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Rules We're Meant to Break
Honest and full of heart, this clever contemporary romance debut deftly combines utterly relatable family drama with all the sweetness and uncertainy that comes with falling in love.
Rule #1: Don't get attached.
Amber lives by strict rules to survive her mother’s love life: Always keep your eyes on the horizon and never get close to anyone connected to Mom's boyfriends.
But after they move in with Kevin, the latest of her mom's “soul mates,” the rules become increasingly difficult to follow. Kevin’s daughter, Cammie, keeps acting like Amber’s friend, even though she’s definitely not. And Jordan—star basketball player, hottest boy in school, and Cammie's best friend—keeps showing up at the most inconvenient moments.
Amber has reasons for every one of her rules, and following them is the only way to protect her heart when her mom inevitably moves on. But as she spends more time with Kevin, his daughter, and especially Jordan, she starts to wonder if the rules might be worth breaking this time.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Rules We're Meant to Break is a charming, heartachingly real story of family and young love by debut author Natalie Williamson.
Praise for Rules We're Meant to Break:
“The last time I devoured a book like this—I can't even remember. … It was so openhearted and raw.” —Clarissa, reader on SwoonReads.com
"It is such a true true story about a girl finding herself within her first love. I loved it!" —Forever Bookish, reader on SwoonReads.com
Rule #1: Don't get attached.
Amber lives by strict rules to survive her mother’s love life: Always keep your eyes on the horizon and never get close to anyone connected to Mom's boyfriends.
But after they move in with Kevin, the latest of her mom's “soul mates,” the rules become increasingly difficult to follow. Kevin’s daughter, Cammie, keeps acting like Amber’s friend, even though she’s definitely not. And Jordan—star basketball player, hottest boy in school, and Cammie's best friend—keeps showing up at the most inconvenient moments.
Amber has reasons for every one of her rules, and following them is the only way to protect her heart when her mom inevitably moves on. But as she spends more time with Kevin, his daughter, and especially Jordan, she starts to wonder if the rules might be worth breaking this time.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Rules We're Meant to Break is a charming, heartachingly real story of family and young love by debut author Natalie Williamson.
Praise for Rules We're Meant to Break:
“The last time I devoured a book like this—I can't even remember. … It was so openhearted and raw.” —Clarissa, reader on SwoonReads.com
"It is such a true true story about a girl finding herself within her first love. I loved it!" —Forever Bookish, reader on SwoonReads.com
289 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2019
26 people are currently reading
2962 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Williamson
2 books162 followersNatalie Williamson is a YA and romance writer who has been in love with love stories since she was a kid. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, children, dogs, and cats, she has a serious dessert problem, and she frequently Wikipedias movies and TV shows to find out if they have happy endings. RULES WE'RE MEANT TO BREAK is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 20, 2018
Hi! I wrote this. =]
Read
May 24, 2020
November 9, 2020
I´ve read a lot of books with annoying main characters, I don´t know why writers insist on making the girl protagonist annoying so often?
There was character development but not enough of it, some cute scenes but not enough of them too be completely honest.
There was character development but not enough of it, some cute scenes but not enough of them too be completely honest.
June 11, 2019
Happy Tuesday (A.K.A. New Book Day)!
I have been waiting to post this review because I wanted to put it up closer to when the book came out. Then my own personal life got busy and now here it is! I did receive an ARC of this book a while back from Swoon Reads so thank you so much for the chance to read this a little early in exchange for my honest opinion. Without further ado let’s jump in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Amber has strict rules for herself to live by. These rules will help her survive life until she can be out on her own and survive her mother and her mother’s love life. One of the biggest rules she tries to follow is never get attached to any of the guys her mother brings around. She wants to keep her eyes on the future and not on guys that are coming in and out of their lives. However, when one of these guys (Kevin) has them move in with him and his daughter Cammie. So now it’s incredibly hard to follow Amber’s own rules because she is living in his house. On top of that, his daughter Cammie is acting super friendly and trying to be extra nice to her. Amber is not entirely sure what to do about any of this but she begins to wonder if she should keep following her rules or be in this new little family!
I read this book pretty recently before I started packing for my move and it was just what I needed. It was refreshing after long days and Amber kept me coming back to the book to find out what her next move would be. I felt like some things Amber went through in this book were so relatable and I think it just made the book more enjoyable for me. Also, the cover is just my organized dream life (I am working like overtime to try to be extra organized in my move and in the new place and this cover is goals). I am giving this book 4.5 stars on Goodreads!
***Thank you to Swoon Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have been waiting to post this review because I wanted to put it up closer to when the book came out. Then my own personal life got busy and now here it is! I did receive an ARC of this book a while back from Swoon Reads so thank you so much for the chance to read this a little early in exchange for my honest opinion. Without further ado let’s jump in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Amber has strict rules for herself to live by. These rules will help her survive life until she can be out on her own and survive her mother and her mother’s love life. One of the biggest rules she tries to follow is never get attached to any of the guys her mother brings around. She wants to keep her eyes on the future and not on guys that are coming in and out of their lives. However, when one of these guys (Kevin) has them move in with him and his daughter Cammie. So now it’s incredibly hard to follow Amber’s own rules because she is living in his house. On top of that, his daughter Cammie is acting super friendly and trying to be extra nice to her. Amber is not entirely sure what to do about any of this but she begins to wonder if she should keep following her rules or be in this new little family!
I read this book pretty recently before I started packing for my move and it was just what I needed. It was refreshing after long days and Amber kept me coming back to the book to find out what her next move would be. I felt like some things Amber went through in this book were so relatable and I think it just made the book more enjoyable for me. Also, the cover is just my organized dream life (I am working like overtime to try to be extra organized in my move and in the new place and this cover is goals). I am giving this book 4.5 stars on Goodreads!
***Thank you to Swoon Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2019
After yet another of her mother's failed relationships, Amber established a set of rules to protect herself. However, after living by these rules for several years, she began to realize that they were keeping her from enjoying a multitude of wonderful things.
• Pro: I am going to start with the most important thing. This book featured a fantastic dog, Buffy, and the dog lives!!!!
• Pro: Amber worked in a pet store, and part of her job was training dogs. I had a magnificent time at puppy lessons, and loved that Buffy got a fair amount of page time as well. I believe dog lovers will appreciate and enjoy all these moments.
• Pro: There were lots of great friendships in this story, and I especially liked the one between Amber and her best friend, Hannah. Hannah was there for support, but was also a straight shooter, when necessary, and she played a big role in Amber's growth process.
• Pro: Those who know me are aware of how much I abhor loose ends. Well, I am happy to report, that Williamson gave me enough closure on all the different plot lines, and even if I would have liked a jump ahead, I still had answers which satisfied me.
• Pro: Blended families can be tricky, and it was great watching Amber develop her relationships with Kevin and his daughter, Cammie. Also, Kevin was a gem, and I grew really, really fond of him.
• Pro: Saving the best for last - the romance! I adored Jordan, and I am all warm and fuzzy just thinking about these two. I know I wore a stupid grin on my face as their relationship blossomed and flourished. It was sweet and precious and everything first love should be.
Overall: This was a solid read for me. I loved the focus on family, friendship, and learning to open yourself up to possibilities.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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• Pro: I am going to start with the most important thing. This book featured a fantastic dog, Buffy, and the dog lives!!!!
• Pro: Amber worked in a pet store, and part of her job was training dogs. I had a magnificent time at puppy lessons, and loved that Buffy got a fair amount of page time as well. I believe dog lovers will appreciate and enjoy all these moments.
• Pro: There were lots of great friendships in this story, and I especially liked the one between Amber and her best friend, Hannah. Hannah was there for support, but was also a straight shooter, when necessary, and she played a big role in Amber's growth process.
• Pro: Those who know me are aware of how much I abhor loose ends. Well, I am happy to report, that Williamson gave me enough closure on all the different plot lines, and even if I would have liked a jump ahead, I still had answers which satisfied me.
• Pro: Blended families can be tricky, and it was great watching Amber develop her relationships with Kevin and his daughter, Cammie. Also, Kevin was a gem, and I grew really, really fond of him.
• Pro: Saving the best for last - the romance! I adored Jordan, and I am all warm and fuzzy just thinking about these two. I know I wore a stupid grin on my face as their relationship blossomed and flourished. It was sweet and precious and everything first love should be.
Overall: This was a solid read for me. I loved the focus on family, friendship, and learning to open yourself up to possibilities.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
September 15, 2019
This is such a cute young adult romance. Everything from the settings to the characters sucked me in. Amber lives with her single mother, her father having left them when she was just five. Her mom bounces from one relationship to another, and after a particularly difficult breakup for Amber, she vows never to get close to anyone her mom dates again. This becomes challenging when they move into her mom’s then boyfriend’s place early in Amber’s senior year of high school. To make matter’s worse, this guy has a teen daughter who goes to Amber’s school. Said daughter, Cammie, is no bigger fan of the situation than Amber is. The only thing that makes the situation mildly tolerable is that hot Jordan Baugh lives down the street from her new house. Much to Amber’s surprise and delight, he seems to be flirting with her! And in a perfect world, that would be awesome, but Amber’s world is anything but perfect. It appears that Cammie has some sort of a history with Jordan and that breaks Rule No. 7 on her list of rules for surviving her mother’s dating life. If only Jordan wasn’t so incredibly adorable and insistent.
Plot
The plot centers around Amber’s relationship with Jordan, but is laced with Amber’s lack of a belief in relationships that can last and a fierce need to protect herself from getting hurt again. With the help of her best friends Hannah and Ryan, she navigates tutoring Jordan while attempting to hold fast to her “rules”. But feelings have a way of getting in the way of the best intentions. Strong subplots include tense relationships with her mother, Cammie, and her mom’s boyfriend, as well as Amber’s plans after graduation. She has her heart set on KU while her mother is dead set against it. All of these subplots weave expertly into the main plot for a compelling story beyond just the romance.
Characters
I love the characters so much. Amber is so relatable as a teen girl hell-bent on protecting her heart. Jordan is beyond adorable and it’s easy to see why Amber is attracted to him against her better judgments. Hannah is the perfect loyal best friend, even when she feels as if her friend isn’t necessarily doing what’s in her own best interests. And Cammie is suitably complex making her a standout character. Everyone comes across as authentic and well developed, creating balanced and nuanced relationships that drive the story.
What I Loved About RULES WE’RE MEANT TO BREAK
1. Buffy. The German shepherd adopted by Amber is cute, smart, loyal, and makes Amber a better person.
2. Buffy. The OTHER Buffy. The one Buffy is named for. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer references peppered throughout are lighthearted and actually tie several things together.
3. Jordan. The adorable basketball player with a penchant to capitalize words that excite him is a boy worth swooning over.
4. Angsty Romance. My favorite kind. With Amber’s insecurities and her list of rules, there was no way this romance wasn’t going to come with a health dose of angst. It just has a way of pulling at my heartstrings. I love, love, love it.
5. Realistic Growth. While Amber has some amazing growth, I love that she isn’t totally transformed. Her history is so ingrained in who she is that by the end she’s only tentatively stepping forward into the unknown rather than fully embracing it, giving this a really realistic vibe.
Bottom Line
Fabulous characters in realistic predicaments and a swoony romance to boot.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Plot
The plot centers around Amber’s relationship with Jordan, but is laced with Amber’s lack of a belief in relationships that can last and a fierce need to protect herself from getting hurt again. With the help of her best friends Hannah and Ryan, she navigates tutoring Jordan while attempting to hold fast to her “rules”. But feelings have a way of getting in the way of the best intentions. Strong subplots include tense relationships with her mother, Cammie, and her mom’s boyfriend, as well as Amber’s plans after graduation. She has her heart set on KU while her mother is dead set against it. All of these subplots weave expertly into the main plot for a compelling story beyond just the romance.
Characters
I love the characters so much. Amber is so relatable as a teen girl hell-bent on protecting her heart. Jordan is beyond adorable and it’s easy to see why Amber is attracted to him against her better judgments. Hannah is the perfect loyal best friend, even when she feels as if her friend isn’t necessarily doing what’s in her own best interests. And Cammie is suitably complex making her a standout character. Everyone comes across as authentic and well developed, creating balanced and nuanced relationships that drive the story.
What I Loved About RULES WE’RE MEANT TO BREAK
1. Buffy. The German shepherd adopted by Amber is cute, smart, loyal, and makes Amber a better person.
2. Buffy. The OTHER Buffy. The one Buffy is named for. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer references peppered throughout are lighthearted and actually tie several things together.
3. Jordan. The adorable basketball player with a penchant to capitalize words that excite him is a boy worth swooning over.
4. Angsty Romance. My favorite kind. With Amber’s insecurities and her list of rules, there was no way this romance wasn’t going to come with a health dose of angst. It just has a way of pulling at my heartstrings. I love, love, love it.
5. Realistic Growth. While Amber has some amazing growth, I love that she isn’t totally transformed. Her history is so ingrained in who she is that by the end she’s only tentatively stepping forward into the unknown rather than fully embracing it, giving this a really realistic vibe.
Bottom Line
Fabulous characters in realistic predicaments and a swoony romance to boot.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2019
*Thanks so much Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.25 / 5 stars
Rules We’re Meant to Break follows a girl who abides by a set of rules so that she can survive her mother’s romances. Amber is used to things not working out with her mother’s boyfriends. Amber’s mom is quick to fall in love but when things start to get serious and Amber grows attached, things get messy. Amber decides that she will hold her heart close by no longer attaching herself to anything connected to her mother’s next boyfriend. However, when Amber meets some people close to her mother’s boyfriend Kevin, she finds it hard to not get attached.
I enjoyed the story of Amber and all things that she goes through as her family becomes bigger. I love how Amber has a fondness for animals and she wants to grow in her knowledge of them by studying behavior in college. I appreciated the introduction to Amber’s character and the shift in time to who she is now. I thought this incorporation was well insinuated and extremely relative to the storyline.
I will say that I found the characters in this book to be a bit bland at times. I enjoyed certain parts of these characters but overall none of them stood out to me that much. I liked Jordan’s character and how kind he was to everyone. Amber could have used a bit more character growth at times. There were plenty of opportunities for Amber to show increased maturity and awareness but when it came to these moments, she usually faltered. Amber was self-aware of most of her hurtful decisions but sometimes it seemed like the only way she would fix them was if someone told her to. Overall, her character was a little disappointing at times due to her continuously not doing much to converse with others and explain herself when explanation was needed. Characters like Jordan had to take the high road, when they were not much or at all at fault, while Amber sulked with a negative attitude.
Overall, this was an okay read for me. I love how it was not too long and it was easy to get through. There were minor uses of cursing at times, but it was not overdone. I think a teenage audience might appreciate this more than myself.
3.25 / 5 stars
Rules We’re Meant to Break follows a girl who abides by a set of rules so that she can survive her mother’s romances. Amber is used to things not working out with her mother’s boyfriends. Amber’s mom is quick to fall in love but when things start to get serious and Amber grows attached, things get messy. Amber decides that she will hold her heart close by no longer attaching herself to anything connected to her mother’s next boyfriend. However, when Amber meets some people close to her mother’s boyfriend Kevin, she finds it hard to not get attached.
I enjoyed the story of Amber and all things that she goes through as her family becomes bigger. I love how Amber has a fondness for animals and she wants to grow in her knowledge of them by studying behavior in college. I appreciated the introduction to Amber’s character and the shift in time to who she is now. I thought this incorporation was well insinuated and extremely relative to the storyline.
I will say that I found the characters in this book to be a bit bland at times. I enjoyed certain parts of these characters but overall none of them stood out to me that much. I liked Jordan’s character and how kind he was to everyone. Amber could have used a bit more character growth at times. There were plenty of opportunities for Amber to show increased maturity and awareness but when it came to these moments, she usually faltered. Amber was self-aware of most of her hurtful decisions but sometimes it seemed like the only way she would fix them was if someone told her to. Overall, her character was a little disappointing at times due to her continuously not doing much to converse with others and explain herself when explanation was needed. Characters like Jordan had to take the high road, when they were not much or at all at fault, while Amber sulked with a negative attitude.
Overall, this was an okay read for me. I love how it was not too long and it was easy to get through. There were minor uses of cursing at times, but it was not overdone. I think a teenage audience might appreciate this more than myself.
July 16, 2019
RULES WE’RE MEANT TO BREAK is everything I love about contemporary YA. Its main character, Amber, is so easy to root for, its romance is totally swoony, and it’s full of family, friendship, and college-application conflict that rings very true. Plus, Buffy the dog is ADORABLE. One more plus — Natalie Williamson’s prose reads as effortless; it was such a treat to get lost in this story. Big recommend!
June 14, 2019
This is not a romance-centered YA (but of course there is enough romance to satisfy us fans).
Amber has learned the hard way to survive the succession of boyfriends her mother gets: she had to create a list of rules not to get attached ever again either to the boyfriends nor to the kids that come along or anyone else. That's until she finds out her current crush is the childhood friend of the newest partner's daughter. To make things worse, she needs to tutor him, and boundaries seem to stretch too thin.
3.5, rounded up to 4.
As I said the focus here goes beyond the romance, romancing is actually the least of Amber's problems. I find this the ideal read for teenagers with divorced (or single) parents, because I'm sure lots of them have had to face the aftermath of their parents' failed relationship. Of course, I don't think Amber's mother was the best in dealing with it, it really seemed like she went through life doing away with everything she started building the moment the relationship itself ended. Although the examples I have in real life are different, I think there may be many who do exactly like Amber's mother and thus there must be many Ambers, who don't know to trust in everlasting bonds anymore. But I digress.
To be honest, I didn't like Amber that much, she could be too obnoxious. I think it was intentional but I didn't feel like she redeemed enough so I never grew fond. On the other hand, I loved all of the other main characters. How can I find a stepfather like Kevin, someone please help me! I also found interesting how the stepsister involved through the story, it was easy to imagine how she was feeling even though this was all Amber's POV. And book-boyfriend Jordan! As I said, this is not really worried about the romance but it doesn't mean it's not cute. I even wish we could have had some more scenes but the ones present in the book were already nice enough.
I recommend this to contemporary YA fans, even those who are not that into romance.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by the blog tour and Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Amber has learned the hard way to survive the succession of boyfriends her mother gets: she had to create a list of rules not to get attached ever again either to the boyfriends nor to the kids that come along or anyone else. That's until she finds out her current crush is the childhood friend of the newest partner's daughter. To make things worse, she needs to tutor him, and boundaries seem to stretch too thin.
3.5, rounded up to 4.
As I said the focus here goes beyond the romance, romancing is actually the least of Amber's problems. I find this the ideal read for teenagers with divorced (or single) parents, because I'm sure lots of them have had to face the aftermath of their parents' failed relationship. Of course, I don't think Amber's mother was the best in dealing with it, it really seemed like she went through life doing away with everything she started building the moment the relationship itself ended. Although the examples I have in real life are different, I think there may be many who do exactly like Amber's mother and thus there must be many Ambers, who don't know to trust in everlasting bonds anymore. But I digress.
To be honest, I didn't like Amber that much, she could be too obnoxious. I think it was intentional but I didn't feel like she redeemed enough so I never grew fond. On the other hand, I loved all of the other main characters. How can I find a stepfather like Kevin, someone please help me! I also found interesting how the stepsister involved through the story, it was easy to imagine how she was feeling even though this was all Amber's POV. And book-boyfriend Jordan! As I said, this is not really worried about the romance but it doesn't mean it's not cute. I even wish we could have had some more scenes but the ones present in the book were already nice enough.
I recommend this to contemporary YA fans, even those who are not that into romance.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by the blog tour and Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
September 2, 2019
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy.
I really liked this book, it was a nice contemporary romance novel and quick read. I found myself getting so invested with the characters that I finished this a couple of hours. While there were a few things I had issues with most can be chalked up to this being Natalie Williamson's debut novel.
Amber has a list of rules to follow when her mother is in relationships, rules that will keep her from being hurt and getting hurt as she has too many times before. These rules are great until her mother starts dating a classmate's father and that classmate happens to be best friends with her crush. Deciding to leave the crush behind is great until her path keeps crossing with his.
I think my biggest problem with this was the ease with which the conflicts were solved, weird problem I know. The writing was pretty strong and the characters were fairly well developed but the biggest issue for me was that the novel was mostly static plot-wise. I will definitely be looking forward to Williamson's next novel though!
3.5/5
I really liked this book, it was a nice contemporary romance novel and quick read. I found myself getting so invested with the characters that I finished this a couple of hours. While there were a few things I had issues with most can be chalked up to this being Natalie Williamson's debut novel.
Amber has a list of rules to follow when her mother is in relationships, rules that will keep her from being hurt and getting hurt as she has too many times before. These rules are great until her mother starts dating a classmate's father and that classmate happens to be best friends with her crush. Deciding to leave the crush behind is great until her path keeps crossing with his.
I think my biggest problem with this was the ease with which the conflicts were solved, weird problem I know. The writing was pretty strong and the characters were fairly well developed but the biggest issue for me was that the novel was mostly static plot-wise. I will definitely be looking forward to Williamson's next novel though!
3.5/5
June 5, 2019
This review and more can be found at The Heart of a Book Blogger.
Rules We’re Meant to Break has been on my radar since it was announced so I was so excited to have a chance to read this cute contemporary debut early!
Amber has a set of strict rules she lives by in order to survive her mother’s many boyfriends throughout the years. However, it starts to become more difficult to stick to these rules when they move in with Kevin, her mother’s current boyfriend, and his daughter, Cammie. Especially when the cute basketball player Amber is crushing on is also Cammie’s best friend.
All of Amber’s rules were very justifiable (and some were even funny). Amber has been hurt too many times in the past by getting close to her mother’s boyfriends and their families, only to be ripped away from them when her mother inevitably broke up with them. Amber’s rules are the protective barriers she raises in order to keep herself from being hurt. I’ve read many YA books were the mom’s boyfriends are always jerks, so I actually liked that all of the guys Amber’s mom dated seemed like decent men. It was a nice twist on a common trope. I especially liked Kevin and how sweet and supportive he was of Amber. Even when she constantly pushed him away, Kevin kept trying to connect with her, which made me hope he and Amber’s mom will stay together for a long time.
The supporting cast was fun. Jordan, the love interest, played basketball (my high school sport!!) so I loved seeing that. He and Amber bonded over playing HORSE while taking breaks from their tutoring sessions, which was super fun. I also loved watching Amber and Cammie’s relationship form as they each found their footing within their new family. I was so glad that Cammie was supportive of Amber and Jordan’s relationship and that this didn’t cause any drama between their kinda-almost-sister relationship. Cammie is definitely protective of Jordan, but she wasn’t in love with him which I appreciated.
Another huge role in the book was played by Amber’s dog, Buffy! I love that Buffy was a constant throughout the book and that Amber actually had to take care of her (feeding, walking, letting her outside, etc.). Amber also trained Buffy very well so it was pretty cool that the two of them had a close bond. It was also very neat that Amber was able to recognize this passion and put it to use by also working at a dog store and applying to a college program to specialize in it.
Honestly, I think the only part I really struggled with about the book (and why I knocked off a star) is the obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Don’t get me wrong—I love that Amber obsessed over a TV show and connects with her friends through it, which is definitely something I did in high school and still do with my friends. I just found the Buffy part specifically to be very dated. I’m in my early twenties so I was a baby/toddler while Buffy was airing live on TV…that means current high school students were barely born by the time it ended. I understand that it was a very popular show (it’s been on my to-watch list for ages) and that it had quite a fan base, but it just seemed unrealistic to me that this would be the series when there’s so many current shows out there that teens obsess over today.
Overall, if you love dogs, basketball, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you are going to love Rules We’re Meant to Break!
*This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.*
Rules We’re Meant to Break has been on my radar since it was announced so I was so excited to have a chance to read this cute contemporary debut early!
Amber has a set of strict rules she lives by in order to survive her mother’s many boyfriends throughout the years. However, it starts to become more difficult to stick to these rules when they move in with Kevin, her mother’s current boyfriend, and his daughter, Cammie. Especially when the cute basketball player Amber is crushing on is also Cammie’s best friend.
All of Amber’s rules were very justifiable (and some were even funny). Amber has been hurt too many times in the past by getting close to her mother’s boyfriends and their families, only to be ripped away from them when her mother inevitably broke up with them. Amber’s rules are the protective barriers she raises in order to keep herself from being hurt. I’ve read many YA books were the mom’s boyfriends are always jerks, so I actually liked that all of the guys Amber’s mom dated seemed like decent men. It was a nice twist on a common trope. I especially liked Kevin and how sweet and supportive he was of Amber. Even when she constantly pushed him away, Kevin kept trying to connect with her, which made me hope he and Amber’s mom will stay together for a long time.
The supporting cast was fun. Jordan, the love interest, played basketball (my high school sport!!) so I loved seeing that. He and Amber bonded over playing HORSE while taking breaks from their tutoring sessions, which was super fun. I also loved watching Amber and Cammie’s relationship form as they each found their footing within their new family. I was so glad that Cammie was supportive of Amber and Jordan’s relationship and that this didn’t cause any drama between their kinda-almost-sister relationship. Cammie is definitely protective of Jordan, but she wasn’t in love with him which I appreciated.
Another huge role in the book was played by Amber’s dog, Buffy! I love that Buffy was a constant throughout the book and that Amber actually had to take care of her (feeding, walking, letting her outside, etc.). Amber also trained Buffy very well so it was pretty cool that the two of them had a close bond. It was also very neat that Amber was able to recognize this passion and put it to use by also working at a dog store and applying to a college program to specialize in it.
Honestly, I think the only part I really struggled with about the book (and why I knocked off a star) is the obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Don’t get me wrong—I love that Amber obsessed over a TV show and connects with her friends through it, which is definitely something I did in high school and still do with my friends. I just found the Buffy part specifically to be very dated. I’m in my early twenties so I was a baby/toddler while Buffy was airing live on TV…that means current high school students were barely born by the time it ended. I understand that it was a very popular show (it’s been on my to-watch list for ages) and that it had quite a fan base, but it just seemed unrealistic to me that this would be the series when there’s so many current shows out there that teens obsess over today.
Overall, if you love dogs, basketball, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you are going to love Rules We’re Meant to Break!
*This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.*
October 10, 2020
Další oddechová young adult knížka, ale při diplomce se mi dost blbě čte něco jiného. Je to milá a docela dojemná kniha (začínám zjišťovat, že mě poslední dobou dojíma naprosto všechno), trocha romantika, trocha dramatu. Nic co by vám vyrazilo dech, ale potěší, čte se to moc hezky a vlastně tomu nemám co vytknout, akorát to zapadne mezi milion jiných podobných knih.
July 14, 2019
I only continued reading this book to see when Amber would blow up on her mother for her selfish behavior in relationships. Who acts like that? Just move with her boyfriends without really talking or seeing how that is affecting your child??? (Ok, I get some people act like that, but we needed way more resolution for it. because it was the main reason Amber acted the way she did with others, and we don't even have conversations to actually adress how she got affected).
The romance was cute, I guess.
The romance was cute, I guess.
October 13, 2019
Well this was all kinds of cute! I absolutely loved the family dynamic of the story and Amber’s friends were great too. I could definitely understand Amber being closed off because of all her mother’s failed relationships, but I liked her character growth as the story progressed. I also loved that she was a dog person and her dog was so cute! The romance was super sweet. I absolutely adored him and they were so cute together.
June 20, 2019
Ive read " rules we're meant to break " it was nice i enjoyed it but i wanted more romance but the family part was good ,, i gave it 3.5 out of 5
June 11, 2019
3.5 stars
The very first thing that struck me in this story is how much I REALLY didn’t like Amber’s mom. If you’re looking for a first class narcissist who cares only about her own needs and has no regard for her daughter’s feelings, this woman is it. She also can’t maintain a relationship with any guy and should have a warning label plastered on her forehead. I just can’t imagine having a mother uproot her child time after time because she wants to shack up with one more guy. Apparently, letting Amber have a real home doesn’t mean anything to her mother and I find it hard to sympathize with or forgive such a person.
On the other hand, all of the above pre-disposed me to have a soft spot for Amber. This is a girl with a lot of emotional damage so it’s no surprise when she reaches her limit and puts up a wall to keep attachments at bay. Mind you, Amber isn’t always the nicest or most likeable person so I was kind of surprised that Cammie and her friend, Jordan, kept trying. After all, many teens would just shrug and move on. Amber just might have to re-think that wall.
On the whole, I thought the characters here lacked fullness, so to speak, but the story is sweet and leaves the reader with the feeling that good things happen when you open yourself to them.
The very first thing that struck me in this story is how much I REALLY didn’t like Amber’s mom. If you’re looking for a first class narcissist who cares only about her own needs and has no regard for her daughter’s feelings, this woman is it. She also can’t maintain a relationship with any guy and should have a warning label plastered on her forehead. I just can’t imagine having a mother uproot her child time after time because she wants to shack up with one more guy. Apparently, letting Amber have a real home doesn’t mean anything to her mother and I find it hard to sympathize with or forgive such a person.
On the other hand, all of the above pre-disposed me to have a soft spot for Amber. This is a girl with a lot of emotional damage so it’s no surprise when she reaches her limit and puts up a wall to keep attachments at bay. Mind you, Amber isn’t always the nicest or most likeable person so I was kind of surprised that Cammie and her friend, Jordan, kept trying. After all, many teens would just shrug and move on. Amber just might have to re-think that wall.
On the whole, I thought the characters here lacked fullness, so to speak, but the story is sweet and leaves the reader with the feeling that good things happen when you open yourself to them.
April 21, 2019
Rules We're Meant to Break had potential but lots of things annoyed me which dropped my satisfaction in the story. Amber was unhealthily obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and KU (which at first I thought stood for Kentucky University and then realized it was Kansas).
When Amber is 14 she sees a German Shepherd puppy left at a pet store's doorstep so she brings it home without her mother's knowledge or approval (which is very disrespectful and inconsiderate since she's a child) and dubs the dog Buffy. Buffy even wears a KU collar. Why KU? I honestly have no clue. Despite the fact that Amber says it's very far away from her love stricken mom and chaotic home life. Far away as in an hour and a half, I think, which isn't far at all. If she hated home so much and her mom's revolving door of boyfriends then you would think she would choose a university several states away.
Amber is self-absorbed and bratty whenever she and her mom discuss her college plans. Amber wants to go to KU and live off campus with her sidekick Buffy. Apartments aren't cheap and despite her mom saying multiple times that they aren't in a financially strong place to pitch in for the expensive tuition and an apartment, Amber pouts and whines how life isn't fair. She needs to be slapped. Multiple times. Her mom is contributing money for her college education, something that isn't guaranteed to any child born into this world. Instead of being grateful and understanding that her mom isn't a millionaire, she grows angry at the thought of living on campus. I agree that campus life sucks. I wanted an off campus apartment but like Amber, my parents nor I could afford the cost so I remained on campus for three hellish years counting down the days until graduation. But sometimes you have to suck it up and do things you don't want because you aren't wealthy.
Next we have Hannah, Amber's best friend, who is boy crazy, pushy, and conceited. Amber is also pushy and only thinks of herself so I guess that's what makes them friends. Hannah contributed absolutely nothing to the plot, just like their other friend Ryan who only fed Amber dessert at school and repeated everything Amber said whenever she complained to him.
Love at first sight occurs between Amber and Jordan, and he's also the hottest guy in school and the star basketball player that has universities fighting over him. Jordan also didn't contribute anything besides awkward tutoring sessions and basketball games.
Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.
When Amber is 14 she sees a German Shepherd puppy left at a pet store's doorstep so she brings it home without her mother's knowledge or approval (which is very disrespectful and inconsiderate since she's a child) and dubs the dog Buffy. Buffy even wears a KU collar. Why KU? I honestly have no clue. Despite the fact that Amber says it's very far away from her love stricken mom and chaotic home life. Far away as in an hour and a half, I think, which isn't far at all. If she hated home so much and her mom's revolving door of boyfriends then you would think she would choose a university several states away.
Amber is self-absorbed and bratty whenever she and her mom discuss her college plans. Amber wants to go to KU and live off campus with her sidekick Buffy. Apartments aren't cheap and despite her mom saying multiple times that they aren't in a financially strong place to pitch in for the expensive tuition and an apartment, Amber pouts and whines how life isn't fair. She needs to be slapped. Multiple times. Her mom is contributing money for her college education, something that isn't guaranteed to any child born into this world. Instead of being grateful and understanding that her mom isn't a millionaire, she grows angry at the thought of living on campus. I agree that campus life sucks. I wanted an off campus apartment but like Amber, my parents nor I could afford the cost so I remained on campus for three hellish years counting down the days until graduation. But sometimes you have to suck it up and do things you don't want because you aren't wealthy.
Next we have Hannah, Amber's best friend, who is boy crazy, pushy, and conceited. Amber is also pushy and only thinks of herself so I guess that's what makes them friends. Hannah contributed absolutely nothing to the plot, just like their other friend Ryan who only fed Amber dessert at school and repeated everything Amber said whenever she complained to him.
Love at first sight occurs between Amber and Jordan, and he's also the hottest guy in school and the star basketball player that has universities fighting over him. Jordan also didn't contribute anything besides awkward tutoring sessions and basketball games.
Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.
June 13, 2019
Rules We're Meant to Break is everything you want to find in a contemporary. It's cute, there's some romance, great friends, animals, a fandom and some sweet family moments.
Amber's childhood has been influenced by all of her mother's decisions when it came to her love life. There have been many boyfriends, her mother thinking she finally found the one and a lot of heartache. Everytime Amber starts to get settled with her life and the new people in it, her mother decides the guy she's with just isn't the one. After the latest break up, Amber decides she isn't getting hurt anymore.
Amber makes a list of rules to follow for when her mother ends up in a new relationship. I could completely understand where Amber was coming from and at the moment it was a good way for her to deal with what she was feeling at the time. Having her best friend be there with her making them helped and some of the rules were actually funny.
I loved Amber's character, because even though there was definitely some family drama, I loved that she was really determined to follow her dream. She loves her dog Buffy and the program she wants to follow in college sounded really interesting. It was nice to see a character in a book really work at what she wanted and even start researching budgets to make it happen. We need more characters like that in YA!
Things get complicated though when they move in with her mother's newest boyfriend and things aren't that awful. I loved seeing her struggle with keeping the rules going as things start going and seem to be going well. The most important moment to me though was her talking to her mother about everything (even if it happens by accident). At times I think this part of the book dragged on a bit too long and made Amber a bit dramatic at times, but all in all, still a good part of the story.
I loved Amber's best friend Hannah and their love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That's one of my favorite shows and I love seeing it mentioned in books. On top of great friendships, we also get some romance. I loved how the author did this one, because even though there was a connection from the start it didn't feel like insta-love. It took time to grow and I loved Jordan's character. I would've loved a few chapters from his POV.
Rules We're Meant to Break is a really fun and fast read. I loved the message in it though, because it's true family isn't always blood and things can work out. Also it shows that fighting for your dream can pay off. I wouldn't mind another book with these characters!
Amber's childhood has been influenced by all of her mother's decisions when it came to her love life. There have been many boyfriends, her mother thinking she finally found the one and a lot of heartache. Everytime Amber starts to get settled with her life and the new people in it, her mother decides the guy she's with just isn't the one. After the latest break up, Amber decides she isn't getting hurt anymore.
Amber makes a list of rules to follow for when her mother ends up in a new relationship. I could completely understand where Amber was coming from and at the moment it was a good way for her to deal with what she was feeling at the time. Having her best friend be there with her making them helped and some of the rules were actually funny.
I loved Amber's character, because even though there was definitely some family drama, I loved that she was really determined to follow her dream. She loves her dog Buffy and the program she wants to follow in college sounded really interesting. It was nice to see a character in a book really work at what she wanted and even start researching budgets to make it happen. We need more characters like that in YA!
Things get complicated though when they move in with her mother's newest boyfriend and things aren't that awful. I loved seeing her struggle with keeping the rules going as things start going and seem to be going well. The most important moment to me though was her talking to her mother about everything (even if it happens by accident). At times I think this part of the book dragged on a bit too long and made Amber a bit dramatic at times, but all in all, still a good part of the story.
I loved Amber's best friend Hannah and their love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That's one of my favorite shows and I love seeing it mentioned in books. On top of great friendships, we also get some romance. I loved how the author did this one, because even though there was a connection from the start it didn't feel like insta-love. It took time to grow and I loved Jordan's character. I would've loved a few chapters from his POV.
Rules We're Meant to Break is a really fun and fast read. I loved the message in it though, because it's true family isn't always blood and things can work out. Also it shows that fighting for your dream can pay off. I wouldn't mind another book with these characters!
August 21, 2025
this book is all fluff. there are no intricate problems nor profound solutions, nothing super deep or complicated. it was just enough and exactly what i needed. it’s all about nice people living their cute little lives and, yes, maybe having some problems, but then everything is fine and they work it out and it’s great. it was such a pick-me-up that made me love every development and feel all fuzzy and warm inside.
February 19, 2019
Amber’s learned from past experience not to get attached to her mom’s boyfriends or their relatives—they’re not going to be around forever. She even has a set of rules to remind her not to get attached. Her senior year is starting and they’re moving into her mom’s newest boyfriend’s house, Kevin. While walking her dog, Amber runs into Jordan, a cute basketball player. The only problem is that he’s besties with Cammie, Kevin’s daughter, which makes him “against the rules.”
What I loved ❤️❤️❤️:
1. Her dog named Buffy (after the Slayer). Amber works at a pet store and is a natural with animals.
2. Amber’s bestie, Hannah, is a great supporting character, because she is supporting and encourages Amber to try new things and to be better.
3. Jordan is a respectful and delightful male lead that I’d play a game of HORSE with any day.
4. I loved how the author portrayed the struggles and challenges of mixed families. No character was “the bad guy”; they were all doing their best in a difficult and new situation.
5. Amber was a resilient character who was easy to cheer for. I wanted her to be accepted to her dream college and have the money to get there. Her flaws, if anything, made her more relatable and like-able.
6. The romance! Sweet banter and marvelous make-outs.
This book is a charming YA romance that will have breaking all of your rules!
What I loved ❤️❤️❤️:
1. Her dog named Buffy (after the Slayer). Amber works at a pet store and is a natural with animals.
2. Amber’s bestie, Hannah, is a great supporting character, because she is supporting and encourages Amber to try new things and to be better.
3. Jordan is a respectful and delightful male lead that I’d play a game of HORSE with any day.
4. I loved how the author portrayed the struggles and challenges of mixed families. No character was “the bad guy”; they were all doing their best in a difficult and new situation.
5. Amber was a resilient character who was easy to cheer for. I wanted her to be accepted to her dream college and have the money to get there. Her flaws, if anything, made her more relatable and like-able.
6. The romance! Sweet banter and marvelous make-outs.
This book is a charming YA romance that will have breaking all of your rules!
April 24, 2023
Rules We're Meant to Break was a nice change from all the fantasies I've been reading lately. The story was easy to digest and the romance had butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
What I Liked:
- good pacing
- the ups and downs of coming of age
- the feeling of insecurity that comes with changes
- imperfect but present parents
- realistic family issues
- not too dramatic
- I understood that Amber needed the list to protect herself (from getting hurt repeatedly)
- communication is key
- Amber doing all the hard work to achieve her goals
- the sweetest and most supportive friendship between Amber and Hannah
- Jordan was all kinds of swoons
- super cute interactions between Amber and Jordan
- an uncertain but hopeful future
The Not So Much:
- the story was a bit simple
- the synopsis is somewhat misleading regarding Cammie and Amber
"Learn to tell the difference between when to depend on yourself, and when it's okay to ask for help." (p. 289)
What I Liked:
- good pacing
- the ups and downs of coming of age
- the feeling of insecurity that comes with changes
- imperfect but present parents
- realistic family issues
- not too dramatic
- I understood that Amber needed the list to protect herself (from getting hurt repeatedly)
- communication is key
- Amber doing all the hard work to achieve her goals
- the sweetest and most supportive friendship between Amber and Hannah
- Jordan was all kinds of swoons
- super cute interactions between Amber and Jordan
- an uncertain but hopeful future
The Not So Much:
- the story was a bit simple
- the synopsis is somewhat misleading regarding Cammie and Amber
"Learn to tell the difference between when to depend on yourself, and when it's okay to ask for help." (p. 289)
August 19, 2019
This was a pretty good book about a girl who’d had an unstable upbringing with her mum, although her mum actually sounded nice, just a bit flakey with guys. She understandably puts emotional barriers up, but struggles to keep them up when she and her mum move in with a new guy and his daughter.
June 6, 2019
All the stars. Detailed review to come.
December 19, 2019
3.25 stars
cute
cute
August 26, 2023
Byla dobrá. Dobře motivující
August 27, 2019
An adorable story with love, dogs, and basketball.
May 20, 2019
3.5 stars
Well done for a debut novel. In fact I really liked that there are no "mean girls" or other rude and nasty characters. It was a refreshing change.
Amber's dad left when she was 5. Since them her mom has dated quite a few guys and Amber has gotten attached to them to various degrees, especially the ones that thy have lived with. When one particular attachment left her heat-broken, Amber made a list of rules to follow in order to protect herself and her heart from getting hurt like that again. It's worked pretty well - but mom's newest boyfriend has a daughter close to the same age that goes to the same school, plus there is a really cute boy that also seems likely to break down the barriers one way or another. Also, a really great, well-trained dog. *Maybe my rating isn't 4 stars because it's too good to be true? But for those looking for a romance, this is it.
A sweet romance with no swearing, no sex (some kissing and one scene where shirts get removed), no teen drinking, no violence. Totally appropriate for middle school even though characters are in high school and looking at colleges.
Well done for a debut novel. In fact I really liked that there are no "mean girls" or other rude and nasty characters. It was a refreshing change.
Amber's dad left when she was 5. Since them her mom has dated quite a few guys and Amber has gotten attached to them to various degrees, especially the ones that thy have lived with. When one particular attachment left her heat-broken, Amber made a list of rules to follow in order to protect herself and her heart from getting hurt like that again. It's worked pretty well - but mom's newest boyfriend has a daughter close to the same age that goes to the same school, plus there is a really cute boy that also seems likely to break down the barriers one way or another. Also, a really great, well-trained dog. *Maybe my rating isn't 4 stars because it's too good to be true? But for those looking for a romance, this is it.
A sweet romance with no swearing, no sex (some kissing and one scene where shirts get removed), no teen drinking, no violence. Totally appropriate for middle school even though characters are in high school and looking at colleges.
February 9, 2023
It's only a 4 because I'm not wild about the cussing, but the rest was really good! This book was recommended to me by a friend, even though she hadn't even finished it! When she told me that I had to read it even though she hadn't even finished it, I automatically jumped to the conclusion that she hadn't read the ending so she didn't really know if the book was good. I started to read it even though I assumed it was going to be terrible. I got to the second cuss word and was going to stop reading it, but it was already too interesting. I pretty much had an outline of how the book was going to play out towards the middle, but I definitely didn't get the whole picture! There were so many things that I had not expected to happen. I read like, 4 chapters in one night just so I could finish the book and figure out what happened in the end. Overall, I really liked this book! The characters were pretty good, although I would've liked some more stories about things that had happened with Amber's mom's boyfriends. It was interesting to hear about what her boyfriends were like and to find out what type of guys she dated. It also would've been good to find out more about Cammie. I would've liked to hear her point of view, or to have her open up about why her parents divorced and hear more about that. Most of the story was about Amber's life, obviously, but I would've liked to hear from other characters' points of view. For example, Amber and her best friend get into many fights in this book. I would love to see her point of view, and the things she thinks about Amber. Overall, it could've been better, but it definitely wasn't bad!
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