The context for the Rule Breaking is that Winter and Bobby set up rules as academic rivals, which for some reason their parents know about and entertain. I loved how everyone character had their time in the spotlight and a backstory. The main characters grew from their interactions with the friends and family around them and many scenes in this book are lighthearted and silly (as you’d expect for teenagers who try to act mature).
It took a while for me to really get into the novel because of a rocky intro where many conversations between characters were disrupted by dense explanations of context, like explaining who is Winter’s best friend while she’s talking to her grandmother. The descriptions are good, kind of abstract but with descriptive imagery. I loved the insights into Korean culture, like the food and the common names. As a POC, I thought it was very important to discuss the motivations and the challenges for immigrants who move to America.
Overall it was funny, lighthearted romance/ coming of age and I loved how the mains became more confident in themselves.
I just had to note this quote that made me laugh, (talking about male MC): “He didn’t exactly steam her dumplings”.

Thank you so much @coloredpagesbt , @penguinteen & @taliatuck for the arc of this amazing book.

First of all, can we please talk about the cover, it's so pretty 😭

As some of you know academic rivals to lovers is one of my fav trope and this book has it and it's done so well. I enjoyed so much while reading. It was such an easy and fun read filled with so much banter 🤍
Also I loved how the friendship between Emmy and winter was portrayed.
It was like watching a kdrama , i totally loved it 🤍

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel! I was scared I’d be annoyed with these characters or find them too elementary, but I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the smart characters and their banter, and watching them go from people that were always annoyed at each other to friendly to romantic. Their travels together were so fun and they felt their age - not younger or older, which I enjoyed. I’ll definitely read more from Talia!

This was so cute and such a fun read! I loved the two main characters immediately. They each had their own issues they were working though yet could relate and learn to grow with each other. This tackles growing up, life changes, family drama, the asian american experience, academic pressure, and so much more; all super relatable. The banter between them was hilarious and I kept cheering for them to get together. A quick and entertaining read, I read it in one sitting!

This was such a sweet book. I really enjoyed the coming of age type book, and the two "perfect" teens learn how to actually be teenagers during the trip.

The mid miscommunication issues got old after the story had seemed to straighten itself out, but I do understand why it happened. Emotions run crazy for a teen, or adult, so it makes sense why they happened. I just wished for the sake of the story telling it didnt.

Past that, it was a fun read. I caught myself smiling when the characters did, and frowning when they did. I enjoyed it a lot.

I thought that this was a pretty cute story. It could be slow at some point but I think it was nice enemies to lovers story. I loved how the road trip aspect was eventually and showed the characters having to confront their personal issues such as Bobby’s anxiety and Winter’s fear of being left behind.

"Rules for Rule Breaking" by Talia Tucker is an absolute page-turner! In this delightful tale, Tucker introduces us to two seemingly ordinary teenagers who embark on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and rebellion.

What sets this book apart is its refreshing take on teenage angst and the desire to break free from the shackles of conformity. Tucker's portrayal of the characters' transformation from rule-followers to rule-breakers is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving readers cheering for their newfound independence.

But the real magic lies in the blossoming romance between the main characters. Tucker expertly navigates the ups and downs of young love, infusing the story with genuine emotion and heartwarming moments that will leave readers swooning.

"Rules for Rule Breaking" is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating story full of humor, heart, and a healthy dose of rebellion. Talia Tucker has crafted a truly unforgettable tale, and I eagerly await her next literary adventure.

If you like academic rivals, unhinged scenarios and troubled yet darling teens with a road trip in place, make sure to grab this book !

Following Bobby and Winter (two Korean-American teenager) is both entertaining and nerve-wracking because you never know what their next move will be (afterall, this book is one for rule breaking)
The dynamic between them quickly became my favorite of all the romcoms I read and I just could not get enough of their banter, their raw moments and the true nature of decision making mentioned in the themes of the story!

Besides being an excellent YA romcom filled with joyous and laughter worthy moments, this book is also a perfect example of representation of POC youth.

Absolutely loved the tender and slow-burn blooming romance and the humor! Talia Tucker is a brilliant author with the power to move emotions, feel you seen and maybe help you a little bit to losen up : rules sometimes are for you to break them☺️

Thank you so much for the ARC Penguinteen and also HOW freaking adorable the cover is?!

Winter and Bobby are not friends, but their parents are. With rules they created when younger, they have been able to coexist. When the two high-achievers are forced to go on a road trip visiting potential colleges together, it provides them an opportunity to grow closer (resist as they might) while also making self-discoveries.

Winter and Bobby are perfect for each other, even if neither will admit it. They're both over-achievers and want to make their families proud. They also complement each other quite well with Bobby the more amiable of the two while Winter can appear insouciant. I'll be honest, Winter wasn't the most likeable character when I first met her, but she grew on me as did story. This was largely attributed to Tucker's humor, which was displayed mostly through Winter. I found myself chucking in multiple places, especially learning the rules these two rule followers break.

While I enjoyed the book more than expected, I wish it had ended sooner. I understood the reason behind the prolonged conclusion, but still thought it was not quite necessary. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Rules for Rule Breaking is such a delightful quick read. The fun story line is peppered with family drama and how that has affected the main characters as they grow up. Would recommend this books to my fellow YA lovers.

I thought this was a really really cute YA romance! The plot was fun with the college road trip tour & the enemies to friends to lovers, was sweet. I love getting introduce to Korean family culture through the two main characters!

Some problematic things for me, were I thought it was a bit weird the characters forgot parts of their relationship (like why they hated each other in the first place? Or forgetting that they mentioned they had a crush on the other when they were children?). It felt a little far fetched personally & made the story almost to convenient. I did love the evolution from rivals to friends and THEN to lovers. It felt more organic but for the sake of a book, I wanted to feel drawn in quicker. I don’t love that the lover part of their relationship came most at the end. Because the whole book felt very like a rom-com, I just wanted it to be a little quicker pace. But other than that, I enjoyed it!

Rules for Rule Breaking is a cute “not so enemies” to friends to maybe more roadtrip story following Winter and Bobby as they visit college campuses.

At first I was worried there may be too many tropes together but Tucker does a great job of making them all work easily and cohesively. This was a great quick read that made me giggle and feel deeply for the two main characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kokila for the ARC!

I really love the concept of this story, but it felt like something was missing throughout the entire book. Rules for Rule Breaking is very romance driven. Rather than letting the college road trip plot take its course, the focus is aimed at Winter and Bobby's relationship and their weird rivalry.

I do love the character development between Winter and Bobby. They are very different people by the end of the book and I enjoyed seeing their growth (even when it look them longer than expected to realize it). All of their concerns about going to the best college, not disappointing their families, friendships, and their identity as Korean Americans really wrap this book up nicely, but I wish we got to see more of that. By the time we see their issues come to life, the book has ended and we don't get to see all the time in between.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read during my Spring Break and kept me entertained on my flight to Seattle.

Really fun and entertaining. Quick and easy read as well.

I’m having a lot of fun going through a YA book phase. Gives me flashbacks of teenage me constantly at the library borrowing around 10 books each time, and being impatient until I could go again.

The nostalgia was nice lol

Definitely recommend giving this book a chance!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the way Bobby and Winter warm to each other as the book goes. I love how in touch with his emotions Bobby is and the way he feels how he does. I love how Winter changed throughout the book, allowing herself to feel her feelings. I loved Kai and his relationship with everyone.

I love a good road trip book and I loved this, it was fully interactive and descriptive in its rivalry. I loved the chemistry between the two characters and the way they finally reconciled things. I loved it!

I thought this was pretty cute!

Bobby and Winter are the only two Korean-American kids in their area, so they are either always mistaken for siblings or romantic partners (they'd probably be well suited for that Siblings or Dating insta account!). They resent this... and each other. Even though their parents are best friends, they don't like each other; Winter thinks he's too serious, and Bobby thinks she never takes anything seriously enough. So, they make a long list of ground rules to get through spending time together, like "we will not be friends," "we will not meet outside of school," and "we will not have private conversations." Each chapter begins with a new rule, followed by a time when they break it (hence, "rules for rule breaking"). When they go on a road trip to tour colleges together, they realize what they've been missing out on by always following the rules.

This book is about feeling separated from your culture and family (Bobby hates that his parents never taught him Korean, and his parents also don't speak to anyone in their families). It's about feeling distant from your best friend.

Although it was only 304 pages, the book felt like it dragged in the middle. I was kind of bored and didn't feel much of a connection between the characters. I liked it enough to finish it, but it wasn't too memorable. Sometimes you just need a fluffy story, though!

Thank you to Penguin for the advanced copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @penguinteen for an early copy of Rules for Rule Breaking by Talia Tucker. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: March 19th, 2024

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/179956934-rules-for-rule-breaking?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=YD4A0FYEEz&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Rules for Rule Breaking is an okay coming-of-age YA romance read. The main characters Bobby and Winter come from Korean families and have known each other since they were kids. It has been implied that Bobby and Winter have liked each other since they were young, but refused to show it and projected the opposite of their feelings and hated each other instead. Quite shallow, in my opinion, especially since their hatred continued until high school, and only ended when their families forced them together on a road trip to visit their prospective colleges.

While I loved how their road trip brought Winter and Bobby closer and got to talk out most of their feelings plus their somewhat open-ended happy ending, the overall storyline felt shallow. Lots of issues within the story could have been explored deeply – how greatly Bobby’s parents have neglected to teach him their Korean culture and heritage, how Winter will meet Emmy halfway to keep their friendship, etc.

I would recommend Rules for Rule Breaking if you’re looking for a light and easy romance read.

This book was great because of how much it made me laugh! Bobby and winter are truly one of my favorite couples and with humor reminescent of David Yoon, this one was a treat! The ending was a bit abrupt, but I can forgive that because I left this book with a smile on my face!

Thank you to Net galley for approving my ARC of Rules for Rule Breaking
I really enjoyed this book. The leading characters had great chemistry and were also very relatable as teenagers growing up in Asian households. I found myself reading the whole book in one night which is something I haven’t in a looooong time. I 100% recommend this book to not only young adults, but everyone, as this perspective of how familial pressures affect teenagers is such an important message to get out.