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becca's review
5.0
(Rating is actually 4.5 stars, rounded up!)
First reviewed on my blog Pretty Little Memoirs. With thanks to Scholastic for the ARC!
Our main character Simone is Haitian-American and has spent a great deal of her young life acting as her Parents expect her to, which by their rules, means that she has lived within a certain box. For a start, Simone cannot date, goes to an all-girls school (so that the “no dating” is even further instilled) and has a strict curfew. Not only that, but as prom is looming – something Simone can’t wait for – their rules imply that she can only go with a boy that they choose. After so many of these things stack up on her shoulders, Simone and her friends, who depict themselves as the late-bloomers, decide to break the rules as Senior Year nears it’s end.
On their bucket list, they decide to just go for it. They make notes upon notes of things they haven’t been able to (or weren’t allowed) to do, like kiss a boy, sneak out of the house after curfew, choose their own date and even skipping classes. For a while, it goes without a hitch. Simone has never felt more free. But then things get super complicated. She’s crushing on a boy that she could really see herself with, but she’d never be allowed to see him in her Parents world they’ve made for her. She knows that right now she’s breaking the rules, but she has to put her heart on the line and decide which ones are actually worth the heartache.
Overall, I really loved Simone Breaks All The Rules. What started slow and steady, turned to turning pages until after dark, immersed in a world so different from my own. I’ve never had rules, per say, growing up, but I was always over-cautious of everything because of anxiety/fear of breaking a rule at school. Even though I personally didn’t go to prom (I was home-schooled after I was 14 because I was sick) I can understand the perfect-image that Simone wanted it to be, actually wanting to make these choices for herself and make her own mistakes instead of living so carefully. Something I adored inside the book was that there is so much appreciation for her Haitian culture, for her family and friendships, and especially a deeply-rooted love to want to live a life she’s happy of. I found myself rooting for Simone and her heart, desperately clinging on to her story until the last page was turned. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story and can’t wait to read more in the series to come.
**Review coming 06/07!** My first thoughts are basically just that this was such a stunning read that had character, whip-smart humour and characters that felt authentic down to their core. I'll gather my thoughts and arrange a review tomorrow!
First reviewed on my blog Pretty Little Memoirs. With thanks to Scholastic for the ARC!
Our main character Simone is Haitian-American and has spent a great deal of her young life acting as her Parents expect her to, which by their rules, means that she has lived within a certain box. For a start, Simone cannot date, goes to an all-girls school (so that the “no dating” is even further instilled) and has a strict curfew. Not only that, but as prom is looming – something Simone can’t wait for – their rules imply that she can only go with a boy that they choose. After so many of these things stack up on her shoulders, Simone and her friends, who depict themselves as the late-bloomers, decide to break the rules as Senior Year nears it’s end.
On their bucket list, they decide to just go for it. They make notes upon notes of things they haven’t been able to (or weren’t allowed) to do, like kiss a boy, sneak out of the house after curfew, choose their own date and even skipping classes. For a while, it goes without a hitch. Simone has never felt more free. But then things get super complicated. She’s crushing on a boy that she could really see herself with, but she’d never be allowed to see him in her Parents world they’ve made for her. She knows that right now she’s breaking the rules, but she has to put her heart on the line and decide which ones are actually worth the heartache.
Overall, I really loved Simone Breaks All The Rules. What started slow and steady, turned to turning pages until after dark, immersed in a world so different from my own. I’ve never had rules, per say, growing up, but I was always over-cautious of everything because of anxiety/fear of breaking a rule at school. Even though I personally didn’t go to prom (I was home-schooled after I was 14 because I was sick) I can understand the perfect-image that Simone wanted it to be, actually wanting to make these choices for herself and make her own mistakes instead of living so carefully. Something I adored inside the book was that there is so much appreciation for her Haitian culture, for her family and friendships, and especially a deeply-rooted love to want to live a life she’s happy of. I found myself rooting for Simone and her heart, desperately clinging on to her story until the last page was turned. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story and can’t wait to read more in the series to come.
**Review coming 06/07!** My first thoughts are basically just that this was such a stunning read that had character, whip-smart humour and characters that felt authentic down to their core. I'll gather my thoughts and arrange a review tomorrow!
stacialovestoread's review
5.0
I’m in tears as I write this review.
I’m not Haitian but I am Black, and so many of the struggles Simone faced were ones I battled too. Being the youngest in the family and, in my case, the only girl, is quite a burden to bear, despite what the older siblings may say.
We have such a high standard to uphold. To be perfect. To not rock the boat. And it’s exhausting.
I am so happy that Simone found the courage to stand up to her parents, because in the grand scheme of things, we must all live a life that we are satisfied with.
There’s a passage toward the end when Simone is standing in her custom designed prom dress, and she mentions that some day, a girl will see her photos online and pin them to a prom inspirational board...that’s when I started crying. I wish I could have seen more girls like me growing up. I can’t wait for future generations, my own nieces and nephews and (potential) kids to see me and my work as something to aspire to. To know that if TT can do it, they can too. To know that Simone can do it, and *I* can too.
Rules are meant to be broken.
—————-
Big thanks to Scholastic and Edelweiss for the print ARC and eARC, respectively. SIMONE releases June 1st and is available everywhere books are sold.
Visit https://sltrbooks.home.blog/2021/06/03/simone-breaks-all-the-rules-arc-review/ for a fun GIF style review from me as well!
I’m not Haitian but I am Black, and so many of the struggles Simone faced were ones I battled too. Being the youngest in the family and, in my case, the only girl, is quite a burden to bear, despite what the older siblings may say.
We have such a high standard to uphold. To be perfect. To not rock the boat. And it’s exhausting.
I am so happy that Simone found the courage to stand up to her parents, because in the grand scheme of things, we must all live a life that we are satisfied with.
There’s a passage toward the end when Simone is standing in her custom designed prom dress, and she mentions that some day, a girl will see her photos online and pin them to a prom inspirational board...that’s when I started crying. I wish I could have seen more girls like me growing up. I can’t wait for future generations, my own nieces and nephews and (potential) kids to see me and my work as something to aspire to. To know that if TT can do it, they can too. To know that Simone can do it, and *I* can too.
Rules are meant to be broken.
—————-
Big thanks to Scholastic and Edelweiss for the print ARC and eARC, respectively. SIMONE releases June 1st and is available everywhere books are sold.
Visit https://sltrbooks.home.blog/2021/06/03/simone-breaks-all-the-rules-arc-review/ for a fun GIF style review from me as well!
rebecca_oneil's review
4.0
Simone is about to graduate high school, and she's really feeling the restrictions of her strict Haitian immigrant parents, who say she has to stay home to attend college, and also, they will be picking her prom date (a boy from a nice Haitian family, of course). She teams up with two other girls with strict parents and writes "The Playlist," a list of things they want to accomplish before graduation -- even if they have to evade their parents to do it. As you might guess, a lot of sneaking and hilarity ensues, with a bonus "focused on the wrong guy" romance, and a happy ending.
This was a fun, fast read, full of slang and current references. At times it felt like too much (how soon will it seem dated?), but also, I admit I might be just feeling my age here! Plus there was a lot of cultural info about Haitian life in the US and back home, and that's educational to anyone from outside that culture. Things I looked up (none of which affected my understanding of the story, but I was curious) included Naomi Wadler, konpa music, "gang, gang, gang" song, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art (MoCADA, https://mocada.org/). Things I did know...Simone Biles, Greta Thunberg, "thinking man" GIF, "low-key feeling some type of way." :) I loved the final scene with Simone and her mom in the grocery store. And...the author thanks librarians from Columbus and Westerville in her acknowledgments!
Favorite quotes:
"Gavin steps off the bus with a crowd of guys and I'm relieved-bereaved to see him go."
"Gabby crushes everything she sets her mind to -- sports, hair styling, people's feelings."
"I love that I've grown up in a Black neighborhood alive with that African American, African, and Caribbean appreciation of thicker bodies...my family always reminds me to feel good about my body, whatever shape it's in."
This was a fun, fast read, full of slang and current references. At times it felt like too much (how soon will it seem dated?), but also, I admit I might be just feeling my age here! Plus there was a lot of cultural info about Haitian life in the US and back home, and that's educational to anyone from outside that culture. Things I looked up (none of which affected my understanding of the story, but I was curious) included Naomi Wadler, konpa music, "gang, gang, gang" song, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art (MoCADA, https://mocada.org/). Things I did know...Simone Biles, Greta Thunberg, "thinking man" GIF, "low-key feeling some type of way." :) I loved the final scene with Simone and her mom in the grocery store. And...the author thanks librarians from Columbus and Westerville in her acknowledgments!
Favorite quotes:
"Gavin steps off the bus with a crowd of guys and I'm relieved-bereaved to see him go."
"Gabby crushes everything she sets her mind to -- sports, hair styling, people's feelings."
"I love that I've grown up in a Black neighborhood alive with that African American, African, and Caribbean appreciation of thicker bodies...my family always reminds me to feel good about my body, whatever shape it's in."
khrysweetie's review
4.0
"Sometimes taking action can't stay a secret. Sometimes we have to shine a light on things we keep in the dark."
dkg20's review
3.0
This was cute, but I agree with the reviews saying Simone read a little younger than a senior in HS and the dialogue was cringey and forced at times with trying to use “hip lingo”
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
If you’re looking for a sweet and funny romance, look no further. High school senior Simone Thibodeaux just wants some room to breathe. Her Haitian mother is so overprotective— Simone is not allowed to date, other than an arranged date to the prom, and Mummy has made it clear that Simone will live at home while attending Rutgers next year. Simone teams up with two friends from school who also have overprotective parents, and together the three girls come up with a plan to take back their senior year.
While the love interest (no spoilers!) may be a little too good to be true, Rigaud gives Simone such a fresh and fun voice. Her depiction of Haitian culture and of the messiness and love of extended families is a treat.
Thanks to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss for the electronic arc.
While the love interest (no spoilers!) may be a little too good to be true, Rigaud gives Simone such a fresh and fun voice. Her depiction of Haitian culture and of the messiness and love of extended families is a treat.
Thanks to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss for the electronic arc.
slevos's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25