House Rules by Ruby Lang is a sweet and steamy ride. This romance is one of the most loving I have ever read. I will not deny that there is heat, and a lot of it for a novella, but honestly, the characters are so sweet that you can’t help but root for them.

Simon and Lana are a perfect match. I am confident that the author meant for more angst between the characters, but there wasn’t much. I could tell from the very first scene that these two people were meant for each other.

Whatever had happened in the past was because they were young, and neither had found themselves yet. Now, Lana and Simon are older and ready for a second chance at the love that got away oh so many years ago.

Watching Lana stand her ground while Simon worked himself out of a rut was mesmerizing and lovely to read. Watching the story unfold all the while knowing that a happily ever after was the most fun I have had in an evening in a long time.

I am pleased to award House Rules 4 out of 5 stars. I took away the one star only because I wanted a bit more angst, but in the word count that made up this novella, I can understand the lack thereof.

This was a lovely novella! I love fortysomething main characters, and I related to them so much because the NY real estate market is a nightmare and I too sublet a lovely little place in Central Harlem for a time.

Everything about this book is very affectionate, and has a quiet air of lived-in reality to it, which feels refreshing among the hijinks often found in romance (which I do also love). Both of the characters were interesting people I would want to know and rooted for. I was so happy with the resolution of romance and career for Lana. I really found Simon's personal plight interesting, the idea of accomplishing goals and then feeling stagnated, and I don't feel we got to quite the satisfying place I wanted for him by the end. The romance itself was highly satisfying; it's a really good example of second chance done well!

This book is a good choice if you are looking for a quick HEA fix! It is a novella that is #3 in Ruby Lang’s Uptown series. Our protagonists are Simon Mizrahi and Lana Kai, who are both in their 40s and really need a second chance in their romantic lives. Simon and Lana were previously married to each other, got divorced when they both wanted different things in life and now find themselves back together living as roommates in New York City.

Lang provides just enough detail about their lives and what drove them apart, to the reasoning that Lana went through when she reached out to Simon when she arrived back in New York. I thought the details about the food and the noodles were really unique. You can just imagine the master chef that Lana has become and how mesmerizing she could be if you watched her in the kitchen. I felt that you could also tell how passionate Simon was about his music, but also how little he changed following the divorce. I also think that it’s very telling that neither one of them remarried or had a significant relationship, so they were both single. It’s good foreshadowing into the fact that they are just meant to be. I think Lana and Simon needed to work on themselves and their communication skills. I gleefully anticipated that the rules they set for themselves as roommates would be difficult to adhere to, given their sexual attraction. This book IS a novella, so things have to move fast. I think all the necessary details are there. The sex scenes are hot, but they are well balanced with the falling back in love part. I have to say that I really appreciate epilogues. It’s nice to see how their story is still going a little into the future. This book is a good escape into a realistic, contemporary romance. I highly recommend it. If you choose this book for a book club read, you could have so much fun with it! You could serve noodle dishes and go with a purple theme to match the cover. Purple napkins, plasticware, plates, balloons...I would totally go all out...hmmmmm…

Das Buch ist eine Novella und Buch drei in einer Serie, kann aber ohne Probleme ohne Vorwissen gelesen werden. Wer ruhige, kurze Liebesromane mag, mit Charakteren, die sich in den 40ern befinden, könnte mit dem Buch eine gute Zeit verbringen.

Ich habe die Geschichte an sich gerne gelesen, muss aber leider sagen, dass ich keine emotionale Bindung zu den Charakteren aufbauen konnte. Und auch wenn ich es schätze, dass die Autorin auf unnötige, absurde dramatische Wendungen verzichtet hat, iso hätte ch diesmal nichts gegen ein wenig mehr Spannung in der Geschichte gehabt. Denn es plätscherte alles so dahin, da hat ein wenig an Schwung gefehlt.

Drei Sterne für eine an sich nette Geschichte sind aber noch drinnen.

I am really glad that a lot of series can be read as a stand alone and this one is just like that. This was a very cute novella that I read all in one sitting I will be going back reading the rest of these soon because I fell in love with them. The characters were cute and the story was great.

HOUSE RULES by Ruby Lang is book Three in the Uptown Series. This is the story of Simon Mizrahi and Lana Kuo. I have not yet read the previous books so for me this was a standalone book.
Simon and Lana had been married but divorced due to each other having different dreams and aspirations. There was not cheating and they still have lingering feelings but Lana moved away. Now back in their present day Simon is still in his little apartment that he can no longer stand, but plans to look for something else. Lana has moved back to Manhattan for a job and needs to find a roommate to help her with the high rented apartment. Simon and Lana end up going into an agreement to be roommates but with strict rules and to reevaluate their agreement in 3 months. This was a sweet no extra drama book about a older couple getting their second changes. Really enjoyed it as a older women.

This is the third novella in Ruby Lang’s Uptown series. This is also the first book form Ruby that I have read… definitely not my last!😁

After divorcing seventeen years ago, Simon and Lana haven’t crossed paths… until today. Both are in the market for a new apartment in New York city. Simon feels he finally has out grown of his dilapidated rent-controlled place that used to be his fathers and Lana, newly returned to the city after traveling the world needs her own place. They run into each other at an open house. Maturely they decide to go for coffee to catch up and plan to never see each other again… until Lana finds the perfect apartment and needs a roommate.

They move in together on trial basis- just as roommates. As both work different schedules, it should be easy to avoid each other… until they don’t. Simon has always loved Lana, but wasn’t willing to change the trajectory of his life to fit her in? while trying to make something of herself, Lana never stopped loving Simon either. With a second chance at forever, will they both be able to compromise and find their happily ever after?

As a novella, this was a quick read, but the character development and the the growth that occurs throughout the story does not give it that slapdash novella feeling. I was impressed at Ruby’s ability to capture the audience and deliver a well carried out story full of second chances in such a compact read.

I loved this story. The characters were authentic and the crisis of finding one owns happiness and a happiness together resonated. The mature characters were a breath of fresh air and I felt their joy as they found their own Carina Press guaranteed HEA❤️.

House Rules by Ruby Lang is scheduled to release February 10th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HARLEQUIN - Carina Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#HouseRules #RubyLang #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

House Rules by Ruby Lang


Simon is the director of a children’s chorus and Lana is a noodle master, which involves a lot of hard work and dedicated apprenticeships. If you think that this sounds like the premise for an episode of House Hunters, you’re not entirely incorrect. Simon and Lana do end up moving into a beautiful and spacious two-bedroom apartment that they would never be able to afford on their own, but it’s slightly more complicated than that.

Simon and Lana used to be married, but they drifted apart. They bump into each other almost 20 years later, and Simon doesn’t think anything will come of it. But when Lana receives the opportunity to sublet that aforementioned spacious apartment, the first person she thinks of is Simon.

They agree to move in together: as friends and only because they both need to move out of their current situations. It seems like the perfect set-up, but then old feelings start to return.

So, this is a second chance romance, but most of the other second chance romances that I’ve read involve a redemptive arc. That isn’t the case with this book; there was no Big Reason that led to Lana and Simon’s divorce; they just drifted apart. There was no angsty pining for each other over the subsequent years, but neither of them remarried either. Nevertheless, Simon and Lana have been granted a second chance with each other, and their reconnecting is both familiar and new.

This dichotomy was part of the reason why Lana and Simon had such great chemistry. They spent years together, but it’s been awhile and their bodies are not entirely the same over the years, so this makes for some really hot scenes together.

I liked that the protagonists were “older” than the average. They are 42 and 44, but in the romance genre, that’s practically ancient. They’re closer to my age than the 20-somethings who pop up frequently as protagonists, so it was a refreshing change of pace.

Simon and Lana were great, but Muffin the cat absolutely stole the show. This furry little ball of trouble chewed the scenery (literally!) at every opportunity, and was the catalyst for bringing Simon and Lana back together.

I would absolutely recommend House Rules. I loved the NYC setting and the diverse cast. I loved how realistic their situation was: Manhattan apartments are expensive and splitting the costs of a spacious apartment is a necessity rather than a manufactured conceit. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. This is my first experience reading Lang, but I have already added her other books to my TBR queue.





I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars = I liked it. House Rules is a mellow 2nd chance romance. Simon hasn't seen Lana since she left him behind in New York when their marriage ended seventeen years ago when then run into each other while apartment hunting. Though the chance meeting stirs up feelings, they don't plan on seeing each other again, That changes when Lana finds the perfect apartment, but can't afford it on her own - and Simon is her only hope for being able to swing the lease. Simon is not too keen on the idea - still hurt after all this time - but it really is a great place, and the apartment is set up so they each have a separate space and they work opposite schedules, so won't he won't actually need to interact with Lana and Simon agrees to give it a try.

But if avoiding each other would actually work, there would be no story. I like the fact that many of the things that drew the pair together work to draw them together again, but also the fact that they are different people now so the things they didn't get about themselves the first time around they are able to address to keep from falling apart again. I especially like the lessons Lana has learned about herself and the promise she made to herself too - that if she really wants something she will ask for it, even if it is hard to ask.

My small nit with the story is that - since it is novella length - much of the insight the pair get into how they have related to each other comes from conversations with other people and they don't feed back these insight to each other.

But still I liked the story, I liked the leads and I will definitely look to read the other two stories in this series - which are due to be published together in a collection in a few months.

This is an unpaid review - ARC via NetGalley- release date February 10th

3 stars for a second chance romance between professional chef Lana Kuo and music teacher Simon Mizrahi, both in their early 40s, who find themselves living together as roommates in NY after their divorce 17 years prior.

I was totally into this premise. Finally something with 40+ year old characters. Diverse cast! Roomies with your Ex? Second Chance? Sign me up!

Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. While the premise sounds intriguing, I found that there could have been a lot more chemistry on the emotional side from the couple. I couldn't get why she fell for him again - I actually got frustrated - when it was clear until 90% in that he hadn't changed - apart from a few more lines around the eyes. The pacing was a bit off for me too and wished at times that more details on the personal side of the characters were explored rather than other options.

This book is the 3rd in the series but can totally be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the previous book in the series, just couldn't quite connect with the characters here.

Content Warning #cw for chronic pain and infertility.

Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of #HouseRules before publication. Everything in this review is based on my own opinion.

House Rules is the 3rd book in Ruby Lang's Uptown series, but each book is a standalone focusing on a new couple..

This is a story about a previously married couple getting an unexpected second chance. Lana and Simon decide to be temporary roommates since they can't afford the NY real estate market. They set strict rules on living together, with no funny business. But as they live together, they're reminded of why they fell in love the first time.

Ruby Lang presents us with a well-written story about rekindled romance without unnecessary angst and drama. It is truly a story about two people revisiting each other and finding their way back.

This is a cute, quick, easy-to-read romance with heart and humor.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a sweet, realistic romance based on a mature couple that have to surpass the trials of their fears in order to stay with each other. Very well written and well paced. Simon and Lana are up front about their feelings for each other and learn to slowly piece together their broken relationship once again. Enjoyed it

This was a sweet and quick read, which are honestly my favorite kind of romance. I haven't read a lot of romances featuring older couples (defining that here as 40+) so that was a refreshing change of pace. Also super sweet to see their dynamic as old friends who ultimately fall in love. I love a good slow burn and would recommend this one to other romance readers who enjoy that trope.

I really enjoyed this book. Simon and Lana were sweet. Their age added a different dynamic. The story was good.

A lush and bittersweet second chance romance, Ruby Lang's HOUSE RULES is my favorite entry in this wonderful novella series. It tells the story of the rekindling of a romance between a long-divorced couple when they decide to become roommates to share a gorgeous apartment. Lang does a beautiful job showcasing the ways people can relearn to love somehow because of rather than despite the many changes that may have taken place since they last lived and loved together.

This is the third and final book in Lang’s Uptown series and while second chance is not my trope of choice, I was thoroughly charmed by this book. Probably because it *also* kind of, sort of, includes marriage in trouble. Simon and Lana were married 17 years ago and got a divorce, so yes technically not a marriage in trouble. But for reasons that may only exist in a romance novel the two end up being roommates and begin to examine why their marriage did not work. I love marriage in trouble because I love seeing couples fight for their HEA.

One of the things I love about this books is that these two are adults in their 40s who’ve grown into who they are and know what they want from life. I always find that refreshing and just beautiful to see characters who are able to express that. When Lana says to Simon:

“I told myself after—after we separated I would always ask for what I needed, no matter how hard it was, no matter how long it took to work up to it, no matter how afraid I was of the answer. I’m still trying to do that.” I was just about in tears at how much I could relate to this and how many women I know who struggle with asking for what they need. I LOVED seeing that on page from someone. I also really loved seeing Lana’s connection to food and how emotional that was for her and observations like Lana taking into consideration if she would be the only Asian woman when she moved into a neighborhood. Things like that made the story feel very poignant and relevant at times. There’s a point when Simon finally *sees* the changes that Lana has made and Lang does this via Lana’s food since she’s a chef and it’s beautifully done.

I really liked the complicated and messy characters in this whole series. When I talk about realistic storylines or characters I’m talking about vulnerabilities or complexities in characters and Ruby Lang really shines with that.

Oh and there’s an asshole cat named Muffin so I was obviously going to love this no matter what, I can’t help it, give me an asshole pet and I AM IN.

I really enjoyed this second chance romance between Lana and Simon. It was really refreshing to read about a couple that is in their 40s and really owning who they are individually instead of who they want to be as a couple. Most romance novels are about people starting out in life and this story about two people who have figured it out and want to maintain that work is so good. I love how direct the writing is. Ruby Lang really didn't fluff this up with extra details and side line stories. While that may sound weird in a review, in the book it lets you just enjoy the heart of the story.

Just after reading the description, you get an idea of how its going to end, but I still read it with hopes for an interesting end, not a predictable one. Bleh! I was wrong.

I think this is more of a 3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed a couple getting a second chance. The story itself was pretty straight forward and I found the characters cute.

I loved the premise of this book, but found that it failed to hold my attention - the characters seemed lovely, but it was too slow-moving and lacked tension. I'm afraid I didn't finish this one.