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thewitchybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
I have been a fan of this author for a while now and Bending the Rules is beyond one of her best books so far. I loved the push and pull between Lincoln and Raegan. Her ultimate crush. The brother’s best friend. College angst at the peak of it all. I have to say that this book was an epic escape, especially right now with the way the world is. I found that this book made me feel young again, feeling that first HUGE crush that just gave you butterflies and all the gooey feelings. I found Lincoln to be a bit of a mystery. I want to know more about him and what makes him tick! Then you have Derek in the mix and it really throws you for a loop! I have my team that I am rooting for… so you need to snag up this bad boy and decide who’s team you are on before the second book releases!
bookswithbibi's review against another edition
4.0
This book started out strong, and while I still enjoyed it, for the most part, I found some of the will they-won't they to be tiring. I know, that it's the main premise of the story, but I found after a while, it to be a bit repetitive.
While the main characters weren't my favourite, I did enjoy the banter and the family moments between everyone. That being said, I did enjoy the ending and I am interested in seeing where the author is going to take us in the next one.
While the main characters weren't my favourite, I did enjoy the banter and the family moments between everyone. That being said, I did enjoy the ending and I am interested in seeing where the author is going to take us in the next one.
ambere_booksandmore's review
5.0
Brothers best friend
I love brothers best friend romances. They are one of my all time favorite. This book is no different. I love all of these characters. The mystery that is surrounding this have me looking at all of them sideways. That cliff was hard but I am glad I do not have to wait. Off to read the rest of their story.
I love brothers best friend romances. They are one of my all time favorite. This book is no different. I love all of these characters. The mystery that is surrounding this have me looking at all of them sideways. That cliff was hard but I am glad I do not have to wait. Off to read the rest of their story.
rohina_sharma's review
4.0
Before anything, I believe this book deserves some applause and appreciation because this is the first book that I've read in a month and some odd days! At this point, I've truly lost count.
So please bear with me as I untangle the thoughts I had during reading this book after an involuntary hiatus.
“I’m not a villain. I just know where this would lead: a long road to a longer recovery.”
I want to start by saying that almost every side character was downright lovable and someone you would love to be friends with. They are genuine and caring and just all-around good people.
Raegan and Lincoln, our main leads, from the start, come across as two headstrong, driven individuals with their own goals and personal hang-ups.
Where Raegan is goal-oriented and very sure of what she wants from her career and life, it is the opposite when it comes to Lincoln. A crush that she has harboured for three years without any reciprocation, Rae decided that it is time to move on and test the waters.
She does go out and test the waters, but alas, when you've had a crush that has crossed every line of not being a crush, it's hard to move on.
Lincoln, oh you mysterious person! You think you know Lincoln, you have him pegged like a certain type of person but then here he comes with a wishy-washy attitude where Raegan is concerned. At one point I was cursing him in my head to let Rae move on (some shipper I am, I tell you.) But once, Rae was in college and the interactions increased between the two, it was clear as day to see what he wanted but why he was not going after it isn't one hundred per cent clear.
Something is holding him back.
Until there isn't...
“I need you, Rae. I need all of you.” I’m not sure if I’m more afraid of the past or the future as I stare at him, recognizing the same vulnerability I see in my reflection when thinking of him. “You already have all of me,” I whisper.
With her signature monologue-ish writing style and infrequent use of dialogues, Mariah Dietz brings in all the angst from the first chapter.
The one thing that I've come to understand and not only appreciate but love is the use of dialogues. There aren't a ton of them. You don't have pages upon pages of dialogues but the ones that you do get have some significance and meaning. Even the most mundane conversations, like Rae's mother asking how her day was and vice-a-versa, it feels like there is some importance or motive behind those "talks"
As is the usual case with any of Dietz's novels, the story starts slow laying the foundation stones for the future chapters to build on. But for someone who has been unmotivated, the initial 20% - 30% seemed slower than usual for me and I was *kinda* getting a hard time getting into the story.
It was when Rae's thought process started to evolve and as you read about the multiple things you notice from her perspective, I was getting invested. I was gauging every character, their moves and their facial expressions. I was so focused on Lincoln, visualizing his facial and body description, and how he reacted to Rae being around him.
The last 20% was when things went topsy-turvy and I was up until 3:ooam to finish the book! (My sleep schedule is wackier than usual)
This is the part with the maximum action and I was gobbling up the words and chapters like someone was going to snatch away my phone.
And then it ended...
ON
A
FREAKING
CLIFFHANGER!
Holy crap that cliffhanger! It was the most unexpected thing for me. The build-up was there, it was leading to that point, Mariah had dropped bread crumbs but my slow ass was still shook AF! In Ross Geller's voice 'I'M FINE! TOTALLY FINE!
The only thing that is keeping me sane at the moment is that I know that the second book is only 6 days away! Not too long of a wait... Right?
4 Stars!
↠ Buy Bending the Rules (Kindle)
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* ARC gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review. *
kcsunshine25's review
3.0
This book should so easily be a teen romance film on Netflix, like The Kissing Booth. Raegan has a huge crush on her brother’s best friend and football team mate Lincoln.
The will they, won’t they was torture. I wanted to slap Lincoln so hard and tell him to get his head in the game.
Rae wants to save the planet but also wants to kiss Lincoln so hard that she will feel him on her lips for days! If he wasn’t only 21, I might like to kiss him myself.
That said, I think the book was too young for me. The thought of college parties wore me out. I’m over the toga wearing, school uniform wearing, Barbie doll lookalike keggers. There’s a few threads that are left wide open that will need to be pulled together in book two. There was lots of waffle that didn’t really add to the story that put me off and almost had me giving up but I stuck to it, finally got the kiss I wanted and then all hell hit.
I’m intrigued to see what happens next to Lincoln and Rae.
The will they, won’t they was torture. I wanted to slap Lincoln so hard and tell him to get his head in the game.
Rae wants to save the planet but also wants to kiss Lincoln so hard that she will feel him on her lips for days! If he wasn’t only 21, I might like to kiss him myself.
That said, I think the book was too young for me. The thought of college parties wore me out. I’m over the toga wearing, school uniform wearing, Barbie doll lookalike keggers. There’s a few threads that are left wide open that will need to be pulled together in book two. There was lots of waffle that didn’t really add to the story that put me off and almost had me giving up but I stuck to it, finally got the kiss I wanted and then all hell hit.
I’m intrigued to see what happens next to Lincoln and Rae.
maggiemaereadsbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hopelessromanticbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is the first time I am reading something from Mariah Dietz, and I would have to admit that I really enjoyed this book.
I loved the family dynamics, the strong bond between siblings and the love for protecting one another.
The friendships between the main character or her brothers friends make me laugh when it comes to their banter, but also how strong their friendships go (and secretly I am jealous 😂)
I started this book yesterday and managed to read 30% of the book right away. I was pulled into the story about the main character, her family, her best friend and of course her crush. But also the mystery that happened, and the way the romance was sort of a slow burn but also one that both characters kept denying until they could stay apart anymore.
The ending had me crushed because I also love animals, but when I realised how it ended and I just wished I had book two to carry it on straight away. I will definitely be grabbing book 2 very soon so I can find out what happens!
Even with the little bit of banter from the main characters brother and his friends through the book, I did feel like it dragged a little and that all the drama/excitement was more towards the ending of the book than it was at the beginning and middle.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good brother’s best friend romance! x
I loved the family dynamics, the strong bond between siblings and the love for protecting one another.
The friendships between the main character or her brothers friends make me laugh when it comes to their banter, but also how strong their friendships go (and secretly I am jealous 😂)
I started this book yesterday and managed to read 30% of the book right away. I was pulled into the story about the main character, her family, her best friend and of course her crush. But also the mystery that happened, and the way the romance was sort of a slow burn but also one that both characters kept denying until they could stay apart anymore.
The ending had me crushed because I also love animals, but when I realised how it ended and I just wished I had book two to carry it on straight away. I will definitely be grabbing book 2 very soon so I can find out what happens!
Even with the little bit of banter from the main characters brother and his friends through the book, I did feel like it dragged a little and that all the drama/excitement was more towards the ending of the book than it was at the beginning and middle.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good brother’s best friend romance! x
bookswithbibi's review
4.0
This book started out strong, and while I still enjoyed it, for the most part, I found some of the will they-won't they to be tiring. I know, that it's the main premise of the story, but I found after a while, it to be a bit repetitive.
While the main characters weren't my favourite, I did enjoy the banter and the family moments between everyone. That being said, I did enjoy the ending and I am interested in seeing where the author is going to take us in the next one.
While the main characters weren't my favourite, I did enjoy the banter and the family moments between everyone. That being said, I did enjoy the ending and I am interested in seeing where the author is going to take us in the next one.
charlotteiisobel's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0