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Summer Nights #2
The Rules
Author's note: The Summer Nights Series books are full-length, character-driven, adult contemporary romance novels. They can each be read as stand-alones, or read in order to experience the story chronologically. More rom than com, they're perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Kate Clayborn, or Helena Hunting's single-titles!
Dani Petrillo’s friends are settling down faster than she can escape her latest one-night stand. After her best friend’s wedding, she decides it’s time to leave the single life behind and find true love. She joins a dating site that makes a bold promise—Eight Dates to Your Soulmate—if you can follow their dating bootcamp rules. The first one? No sleeping with any of your matches until the eight dates are over. Sure, she wants to find a good guy, but she also knows that no sex for months isn’t going to work for her. Luckily, she’s always been good at bending the rules.
Dylan Pierce doesn’t do commitment, and if his genes are any indication, he wasn’t made for it anyway. He’s also been trying to get his hot friend Dani into bed for years, so he’s ecstatic when she suggests a friends with benefits arrangement while she’s participating in some dating bootcamp nonsense. She gets her, um, needs taken care of while she looks for love, and he gets to sleep with Dani, no strings attached. Win/win.
But when lines start to blur, their arrangement feels more and more like dating and Dylan feels less and less like sending her off to some other guy when they’re done. It might mean breaking some of his own dating rules, but he wants Dani for himself. Convincing her he’s worth it is a lot harder than being her stand-in, though. Add in keeping the entire thing a secret from their tight group of friends, and the rules of the game just got a lot more complicated.
Dani Petrillo’s friends are settling down faster than she can escape her latest one-night stand. After her best friend’s wedding, she decides it’s time to leave the single life behind and find true love. She joins a dating site that makes a bold promise—Eight Dates to Your Soulmate—if you can follow their dating bootcamp rules. The first one? No sleeping with any of your matches until the eight dates are over. Sure, she wants to find a good guy, but she also knows that no sex for months isn’t going to work for her. Luckily, she’s always been good at bending the rules.
Dylan Pierce doesn’t do commitment, and if his genes are any indication, he wasn’t made for it anyway. He’s also been trying to get his hot friend Dani into bed for years, so he’s ecstatic when she suggests a friends with benefits arrangement while she’s participating in some dating bootcamp nonsense. She gets her, um, needs taken care of while she looks for love, and he gets to sleep with Dani, no strings attached. Win/win.
But when lines start to blur, their arrangement feels more and more like dating and Dylan feels less and less like sending her off to some other guy when they’re done. It might mean breaking some of his own dating rules, but he wants Dani for himself. Convincing her he’s worth it is a lot harder than being her stand-in, though. Add in keeping the entire thing a secret from their tight group of friends, and the rules of the game just got a lot more complicated.
446 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2020
About the author
Lauren H. Mae
5 books288 followersLauren H. Mae is a romance author who loves a hard-earned happy-ever-after. She lives with her husband and two sons in beautiful Portland, Maine. When she's not writing, you can find her obsessing over fictional couples and letting the Red Sox break her heart.
Look for more here -
IG: @laurenhmaeauthor
FB: www.facebook.com/laurenhmaeauthor
Web: www.laurenhmae.com
Look for more here -
IG: @laurenhmaeauthor
FB: www.facebook.com/laurenhmaeauthor
Web: www.laurenhmae.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
August 2, 2020
4 out of 5 stars!!!
"If you start pinning your happiness on other people, you're going to be severely disappointed."
This book was such a fun and easy read that will NOT allow you to NOT swoon from its characters with such an easy chemistry that can sweep you off with heart flutters and stomach flips!
This book made me root for Dani and Dylan, all the while making me fall even more in love with our first book characters, Cat & Josh from The Catch! I loved them then, and after reading this, I LOVE THEM EVEN MORE NOW. I also commend Lauren Mae on how she had interwoven her previous book characters' nature into playing an important part in the resolution of book 2's conflict. 4 wow stars and a dancing Elmo!
Dylan Pierce is a laid back architect guy with daddy issues. He loathes to become someone like his dad who abandoned him and his mom and older sister to fend for themselves. And so, he had grown into the person who does not believe in entirely surrendering your source of happiness on someone else's hands. So far, this belief worked for him until he met our sassy vixen of a woman, Danica Petrillo.
Dani have had enough of her notorious shallow relationships that were only useful inside the bedrooom. She wants what Cat & Josh have (except the gooey cheesy parts). With this, she decided to find her version of Josh through the app called "Eight Dates to your Soulmate" (Yeah, I know right. Hearing the app's name means hearing enough. But, whatever, it was something rather than entirely nothing.) One rule of the app is to not sleep with any of the dates, and so she decided to appoint Dylan to be her friend-with-benefits just within the time-frame of her finding her 'soulmate'.
Yeppp, with that premise, of course ugly things are bound to happen at the other end of this arrangement. Feelings will stir. Beliefs will crash. Not to mention that they have the same inner circle of friends! Shit is highly likely to happen.
Tropes in this story include:
- Friends with benefits
- Friends to lovers
- Secret relationship
"If you start pinning your happiness on other people, you're going to be severely disappointed."
This book was such a fun and easy read that will NOT allow you to NOT swoon from its characters with such an easy chemistry that can sweep you off with heart flutters and stomach flips!
This book made me root for Dani and Dylan, all the while making me fall even more in love with our first book characters, Cat & Josh from The Catch! I loved them then, and after reading this, I LOVE THEM EVEN MORE NOW. I also commend Lauren Mae on how she had interwoven her previous book characters' nature into playing an important part in the resolution of book 2's conflict. 4 wow stars and a dancing Elmo!
Dylan Pierce is a laid back architect guy with daddy issues. He loathes to become someone like his dad who abandoned him and his mom and older sister to fend for themselves. And so, he had grown into the person who does not believe in entirely surrendering your source of happiness on someone else's hands. So far, this belief worked for him until he met our sassy vixen of a woman, Danica Petrillo.
Dani have had enough of her notorious shallow relationships that were only useful inside the bedrooom. She wants what Cat & Josh have (except the gooey cheesy parts). With this, she decided to find her version of Josh through the app called "Eight Dates to your Soulmate" (Yeah, I know right. Hearing the app's name means hearing enough. But, whatever, it was something rather than entirely nothing.) One rule of the app is to not sleep with any of the dates, and so she decided to appoint Dylan to be her friend-with-benefits just within the time-frame of her finding her 'soulmate'.
Yeppp, with that premise, of course ugly things are bound to happen at the other end of this arrangement. Feelings will stir. Beliefs will crash. Not to mention that they have the same inner circle of friends! Shit is highly likely to happen.
Tropes in this story include:
- Friends with benefits
- Friends to lovers
- Secret relationship
March 6, 2022
4,5⭐
this was such a pleasant surprise
especially as book one was underwhelming I guess I just didn't like that heroine, she is annoying in this book too...
cute, steamy, and entertaining...
this was such a pleasant surprise
especially as book one was underwhelming I guess I just didn't like that heroine, she is annoying in this book too...
cute, steamy, and entertaining...
July 31, 2020
Rules are made to be broken.
Yeah I'm corny af, but this fun, flirty friends to lovers via friends with benefits + a side dish of fake dating (sadly only one "date") was a heartwarming & quick read to continue my quest out of slumpsville.
Dani & Dylan are the final singletons in their expanded friend group after their respective BFFs get married. Neither with any previous interest in settling down, however with mutual attraction & flirty teasing having always been their MO decide to embark on a friends with benefits arrangement to scratch the itch while Dani signs up for a dating site with strict rules. Each brings their own slight hang ups from their upbringing towards relationships which made for an interesting dynamic and the inspiration for overcoming these issues was quite sweet in how it was ultimately handled.
Catching up with these friends kept me smirking and being able to see how their friendships have blossomed, grown and expanded in the time since C&J met in book1 was a fun time. Some friendships are tested & strengthened in interesting ways as relationships change and it was sweet to see how the dynamics shifted as the goalposts moved and how bumps & hiccups along the road were handled.
This was a fluffy fun feelgood read, in a similar vein to Talia Hibberts recent release, but toned down for those who might prefer a little less steam in their romcom reads.
3.5*
I do not know if there will be more books in this series, but I deffo wouldn't be mad if there was and I'm still such a sucker for these super cute covers 🤩
Yeah I'm corny af, but this fun, flirty friends to lovers via friends with benefits + a side dish of fake dating (sadly only one "date") was a heartwarming & quick read to continue my quest out of slumpsville.
Dani & Dylan are the final singletons in their expanded friend group after their respective BFFs get married. Neither with any previous interest in settling down, however with mutual attraction & flirty teasing having always been their MO decide to embark on a friends with benefits arrangement to scratch the itch while Dani signs up for a dating site with strict rules. Each brings their own slight hang ups from their upbringing towards relationships which made for an interesting dynamic and the inspiration for overcoming these issues was quite sweet in how it was ultimately handled.
Catching up with these friends kept me smirking and being able to see how their friendships have blossomed, grown and expanded in the time since C&J met in book1 was a fun time. Some friendships are tested & strengthened in interesting ways as relationships change and it was sweet to see how the dynamics shifted as the goalposts moved and how bumps & hiccups along the road were handled.
This was a fluffy fun feelgood read, in a similar vein to Talia Hibberts recent release, but toned down for those who might prefer a little less steam in their romcom reads.
3.5*
I do not know if there will be more books in this series, but I deffo wouldn't be mad if there was and I'm still such a sucker for these super cute covers 🤩
July 27, 2020
4.5 | Excuse me but this was SO good? and the two main characters were the cutest? and their relationship was so funny? and the angst they served when they broke up? the only thing that would make this a thousand times better would be a cute epilogue...
When I read The Catch earlier this year I completely loved it and knew that I would end up reading basically everything this author decided to write, but when I found out that this book was friends with benefits to lovers... yep, my expectations skyrocketed, and even when I didn't know what to expect, this story fulfilled them all.
Have you ever read a book where one of the characters is this jokester who hides his feelings behind a smile and pretends that everything is always fine? well now imagine a story where both main characters are like this and they have to face their feelings for each other: this book. I loved these two characters since the first book because they're both funny, sassy and loud, but seeing them in this book in more depth and knowing their emotional baggage was everything. From the first to the last moment I was rooting for their relationship because they really were THAT couple.
And I also loved the friendship between the girls. In the first book, we meet a group of supportive and fun friends who were always there for the main character, but here we saw another facet of their friendship and I loved it because friendships aren't perfect, they go through ups and downs too, have different layers, there are always some people in a certain group that are closer, etc., but the important thing is to solve all those problems that may arise along the way. I loved how realistic that fact was portrayed here.
And then the extra epilogue for The Catch? my heart was about to explode, THE CUTENESS THERE... I can't. Even when I don't catch any clues about the next book I hope we have an extra epilogue for Dani and Dylan too.
When I read The Catch earlier this year I completely loved it and knew that I would end up reading basically everything this author decided to write, but when I found out that this book was friends with benefits to lovers... yep, my expectations skyrocketed, and even when I didn't know what to expect, this story fulfilled them all.
Have you ever read a book where one of the characters is this jokester who hides his feelings behind a smile and pretends that everything is always fine? well now imagine a story where both main characters are like this and they have to face their feelings for each other: this book. I loved these two characters since the first book because they're both funny, sassy and loud, but seeing them in this book in more depth and knowing their emotional baggage was everything. From the first to the last moment I was rooting for their relationship because they really were THAT couple.
And I also loved the friendship between the girls. In the first book, we meet a group of supportive and fun friends who were always there for the main character, but here we saw another facet of their friendship and I loved it because friendships aren't perfect, they go through ups and downs too, have different layers, there are always some people in a certain group that are closer, etc., but the important thing is to solve all those problems that may arise along the way. I loved how realistic that fact was portrayed here.
And then the extra epilogue for The Catch? my heart was about to explode, THE CUTENESS THERE... I can't. Even when I don't catch any clues about the next book I hope we have an extra epilogue for Dani and Dylan too.
April 3, 2022
Reading how Dylan and Dani go from friends to benefits turned lovers was so much fun but also very endearing that I had to hold back tears when they finally realized they wanted to go exclusive — that they're it for each other.
Yes, this has been written so many times but the romance in this book was painstakingly well-executed, with so many heartaching scenes that it brought a whole different flavor to the trope. Not even the dumb conflict that ultimately soured my mood at the last 25% made me love the book any less.
Also, despite the relatively significant chunk of Cat and Josh crumbs, I actually didn't mind because they were still so cute together.
Summer Nights series
#1 The Catch 3.75/5
#2 The Rules 4/5
Yes, this has been written so many times but the romance in this book was painstakingly well-executed, with so many heartaching scenes that it brought a whole different flavor to the trope. Not even the dumb conflict that ultimately soured my mood at the last 25% made me love the book any less.
“I'm saying, Dani-pie, it doesn't have to be some lightning striking, angels singing moment. Sometimes two people just enjoy each other's company. Then they start to see how the other person would make their life better, and it grows from there.”
Surprise washed across her face. “Like us?”
“Yeah. Like us.”
Also, despite the relatively significant chunk of Cat and Josh crumbs, I actually didn't mind because they were still so cute together.
Summer Nights series
#1 The Catch 3.75/5
#2 The Rules 4/5
August 8, 2022
I really enjoyed Dani and Dylan's unconventional romance of convenience/friends to lovers situation that starts with a one night stand and is supposed to be a no-strings attached situation while Dani searches for 'the one' and commitment-phobe Dylan helps her out. A fun, unique premise that sees the return of the friend group we fell in love with in The catch (book one of the series). I really enjoy reading about a playboy who finds love when he's least expecting it and in this case both Dylan and Dani were anti-love until they grew feelings for each other. Great on audio narrated by Amanda Friday - I was so excited this Indie published series finally got audiobooks!
July 31, 2020
how at first they kept denying what could become of their relationship HA
July 26, 2020
“Somewhere between wanting to get in your pants and wanting to be your friend, I fell in love with you, Dani-pie.”
I loved Dani and Dylan and the way their relationship evolved so much throughout the story, they had great chemistry and their banter was so funny. I also really liked the way you could see their feelings for each other grow as their relationship evolved. Dylan and Dani’s story was angsty and I didn’t want to stop reading their book to find out how everything was going to turn out. The scenes with Josh and Cat were adorable and I liked how their group of friends is so tight, it’s even more evident in this book!
July 16, 2021
Adorbzzzz.... I loved this so much.
This was the super cute and fun read that I didn't know I needed in my life. While this is part of a series, I read it as a standalone but definitely plan on reading the other books now.
Dylan, Josh, Cat, Emma, Dani and Sonja have all been friends for years.
Josh and Cat get married and while everyone else has significant others... Dani finds herself slowly feeling like she is missing something.
Such a fun read! I love Dylan and Dani and their dynamic is one of my favs!
This was the super cute and fun read that I didn't know I needed in my life. While this is part of a series, I read it as a standalone but definitely plan on reading the other books now.
Dylan, Josh, Cat, Emma, Dani and Sonja have all been friends for years.
Josh and Cat get married and while everyone else has significant others... Dani finds herself slowly feeling like she is missing something.
Such a fun read! I love Dylan and Dani and their dynamic is one of my favs!
August 29, 2020
DYLAN AND DANI SERVED !!!! RTC
May 10, 2022
The romance was cute but honestly my favorite thing was still josh and cat being a power couple
June 21, 2020
I thought I loved Cat and Josh, but I REALLY loved Dani and Dylan!
I personally have never been a “swoony” type of girl and always have a foul mouth. I felt like I related to Dani so much, I just loved her.
Dani and Dylan were constantly playful and had such great, hilarious banter. They each always had a quick spit fire comeback to each other’s comments and I just loved it.
I loved that we also got more Cat and Josh in this sweet story too.
Dylan was the guy who refused to never settle down, and so was Dani, but when you find the right person, maybe settling down isn’t so bad after all. Dani and Dylan had some really sweet moments, mixed in with their playful ones and it was just such a great story.
@laurenhmaeauthor never lets a girl down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you haven’t read The Catch yet, chop to it, so you can read The Rules immediately after this July!
Thank you for the ARC for my honest review! #bookstagram #books #romance #bookishgirlgang #TheRules #SummerNights
I personally have never been a “swoony” type of girl and always have a foul mouth. I felt like I related to Dani so much, I just loved her.
Dani and Dylan were constantly playful and had such great, hilarious banter. They each always had a quick spit fire comeback to each other’s comments and I just loved it.
I loved that we also got more Cat and Josh in this sweet story too.
Dylan was the guy who refused to never settle down, and so was Dani, but when you find the right person, maybe settling down isn’t so bad after all. Dani and Dylan had some really sweet moments, mixed in with their playful ones and it was just such a great story.
@laurenhmaeauthor never lets a girl down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you haven’t read The Catch yet, chop to it, so you can read The Rules immediately after this July!
Thank you for the ARC for my honest review! #bookstagram #books #romance #bookishgirlgang #TheRules #SummerNights
May 28, 2021
Before we go any further: yes, you should read The Catch first. I mean, you don't HAVE to, but this series focuses on a group of friends as a whole, and you will get a lot more out of The Rules if you do!!
I absolutely loved this book. LOVED. The banter between Dani and Dylan is top notch and I adored the trajectory of their relationship, it really felt believable. The steamy scenes were well written and sprinkled throughout the story perfectly. I also really appreciated the growth both characters went through - Dani, who realizes that maybe she does want her happily ever after, and Dylan, who so badly wants to prove he isn't just like his father. It felt rewarding to see them achieve happiness at the end of the story.
Like with The Catch, I feel like this story could have been shortened a tad, but I absolutely devoured it over a couple sittings, so really... what do I know? Other than I absolutely CANNOT wait to read Sonya's story in The Exception at the end of June. <3
I absolutely loved this book. LOVED. The banter between Dani and Dylan is top notch and I adored the trajectory of their relationship, it really felt believable. The steamy scenes were well written and sprinkled throughout the story perfectly. I also really appreciated the growth both characters went through - Dani, who realizes that maybe she does want her happily ever after, and Dylan, who so badly wants to prove he isn't just like his father. It felt rewarding to see them achieve happiness at the end of the story.
Like with The Catch, I feel like this story could have been shortened a tad, but I absolutely devoured it over a couple sittings, so really... what do I know? Other than I absolutely CANNOT wait to read Sonya's story in The Exception at the end of June. <3
September 12, 2020
i'm so in love with this book and with the catch... probably on the top of my favorite romances!!!
July 20, 2020
Thank you to Lauren H. Mae for a copy of The Rules in exchange for an honest review.
I read The Catch back in June and fell absolutely in love with Josh and Cat. Knowing how much I adored the secondary characters, Dani and Dylan, I could not wait to get my hands on book two. And dare I say, I think I loved this one even more.
Let’s just say, Dylan and Dani were pure fire together. Watching her friends settle into relationships, Dani begins to feel a sense of longing for the same. Tired of dating dud after dud, she commits to an online dating app promising to connect its users with their perfect match within eight dates.
The only catch? You’re not allowed to sleep with any of the matches until you’ve completed all the dates. Not willing to completely forgo her sex life, Dani organizes a friends with benefits deal with Dylan, the one man she can count on for zero expectations.
The connection between these two had my entire body tingling, literally. The tone between Dani and Dylan has always remained on the playful side, so when they finally came together, an inferno of desperation for each other was released. It was perfection.
As two people normally turned off by commitment, I loved seeing their vulnerable side exposed. And Dylan was utterly swoon worthy. He’s extremely sexy, a truly loyal friend, and completely genuine in his concerns for others. He is one of my favourite romantic heroes, without a doubt.
I read The Catch back in June and fell absolutely in love with Josh and Cat. Knowing how much I adored the secondary characters, Dani and Dylan, I could not wait to get my hands on book two. And dare I say, I think I loved this one even more.
Let’s just say, Dylan and Dani were pure fire together. Watching her friends settle into relationships, Dani begins to feel a sense of longing for the same. Tired of dating dud after dud, she commits to an online dating app promising to connect its users with their perfect match within eight dates.
The only catch? You’re not allowed to sleep with any of the matches until you’ve completed all the dates. Not willing to completely forgo her sex life, Dani organizes a friends with benefits deal with Dylan, the one man she can count on for zero expectations.
The connection between these two had my entire body tingling, literally. The tone between Dani and Dylan has always remained on the playful side, so when they finally came together, an inferno of desperation for each other was released. It was perfection.
As two people normally turned off by commitment, I loved seeing their vulnerable side exposed. And Dylan was utterly swoon worthy. He’s extremely sexy, a truly loyal friend, and completely genuine in his concerns for others. He is one of my favourite romantic heroes, without a doubt.
July 27, 2020
Dani & Dylan have known each other for a couple of years now. After fulfilling their Best Man & Maid of Honor duties at their best friends’ wedding, the attraction that’s been brimming between them finally bubbles over the surface and they end up falling into bed together. Dani is a serial dater and Dylan a notorious player. So when Dani begrudgingly agrees to try an online dating experiment, she decides to keep Dylan on the hook as her booty call since she’s not allowed to have sex with any of the online dates until the experiment is over. Soon, they both catch feelings and start picturing things neither of them ever imagined they wanted.
This is the second installment in the Summer Nights stand-alone series by Lauren and she’s quickly becoming such a fun and fresh voice in the indie author community. Just like The Catch, The Rules hooked me from the beginning and I was quickly swept up in the easy chemistry between Dani & Dylan. They fit so perfectly together and it seemed so natural to root for them. This book perfectly balanced the conflict with the laid back and indulgent moments of a new couple who just enjoy each other’s company. Dani is so relatable and the kind of friend every gal wants. And if you read this book without swooning over Dylan more than once, then you’re surely made of steel.
Can’t recommend this Lauren’s books enough and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Thanks so much to the author for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. The Rules is available now on Amazon and KU!
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Steam: 🔥🔥💦
This is the second installment in the Summer Nights stand-alone series by Lauren and she’s quickly becoming such a fun and fresh voice in the indie author community. Just like The Catch, The Rules hooked me from the beginning and I was quickly swept up in the easy chemistry between Dani & Dylan. They fit so perfectly together and it seemed so natural to root for them. This book perfectly balanced the conflict with the laid back and indulgent moments of a new couple who just enjoy each other’s company. Dani is so relatable and the kind of friend every gal wants. And if you read this book without swooning over Dylan more than once, then you’re surely made of steel.
Can’t recommend this Lauren’s books enough and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Thanks so much to the author for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. The Rules is available now on Amazon and KU!
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Steam: 🔥🔥💦
July 28, 2020
When I first read the catch Dylan and Dani Drew my attention to them by just being josh and cat bff and I wanted them to be together from the very first moment that I kept looking forward for their little encounters in the catch.
So I was extremely pleased when I know they will have their own book and surprise it’s friends with benefits! One of my favorite tropes if it was written well.
and here it actually was, the way they started the whole arrangement, the small tender touches that were against the rules but they did it anyway, the way they enjoyed each other company and fell in love while pretending this was about the arrangement, then the way dylan confessed he wanted dani to stop the dating thing while being absolutely terrified she’d say no, I enjoyed it all.
the only thing I missed was having and epilogue to the story, somehow something felt like it was missing while reading the catch epilogue, I kept looking for dylandani in it because I just wanted more you know? I wanted to see them doing the whole thing like dylan said at the end. Other than that it was an enjoyable book and I loved it.
Dylan and dani are definitely one of my favorite fictional couples now. Can’t wait to see what the author write next.
So I was extremely pleased when I know they will have their own book and surprise it’s friends with benefits! One of my favorite tropes if it was written well.
and here it actually was, the way they started the whole arrangement, the small tender touches that were against the rules but they did it anyway, the way they enjoyed each other company and fell in love while pretending this was about the arrangement, then the way dylan confessed he wanted dani to stop the dating thing while being absolutely terrified she’d say no, I enjoyed it all.
the only thing I missed was having and epilogue to the story, somehow something felt like it was missing while reading the catch epilogue, I kept looking for dylandani in it because I just wanted more you know? I wanted to see them doing the whole thing like dylan said at the end. Other than that it was an enjoyable book and I loved it.
Dylan and dani are definitely one of my favorite fictional couples now. Can’t wait to see what the author write next.
November 12, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up.
You know, in the end, books kind of fall into two categories - the ones that you come back to and the ones that you read and move on to the next one.
"The Rules", same as its predecessor "The Catch", is definitely one for a re-read. It's sexy, it's fun, it's just g o o d.
Series revolving around a group of friends are my kryptonite, and this one is no exception. Romance and plot aside, it all comes down to the fact that these characters are just...so damn likeable. You just want to immerse yourself into this group and atmosphere, right into the middle of this bunch of 20 and 30-somethings, going out, having fun, loving, laughing, living and figuring stuff out.
Coming back to romance, and one of my favourite tropes aka friends with benefits, oh, it was delivered and it was delivered well, just in the way I like it. You have two very independent, quite commitment-phobic people, Dani and Dylan, falling into this deal and then slowly falling in love, as they break their rules one by one.
And both of them were well-written as individual characters too. The focus was surely on the romance, but their background and other relationships were also touched upon. In the end, Dylan and Dani just made sense. Not only on paper, but like actual sense. It made the read all that much enjoyable.
From the flirty gorgeous cover to the flirty cute content, I very much recommend this one! Also, I would LOVE to read more books in this universe because, to be honest, I just want to spend more time in this group of friends. They're pretty awesome people xD
You know, in the end, books kind of fall into two categories - the ones that you come back to and the ones that you read and move on to the next one.
"The Rules", same as its predecessor "The Catch", is definitely one for a re-read. It's sexy, it's fun, it's just g o o d.
Series revolving around a group of friends are my kryptonite, and this one is no exception. Romance and plot aside, it all comes down to the fact that these characters are just...so damn likeable. You just want to immerse yourself into this group and atmosphere, right into the middle of this bunch of 20 and 30-somethings, going out, having fun, loving, laughing, living and figuring stuff out.
Coming back to romance, and one of my favourite tropes aka friends with benefits, oh, it was delivered and it was delivered well, just in the way I like it. You have two very independent, quite commitment-phobic people, Dani and Dylan, falling into this deal and then slowly falling in love, as they break their rules one by one.
And both of them were well-written as individual characters too. The focus was surely on the romance, but their background and other relationships were also touched upon. In the end, Dylan and Dani just made sense. Not only on paper, but like actual sense. It made the read all that much enjoyable.
From the flirty gorgeous cover to the flirty cute content, I very much recommend this one! Also, I would LOVE to read more books in this universe because, to be honest, I just want to spend more time in this group of friends. They're pretty awesome people xD
January 11, 2021
I’m gonna start this review by saying that Romance is not my typical genre. Living in the world we do naturally makes one cynical at the idea of a happy ending.
That being said: I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Being aware that romance novels must have a happy ending makes you pay extra attention to the story to discern if it feels earned at the end. Lauren’s witty writing and character development skills made sure that by the end not only was it earned, it left me wanting more.
Every smile it gave me, every laugh and shaking of my head was earned by her flawless prose. The characters felt real, like I could meet them in my daily travels. The premise of watching your friends move forward with their life while yours is stuck in neutral is perfect for today’s world of constantly wondering what’s next. As a male I couldn’t help but feel for Dylan. Men by nature are prone to rash decision making and usually realize things too late. Lauren nailed that part of the male psyche, crafting a character that I came to love and wanted to see win.
Anyway, you should read this book, not because you like romance, but because it’s awesome.
That being said: I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Being aware that romance novels must have a happy ending makes you pay extra attention to the story to discern if it feels earned at the end. Lauren’s witty writing and character development skills made sure that by the end not only was it earned, it left me wanting more.
Every smile it gave me, every laugh and shaking of my head was earned by her flawless prose. The characters felt real, like I could meet them in my daily travels. The premise of watching your friends move forward with their life while yours is stuck in neutral is perfect for today’s world of constantly wondering what’s next. As a male I couldn’t help but feel for Dylan. Men by nature are prone to rash decision making and usually realize things too late. Lauren nailed that part of the male psyche, crafting a character that I came to love and wanted to see win.
Anyway, you should read this book, not because you like romance, but because it’s awesome.
July 25, 2021
Dani is ready to settle down, so she joins a dating website that touts finding her soulmate in 8 dates. The only catch? She can’t get intimate with any of them. Dani gets the wild idea that she can have a friends with benefits relationship with her friend, Dylan, on the side while she finds her HEA.
Dylan isn’t one for commitment and never plans to be, especially after witnessing his dad be the opposite of father & husband of the year. He’s always had a thing for Dani, so when she proposes her plan, Dylan is all-in. But when they both start catching real feelings, their plan becomes a little too complicated for them both.
The Rules by Lauren H Mae is book 2 in the Summer Nights series. I’ve loved this series so far! Dani & Dylan had such great banter & chemistry so I loved seeing them end up together. Both of them had fun personality quirks and they have some sass/attitude too. Also, if you enjoy series that center around a friend group, this one is for you. Definitely recommend! 4.5/5 stars.
Dylan isn’t one for commitment and never plans to be, especially after witnessing his dad be the opposite of father & husband of the year. He’s always had a thing for Dani, so when she proposes her plan, Dylan is all-in. But when they both start catching real feelings, their plan becomes a little too complicated for them both.
The Rules by Lauren H Mae is book 2 in the Summer Nights series. I’ve loved this series so far! Dani & Dylan had such great banter & chemistry so I loved seeing them end up together. Both of them had fun personality quirks and they have some sass/attitude too. Also, if you enjoy series that center around a friend group, this one is for you. Definitely recommend! 4.5/5 stars.
April 7, 2021
A Heartwarming, Hilarious, Steamy Romance with All the Feels
This book was absolutely stunning. My first thought when I finished was “That story was just PERFECT.” It’s that good.
Dani and Dylan’s story had EVERYTHING. A hot hookup, inevitable regrets and misunderstandings, hidden relationship/friends with benefits vibes, snarky, hilarious main characters, a fun-loving friend group (that we get to meet in the first standalone in this series, The Catch, which was also amazing!) and a heartwarming love story that made me swoon.
For Dani, the aftereffects of her best friend, Cat, getting married was realizing she wanted that life, too, despite her distaste for even the thought of settling down before that. So she decides she needs to start seriously looking for her forever guy, her “soulmate,” and a friend from work suggests a new dating site. It sounds promising, but there’s only one catch: She can’t sleep with any of the matches until they’ve gone on eight dates. At a brilliant suggestion from one of her friends, Dani figures out how to get past that little technicality and find a “freebie” to tide her over until her soulmate could be found.
Dylan was never one to settle down, either, but when his best friend, Josh, marries Dani’s best friend, Cat, he suddenly finds himself one of only two singles left in their friend group. He still doesn’t want to settle down, but Dani has always caught his eye. Not that she’d reciprocate or anything.
But when she comes to him with a proposal he would be a fool to refuse, he has to guard his heart and keep things strictly in the friend zone. Because he’s worried he doesn’t have what it takes to stay committed and be everything she needs him to be.
The steamy scenes are fire, and the grand gesture… *heart eyes*
Like I said, this story just has everything. It’s SO well done, and the plot is just perfectly executed. YOU NEED THIS BOOK if you want a heartwarming, sexy tale that shows the power of finally giving in to true love.
P.S. The bonus epilogue was so fun!
*Thanks to the author for a review copy.*
This book was absolutely stunning. My first thought when I finished was “That story was just PERFECT.” It’s that good.
Dani and Dylan’s story had EVERYTHING. A hot hookup, inevitable regrets and misunderstandings, hidden relationship/friends with benefits vibes, snarky, hilarious main characters, a fun-loving friend group (that we get to meet in the first standalone in this series, The Catch, which was also amazing!) and a heartwarming love story that made me swoon.
For Dani, the aftereffects of her best friend, Cat, getting married was realizing she wanted that life, too, despite her distaste for even the thought of settling down before that. So she decides she needs to start seriously looking for her forever guy, her “soulmate,” and a friend from work suggests a new dating site. It sounds promising, but there’s only one catch: She can’t sleep with any of the matches until they’ve gone on eight dates. At a brilliant suggestion from one of her friends, Dani figures out how to get past that little technicality and find a “freebie” to tide her over until her soulmate could be found.
Dylan was never one to settle down, either, but when his best friend, Josh, marries Dani’s best friend, Cat, he suddenly finds himself one of only two singles left in their friend group. He still doesn’t want to settle down, but Dani has always caught his eye. Not that she’d reciprocate or anything.
But when she comes to him with a proposal he would be a fool to refuse, he has to guard his heart and keep things strictly in the friend zone. Because he’s worried he doesn’t have what it takes to stay committed and be everything she needs him to be.
The steamy scenes are fire, and the grand gesture… *heart eyes*
Like I said, this story just has everything. It’s SO well done, and the plot is just perfectly executed. YOU NEED THIS BOOK if you want a heartwarming, sexy tale that shows the power of finally giving in to true love.
P.S. The bonus epilogue was so fun!
*Thanks to the author for a review copy.*
April 12, 2021
At her best friend's wedding, Dani realizes that she might want forever instead of being left behind by her coupled up friends. Dylan, the best man, is a commitment phobe and wants nothing to do with the wedding scene. After a one night stand between the two, Dani and Dylan decide to have a friends with benefits situation while Dani tries to find a potential soulmate through a new dating app. It's a limited time deal between the pair, complete with its own set of rules. But what happens when you break the rules that are there to protect your heart?
I cannot gush about The Rules enough! This book is so good, I read it in one sitting. I loved both the main character. Dylan is bold and confident, plus a massive flirt. Dani is quick, sarcastic and knows what she wants. Together, they have easy, electric chemistry. Their constant push and pull was incredibly hot. I loved watching their sweet and tender relationship develop. They call each other on their crap, pushing each other to be better versions of themselves that they thought they could be. They balance each other out. This was such a great friends to lovers romance!
I also loved how the friend group felt like my group of friends, not characters in a book. I was invested in their stories, their lives and what would happen next. The Rules is the sequel to The Catch, but can be read as a standalone book. My only regret is waiting so long to read this book! I'm going back and reading The Catch as soon as I can.
Thanks to Lauren H. Mae for a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot gush about The Rules enough! This book is so good, I read it in one sitting. I loved both the main character. Dylan is bold and confident, plus a massive flirt. Dani is quick, sarcastic and knows what she wants. Together, they have easy, electric chemistry. Their constant push and pull was incredibly hot. I loved watching their sweet and tender relationship develop. They call each other on their crap, pushing each other to be better versions of themselves that they thought they could be. They balance each other out. This was such a great friends to lovers romance!
I also loved how the friend group felt like my group of friends, not characters in a book. I was invested in their stories, their lives and what would happen next. The Rules is the sequel to The Catch, but can be read as a standalone book. My only regret is waiting so long to read this book! I'm going back and reading The Catch as soon as I can.
Thanks to Lauren H. Mae for a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2022
You know, every time I read books that start with the FMC feeling "lonely" bc they're 29 and single, I get a little crunchy. But the way Dani was written was very spot on. It's less about being lonely and more about being left behind when all your friends are in different life stages. I think whether she wanted to, she felt that a sign of her adult status must also include a partner. Insert internal pressure. I really appreciated the friendship group challenge why Dani was making the transition to which she had to come to terms with how she sees relationships and what she wants from one. Dylan had a lot of baggage and needed to grovel a lot more than he did. 😤
CN: drunk sex, pregnancy complications, premie delivery, alcoholism, verbal abuse, parental death, drug deal on page
CN: drunk sex, pregnancy complications, premie delivery, alcoholism, verbal abuse, parental death, drug deal on page
October 29, 2020
3.5 stars
April 28, 2021
This one wasn’t as good as the first one, and I believe I’m a minority here.
The moments I enjoyed the most involved catia and josh, I love them.
Nevertheless, it was a nice read.
3,5-4-stars ✨
The moments I enjoyed the most involved catia and josh, I love them.
Nevertheless, it was a nice read.
3,5-4-stars ✨
July 17, 2020
This book is the second in Lauren’s Summer Nights Series, and just like the first one (The Catch), this book was a “stayed up too late because I can’t put it down” read! It is the same group of friends as The Catch, which I loved, and had the steam and sexy banter that keeps me turning the page! This wasn't a fake relationship, but sex of convenience? Whatever the trope is I found it really entertaining to read! Lauren H. Mae has become one of my favorite authors and this series is a must read for a summer romance lover!
Thank you @laurenhmaeauthor for the eARC to read and give an honest review!
Thank you @laurenhmaeauthor for the eARC to read and give an honest review!
June 25, 2020
What was the last sequel to a book you have read that outperformed the first?
This book right here exceeded the hype I created in my head for it. I was a little nervous at first because initially I didn’t feel the same initial chemistry that Cat and Josh had from the get go, but honestly that made the book so good for me. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them connect on more than a physical level. With the first book, I didn’t see much past a friendship and when this book started off with them hooking up, I felt at first I missed a few steps. Yes there was the initial attraction, but past that I couldn’t see them as a couple initially. But as the book progressed and you see them open up to each other and connect on a level that was much more than physical. I think with some romance books, the focus is more on the physical connection between two characters rather than more on an intimate or intellectual level, but the way the author did this book and focused more on that aspect it made the story so much better.
I love that Dani and Dylan are playing the field and have no problems owning up to who they are. It’s refreshing to see that in these characters. They are fun, but they are slowly realizing that this type of fun isn’t as fulfilling as it once was. With every bad date, Netflix and chill is looking more and more appealing.
The friends with benefits trope always makes me laugh. How someone could not see this ending up in heart ache every time is beyond me. I really enjoyed this story, though at times it was a bit predictable. It was written really well and the characters were more than surface level. They had a depth to them with growth throughout the story which made it easier to connect with them and be invested in their story. I loved her writing and the way I was able to become engrossed in this story. It was fun and imaginative without being overly cliche. Her books read like a good contemporary romance movie. With her writing I can vividly see this happening as if I was watching it on TV. It’s so easy to get lost in this story because of how well the author paints the picture.
I love this group of friends and I want so badly to be a part of this group. I love a group of characters that you can easily see as people in your own life and the author did a great job making this group feel as realistic as possible. I want so badly for this to not be the last book. I have my fingers crossed this isn’t the last time this series and I will meet.
Thank you to Lauren Mae for this ARC. It was so much fun to read and I can’t wait to see what she’s got next.
This book right here exceeded the hype I created in my head for it. I was a little nervous at first because initially I didn’t feel the same initial chemistry that Cat and Josh had from the get go, but honestly that made the book so good for me. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them connect on more than a physical level. With the first book, I didn’t see much past a friendship and when this book started off with them hooking up, I felt at first I missed a few steps. Yes there was the initial attraction, but past that I couldn’t see them as a couple initially. But as the book progressed and you see them open up to each other and connect on a level that was much more than physical. I think with some romance books, the focus is more on the physical connection between two characters rather than more on an intimate or intellectual level, but the way the author did this book and focused more on that aspect it made the story so much better.
I love that Dani and Dylan are playing the field and have no problems owning up to who they are. It’s refreshing to see that in these characters. They are fun, but they are slowly realizing that this type of fun isn’t as fulfilling as it once was. With every bad date, Netflix and chill is looking more and more appealing.
The friends with benefits trope always makes me laugh. How someone could not see this ending up in heart ache every time is beyond me. I really enjoyed this story, though at times it was a bit predictable. It was written really well and the characters were more than surface level. They had a depth to them with growth throughout the story which made it easier to connect with them and be invested in their story. I loved her writing and the way I was able to become engrossed in this story. It was fun and imaginative without being overly cliche. Her books read like a good contemporary romance movie. With her writing I can vividly see this happening as if I was watching it on TV. It’s so easy to get lost in this story because of how well the author paints the picture.
I love this group of friends and I want so badly to be a part of this group. I love a group of characters that you can easily see as people in your own life and the author did a great job making this group feel as realistic as possible. I want so badly for this to not be the last book. I have my fingers crossed this isn’t the last time this series and I will meet.
Thank you to Lauren Mae for this ARC. It was so much fun to read and I can’t wait to see what she’s got next.
July 25, 2020
Lauren filled the friends to lovers sized hole in my heart so exceptionally well. The book is all sorts of good, but what makes it stand out for me is that our main character's are smart people, they don't spend 5 pages in angst wondering what a throw off comment about love and committment means. They're immediately called out on their bullshit, and I love that the book makes a point of the fact that you can have issues, and they're still not an excuse to treat someone else badly. Dani and Dylan are interesting, adorable, strong, feisty, well matched characters and it was a delight reading about them.
This is an honest review in exchange for the E-ARC from the author. Thankyou♡ You've kept my post slump streak going, Lauren.
This is an honest review in exchange for the E-ARC from the author. Thankyou♡ You've kept my post slump streak going, Lauren.
June 11, 2020
This is the second book I've read by Lauren and I loved it even more than the first. The chemistry between Dani and Dylan is to die for! I loved seeing their relationship unfold, especially how Dylan grew -- he might be one of my fave book boyfriends with those gorgeous eyes. It was cool to see the characters from The Catch again and follow their journey further, especially through the bonus epilogue. I love Lauren's writing and I can't wait to read more from her.
I got an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I got an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2021
I was excited for Dylan and Dani's story ever since we were introduced to them in "the catch and this book didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it. Dylan and Dani were such well good characters and I absolutely adore them,their relationship was handled perfectly. What I love the most is we got to see tons of happy moments, them joking around and everything,it showed how well they worked together. We saw their relationship being developed.
One complain I have is, the last few chapters were more about joshcat and there weren't enough dylandani moments.
One complain I have is, the last few chapters were more about joshcat and there weren't enough dylandani moments.
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