her and do her punishment. But Mallory doesn't seem to mind if it means she can see how it feels to be her sister. At least until Ben iron cloud decides to get his revenge on Blake making mallory his accidental target.
With romance, revenge and heartache this is a story that brings not just two lovers together but two sisters too.
Identical twins Mallory and Blake couldn't be more different. Mallory the quiet, rule abiding and somewhat invisible book worm who deep down wants to be just like her sister. Blake is popular, beautiful and self centered. blake gets everything she wants and when she lands herself in trouble she wants her sister to pretend to be her and do her punishment. But Mallory doesn't seem to mind if it means she can see how it feels to be her sister. At least until Ben iron cloud decides to get his revenge on Blake making mallory his accidental target.
With romance, revenge and heartache this is a story that brings not just two lovers together but two sisters too.
August 24, 2017
Mallory is the unpopular twin who fades into the sidelines while her sister Blake is the show stopper. When Blake pulls another prank involving Ben (who has caught Mallory's eye) Blake is sent to camp as part of her punishment, but in a great summer swapping roles story, Mallory goes in her place. The switch confuses Ben who has sworn to HATE Blake and yet finds himself intrigued by camp Blake (aka Mallory). A fun, quick, romantic read, this story tackles relationships between siblings, jealousy, forgiveness and the importance of kindness. It was a nice addition to the Crush books by Engtangled. Thank you netgalley for an ARC!
March 3, 2020
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Breaking the Rules of Revenge follows Mallory as she masquerades as her twin sister, Blake, while at Camp Pine Ridge. Being the quiet sister, she's never really had the opportunity to do anything, but now is perfect, as there will be next to no one there who knows either sister, and she might be able to find a cute guy to have fun with. The only problem, the cute guy - Ben - is hell bent on revenge against Blake, as it's all her fault that he's even at this camp. Mallory is caught unawares, and soon finds herself falling for Ben, who is also conflicted, as the girl in front of him is nothing like the one he wants to get even with, and he might also be developing feelings.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, and started to read it's synopsis, I was definitely interested about the revenge aspect of the story, and the enemies to lovers trope. There were definitely some really good moments in this book, but also times when I felt like a little bit was missing, which is why I only gave it 3 stars. I like Ben and Mallory's relationship, and the angst that was there. The camp aspect was something new too, but all in all, I wanted a bit more.
Breaking the Rules of Revenge follows Mallory as she masquerades as her twin sister, Blake, while at Camp Pine Ridge. Being the quiet sister, she's never really had the opportunity to do anything, but now is perfect, as there will be next to no one there who knows either sister, and she might be able to find a cute guy to have fun with. The only problem, the cute guy - Ben - is hell bent on revenge against Blake, as it's all her fault that he's even at this camp. Mallory is caught unawares, and soon finds herself falling for Ben, who is also conflicted, as the girl in front of him is nothing like the one he wants to get even with, and he might also be developing feelings.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, and started to read it's synopsis, I was definitely interested about the revenge aspect of the story, and the enemies to lovers trope. There were definitely some really good moments in this book, but also times when I felt like a little bit was missing, which is why I only gave it 3 stars. I like Ben and Mallory's relationship, and the angst that was there. The camp aspect was something new too, but all in all, I wanted a bit more.
November 6, 2018
A very well written and enjoyable YA read. Bohrman's smart and humorous writing made it hard for me to put this book down. Wonderful (and some not so wonderful) characters try to work things out at a summer camp. Twins who change places and it works. For a while. I recommend it!
September 15, 2017
Breaking the Rules of Revenge is your typical Parent Trap story. Twin sisters Mallory and Blake trade places when Blake is sentenced to summer camp rather than prison for her most recent prank. All Blake has to do is pass math for Mallory and Mallory will spend her summer doing arts and crafts and going on long hikes. It seems like the perfect plan until Blake’s arch nemesis turns up at camp as well. The story is told in alternating POV’s, Mallory and Ben.
Let’s start with what works: Summer Camp as a setting. This book is a part of the Endless Summer standalone series by Entangled, so frequent visitors to the Crush shelves will notice the camp and a couple characters seem pretty familiar. I am obsessed with using camp as a setting in YA. Partly because I never went to summer camp as a teen (I did, however, attend girl scout camp when I was in elementary school) and partly because it’s so much more fun than being in high school. With a few exceptions, these are summer friends! The stakes are entirely different. Love it.
Also, the dynamic between Mallory and Ben. Despite their prank filled rocky beginning, there’s a connection between our two main characters that builds to a climax and then builds again. While lacking on character development in a lot of ways, these two do have a lot of chemistry built into the novel and I can appreciate that.
What didn’t work: Mallory and Blake’s relationship. Blake is a terrible sister. She walks all over Mallory and doesn’t care, even when she realizes she’s doing it in the end. I wanted a fight! A huge blowout! One that ended in a mutual understanding but not a tearful hug and a promise to be better. I have a sister and I know any promise of the sort would be a blatant lie. But sisters fight even if Mallory seems pretty level headed (with a few exceptions). A major screaming match between the twins would have given this novel a level it is currently missing.
And, as I mentioned before, this book is seriously lacking in the character development department. Mallory feels one dimensional to me despite a ton of opportunities for improvement. She’s pretending to be her outgoing sister for the summer! That has to make a girl realize a thing or two about herself. And yeah, in a small way she does, but just like the sister fight this was a missed opportunity that would have made the novel even better than it already is.
Like all Entangled Crush books, this is a fun, quick read. If you’re as sad as I am about summer ending and you’re not quite ready to embrace the pumpkin spice lattes quite yet, immerse yourself in summer camp for a few hundred pages. You won’t regret it.
Let’s start with what works: Summer Camp as a setting. This book is a part of the Endless Summer standalone series by Entangled, so frequent visitors to the Crush shelves will notice the camp and a couple characters seem pretty familiar. I am obsessed with using camp as a setting in YA. Partly because I never went to summer camp as a teen (I did, however, attend girl scout camp when I was in elementary school) and partly because it’s so much more fun than being in high school. With a few exceptions, these are summer friends! The stakes are entirely different. Love it.
Also, the dynamic between Mallory and Ben. Despite their prank filled rocky beginning, there’s a connection between our two main characters that builds to a climax and then builds again. While lacking on character development in a lot of ways, these two do have a lot of chemistry built into the novel and I can appreciate that.
What didn’t work: Mallory and Blake’s relationship. Blake is a terrible sister. She walks all over Mallory and doesn’t care, even when she realizes she’s doing it in the end. I wanted a fight! A huge blowout! One that ended in a mutual understanding but not a tearful hug and a promise to be better. I have a sister and I know any promise of the sort would be a blatant lie. But sisters fight even if Mallory seems pretty level headed (with a few exceptions). A major screaming match between the twins would have given this novel a level it is currently missing.
And, as I mentioned before, this book is seriously lacking in the character development department. Mallory feels one dimensional to me despite a ton of opportunities for improvement. She’s pretending to be her outgoing sister for the summer! That has to make a girl realize a thing or two about herself. And yeah, in a small way she does, but just like the sister fight this was a missed opportunity that would have made the novel even better than it already is.
Like all Entangled Crush books, this is a fun, quick read. If you’re as sad as I am about summer ending and you’re not quite ready to embrace the pumpkin spice lattes quite yet, immerse yourself in summer camp for a few hundred pages. You won’t regret it.
September 4, 2017
I’m typically not the first to jump at a romance novel, but for Bohrman’s novel I made the exception. The synopsis piqued my interest, and I dove into reading. I’m a fan of mistaken identities and the trope of pretending to be a sibling (I’m going to blame Shakespeare for that one). Needless to say, this seemed like it would fulfill those not-so-guilty pleasures of mine.
Breaking the Rules of Revenge took me a bit to get into. Blake’s personality and the entire family set up went to the extreme in order to defend character choices and personalities. Character personal growth occurred off-screen so that those gradual wars of morals that I looked forward to were summarized blurbs and the end decision by the time they were presented in the story. Ben’s inability to make a conclusion further than “Wow, Blake sure seems different than I thought! She’s actually amazing!” having known what he dealt with when socializing with her was a bit of a stretch. Each time the “wow this is what I expected” moment popped up, I was expecting him to get onto something. Him not knowing Blake had a twin until like a week before the big reveal seemed a bit like a cheap shot - seeing how Mallory and Blake are portrayed as so differently in presentation that he would think they were one person at school seems a bit unbelievable.
Granted, once Mallory (posing as Blake) and Ben began tumbling down the road to head over heels for each other, the writing was sweet, savory, and intriguing. The bonding over cleaning the hiking trail, such a sweet and authentic build. Rainstorm + cave? Yesssss.
I liked that Ben wasn’t the typical buff, white, bad boy. Points for diversity. Points for him dealing with the romanticization and sexualization of his ethnicity and being done with it. However, there were multiple times where the handling of his heritage and family history felt stereotyped and failed to address any nuance; this created a rift in my appreciation.
Overall, I adored Bohrman’s concept and she had some beautifully sizzling moments, but the ticks against characterization and believability knocked down the rating for me.
*I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review
Breaking the Rules of Revenge took me a bit to get into. Blake’s personality and the entire family set up went to the extreme in order to defend character choices and personalities. Character personal growth occurred off-screen so that those gradual wars of morals that I looked forward to were summarized blurbs and the end decision by the time they were presented in the story. Ben’s inability to make a conclusion further than “Wow, Blake sure seems different than I thought! She’s actually amazing!” having known what he dealt with when socializing with her was a bit of a stretch. Each time the “wow this is what I expected” moment popped up, I was expecting him to get onto something. Him not knowing Blake had a twin until like a week before the big reveal seemed a bit like a cheap shot - seeing how Mallory and Blake are portrayed as so differently in presentation that he would think they were one person at school seems a bit unbelievable.
Granted, once Mallory (posing as Blake) and Ben began tumbling down the road to head over heels for each other, the writing was sweet, savory, and intriguing. The bonding over cleaning the hiking trail, such a sweet and authentic build. Rainstorm + cave? Yesssss.
I liked that Ben wasn’t the typical buff, white, bad boy. Points for diversity. Points for him dealing with the romanticization and sexualization of his ethnicity and being done with it. However, there were multiple times where the handling of his heritage and family history felt stereotyped and failed to address any nuance; this created a rift in my appreciation.
Overall, I adored Bohrman’s concept and she had some beautifully sizzling moments, but the ticks against characterization and believability knocked down the rating for me.
*I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review
September 6, 2017
Now that summer is coming to an end so is the lovely world of sleep away camps, and we all know what happens at camps (or at least we can imagine) a whole lot of shenanigans. This book did not disappoint in the whole camp pranks that’s for sure. Samantha Bohrman did a great job bringing this camping experience to life. We met some interesting characters and had a laugh or two.
We meet Mallory, who is Blake’s identical sister (but she’s also the one no one notices), she decides to take over Blake’s life for her at camp. Yes they are pulling the old switch-a-roo almost parent trap like but not, man I really loved that movie. Anyway so Mallory wants to come out and be a different person, someone people will notice and will interact with her more, little did she know that Blake’s nemesis will also be at the same camp, Ben.
I really liked the fact that Ben was a Native American, as you don’t often see that in young adult novels (not included you know what Team Jacob lol). But it was sad to see that he really didn’t know much about his heritage to begin with, regardless he was an interesting character. Especially when he thought he was dealing with the real Blake and was fooled the whole time. Oh the regret of those silly, silly pranks. Although they were quite funny and unique.
Anyway the dynamic between Mallory and Ben is adorable. They get each other and complement each other very well, but again there are secrets that are being held and won’t be revealed until the end, with that as I’m sure you can imagine will be consequences. Things happen between the two of them, truths come out and realities are finally in play. It’s what you do with the information you are given that make you the better person and I think the two of them figured out exactly what they needed to do with each other.
Overall I thought the book was a quick and easy fun read. Perfect for the end of summer, with a few funny hijinks, some very interesting secondary characters and typical people you would expect to see at camp. The setting was great, the people were great, just an overall good book. I really liked the cover too, it was very eye catching.
We meet Mallory, who is Blake’s identical sister (but she’s also the one no one notices), she decides to take over Blake’s life for her at camp. Yes they are pulling the old switch-a-roo almost parent trap like but not, man I really loved that movie. Anyway so Mallory wants to come out and be a different person, someone people will notice and will interact with her more, little did she know that Blake’s nemesis will also be at the same camp, Ben.
I really liked the fact that Ben was a Native American, as you don’t often see that in young adult novels (not included you know what Team Jacob lol). But it was sad to see that he really didn’t know much about his heritage to begin with, regardless he was an interesting character. Especially when he thought he was dealing with the real Blake and was fooled the whole time. Oh the regret of those silly, silly pranks. Although they were quite funny and unique.
Anyway the dynamic between Mallory and Ben is adorable. They get each other and complement each other very well, but again there are secrets that are being held and won’t be revealed until the end, with that as I’m sure you can imagine will be consequences. Things happen between the two of them, truths come out and realities are finally in play. It’s what you do with the information you are given that make you the better person and I think the two of them figured out exactly what they needed to do with each other.
Overall I thought the book was a quick and easy fun read. Perfect for the end of summer, with a few funny hijinks, some very interesting secondary characters and typical people you would expect to see at camp. The setting was great, the people were great, just an overall good book. I really liked the cover too, it was very eye catching.
September 11, 2017
5 Stars - A Fun Summer Camp Romance
Romance is my absolute favorite... there’s just something addicting with books that make my heart skip a beat and leave me feeling happy. Breaking the Rules of Revenge by Samantha Bohrman definitely did that and more. It’s a fun sweet story about first love, but it also delivers a great message about self-discovery, honesty and forgiveness.
The writing in this book is fantastic and easy to read. The plot, while a bit predictable at times, is fast-paced, engaging, and so much fun! As a teen, I’ve always wanted to go to summer camp ever since I watched Bug Juice on the Disney Channel. Gosh.. I don’t even know if anyone still remembers that show, but this book brought me back to those days… And it’s absolutely the best feeling ever! I loved every moment and I honestly could not stop reading. (Bug Juice is a reality show about teens in summer camp and I just read that it's actually being revived in 2018 just in case you wanted to know).
I thought Bohrman did a such great job creating genuine and relatable characters. They acted their age -- teenagers just trying to figure out who they are and learn from their mistakes. Mallory is shy and a bit insecure. She’s always overshadowed by her popular twin sister, Blake, and I just felt for her. Ben comes off as the “bad guy,” but you learn that he’s actually quite charming, sweet, and kind. George is just delightful! I loved his quirky personality. And Blake…she’s everything Mallory wants to be -- beautiful, confident, and popular. But underneath all that, Blake is still just a teenager with her own insecurities. At one point of another, I’ve been a Mallory, envied a Blake, had a friend like George, and crushed on someone like Ben. They’re just so real and I absolutely adored them.
I also really enjoyed the dual POVs between Mallory and Ben. It was interesting to read how they saw each other and how they dealt with their growing attraction. I honestly just wanted to squeeze the both them… Mallory and Ben are just so cute together. Their chemistry had me smiling the entire time and I loved watching their relationship develop into something more. From pranking each other to calling truce and being friends and to almost kissing and actually kissing, I swooned over and over. This is why I’m forever a romance junkie… I love feeling giddy, and happy, and getting those butterflies in my stomach.
This book is charming in so many ways and I just love it to pieces! If you’re looking for something quick, light and sweet, then I definitely recommend you pick this up.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To read more of my reviews, visit Sincerely Karen Jo
Romance is my absolute favorite... there’s just something addicting with books that make my heart skip a beat and leave me feeling happy. Breaking the Rules of Revenge by Samantha Bohrman definitely did that and more. It’s a fun sweet story about first love, but it also delivers a great message about self-discovery, honesty and forgiveness.
The writing in this book is fantastic and easy to read. The plot, while a bit predictable at times, is fast-paced, engaging, and so much fun! As a teen, I’ve always wanted to go to summer camp ever since I watched Bug Juice on the Disney Channel. Gosh.. I don’t even know if anyone still remembers that show, but this book brought me back to those days… And it’s absolutely the best feeling ever! I loved every moment and I honestly could not stop reading. (Bug Juice is a reality show about teens in summer camp and I just read that it's actually being revived in 2018 just in case you wanted to know).
I thought Bohrman did a such great job creating genuine and relatable characters. They acted their age -- teenagers just trying to figure out who they are and learn from their mistakes. Mallory is shy and a bit insecure. She’s always overshadowed by her popular twin sister, Blake, and I just felt for her. Ben comes off as the “bad guy,” but you learn that he’s actually quite charming, sweet, and kind. George is just delightful! I loved his quirky personality. And Blake…she’s everything Mallory wants to be -- beautiful, confident, and popular. But underneath all that, Blake is still just a teenager with her own insecurities. At one point of another, I’ve been a Mallory, envied a Blake, had a friend like George, and crushed on someone like Ben. They’re just so real and I absolutely adored them.
I also really enjoyed the dual POVs between Mallory and Ben. It was interesting to read how they saw each other and how they dealt with their growing attraction. I honestly just wanted to squeeze the both them… Mallory and Ben are just so cute together. Their chemistry had me smiling the entire time and I loved watching their relationship develop into something more. From pranking each other to calling truce and being friends and to almost kissing and actually kissing, I swooned over and over. This is why I’m forever a romance junkie… I love feeling giddy, and happy, and getting those butterflies in my stomach.
This book is charming in so many ways and I just love it to pieces! If you’re looking for something quick, light and sweet, then I definitely recommend you pick this up.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To read more of my reviews, visit Sincerely Karen Jo
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews