What do you think?
Rate this book
Your Rule to Break
Not yet published
Expected 10 Jan 25YOUR RULE TO BREAK IS A STEAMY FOOTBALL ROMANCE WITH FAKE DATING. It's the second book in The Play Caller series and can be read as a standalone.
What do you do when your sister is marrying your ex? If there’s an answer, Emilie Hayes would love to know.
What’s supposed to be a night spent enjoying the charity event she spent months planning, Emilie’s is interrupted when her sister and future brother-in-law won’t stop discussing their destination wedding. Just as Emilie counts the seconds until escape, Zack Andersen steps in.
Zack, a Super Bowl-winning long snapper for the Upstate Cosmos, sees Emilie trapped in the awkward conversation and swoops in, introducing himself as her boyfriend. And when they ask if Zack will be Emilie’s plus one to the wedding, he surprises everyone—especially Emilie—by saying, “Absolutely.”
Already friends and running in the same social circles, Emilie and Zack decide on a few rules to keep everything believable. But what started as a fake relationship soon feels more real than either of them expected.
As secrets surface, surprises unfold, and wedding weekend tensions rise, Emilie and Zack face a choice: risk it all for a shot at something real or walk away from the connection they never saw coming.
What do you do when your sister is marrying your ex? If there’s an answer, Emilie Hayes would love to know.
What’s supposed to be a night spent enjoying the charity event she spent months planning, Emilie’s is interrupted when her sister and future brother-in-law won’t stop discussing their destination wedding. Just as Emilie counts the seconds until escape, Zack Andersen steps in.
Zack, a Super Bowl-winning long snapper for the Upstate Cosmos, sees Emilie trapped in the awkward conversation and swoops in, introducing himself as her boyfriend. And when they ask if Zack will be Emilie’s plus one to the wedding, he surprises everyone—especially Emilie—by saying, “Absolutely.”
Already friends and running in the same social circles, Emilie and Zack decide on a few rules to keep everything believable. But what started as a fake relationship soon feels more real than either of them expected.
As secrets surface, surprises unfold, and wedding weekend tensions rise, Emilie and Zack face a choice: risk it all for a shot at something real or walk away from the connection they never saw coming.
290 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 10, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
December 15, 2024
Arc read so thank you to the author for letting me have this opportunity to read their work🖤
Rating:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️.5
(Some smut but not over the top)
Tropes:
Fake dating
Football romance
Mental disorder representation
Found family
Surprise family?
This was an enjoyable and quick read. I do love a good fake dating trope cause let’s be honest usually the tension and chemistry is chef kiss til one or both has a fuck it moment and gloves come off.
The characters and dynamics seem super realistic, that being said I am not a sports watcher or info of the ins and outs so I can’t say how well this did for football terms and references.
I can say this was a cute, fun, and entertaining read perfect for someone looking for a new sports romance.
Pacing was good, writing style easy reading, and fantastic in depth characters.
Rating:⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️.5
(Some smut but not over the top)
Tropes:
Fake dating
Football romance
Mental disorder representation
Found family
Surprise family?
This was an enjoyable and quick read. I do love a good fake dating trope cause let’s be honest usually the tension and chemistry is chef kiss til one or both has a fuck it moment and gloves come off.
The characters and dynamics seem super realistic, that being said I am not a sports watcher or info of the ins and outs so I can’t say how well this did for football terms and references.
I can say this was a cute, fun, and entertaining read perfect for someone looking for a new sports romance.
Pacing was good, writing style easy reading, and fantastic in depth characters.
January 1, 2025
Loved loved LOVED this book!
Emilie and Zach where MADE for each other from the start. You could just feel the chemistry coming off the pages! The fake dating added a nice little twist. And the slow burn romance was 🥵😮💨
My favorite part had to be the last 5% of the book. Don’t want any spoilers. But her sister coming in clutch for her, the heat, THE EPILOGUE 🥹 very well done !
HUGE bonus, the chapters are short and flow so dang well! Thank you Rachel for the ARC of this wonderful book!
Emilie and Zach where MADE for each other from the start. You could just feel the chemistry coming off the pages! The fake dating added a nice little twist. And the slow burn romance was 🥵😮💨
My favorite part had to be the last 5% of the book. Don’t want any spoilers. But her sister coming in clutch for her, the heat, THE EPILOGUE 🥹 very well done !
HUGE bonus, the chapters are short and flow so dang well! Thank you Rachel for the ARC of this wonderful book!
December 11, 2024
* 𝕄𝕪 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥. Melting, swooning, in a puddle. As always Rachel has brought me another story that has made me a total mess in the best way. And I instantly missed them the moment I read 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕟𝕕.
* 𝔼𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕖 & ℤ𝕒𝕔𝕜, these little sweetie pies. I couldn’t love them more. Seriously. Emilie, my caring and amazing babe. That family of hers makes me rage. I want to go to a cooking class with her. Her life is something to envy, sounds like a pretty sweet set up in my opinion, her work? Ahhh. She has her fair share of struggles that’s for sure though. And Zack. Our little playboy.. I love his whole aura. From his style to attitude, he’s a whole vibe. His family is too cute, not without its own “stuff.” These two together were just 🥰 𝕀’𝕞 𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕..
* Alsooo seeing my babies 𝕋𝕣𝕚���𝕡 & 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 made me smile super duper big.
* I cannot wait for what comes next. Rachel cannot write her books fast enough 😂 give me it all. I love the stories created in that beautiful mind of hers.
* I think you can tell I suggest this one. But you need to go read 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕋𝕠 ℂ𝕒𝕝𝕝 first. It’ll just make everything so much better for you xo
* 𝔼𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕖 & ℤ𝕒𝕔𝕜, these little sweetie pies. I couldn’t love them more. Seriously. Emilie, my caring and amazing babe. That family of hers makes me rage. I want to go to a cooking class with her. Her life is something to envy, sounds like a pretty sweet set up in my opinion, her work? Ahhh. She has her fair share of struggles that’s for sure though. And Zack. Our little playboy.. I love his whole aura. From his style to attitude, he’s a whole vibe. His family is too cute, not without its own “stuff.” These two together were just 🥰 𝕀’𝕞 𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕..
* Alsooo seeing my babies 𝕋𝕣𝕚���𝕡 & 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 made me smile super duper big.
* I cannot wait for what comes next. Rachel cannot write her books fast enough 😂 give me it all. I love the stories created in that beautiful mind of hers.
* I think you can tell I suggest this one. But you need to go read 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕋𝕠 ℂ𝕒𝕝𝕝 first. It’ll just make everything so much better for you xo
December 25, 2024
4.5 Star Review
I really adored the first book in this series, but Your Rule to Break was even better. Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes, and LaBerge executed it perfectly here.
What truly sets this book apart is the depth of its characters. Emilie’s struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD are portrayed authentically and respectfully, making her feel like a real, relatable person. Zack, on the other hand, is the definition of a dream partner—he doesn’t just tolerate Emilie’s challenges; he loves her through them. Their relationship is tender, supportive, and heartwarming, showcasing what it means to truly find someone who embraces you as you are.
LaBerge has a knack for blending emotional depth with romantic chemistry, and it shines through in this story. I couldn’t put it down and found myself rooting for Emilie and Zack every step of the way.
Here’s hoping there’s another book in this series because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet! Fingers crossed.
I really adored the first book in this series, but Your Rule to Break was even better. Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes, and LaBerge executed it perfectly here.
What truly sets this book apart is the depth of its characters. Emilie’s struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD are portrayed authentically and respectfully, making her feel like a real, relatable person. Zack, on the other hand, is the definition of a dream partner—he doesn’t just tolerate Emilie’s challenges; he loves her through them. Their relationship is tender, supportive, and heartwarming, showcasing what it means to truly find someone who embraces you as you are.
LaBerge has a knack for blending emotional depth with romantic chemistry, and it shines through in this story. I couldn’t put it down and found myself rooting for Emilie and Zack every step of the way.
Here’s hoping there’s another book in this series because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet! Fingers crossed.
December 16, 2024
Honestly Your Rule To Break was so good and I was invested in it from the first chapter. This is book two in The Play Caller Series and features Emilie and Zack, two friends who agree to fake date. Their chemistry is undeniable and they are so perfect for each other. The way they support is each other is beautiful. I loved how Willow and Tripp are mentioned throughout the story as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I adore everything Rachel writes. I received a complementary copy from Book Sirens.
December 19, 2024
3.75⭐️
I will always sign up for a book that has a fake dating trope so when I received the ARC for this I was so excited! This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. It was such an easy read and I loved the characters, especially their chemistry from the outset.
So far I’ve only read these two books of Rachel’s but I love the mental health representation in them, as well as the communication between the characters. We love a man who can communicate! If her other books are anything like this then I will definitely be picking them up!
I will always sign up for a book that has a fake dating trope so when I received the ARC for this I was so excited! This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. It was such an easy read and I loved the characters, especially their chemistry from the outset.
So far I’ve only read these two books of Rachel’s but I love the mental health representation in them, as well as the communication between the characters. We love a man who can communicate! If her other books are anything like this then I will definitely be picking them up!
December 29, 2024
ARC REVIEW
Another touchdown in the series! I loved this couple more than the previous one? Gasp?? How dare I. Tripp and Willow were amazing but I DEVOURED this book. I love that Zack is super confident, loves fashion and bright colors, and makes it his goal to make EJ’s life better/brighter. I almost pulled my hair out reading about her family, so I’m so so glad she found a deserving family and partner in Zack instead. OCD is a big part of this book, so watch your TWs if that may be a trigger for you!
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for sending me this eARC!
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Another touchdown in the series! I loved this couple more than the previous one? Gasp?? How dare I. Tripp and Willow were amazing but I DEVOURED this book. I love that Zack is super confident, loves fashion and bright colors, and makes it his goal to make EJ’s life better/brighter. I almost pulled my hair out reading about her family, so I’m so so glad she found a deserving family and partner in Zack instead. OCD is a big part of this book, so watch your TWs if that may be a trigger for you!
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for sending me this eARC!
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
December 23, 2024
4.5⭐️
Nobody does mental health rep in books quite like Rachel. Witty, relatable, an with a little dash of spice and steam, her books are easily binge-able.
Y'all should know I'm a sucker for fake dating, so of course I was all in with this book.
Our MMC, Zack, is a Super Bowl-winning long snapper with the reputation of being a major playboy.
Our FMC, Emilie helps run and manage a record label for global superstar, Willow, who just so happens to also be dating one of Zack's teammates. Emilie and Zack run in the same circle due to their friends, but what Emilie doesn't expect is for Zack to offer to be her fake date to her sister's wedding. Her sister who just so happens to be marrying her ex... OOF. Enter Zack and his proposition for fake dating. But Emilie is all about organization and structure, so of course there needs to be some ground rules. But we all know rules are meant to be broken...
This one is definitely a slower burn, and Rachel made our character's WORK to develop their relationship before jumping to the spicy stuff, and I respect that so much. I loved how hard Zack fell for Emilie and how much he supported her, especially when it came to her god awful parents...
Even though Zack and Emilie's relationship was built around fake dating, they certainly took the time to care for each other and build a foundation of trust. Get yourself a partner who builds you up, loves you for your "beautiful brain" (as Zack would say), and helps you maneuver life's challenges. Because that's a partner worth keeping.
Thank you, Rachel, for creating couples with real life struggles and being such an advocate for mental health in books. I adore your writing, and I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to ARC read this book. And dare I say this might be my favorite Rachel LaBerge book to date?
If you need a little extra convincing to dive into Your Rule to Break, I'll leave you with a lil quote:
-"Quit looking at me like that."
-"Like what?"
-"Like I'm on the menu."
and another one because I can't help myself...
You're the type of woman who's worth the wait." *FREAKING SWOON*
Read if you like:
- pro football romance
- mental health rep
- fake dating
- dual POV
- HEA
Nobody does mental health rep in books quite like Rachel. Witty, relatable, an with a little dash of spice and steam, her books are easily binge-able.
Y'all should know I'm a sucker for fake dating, so of course I was all in with this book.
Our MMC, Zack, is a Super Bowl-winning long snapper with the reputation of being a major playboy.
Our FMC, Emilie helps run and manage a record label for global superstar, Willow, who just so happens to also be dating one of Zack's teammates. Emilie and Zack run in the same circle due to their friends, but what Emilie doesn't expect is for Zack to offer to be her fake date to her sister's wedding. Her sister who just so happens to be marrying her ex... OOF. Enter Zack and his proposition for fake dating. But Emilie is all about organization and structure, so of course there needs to be some ground rules. But we all know rules are meant to be broken...
This one is definitely a slower burn, and Rachel made our character's WORK to develop their relationship before jumping to the spicy stuff, and I respect that so much. I loved how hard Zack fell for Emilie and how much he supported her, especially when it came to her god awful parents...
Even though Zack and Emilie's relationship was built around fake dating, they certainly took the time to care for each other and build a foundation of trust. Get yourself a partner who builds you up, loves you for your "beautiful brain" (as Zack would say), and helps you maneuver life's challenges. Because that's a partner worth keeping.
Thank you, Rachel, for creating couples with real life struggles and being such an advocate for mental health in books. I adore your writing, and I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to ARC read this book. And dare I say this might be my favorite Rachel LaBerge book to date?
If you need a little extra convincing to dive into Your Rule to Break, I'll leave you with a lil quote:
-"Quit looking at me like that."
-"Like what?"
-"Like I'm on the menu."
and another one because I can't help myself...
You're the type of woman who's worth the wait." *FREAKING SWOON*
Read if you like:
- pro football romance
- mental health rep
- fake dating
- dual POV
- HEA
January 3, 2025
⚠️TW - anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder struggles, heavy intrusive thoughts, explicit language, sexual content, gaslighting, toxic family⚠️
🔥Spice Ahead (varying degrees)🔥
Chapter 31
Chapter 34
Chapter 38
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Your Rule to Break was a cute and fun fake dating romance book. I loved watching Emilie and Zack's relationship grow and them both experience feelings but not want to fully admit to them. The slow burn was perfect 😚🤌🏼
Emilie was relatable with her anxiety and panic attacks. I've struggled with those most of my life, so reading her episodes definitely had me relating. Zach was absolutely lovable and pure perfection. The way he easily came to help Emilie without a second guess, absolutely has him passing pushing himself to my top 5 book boyfriends.
Emilie's parents can go right in the poop shoot, her sister, while she started out on my crap list, definitely redeemed herself. Meanwhile, Zack's family can adopt me and I can be the new sister. 5/5⭐
🔥Spice Ahead (varying degrees)🔥
Chapter 31
Chapter 34
Chapter 38
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Your Rule to Break was a cute and fun fake dating romance book. I loved watching Emilie and Zack's relationship grow and them both experience feelings but not want to fully admit to them. The slow burn was perfect 😚🤌🏼
Emilie was relatable with her anxiety and panic attacks. I've struggled with those most of my life, so reading her episodes definitely had me relating. Zach was absolutely lovable and pure perfection. The way he easily came to help Emilie without a second guess, absolutely has him passing pushing himself to my top 5 book boyfriends.
Emilie's parents can go right in the poop shoot, her sister, while she started out on my crap list, definitely redeemed herself. Meanwhile, Zack's family can adopt me and I can be the new sister. 5/5⭐
December 10, 2024
I absolutely did devour this book in a day yes I did cause it was amazing when I say amazing I mean it. Emilie and Zack are literally the best ❤️❤️ I loved how their story was written and how beautifully it was portrayed. The storyline and plots were very good aswell. The suitations in the book were handled maturely which I love to read about. I can’t wait to read more of the authors books ahh 😍🤭
🩷TROPES🩷
Fake dating
Slow burn
Text on page
Nicknames
Dual pov
Golden retriever mmc
Tattoo moment
Sports romance
🩷TROPES🩷
Fake dating
Slow burn
Text on page
Nicknames
Dual pov
Golden retriever mmc
Tattoo moment
Sports romance
January 7, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Your sister's wedding should be a happy occasion, except when she's marrying your ex and you don't have a plus one for the wedding. Emilie is surprised when her friend, NFL player Zack, offers to be her fake boyfriend and wedding date. The two set rules for their fake relationship, but as they help each other navigate difficult family relationships and the reveal of life-changing secrets, it becomes clear that rules are made to be broken.
I loved Emilie and Zack! Their romance was a steamy, slow burn set in the glamorous world of the New York City elite. While there is a fun fake dating storyline, there is also a lot of true emotional character growth going on in the book. I appreciated the portrayal of Emilie as a successful woman who manages her OCD in a healthy way. Zack is every green flag and just a ray of sunshine. The things he said to Emilie about her anxiety were beautiful and will stay with me for a while. This was my first sports romance and I will definitely be back for more. Grab this book immediately!
Follow me @smorebooksplease on Instagram for more bookish fun!
Your sister's wedding should be a happy occasion, except when she's marrying your ex and you don't have a plus one for the wedding. Emilie is surprised when her friend, NFL player Zack, offers to be her fake boyfriend and wedding date. The two set rules for their fake relationship, but as they help each other navigate difficult family relationships and the reveal of life-changing secrets, it becomes clear that rules are made to be broken.
I loved Emilie and Zack! Their romance was a steamy, slow burn set in the glamorous world of the New York City elite. While there is a fun fake dating storyline, there is also a lot of true emotional character growth going on in the book. I appreciated the portrayal of Emilie as a successful woman who manages her OCD in a healthy way. Zack is every green flag and just a ray of sunshine. The things he said to Emilie about her anxiety were beautiful and will stay with me for a while. This was my first sports romance and I will definitely be back for more. Grab this book immediately!
Follow me @smorebooksplease on Instagram for more bookish fun!
January 2, 2025
Zack is a playboy football player who proposes fake dating to Emilie because she needs a date to her sister’s wedding. BTW, her sister is engaged to her ex boyfriend.
Zack and Emilie are both falling for each other and the part where they are “fake” dating seems to blur a little. There are so many sweet moments throughout the book of Zack surprising her and taking care of her.
Check out this book, if you love:
Fake dating
Slow burn
Sports romance
Dual POV
Secret tattoo
Golden retriever MMC
Open door romance 🌶️
Thank you Rachel for the ARC!
Zack and Emilie are both falling for each other and the part where they are “fake” dating seems to blur a little. There are so many sweet moments throughout the book of Zack surprising her and taking care of her.
Check out this book, if you love:
Fake dating
Slow burn
Sports romance
Dual POV
Secret tattoo
Golden retriever MMC
Open door romance 🌶️
Thank you Rachel for the ARC!
December 10, 2024
ARC Review 📖
Rating ~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice~ 🌶️🌶️
AHHH OMG!! I absolutely adored this read. Zack and Emilie were just perfect, i couldn’t put the book down. I’ve been in a fluffy romance mood lately and this read hit the mark perfectly. Even though i am not really a fan of the friends to lovers trope Your rule to Break was an exception, it wasn’t boring or too slow it is a perfect pace and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book. I haven’t read the first book yet but i absolutely will now! Also I loved the fact that there wasn’t a 3rd act break up, that genuinely might have been my favorite part. We love Healthy COMMUNICATION🙂↕️
Rating ~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice~ 🌶️🌶️
AHHH OMG!! I absolutely adored this read. Zack and Emilie were just perfect, i couldn’t put the book down. I’ve been in a fluffy romance mood lately and this read hit the mark perfectly. Even though i am not really a fan of the friends to lovers trope Your rule to Break was an exception, it wasn’t boring or too slow it is a perfect pace and heartwarming. I definitely recommend this book. I haven’t read the first book yet but i absolutely will now! Also I loved the fact that there wasn’t a 3rd act break up, that genuinely might have been my favorite part. We love Healthy COMMUNICATION🙂↕️
January 5, 2025
What's worst than running into your ex at a charity event? Running into him AND he's marrying your sister. Emilie is supposed to be enjoying herself at a charity event she helped put together and is cornered by her sister to discuss upcoming nuptials. Zach decides she needs a rescue and inserts himself into the conversation as her boyfriend. To keep up the story, the two has to be seen out and about on date night, but they have rules in place to protect their hearts. Zach burrows his way into Emilie's heart and she was not ready. I found Emilie to be relatable and was rooting for her the entire time. There was palpable tension between the two of them immediately and perfectly represents fake dating and why I love this trope so much. Thank you to the author for the free eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
December 22, 2024
ARC of this book that I could not put down!! OMG Zack is one of the most perfect book boyfriends I have ever read about, and I need a Zack in my life. Sometimes the couple in fake dating books are annoying but Zack and EJ were everything but annoying, their relationship was did not spawn out of nowhere, it had a friendship foundation and thats what made it even better. I love love love this book and found it a perfect distraction from exam season!
December 12, 2024
I was lucky enough to get this ARC!!
I am a proud member of her ARC team!
This book was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
The writing was impeccable, I was drawn into the story the whole time!
This was a very fun read, that highlights issues that can be tough. I really appreciated the mention of OCD and panic attacks it was very relatable!
I am a proud member of her ARC team!
This book was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
The writing was impeccable, I was drawn into the story the whole time!
This was a very fun read, that highlights issues that can be tough. I really appreciated the mention of OCD and panic attacks it was very relatable!
December 27, 2024
This was so stinkin cute! I was cheesing the whole time! I cannot wait for more in the series. Rachel is a new auto buy author for me!
December 26, 2024
Arc Review for Your Rule to Break 💞
My second book of Rachel’s & certainly not my last if I have anything to say about it!!
Overall Rating: 4.75/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 1.5/5 🌶️
Thank you to Rachel LaBerge for allowing me to be an arc reader for this book & providing me with an advanced reader copy of Your Rule to Break in exchange for an honest review! 🤍
The slow burn! The tension! the fake dating! Need I say more? All of the above had me on the floor with how well Rachel brings these to life with just her words. Another book of hers, and I’m completely hooked from the start and blown away yet again — I thought I was amazed away with the first book in the series, but this book!!!! Zack and Emilie!!! They may have just beat out Tipp and Willow (even though I’ll always love them sm) for first place as book characters + their journey. I couldn’t put it down, or stop thinking about them when I wasn’t reading them. Something about this book was so easy to read, the writing was so easy to follow, and overall just such a good feel-good type of contemporary sports romance that I just really needed in my life. I loved the premise, the spice, the emotional parts, the real-life scenarios, and the super sweet & cheesy romance parts. All in all so good, and as good as the first book in this series (maybe even better) and I need everyone to pick up these books as soon as possible.
I’ve seen others say the same thing, and I’m tacking right on with them that when it came to the mental health rep (OCD, Panic Attacks, Anxiety,) in Your Rule to Break, Rachel knocked it out of the park with its representation. As someone who deals with those things in my own life, I felt like I was looking inside of my head as I read and it took my breath away honestly and Rachel didn’t hear the end of it in our DM’s. I’ve never related more, felt so seen in another character and things like that make a book just so special and amazing for me. It added so much depth, so much humanism to a fictional story, that we can’t do anything but stan Emilie and her anxieties.
Lastly, one thing is for sure — I’m ALWAYS gonna be a huge fan of Rachel, and her characters & always gonna keep cheering her on during her writing journey, no matter where it takes her.
What to Expect in Your Rule to Break:
💞 fake dating
💞 professional athlete
💞 found family
💞 slow burn
💞 mental health rep
💞 no third act breakup
💞 tattoo moments
💞 golden retriever mmc
I received an ARC copy of Your Rule to Break and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Your Rule to Break releases January 10th, 2025
My second book of Rachel’s & certainly not my last if I have anything to say about it!!
Overall Rating: 4.75/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 1.5/5 🌶️
Thank you to Rachel LaBerge for allowing me to be an arc reader for this book & providing me with an advanced reader copy of Your Rule to Break in exchange for an honest review! 🤍
The slow burn! The tension! the fake dating! Need I say more? All of the above had me on the floor with how well Rachel brings these to life with just her words. Another book of hers, and I’m completely hooked from the start and blown away yet again — I thought I was amazed away with the first book in the series, but this book!!!! Zack and Emilie!!! They may have just beat out Tipp and Willow (even though I’ll always love them sm) for first place as book characters + their journey. I couldn’t put it down, or stop thinking about them when I wasn’t reading them. Something about this book was so easy to read, the writing was so easy to follow, and overall just such a good feel-good type of contemporary sports romance that I just really needed in my life. I loved the premise, the spice, the emotional parts, the real-life scenarios, and the super sweet & cheesy romance parts. All in all so good, and as good as the first book in this series (maybe even better) and I need everyone to pick up these books as soon as possible.
I’ve seen others say the same thing, and I’m tacking right on with them that when it came to the mental health rep (OCD, Panic Attacks, Anxiety,) in Your Rule to Break, Rachel knocked it out of the park with its representation. As someone who deals with those things in my own life, I felt like I was looking inside of my head as I read and it took my breath away honestly and Rachel didn’t hear the end of it in our DM’s. I’ve never related more, felt so seen in another character and things like that make a book just so special and amazing for me. It added so much depth, so much humanism to a fictional story, that we can’t do anything but stan Emilie and her anxieties.
Lastly, one thing is for sure — I’m ALWAYS gonna be a huge fan of Rachel, and her characters & always gonna keep cheering her on during her writing journey, no matter where it takes her.
What to Expect in Your Rule to Break:
💞 fake dating
💞 professional athlete
💞 found family
💞 slow burn
💞 mental health rep
💞 no third act breakup
💞 tattoo moments
💞 golden retriever mmc
I received an ARC copy of Your Rule to Break and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Your Rule to Break releases January 10th, 2025
January 2, 2025
Your Rule to Break by Rachel LaBerge
Emilie is in one of the most awkward situations. Her little sister and ex won't stop talking about their upcoming wedding. When her very hot, very famous NFL player friend, Zack, senses she's looking for a way out, he steps in and introduces himself as her boyfriend. They ask if he'll be attending as Emilie's plus one to their wedding and to their surprise, including hers, he says yes without hesitation.
To make this relationship believable to her skeptical sister and ex, Zack and Emilie decide to fake date but the lines between what's fake and real start to blur almost instantly.
I'm such a sucker for fake dating and my goodness was this GOOD. There was a playfulness between Emilie and Zack that I absolutely loved. I feel like you could tell they each had a thing for each other way before they fake dated. And when things started getting serious, I was rooting for them all the way! And ok, y'all. I know how we all feel about MCs with blond hair and blue eyes but Zack is the exception!! First and only blond book boyfriend. 😜
Zack's family dynamic was so beautiful to read. To see that kind of support amongst parents and siblings was everything and something I truly wish everyone could experience, myself included. How accepting and loving they were towards Emilie when her own family was downright ugly to her was so refreshing to see.
Overall, I really enjoyed this follow up to the first book and recommend if you're looking for a quick and spicy sports romance novel. 🤍
Read if you love:
🩷 Sports romance
🩷 Fake dating
🩷 Slow burn
🩷 Texts on page
🩷 Golden retriever MMC
Your Rule to Break is book 2 in The Play Caller series and is an interconnected standalone.
Thank you so much, @rachellabergeauthor, for another fantastic arc! 🤍
Release date: January 10, 2025
Emilie is in one of the most awkward situations. Her little sister and ex won't stop talking about their upcoming wedding. When her very hot, very famous NFL player friend, Zack, senses she's looking for a way out, he steps in and introduces himself as her boyfriend. They ask if he'll be attending as Emilie's plus one to their wedding and to their surprise, including hers, he says yes without hesitation.
To make this relationship believable to her skeptical sister and ex, Zack and Emilie decide to fake date but the lines between what's fake and real start to blur almost instantly.
I'm such a sucker for fake dating and my goodness was this GOOD. There was a playfulness between Emilie and Zack that I absolutely loved. I feel like you could tell they each had a thing for each other way before they fake dated. And when things started getting serious, I was rooting for them all the way! And ok, y'all. I know how we all feel about MCs with blond hair and blue eyes but Zack is the exception!! First and only blond book boyfriend. 😜
Zack's family dynamic was so beautiful to read. To see that kind of support amongst parents and siblings was everything and something I truly wish everyone could experience, myself included. How accepting and loving they were towards Emilie when her own family was downright ugly to her was so refreshing to see.
Overall, I really enjoyed this follow up to the first book and recommend if you're looking for a quick and spicy sports romance novel. 🤍
Read if you love:
🩷 Sports romance
🩷 Fake dating
🩷 Slow burn
🩷 Texts on page
🩷 Golden retriever MMC
Your Rule to Break is book 2 in The Play Caller series and is an interconnected standalone.
Thank you so much, @rachellabergeauthor, for another fantastic arc! 🤍
Release date: January 10, 2025
December 22, 2024
AHHHH I am so excited to be back in the Cosmos universe!! Your Rule to Break follows Emilie and Zack’s perspectives through this dual POV read. From page one we learn that Emilie’s relationship with her family is well, tragic, honestly. She isn’t treat with any respect for her job or place in life. On top of that, her LITTLE SISTER is marrying her ex boyfriend… During a fundraiser put together by Emilie for Tripp Owens (PLEASE READ YOUR PLAY TO CALL IF YOU HAVE NOT YET), she is approached by the obnoxious duo and that’s when “sexy and he knows it” Zack swoops in for a fake dating situationship. He gets himself invited to the wedding, leaving Emilie freaking out if they can actually pull it off. One day, they come up with a list of two rules basically: don’t tell anyone and don’t post on social media without the other’s sign off of approval. A problem they run into early on, Zack is a well known “fuck boy”. Even though society shouldn’t care that much, it does. This makes really committing to the act necessary. One thing I genuinely love about this author is how she actively brings mental heath into conversation. Rachel understands the importance of representing mental health with the intention of passing on the idea that it’s okay to be who you are. Emilie is diagnosed with OCD, and I felt like it was giving the perspective we try to hide when glorifying the disorder. Zack is such a romantic without even realizing what everything he does comes together as and how it affects Emilie. Their relationship is beautiful and full of communication so that they stay on the same page even when Emilie’s thoughts tell her otherwise.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 5, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨
4.5 stars!
Guys, this was fun! Rachel, yet again, wrote such a good book! I may have favored this one a TINY bit more than book one but that might just be because I realllyyyy loved Zack.
In this we get: fake dating, friends to lovers, a slow burn, and a super hot football player with a superstar's assistant/friend. All the makings for a good time.
Emilie has a wedding to go to. Her sister is marrying her ex-boyfriend. So that's always fun. But what's going to make it even more fun is her friend/pro football player telling them that he'll be there too because, well, they're dating! Side note: they're not.
Emilie was such a complex and beauifuly written charcter. I loved how Rachel explored the kind of OCD that Emilie has. This was handled and written very clearly and done well. Emilie has a good heart and a crappy family. I loved her storyline and seeing her growth.
Zack is the playboy we all hear about on the TV. Except, he's actually a really good guy with a heart of gold. I loved seeing this side to Zack. He's just so charming and I was definitely swooning for him. I loved his family dynamic and how he tries to be just as supportive with Emilie.
Overall, I feel like I FLEW through this book. Partly because it was good and partly because Rachel blessed us with SHORT CHAPTERS! Love me some short chapters.
There were a few things missing, for me, BUT it didn't take away from the great job done of this book. These things were minor and not worth mentioning BUT I always keep it real in my reviews, no matter what.
Honestly, if Rachel writes it, I'm reading it. Plain and simple.
Thank you SO much to Rachel for the arc copy! I can't wait to read what you have next!! <3
4.5 stars!
Guys, this was fun! Rachel, yet again, wrote such a good book! I may have favored this one a TINY bit more than book one but that might just be because I realllyyyy loved Zack.
In this we get: fake dating, friends to lovers, a slow burn, and a super hot football player with a superstar's assistant/friend. All the makings for a good time.
Emilie has a wedding to go to. Her sister is marrying her ex-boyfriend. So that's always fun. But what's going to make it even more fun is her friend/pro football player telling them that he'll be there too because, well, they're dating! Side note: they're not.
Emilie was such a complex and beauifuly written charcter. I loved how Rachel explored the kind of OCD that Emilie has. This was handled and written very clearly and done well. Emilie has a good heart and a crappy family. I loved her storyline and seeing her growth.
Zack is the playboy we all hear about on the TV. Except, he's actually a really good guy with a heart of gold. I loved seeing this side to Zack. He's just so charming and I was definitely swooning for him. I loved his family dynamic and how he tries to be just as supportive with Emilie.
Overall, I feel like I FLEW through this book. Partly because it was good and partly because Rachel blessed us with SHORT CHAPTERS! Love me some short chapters.
There were a few things missing, for me, BUT it didn't take away from the great job done of this book. These things were minor and not worth mentioning BUT I always keep it real in my reviews, no matter what.
Honestly, if Rachel writes it, I'm reading it. Plain and simple.
Thank you SO much to Rachel for the arc copy! I can't wait to read what you have next!! <3
December 18, 2024
Emilie’s younger sister Eliza is planning on marrying Emilie’s ex boyfriend at a resort in Mexico.
Her Mother, who has never had a kind word for Emilie, runs true to form, belittling her in front of everyone.
Zack Andersen is a “long snapper” in The Upstate Cosmos NFL team, and won the Super Bowl for his team by throwing the winning touchdown, and has drifted from one date to the next, never taking anyone home to meet his parents.
He overhears Emilie’s ex asking if she brought a date, and Zack jumps in to pretend he’s her date, which makes Eliza and Mitch take notice, and earns Emilie and Zack a wedding invitation.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily
Emilie’s and Zack’s relationship grows to a point that they agree to “fake it” for the sake of Emilie requiring a + one.
I loved how the author built their characters, as well as creating situations for them, along with others, such as their families and friends.
It’s not too long before one or the other wants to stop the “faking”, but life throws a curve ball at Zack when he discovers a family secret.
Her Mother, who has never had a kind word for Emilie, runs true to form, belittling her in front of everyone.
Zack Andersen is a “long snapper” in The Upstate Cosmos NFL team, and won the Super Bowl for his team by throwing the winning touchdown, and has drifted from one date to the next, never taking anyone home to meet his parents.
He overhears Emilie’s ex asking if she brought a date, and Zack jumps in to pretend he’s her date, which makes Eliza and Mitch take notice, and earns Emilie and Zack a wedding invitation.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily
Emilie’s and Zack’s relationship grows to a point that they agree to “fake it” for the sake of Emilie requiring a + one.
I loved how the author built their characters, as well as creating situations for them, along with others, such as their families and friends.
It’s not too long before one or the other wants to stop the “faking”, but life throws a curve ball at Zack when he discovers a family secret.
December 17, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this, and THANK GOD for it! It was a quick read, seriously I devoured it in like 2 days, and I absolutely gushed and swooned over Emilie and Jack.
Emilie is an Artist Relations Manager, who works closely alongside her Pop Star bff, Willow. She is extremely good at her job, is a total boss B, and is loyal to a fault… something her crappy family takes advantage of. This is shown by the fact her sister is literally marrying her Ex and flaunting it every chance she gets. That is, until Jack steps in as her “fake” boyfriend.
Jack is a hot as hell, NFL legend that won his team the Super Bowl least year. However, Jack is a TOTAL playboy. He refuses to date one girl, and instead hops around from bed to bed. That is until he finds himself jumping to Emilie’s rescue time after time.
This book had great spice, the “love story” aspect was totally there and heartfelt, the dates were SO GOOD, I loved the development of the characters (including the redemption arc of one of our side characters), and the OCD representation was so well done. It felt extremely relatable. The only miss for me was that the little plot twist at the end felt a little rushed. I wish it had been explored a little more. But overall, it was quick read that I found myself not wanting to put down.
Emilie is an Artist Relations Manager, who works closely alongside her Pop Star bff, Willow. She is extremely good at her job, is a total boss B, and is loyal to a fault… something her crappy family takes advantage of. This is shown by the fact her sister is literally marrying her Ex and flaunting it every chance she gets. That is, until Jack steps in as her “fake” boyfriend.
Jack is a hot as hell, NFL legend that won his team the Super Bowl least year. However, Jack is a TOTAL playboy. He refuses to date one girl, and instead hops around from bed to bed. That is until he finds himself jumping to Emilie’s rescue time after time.
This book had great spice, the “love story” aspect was totally there and heartfelt, the dates were SO GOOD, I loved the development of the characters (including the redemption arc of one of our side characters), and the OCD representation was so well done. It felt extremely relatable. The only miss for me was that the little plot twist at the end felt a little rushed. I wish it had been explored a little more. But overall, it was quick read that I found myself not wanting to put down.
December 14, 2024
“Emilie asked why I’d never brought anyone home. Part of me wanted to tell her, because she’s the first person who felt like home to me.”
😭😭😭 I could not love this one anymore if my existence depended on it. I absolutely LOVE a mental health representation in a book, so the OCD rep was AMAZING. As someone who STRUGGLES (hard) with intrusive thoughts in my OCD, this was represented so accurately, it made me feel so much less alone.
“People make it out to be this quirky personality thing, but it’s like your brain telling you fucking horror stories of hypotheticals most of the time.”
So anyways, Emilie and Zack were perfect together. The way he used her nickname 😭 gets a tattoo for her? UGH I LOVE HIM AND HIS GIANT FUN PERSONALITY.
There are side stories going on with other characters throughout and that’s what I really loved. We follow along through conflicts on both sides and see how Emilie and Zack just complement one another in the best way. They love each other in the way the other needs.
I really loved the side characters and am hoping to read more about brooks or Riley! I love the tight knit family they have. It’s so special 😭
😭😭😭 I could not love this one anymore if my existence depended on it. I absolutely LOVE a mental health representation in a book, so the OCD rep was AMAZING. As someone who STRUGGLES (hard) with intrusive thoughts in my OCD, this was represented so accurately, it made me feel so much less alone.
“People make it out to be this quirky personality thing, but it’s like your brain telling you fucking horror stories of hypotheticals most of the time.”
So anyways, Emilie and Zack were perfect together. The way he used her nickname 😭 gets a tattoo for her? UGH I LOVE HIM AND HIS GIANT FUN PERSONALITY.
There are side stories going on with other characters throughout and that’s what I really loved. We follow along through conflicts on both sides and see how Emilie and Zack just complement one another in the best way. They love each other in the way the other needs.
I really loved the side characters and am hoping to read more about brooks or Riley! I love the tight knit family they have. It’s so special 😭
January 8, 2025
3.75⭐️
Emilie and Zack (with a K… iykyk) really bring on a slow burn, the spice doesn’t hit until about 60%, but the tension kept me wanting more.
I appreciated that Emilie and Zack are established adults. I love a good college sports romance but it’s nice to read about characters closer to my age 😆
Emilie and Zack have so many cute moments together. He’s a walking green flag honestly 🥹 She deserves to be spoiled and he really pulls through. I mean, a personal shopping date & attending cooking classes?! So cute!
Rachel really got me with the twist… I knew something was up but didn’t expect that at all! I do wish there was more to that story, I feel like that part was over so fast, I could’ve used more time to digest it. Also, the EPILOGUE. I’m a sucker for an emotional epilogue and Rachel had me tearing up on the last page 😅
If you’re looking for a spicy, slow burn, sports romance, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Thank you to the author for the e-arc.
Emilie and Zack (with a K… iykyk) really bring on a slow burn, the spice doesn’t hit until about 60%, but the tension kept me wanting more.
I appreciated that Emilie and Zack are established adults. I love a good college sports romance but it’s nice to read about characters closer to my age 😆
Emilie and Zack have so many cute moments together. He’s a walking green flag honestly 🥹 She deserves to be spoiled and he really pulls through. I mean, a personal shopping date & attending cooking classes?! So cute!
Rachel really got me with the twist… I knew something was up but didn’t expect that at all! I do wish there was more to that story, I feel like that part was over so fast, I could’ve used more time to digest it. Also, the EPILOGUE. I’m a sucker for an emotional epilogue and Rachel had me tearing up on the last page 😅
If you’re looking for a spicy, slow burn, sports romance, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Thank you to the author for the e-arc.
December 19, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Zack has officially dethrone Tripp (sorry not sorry but Willow I will no longer fight you for him 🤣) I love this man so damn much & he has made himself at the top of "MMCs that deserves a hug" list and that says something.
Emilie is up there as one of my favorite FMCs i've read this year with how strong this woman is. Mental health struggles are no joke and the representation in this book moved me so damn much. Do I suffer from OCD personally? no, but I do have an anxiety disorder and deal with intrusive thoughts myself and Rachel really hits the nail on the head describing panic attacks in this book and nothing makes me more ecstatic than feeling seen and relating on a deep level with book characters like Emilie 🥺
This slow burn though had me SCREAMING once they finally started giving in to their feelings UGGGGGH I was hooked so fast yall it's not even funny.
🌶️
Zack has officially dethrone Tripp (sorry not sorry but Willow I will no longer fight you for him 🤣) I love this man so damn much & he has made himself at the top of "MMCs that deserves a hug" list and that says something.
Emilie is up there as one of my favorite FMCs i've read this year with how strong this woman is. Mental health struggles are no joke and the representation in this book moved me so damn much. Do I suffer from OCD personally? no, but I do have an anxiety disorder and deal with intrusive thoughts myself and Rachel really hits the nail on the head describing panic attacks in this book and nothing makes me more ecstatic than feeling seen and relating on a deep level with book characters like Emilie 🥺
This slow burn though had me SCREAMING once they finally started giving in to their feelings UGGGGGH I was hooked so fast yall it's not even funny.
December 23, 2024
Your Rule to Break by Rachel Laberge releases January 10, 2025.
This was my first time reading a book by Rachel Laberge, and I have to say, her writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The plot completely hooked me—I couldn’t put it down! Emilie and Zack’s fake dating adventure was fun to read, especially with the added drama of Emilie navigating her sister marrying her ex.
I also really appreciated the authentic representation of Emilie’s OCD. It felt genuine and added a lot of depth to the story. The book had a perfect balance of real-life challenges and lighthearted moments, and the ending was super sweet. I’d definitely recommend it!
Quote:
“I can’t help but thing about rules and what we do to try to keep ourselves on track, or keep our hearts protected. But, sometimes, the rules are meant to be broken. “
Spice:
🌶️
Tropes:
💕fake dating
💕sports romance
💕slow burn
💕dual POV
💕golden retriever MMC
💕tattoo moment
This was my first time reading a book by Rachel Laberge, and I have to say, her writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The plot completely hooked me—I couldn’t put it down! Emilie and Zack’s fake dating adventure was fun to read, especially with the added drama of Emilie navigating her sister marrying her ex.
I also really appreciated the authentic representation of Emilie’s OCD. It felt genuine and added a lot of depth to the story. The book had a perfect balance of real-life challenges and lighthearted moments, and the ending was super sweet. I’d definitely recommend it!
Quote:
“I can’t help but thing about rules and what we do to try to keep ourselves on track, or keep our hearts protected. But, sometimes, the rules are meant to be broken. “
Spice:
🌶️
Tropes:
💕fake dating
💕sports romance
💕slow burn
💕dual POV
💕golden retriever MMC
💕tattoo moment
January 3, 2025
Huge thank you to Rachel LaBerge for providing me with an e-ARC of Your Rule To Break in exchange for an honest review!
Y'all, this book!!!!!👏👏 I'm a huge fan of the fake dating trope when it's done well, and Rachel absolutely nailed it! Emilie and Zack had me hooked from the start, and I loved watching their relationship blossom. The setup with Emilie needing a date to her ex's wedding, was the perfect way to integrate the fake dating trope into the story. I also really appreciated the mental health representation around OCD and panic attacks, and I felt that it was executed well in the story.
I did have one minor issue and that was that I felt like there wasn't enough tension. Since Emilie and Zack were already friends, the shift from fake dating to more wasn't as pronounced as I usually like, it all kind of bled together, and I missed that pivotal breaking point. But overall, if you're into fake dating with a reformed playboy, this book is a must-read!💖💖
Y'all, this book!!!!!👏👏 I'm a huge fan of the fake dating trope when it's done well, and Rachel absolutely nailed it! Emilie and Zack had me hooked from the start, and I loved watching their relationship blossom. The setup with Emilie needing a date to her ex's wedding, was the perfect way to integrate the fake dating trope into the story. I also really appreciated the mental health representation around OCD and panic attacks, and I felt that it was executed well in the story.
I did have one minor issue and that was that I felt like there wasn't enough tension. Since Emilie and Zack were already friends, the shift from fake dating to more wasn't as pronounced as I usually like, it all kind of bled together, and I missed that pivotal breaking point. But overall, if you're into fake dating with a reformed playboy, this book is a must-read!💖💖
December 11, 2024
Thank you Rachel for this ARC!
Zack Anderson is a football playboy and Emilie James Hayes is the assistant to popstar Willow. Emilie and her family have a toxic relationship with her sister marrying her ex. When Zack overhears her dilemma, he steps in to be her fake boyfriend.
Emilie and Zack begin their fake relationship but of course real feelings are involved. Both have family issues and tabloid lies that put strain on their relationship, but they don’t let that break them.
I really enjoyed Zack’s character development and changing his playboy ways for Emilie. He spoils her and wants to take care of her. His date planning was next level. Emilie also gained confidence through their relationship.
I really enjoyed this fake dating, football romance! 🏈🏟️
Zack Anderson is a football playboy and Emilie James Hayes is the assistant to popstar Willow. Emilie and her family have a toxic relationship with her sister marrying her ex. When Zack overhears her dilemma, he steps in to be her fake boyfriend.
Emilie and Zack begin their fake relationship but of course real feelings are involved. Both have family issues and tabloid lies that put strain on their relationship, but they don’t let that break them.
I really enjoyed Zack’s character development and changing his playboy ways for Emilie. He spoils her and wants to take care of her. His date planning was next level. Emilie also gained confidence through their relationship.
I really enjoyed this fake dating, football romance! 🏈🏟️
December 14, 2024
One thing about me...I LOVE FAKE DATING and will eat it up ever. single. time. I received the arc of this book and I really enjoyed the follow up of book 1 in the series, I was super excited to see what Emilie and Zack got up to and I was not disappointed. The book is super duper fast paced, fun, funny, and just overall such a good and easy read. I'm so appreciative of the way the author focuses on mental health in such a relatable and non villainizing way and I've really been enjoying her style in that regard. RACHEL WHAT ARE YOU PUTTING IN THESE MEN??? Zack is yet another golden retriever man with the energy to match and I just loved him a lot.
Thank you so much to Rachel for sending me the ARC and I can't wait to get the physical books!!
Thank you so much to Rachel for sending me the ARC and I can't wait to get the physical books!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews