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A review by astravars
A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee
4.75
a queer historical friends to lovers romance? yes please.
I fell in love with these two dumbasses when I first read the five chapter sample of this book on netgalley, and my love for them has only continued to grow ever since.
I connected with Noah immediately, and he continues to be my favourite, though I quickly grew attached to David as well, and the supporting cast was well fleshed out and equally loveable, including sapphic and trans characters which I appreciated a lot.
Some critique I've seen in other reviews was how the mystery aspect of the plot wasn't explored enough. I personally disagree with this, as I think it's important to note that this book is primarily a romance, and the focus lies on the characters and their flaws, struggles, feelings. I might be a bit biased here because I love character focused books, but I really enjoyed this aspect of the book as well as the balance between this and the rest of the plot, including the pacing.
The romance itself was so heart-warming and beautiful, friends to lovers continues to be on of my favourite tropes, and Everlee does a very good job at executing it. There were occasional flashback chapters to their shared years in boarding school, and the time that passed between then and the present, which helped connect to them and their relationship to each other further. I don't want to give away too much, so I suggest you go read it yourself, but know that I had much fun watching the plot unravel.
(One of my personal favourite things is that Noah does drag and there's a specific smut scene where he's half in drag.)
Note: I hadn't read the first book prior to reading this one (i have now), but I didn't have any problem understanding it, so I can safely confirm that it can be read as a standalone. I do like when side characters in one book appear as main characters in another, so I would recommend reading both (and the third one when it comes out this year) though if you don't mind minor spoilers I don't think it matters in which order they're read.
+ I disagree with some of the reviews I've read about things being too easily solved, I mean it was pretty lighthearted in the end, but I love me some queer joy, we deserve that
I fell in love with these two dumbasses when I first read the five chapter sample of this book on netgalley, and my love for them has only continued to grow ever since.
I connected with Noah immediately, and he continues to be my favourite, though I quickly grew attached to David as well, and the supporting cast was well fleshed out and equally loveable, including sapphic and trans characters which I appreciated a lot.
Some critique I've seen in other reviews was how the mystery aspect of the plot wasn't explored enough. I personally disagree with this, as I think it's important to note that this book is primarily a romance, and the focus lies on the characters and their flaws, struggles, feelings. I might be a bit biased here because I love character focused books, but I really enjoyed this aspect of the book as well as the balance between this and the rest of the plot, including the pacing.
The romance itself was so heart-warming and beautiful, friends to lovers continues to be on of my favourite tropes, and Everlee does a very good job at executing it. There were occasional flashback chapters to their shared years in boarding school, and the time that passed between then and the present, which helped connect to them and their relationship to each other further. I don't want to give away too much, so I suggest you go read it yourself, but know that I had much fun watching the plot unravel.
(One of my personal favourite things is that Noah does drag and there's a specific smut scene where he's half in drag.)
Note: I hadn't read the first book prior to reading this one (i have now), but I didn't have any problem understanding it, so I can safely confirm that it can be read as a standalone. I do like when side characters in one book appear as main characters in another, so I would recommend reading both (and the third one when it comes out this year) though if you don't mind minor spoilers I don't think it matters in which order they're read.
+ I disagree with some of the reviews I've read about things being too easily solved, I mean it was pretty lighthearted in the end, but I love me some queer joy, we deserve that