Helpful Score: 1
This book is the story of a girl who fell in love with her best friend's boyfriend, but it's also about so much more than that. It the story of best friends, and this truly unhealthy relationship they have. I did enjoy the premise of the story, and the writers voice but that's about it. Sarah has liked Ryan for years, but never says anything. When Ryan and her BFF Brianna are suddenly together, Sarah can't get Ryan out of head, or her heart. Brianna is really into Ryan, this is her first relationship that she's ever had last more than a week or two, and Sarah doesn't want to hurt her. Should she follow her heart?
As for the characters, I loved Sarah's Mom and Dad, they were a lot of fun, and just great loving parents. Brianna's Mom was horrid! She was hateful and did nothing but think of herself and drive her daughter down. I never did connect with the MC's. Sarah was so insecure and naive, she thought Brianna was being a great friend even when she was cutting her down. Brianna was just as horrid as her mother, just not as obviously so. She was always making snide remarks about how Sarah wasn't good enough, how much better she was than her, how she'd never find a boyfriend (maybe she should find a freshman who doesn't know any better...). I literally could not stand her, if I had known her in real life I would have knocked her out for treating people like that. After never being loved by her parents, she is one of those girls who want attention from guys, thinking that will take the place of the love she craves, but she always dumps them before she would chance herself getting attached and possibly hurt. I didn't connect with Ryan either, supposedly he always wanted Sarah, not Brianna, and yet it takes him 2 months to decide that he should let Brianna go?
I also felt like Sarah was always rambling on and on and on about how much she liked Ryan. It was a lot of her whining and tagging along with Brianna and Ryan and not a lot really going on in the relationships. Overall, this book just kinda feel flat for me. I had really high hopes for it and I think it had really good premise, but I really just needed at least one character that I could connect with and root for, and it just didn't happen.
As for the characters, I loved Sarah's Mom and Dad, they were a lot of fun, and just great loving parents. Brianna's Mom was horrid! She was hateful and did nothing but think of herself and drive her daughter down. I never did connect with the MC's. Sarah was so insecure and naive, she thought Brianna was being a great friend even when she was cutting her down. Brianna was just as horrid as her mother, just not as obviously so. She was always making snide remarks about how Sarah wasn't good enough, how much better she was than her, how she'd never find a boyfriend (maybe she should find a freshman who doesn't know any better...). I literally could not stand her, if I had known her in real life I would have knocked her out for treating people like that. After never being loved by her parents, she is one of those girls who want attention from guys, thinking that will take the place of the love she craves, but she always dumps them before she would chance herself getting attached and possibly hurt. I didn't connect with Ryan either, supposedly he always wanted Sarah, not Brianna, and yet it takes him 2 months to decide that he should let Brianna go?
I also felt like Sarah was always rambling on and on and on about how much she liked Ryan. It was a lot of her whining and tagging along with Brianna and Ryan and not a lot really going on in the relationships. Overall, this book just kinda feel flat for me. I had really high hopes for it and I think it had really good premise, but I really just needed at least one character that I could connect with and root for, and it just didn't happen.
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com
Sarah knows she shouldn't like Ryan. Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. There's an unwritten rule in friendship - no crushes on your best friend's boy. But the attraction is there - and besides, Sarah liked him first. When Ryan and Sarah are thrown together one night, something happens. Sarah is torn apart by guilt and wanting to act on her feelings.
Elizabeth Scott is an amazing author - she can write anything and I'm always amazed at her talent. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this one, as I hate love triangles and stealing someone's boyfriend - no way! But Ms. Scott pulls it off in a wonderful way that made me feel for the characters.
As much as I liked Sarah and Ryan, Brianna was the stand-out character for me. I would like her and hate her at the same time. I would feel sorry for her but I'd also want to yell at her for being so mean. Ms. Scott walks a very fine line with Brianna and it works; she kept me guessing about her the entire time. Was she good or bad? Someone to like or not? And could we make excuses for her? I could have an entire book discussion on just Brianna alone!
But I can't leave Sarah out (and not just because she shares my name)! Your heart aches with her as she is wracked with guilt over wanting her best friend's boyfriend and wanting to remain loyal to Brianna. The story is slowly unraveled, and bits and pieces about the past are unveiled and the reader, like Sarah, wants so badly for Sarah and Ryan to be together.
I also love the families that Ms. Scott writes - she has the best supporting characters. I loved that Sarah was close to her parents and she's okay staying at home with them. I've always had a close relationship with my family, even as a teen, and that is a rare thing to find in YA books. Sarah's relationship with her parents was believable and they were a family I would love to visit.
This is an emotional novel and one that will stick with you. It might sound like it'll be a fluffy chick lit romance, and while there is romance, it's certainly not fluff! If you've read anything by Elizabeth Scott, you know she writes great romances and this one is no exception. It's never an easy or light romance - it's heart-wrenching and heartbreaking and real.
THE UNWRITTEN RULE doesn't take the easy, all-will-be-perfect route to this story, which I think makes the book even more realistic. This one will have you thinking about your friendships and relationships long after you read the last page.
Sarah knows she shouldn't like Ryan. Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. There's an unwritten rule in friendship - no crushes on your best friend's boy. But the attraction is there - and besides, Sarah liked him first. When Ryan and Sarah are thrown together one night, something happens. Sarah is torn apart by guilt and wanting to act on her feelings.
Elizabeth Scott is an amazing author - she can write anything and I'm always amazed at her talent. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this one, as I hate love triangles and stealing someone's boyfriend - no way! But Ms. Scott pulls it off in a wonderful way that made me feel for the characters.
As much as I liked Sarah and Ryan, Brianna was the stand-out character for me. I would like her and hate her at the same time. I would feel sorry for her but I'd also want to yell at her for being so mean. Ms. Scott walks a very fine line with Brianna and it works; she kept me guessing about her the entire time. Was she good or bad? Someone to like or not? And could we make excuses for her? I could have an entire book discussion on just Brianna alone!
But I can't leave Sarah out (and not just because she shares my name)! Your heart aches with her as she is wracked with guilt over wanting her best friend's boyfriend and wanting to remain loyal to Brianna. The story is slowly unraveled, and bits and pieces about the past are unveiled and the reader, like Sarah, wants so badly for Sarah and Ryan to be together.
I also love the families that Ms. Scott writes - she has the best supporting characters. I loved that Sarah was close to her parents and she's okay staying at home with them. I've always had a close relationship with my family, even as a teen, and that is a rare thing to find in YA books. Sarah's relationship with her parents was believable and they were a family I would love to visit.
This is an emotional novel and one that will stick with you. It might sound like it'll be a fluffy chick lit romance, and while there is romance, it's certainly not fluff! If you've read anything by Elizabeth Scott, you know she writes great romances and this one is no exception. It's never an easy or light romance - it's heart-wrenching and heartbreaking and real.
THE UNWRITTEN RULE doesn't take the easy, all-will-be-perfect route to this story, which I think makes the book even more realistic. This one will have you thinking about your friendships and relationships long after you read the last page.
Helpful Score: 1
Okay, so I love young adult romance. I even like the author. Her books STEALING HEAVEN, PERFECT YOU, and BLOOM were really good so I thought Id give this one a
chance.
It did nothing for me. The book was very juvenile. I feel like this would be better suited for very young girls-around 10. I felt like it said the same thing over the whole length of the book and brought nothing new or interesting. I ended up setting down right in the climax with no concern of how it ended!
chance.
It did nothing for me. The book was very juvenile. I feel like this would be better suited for very young girls-around 10. I felt like it said the same thing over the whole length of the book and brought nothing new or interesting. I ended up setting down right in the climax with no concern of how it ended!
