The Rules of Love

by Lily Seabrooke

Rule number one: never fall in love.

Amber’s rules have kept her safe from heartbreak—an oath to herself not to fall in love. But when her career as a romance novelist suffers for it, a vacation to her hometown brings her face-to-face with her childhood crush Celeste, and suddenly, none of her rules are enough to keep her away.

Celeste is intent on fighting her feelings for women and committing to her boyfriend Logan, but meeting her childhood crush Amber on a trip home for a family friend’s wedding throws her carefully constructed life into disarray.

Sometimes, heartbreak is the only way through to healing. But sometimes, a love story will never really go away.

The Rules of Love is a 90,000-word romance with childhood loves, a coming-out story, heartache and yearning, a sweet and clumsily supportive family, and a falcon named Oslo. Content warnings for off-screen mentions of suicide attempts, death in hospice care, controlling relationship dynamics, some homophobia and transphobia, open-door sex scenes, Scarlet just kind of doing her thing, and Oslo stealing bread.

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2022

About the author

Lily Seabrooke is a lesbian, trans woman, and author of sapphic romance that stars food, because odds are, at any given time, she's hungry.

Her interests include eating food, thinking about food, writing novels about food, and drinking coffee.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second full length book by this author and unless someone highly recommends another it’ll be my last. I’ve really enjoyed the short(er) stories I’ve read by Seabrooke but I just don’t gel with the full length novels this author writes.

With every page I turned I was hoping it was going to get better, these characters to start making sense, get a spine. Sadly it never really happened, on the one hand I was tempted to stop reading because Celeste and Amber just aren’t characters I’ll ever grow to like, but on the other I saw what could happen, what possibly could become an amazing story.

Some authors are just better at writing shorter form, the longer form becomes boring and repetitive. I guess that’s what Seabrooke is to me.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber and Celeste knew each other in high school and reconnect at a wedding. Feelings bubble to the surface over time and subsequent meetings but stay or leave, "come out" or not, they seem unable to admit that they are really meant to be together and years go by with life getting messier with Celeste's indecision.
At times a frustrating read, Lily Seabrooke's latest book is a multilayered, emotional filled, heated romance. The angst is heavy throughout but the interesting side cast adds twists and turns. With his hold on and treatment of Celeste, Logan is easy to detest. For Amber and Celeste self-erected walls must be broken down, the pesky "rules of love" cast aside and ultimate decision made before a HEA.
A slight departure from the style of her previous series but another fine addition to Seabrooke's books.

I rec'd a copy through Booksprout. This is a voluntary, completely unbiased review.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber is an author who writes romance but doesn't believe in love for herself. After one too many unhappily ever afters she has implemented some rules to keep herself from falling for the romance lie again. But when she meets Celeste it seems she can't stop breaking the rules. They each have some roadblocks to overcome before they can think about a potential for happily ever after.
I don't think there is a book by Lily Seabrooke I haven't enjoyed and this one was particularly good. The emotions and humanity from both MCs felt very genuine, they both care so much for each other they jeopardize their own future happiness out of love but are also loathe to admit the reasons for their actions. I really loved Amber's parents and Oslo was a great addition to the Flores clan. I also really liked Scarlett and hope to see her and Rachel as MCs in a future book. There was one thing I felt wasn't explained well enough though, I can't figure out why Celeste thought Logan and his family had so much power over her future. It sounds like they may be wealthy but not sure how that would give them carte blanche to potentially destroy her future job prospects. Even with that hole I feel like this was a great book and I loved it. Can't wait for the next release from Lily Seabrooke!

[Pat House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Seabrooke has become one of the best SappFic authors currently writing. Her characters are always diverse, interesting, and multifaceted. This is especially true for The Rules of Love.

This book made me scream - in surprise, in heartbreak, in total fustration for the MC's, and of course, in joy for the HEA.
I don't want to spoil any of the plot points, but suffice it to say: OMG! I was blown away. Sometimes there really are reasons people in love can't be together. [Personal note: Screaming at them to "just get together already - you're perfect for each other" won't help them resolve their situations.]

The supporting characters were fabulous. I would love to read a concurrent story for a couple of them. I also really want a falcon.

Please do yourself a favor and read The Rules of Love -- I couldn't possibly recommend a book more highly!.

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

[Nia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I say this a gentle as possible ;))
I'm rarely this frustrated with the actions of two main characters in a book, but it was extremely frustrating with these two.
It was basically a sweet story about two insecure women, who have loved each other since high school but hide their feelings out of fear.
That never changed, not really.
Even after they meet again and discover their love and lust for each other.
Because of bad experiences and a somewhat cruel family.
The years and the meetings after that, however, change nothing!

The love is kept at arm's length.
The story and all the secondary characters are sweet, but even at the hot and sensitive scenes that finally happens lacks a bit of fulfillment.
It's always with limited time for this passion...

I was amazed that the person with the greatest obstacles (Rachel) could go through such a wonderful and big shift with the support of her friends. However, years later, the actual friends do not change, although they want it.

If you like stories that keeps you waiting and in limbo, you are absolutly right here. I'm just happy there was a HEA...especially for Rachel and Scarlett ;)

[Jayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Honest review as part of ARC*

The Rules of Love is the first book to send me on an emotional rollercoaster of what-ifs, why-nots, and what-the-hells.

I'm not going to summarize the plot because that would take a while haha. But I will go over my impressions of the characters and so forth.

Amber: Such an easy character to identify with. I mean, most people start life believing wholeheartedly in love and romance and fairy tales. Then dating and heartbreak enter the picture and slowly, those dreams start to fade. Making a set of rules to protect oneself from getting hurt is probably the most human thing I've ever read a character in a book do. The rules act like walls around the heart and most people who are jaded by love do just that.

Celeste: Logically I understand her character and her struggles. Accepting oneself is hard and not knowing how the rest of the world will react is terrifying. That's something that nearly every member of the LGBTQ+ community can attest to. We each come out (or don't) in our own time and we. I understand her fear and her desire for her to be "normal" to be able to love and desire Logan.

What I don't understand about her character is how far she took everything. I've known closeted people who entered into bearded relationships in order to maintain the ruse of "being straight", I also know people who have married the opposite gender because they were more concerned about appearances than their own happiness. I guess what I don't understand about Celeste is that she (in my opinion) allowed herself to be manipulated into her life with Logan, ignoring every warning sign from everyone else. Like, she definitely could have left his a** on multiple occasions but found a way to justify why she should stay- mostly that last time is what bothers me the most about her.
Like I understand abuse and how difficult it can be to leave (been there, done that) but to me, I just don't think her actions were all that realistic.

Rachel: Any story that has a halfway decently drawn transgender character is automatically one of my favorites. The trans community does not get very much true representation in literature. It was great to see Rachel's struggle and her bravery. To see her grow into herself and her confidence. Plus- she won her girl in the end. A pairing I found shockingly perfect.

Scarlet: There aren't many words for this woman. Scarlet is just... Scarlet. She's an original, eccentric, caring, free-spirited artist who just wants to paint and who provided some much needed comic relief. She wants what's best for her friends and will stop at nothing to make it happen. Hands down the best character in the book. I was horrified to hear about her accident but knew, if anyone could bounce back, it would be Scarlet.

Logan: The textbook definition of a slimy, piece of s***. The king of emotional and mental manipulation. Controlling and narcissistic. A sorry excuse for a man and I'm glad he got his in the end. This character is all too believable because there are hundreds of Logan's in the world today ruining people's lives for their own selfish gains.

Despite how I feel about Celeste's character, I greatly enjoyed the love story between her and Amber. The angst was spot on. I felt their longing whenever they had to say goodbye; their desire for one another when they were together. It was a ride but one I'd probably take again.

[MizLiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celeste drove me crazy with allowing the 'boyfriend' to manipulate her. to me a big form of abuse.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I wasn't prepared. Even though my email said that the author's girlfriend cried because of the book. The MCs broke me. The friends and parents filled me with hope and love. There are so many feels in these pages. Thank you for writing this.

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

[A.E. Bross · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 because that's how math works ;)

"People build walls in hopes of finding someone willing to scale them."

The Rules of Love by Lily Seabrooke is a step away from the Port Andrea books and the author's real departure from that setting and its characters. Personally, I think it did wonders for exploration in her writing. While there were some drawbacks in this story, and I will freely admit that, the author's willingness to explore new avenues shows growth in narrative and character development, and I am ALWAYS here for that.

The Rules of Love begins with Amber, a bisexual woman who has sworn off love. Not in a flippant or sudden way, but in a well-thought out attempt to not only protect herself but others from herself. Despite this, sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants. That doesn't mean it will be easy.

Celeste finds herself in in one of the worst situations: a closeted lesbian trying to make herself fit into heteropatriarchal society by committing to a relationship with Logan, her long-time boyfriend. Except meeting her high school crush, the one and only Amber, again after all these years has her resolve to fit herself into that mold crumbling.

What makes this story so compelling is that both Amber and Celeste are so incredibly fallible. They make mistake after mistake, some out of a sense of self-preservation, some out of a desperate attempt to protect the other. This isn't a story that finds it's happily ever after easily (though don't worry, it does). As a result, we see a more realistic, sometimes painful relationship grounded in the reality of people making mistakes out of fear of the unknown, or making consequences far worse than they might be.

My one complaint, and it is small (only 0.5 of a star), is that while the author did add some depth to the story's antagonist, they still feel like more of a prop or plot device than anything else. They're two dimensional and while there's a flicker of some deeper character, it's quickly whisked away from the reader.

However, that aside, this was an excellent read. If you're a fan of contemporary, sapphic romance, angst, some steam, and the reality that sometimes it's a rocky road before everything smooths out, then this book is definitely for you.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book via BookSprout and Lily Seabrooke and am leaving a voluntary review.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The Rules of Love is perhaps the most frustrating book I’ve read from Lily Seabrooke, and I mean that in both a good and a more critical way. I get a sense of what her intentions were in exploring the complexity of queer relationships when someone isn’t ready to come out, and feel it was explored effectively, even if I don’t always agree with how the choices come across from a mechanics perspective.

Amber and Celeste are wonderful characters and I like the way their insecurities are rendered. It was fun to see them bonding over romance novels, including the fact that Amber writes them under a pen name. Amber was the one I identified with more, as she’s a bit of a hopeless romantic who is trying to avoid getting hurt by setting up “Rules of Love,” only to break them and get hurt again.

Celeste makes me feel more complicated. Again, I can understand her motivations at the base level, and she doesn’t owe it to anyone to come out before she’s ready. But the fact that she remained in a relationship with Logan for most of the book, despite the fact that he’s such a manipulative, borderline abusive asshole? Abusive relationships are difficult to navigate, and I’m not trying to shame her for staying, but that didn’t make reading it any less frustrating.

The pacing also frustrated me quite a lot. The book flash forwarded a year, then another year, and later on two months. I get how it highlights the issue of it being the “right person, wrong time,” but it made the book feel very choppy. Every time it would say “X amount of time later,” I’d groan internally. It doesn’t help that I recently read another slow burn that took place over an extended length of time, and I felt it had a similar issue, so I guess I was in the mood for something different.

Ironically, this was likely a “right book, (possibly) wrong time” situation for me. I do appreciate what this book has to offer, and would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t mind a queer romance that explores the messier nuances of queer love.

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

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t lie, I was a little shocked that Lily Seabrooke would write an angsty book! Though it was actually Fire & Ice I said that about, and then I was told that she wrote a still angstier one, in this.

I’m not… totally sure I agree? I’d have called this more of a slow burn I guess? It had that slow burn kind of tension, more than the everything’s going to crash down into fiery wreckage kind of angst. Which, don’t get me wrong, is still wonderful. I love it when a book doesn’t let me put it down, and I was gritting my teeth every time time I had to walk away from this for any reason at all, even, say, to make lunch.

Amber and Celeste were just so sweet together, from attending each other’s events in high school to the boat and restaurant outings later in life, to concerts and books. They were so meant for each other, and also got in their own way so egregiously at the same time — though for very understandable reasons. I guess that’s what made it great, the constant and plausible push and pull between there’s nobody else but you and we just can’t be together. Of course it wouldn’t be Lily Seabrooke without amazing side characters, and Rachel and Scarlet and Amber’s parents all certainly qualified! They were the secret sauce preventing the story from being too painful when it otherwise could have been.

If there’s one reservation I had, it’s that Celeste didn’t really sell her reasons for sticking it out with Logan once he left his parents out of it and came clean about his intentions. I mean, I’ll allow it because it opened the door for the escapades to follow… but I thought she might have admitted that it was beyond the pale even for him.

Anyway, don’t read this for the long happy times together, because it wasn’t a Lily Seabrooke kind of story. Oops, I guess I can’t say that any more. It wasn’t the usual Lily Seabrooke kind of story. But read it for a long slow burn with only very minor breaks in the tension along the way, and then a funny and satisfying HEA at the end.

[Virginia Rounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swoony sapphics in love is pretty much Seabrooke’s brand (at least in my head) and this one totally delivers. I’d call it sweet but that has connotations of “no on-page s3x” in some romance circles.

Reunited at age 24 after crushing on each other in HS, Celeste and Amber try, and try, and try, to ignore and repress their attraction. There are a ton of traditionally-romantic scenes we get to enjoy, from rowboats on a lake (with poetry!), to candlelit dinner, to kissing under a golden willow tree, to the Grand Gesture at the end. Swoon!

Celeste and Amber are both afraid (of different things) and so the things keeping them apart felt believable. I should mention that Celeste goes with the flow/pressure longer than I expected, and in a parallel universe I’d say, “that’s not realistic” BUT I had a friend who also continued down the same road even though she knew it was the wrong one, so while I was frustrated it went on that long, I can’t say it’s not realistic.

It's a coming out story for both (as lesbian and bi) and I appreciate that although they are afraid of homophobia, there’s none on page in present day. Amber recounts horrible bi-phobic reactions from her past, though. There’s also a trans coming out for a side character, and she ends up living her best life as well, yay!

If I had some wishes for the book, it would be mentioning that they both start therapy (please, Amber and Celeste, please get a good therapist!!!) There’s also a villain-comeuppance that includes a joke of claiming he’s gay, which haha if he’s not, but if he actually were and were closeted would be pretty shitty. Gay villains don’t deserve forced-outings either.

Conclusion: a solid, swoony-romantic story of two young women finding their courage to be together.

CWs include: s**cide in past with blaming of MC, biphobic reactions from past partners, toxic relationship on page, POV scene of lesbian’s boyfriend initiating s3xual intimacy.

[Maricarl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rules of love by Lily Seabrook will make you experience different kind of emotions. I cried, laugh, scream with frustration, and disappointment but with a guaranteed heart warming feeling that will totally make you fall in love with Amber and Celeste love story. This is a story about choosing to make rules and how these rules guide or dictates Amber and Celeste's life including the people around them whether its their friends or family.

The book is presented in Amber and Celeste's point of view. Lily beautifully narrates the complexity of Amber and Celestes personal  journey individually including their back stories and how their love for each other developed, blossomed but on top of it were tested.

Since this is the first time I read Lily's writing, i was amaze on how she love incorporating metaphors in her story. Also love how Lily described everything in the book from arts, music, food, places Amber and Celeste visited including
their steamy scenes and the falcon. The falcon has made an impact for me and how it was presented as a metaphor in the story so watch out for it.

I idefiniltely recommend this book for those  who already enjoyed Lily Seabrook's writing style, for those who love a story of coming out journey and friends to lovers troupe, Amber and Celeste will surely warm your hearts.

Just a fair warning though that the author intricately and delicately address suicide, bullying, hetero relationship and homophobia. But despite of these, it makes Amber and Celete's story more humane and realistic.

I hope that you will enjoy reading Amber and Celeste story as much as I did.


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

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve been this frustrated with a book and the book’s characters in a long time.

From the outset the book was a little slower paced than I thought. It wasn’t a drag, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat like I have been in the past. Rather, it seemed strange that the two main characters were acting this way over a high school crush they each had nearly a decade ago.

I was hopeful when the characters got together less than halfway through and I figured there’d be some minor misunderstanding. I’m a sucker for angst so this doesn’t bother me. But what happened instead is around half of the book filled with two of the most spineless characters humanly imaginable.

On one hand you have a woman so enraptured by another that she staves off romance for the entire time and lets herself be manipulated by all of the side characters and the other main character herself. I find it incredibly hard to believe that in three years she refuses to date because of one weekend.

And on the other hand, you have a woman who is so easily manipulated by her boyfriend/fiancé that she goes to the alter after coming out to him and calling off the marriage multiple times, all while leading on the woman she supposedly loves. And the justification for this is always my family won’t understand, but beyond this her motivations are not clear at all.

Then the way they got together seemed like a total slap in the face to the one character who spends the entire book chasing after the other.

I genuinely cannot remember the last time my blood boiled so much at a book that had promise. The author clearly has skill writing. It wasn’t that the writing was poor quality. It was more that the characters made no sense and I didn’t understand their motivations.

[Schrodinger's Cat (Samantha) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, but the MCs were so frustrating. Celeste was so afraid to come to terms with being gay. She believes if comes out she will lose everything so to be safe keeps returning to Logan, a man she could never love. Amber with her set of rules on how to not fall in love again lives in pain because of them. There is a twist regarding these rules I won’t give away. Even after they admit they love each other they fall back into this terrible cycle. They try to stay away from each other but they can’t, they are drawn back to each other, over and over. The secondary characters Scarlet and Racheal are wonderful. They see the spiral that Amber and Celeste are in and try to get them to get over their fear and breach the wall the other has erected to keep them “safe”.

Then events change Scarlet's life forcing her and Amber to help each other find their passion and lose their fear. Of course, Seabrooke makes sure nothing is that easy. Thanks, Logan. But the HEA for Amber and Celeste is worth all the angst and wanting to knock some sense into both of them. As for Scarlet, well let Scarlet be Scarlet - she was a fricking hero. I was so happy to see Scarlet and Rachel together. So here’s to rule 9 and a falcon named Oslo.

As I read this I thought I would give it four stars. But Seabrooke brilliantly built the story so rooting for them was just exhausting and then created a perfect HEA to relieve all that tension. So you just sit back and smile. Isn’t that why we read romances?

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book via BookSprout and Lily Seabrooke and am leaving a voluntary review.

[Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A candy book with angst (it will make sense when you read the book).
In this book, Lily Seabrooke gives her MCs a second, third, and fourth chance to be together. They get together, fall apart, dismantle their sanity (each in her own way), and create art that speaks to the other woman, communicating their feelings through stories, music (and sometimes food, yay!).
The writing is great, I think one of Lily's best books in that aspect. However, this book has so much sadness, fear, and longing for what can never be... well, it's too much angst for me so I had a hard time reading this one. If you're into angst - this is the book for you!
All the sweetness of the MCs and their special humor and the wonderful supporting characters wrapped up in a cocoon of angsty, fearful, self-doubts. It will make you smile and cry and hope and cry again and laugh and yes, it's worth the journey.
As I said, it's not my kind of journey. But I still enjoyed it and I'm glad I stuck with it to the end. I also had to give extra points for the trans representation (wonderfully done!). But at certain moments, I had to put the book away and take a breath. That's why it's only 4 stars :)

T&T:
Tropes: Childhood crush, 2nd chance, coming back to hometown, opposites attract, living in the closet / coming out, friends to lovers (sorta?).
Triggers: Domineering partner, unsupportive family, coming out, homophobia (very little on page), depression, creative block.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2 main characters in this are SO frustrating. They needed a seriously good talking to! Both of them refusing to commit to anything with each other for a whole variety of reasons and excuses. It’s a testament to how well LS writes that this level of frustration can carry through the whole (and it’s not short!) book and all the way to the end you are still rooting for them!
I did have to just go with them a bit while not necessarily finding their behaviour believable. For example I didn’t understand why C felt so threatened by Ls parents power as that wasn’t explained and just vanished. There was no change really in either of their circumstances that meant they could get together at the end but had been stopping them for the previous years and years.
The frustration with the 2 MCs apart though I enjoyed all the other characters in the book. Even Logan! Hopefully Scarlet and Rachel will have their own book too as I would love to read their stories. And of course Oslo is best non human character I’ve read in ages.
If you like lots of angst together with a fun and diverse cast of characters in your books then definitely give this one a read.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Seabrooke has created two very lovely characters in Celeste and Amber, but they each are filled with so many insecurities. Amber writes romance novels under a pseudonym and Celeste is a talented musician who is totally manipulated by her boyfriend Logan. The writing was wonderful but so frustrating. For example, "She counted down the days to our wedding like it was my execution." Who goes through something like that? " I still dreamed of her coming out of nowhere to sweep me off my feet and carry me away. " And " the only person I ever loved. " Then why stay with Logan? Oh my gosh, I wanted to drop Amber and Celeste off on a deserted island so mister manipulative Logan couldn't find them! This book was so frustrating, but also so good. When will they understand there are no
"Rules for Love?"

The secondary characters of Scarlett, the very eccentric artist who will do anything to get her friends together, and Rachel, the very vulnerable transgender character were wonderful and I hope they get a book of their own! Lily Seabrooke, you really took the reader for a ride with this book. Keep up the great work!

[Ashleigh Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two bi-sexuals, a closeted gay, a transgender and a straight boy rent a lodge...sounds like the beginning of a really off-colour joke, however, this book is anything but. Through this deliciously vulnerable story we meet a variety of characters who are both strong and weak, intelligent and stupid and well intentioned, but ultimately ill-advised.

Going with the flow and living in fear has devastating consequences on everyone involved and while there is a 'villain', when one looks a little deeper I have some empathy for this casualty of emotional war. The brief reference to stalker behaviour at the end felt a little 'shoved in' to solidify the villainy and detract from fact they were wilfully deceived for an extended period of time, regardless of the reasons. Don't get me wrong, they did have some unlikable personality traits.

Like many great romances that transcend time, the HEA is worth the wait. Whether you're a Lily Seabrooke fan or new to her work, dive on in the water's fine.

[karen fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book and think the writer is very good at creating the characters and the world they inhabit, unfortunately I felt that they tried to incorporate far too many big life situations with the secondary characters which were just skimmed over and did not come over as realistic. I also did not identify with the reason Amber could not be with Celeste, it felt like a contrived reason that would not hold up in reality, either that or it needed to be explained in more depth to convince me. All being said I will be more than happy to read another of Lily Seabrookes books and look forward to what she brings out next.

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

[Seeyouthere · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a typical theme, nicely written book. Definitely worth reading, especially if you’re into 'struggle with coming out' stories.

Characters: actions of main Amber and Celeste were a little frustrating, through the book I really wanted to get them a session with a psychologist. Secondary Rachel and Scarlet were likeable and made the book more engaging. Seriously, I loved them, my appetite for queer representation was fulfilled ;)

Overall, 4 stars, because I was expecting a little less angst, and more humor in this one :)

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

[Eli B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exact book my heart needed to read!

I think sometimes the heavy emotions in the book made it seem longer than it is, but oh my goodness, I do recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance book. I know it’s about Amber Flores and the girl she fell in love with, but I loved Scarlet. Ostentatious Scarlet who made me grimace in the beginning of the book. I fell in love with her and her love story, which I am not going to spoil for anyone but please do read it and fall in love with her too. I will definitely be looking for more books by Lily Seabrooke :) but ugh… now I want a falcon!

[Robin Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My eyes are still leaking as I write this review. I was frustrated at the time it took to reach the conclusion I just knew was coming, yet it was so worth the wait!

Ms Seabrooke has written an epic coming out, dule with an arrogant bastard manipulative jerk, and love concurs all story! The story had me mad, angry, frustrated, laughing, crying and then some. The characters were developed fully and each needed. I want to meet Scarlet, she is a hoot! Thanks Lily for writing this story. I hope all you readers take my advice and purchase, read, talk about and encourage your friends to do the same with this book!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Lily Seabrooke creates lovely characters caught up in their own insecurities, but love always finds a way to heal and bring them together. Amber and Celeste are really meant for each other. I love how the author builds friends and family characters that have interesting personalities and believable connections. This is a must read romance novel not just for lesbians but anyone who has been been hurt in love and wants to feel that they can love again.

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

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a more angsty book from Lily and I admit it’s not one of my faves. However… it drew me in and I was rooting for Amber and Celeste from the very beginning.
7 little rules of love, 10 wasted years. Or are they?
Both main characters were so sweet and utterly adorable. Might not be my favourite but it’s still a very very good book!
Oh and Rachel and Scarlet? They almost stole the show! Great side characters.

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

[Lis Reads Everything · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Seabrooke has provided yet another excellent novel. Second chance romance, one in a horrible relationship, one opposed to love.
the budding friendship and relationship between Amber and Celeste will keep you holding your breath, wondering where it's going and what will happen next. There's so much tension but in the end, it's a lovely HEA.
The main characters are supported by excellent and hilarious secondary characters, who will make you laugh.

Lily's books are always a treat to read and I can't wait for the next one

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance foe me with some moments where you just want to slap either or both leads for being so stubborn and set in their ways casuing them self inflicted pain and anxiety. The supporting cast also lends a great sub story taking nothing away from the leads. If you enjoy a HEA with suffiencnt drama, self discovery and chemistry so not miss this book.

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

[Christine E Carcary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent although tense read

I enjoyed reading this novel in many ways, the friend circle and the location were very believable, the usual cliche I couldn't put it down applies here. There is an element in the story that really causes anxiety as you read about it, I felt trapped by the situation myself as so many times this happens to women. Thankfully there's a HEA ending but getting there was tense. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of crying, pining and laughing in one book!

A slow-burn romance that made me want to fling my tablet so many times and shout for them to just pull their heads out of their arses and just be together. I absolutely loved it and the pacing was perfect! Lots of love for her highness, Scarlet Shields!

[Andrewd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read the explosive passages at the pinnacle of this amazing book twice. It was so improbable but it really works! Wow!
More please Ms Seabrooke.

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