Cover Image: The Summer of Broken Rules

The Summer of Broken Rules

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Member Reviews

Contemporary YA books make me so happy. This one had well-developed characters, a beautiful setting, and dug into some nuanced emotion. It was a nice read, but not a standout for me. I'd definitely be open to reading something else by the author.

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Such an emotional book that leaves you wanting more. I was so invested in the characters and wanted nothing more than to join them for the celebrations. For fans of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Every Summer After, this book is a must-read!

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I loved this book. The romance was tender, the family was the kind you fantasize about, and it made this nantucketer want to try the Vineyard.

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I don't read much YA anymore, but I'm SO glad I picked this up (and I would almost consider it more "new adult" than YA). I was looking for a book to get me into a summer reading mood, and this certainly did it! This book takes place over the course of the week on a big extended family-and-friends vacation in Martha's Vineyard, culminating with the wedding of one of the family members. It centers around a woman in the summer between high school and college, which is already a summer full of life changes, but Meredith's summer is made more complicated by the fact that she's still mourning the death of her sister 18 months previously, and she's just been dumped by her boyfriend. She reconnects with her family and friends, and of course, falls in love amidst the idyllic backdrop of a massive family farm in Martha's Vineyard. Bonus points for all the Taylor Swift references!

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A summer trip to Martha’s Vineyard for a family wedding sounds interesting, so I picked up this book. Thanks, NetGalley, for an eARC of it.

This is Meredith's first trip back to Martha's Vineyard since the death of her older sister, Claire. Add to the overwhelming week, it's her cousin's big wedding. Unfortunately, Meredith's longtime boyfriend dumps her just before the wedding, leaving her dateless. Luckily, her family provides the perfect distraction with a game of assassins in honor of Claire. She meets the groom's handsome stepbrother Will and tries not to fall for him. What happens when Will becomes her target?

I enjoyed the setting first. I have never been to Martha’s Vineyard, so I like how descriptive it was. I also like how the romance in the story is slow. I would classify this as a new-friends-to-lovers story. Will is very enjoyable, and the family is intriguing to read about. I like the grandparents, the children, and the cousins. My favorite side character was the bride.

I wasn’t a big fan of the ‘assassin’ game, and how seriously it was taken. It was okay, but it dominated half the story. But I guess without it, the story would be a little bit boring.

This is a sweet, lighthearted romance taking place on Martha’s Vineyard. Add a little excitement with the game of Assassin and you’ve got a good teen romance.

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Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This book was packed with summer fun. A nice twist on a romance with a massive game of assassins mixed in. Loved all of the different settings and the author did a great job making each character interesting. No one got lost and that’s an accomplishment in a huge character list. I loved it!

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This was a really fun, nostalgic read! I enjoyed the whole concept, and it made me wish for summer and a big family gathering. I loved the characters, and was rooting for Meredith the entire time. It felt like the perfect summer read, with some romance, adventure, laughs, and a bit of coming of age, too. Loved it!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc.

Meredith is heading to Martha's Vineyard for the first time in two years since it happened. That moment that destroyed her entire world. Since she can remember, her family has gathered here every Summer, but this one is different: it's Sarah's wedding, there's Wit to deal with, and Assassin...

I really enjoyed the silliness that Assasin brought to the story and the unveiling of Wit's mysterious back story. However, I do wonder how everyone forgave Meredith so quickly...

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Meredith heads to Martha’s Vineyard for a family wedding. She’s with her mother and father and they’re all missing Claire, Meredith’s deceased sister. Meredith’s boyfriend Ben was planning on being her plus one until he broke up with her. Then she refused to let him be there with her. On the ferry ride to the vineyard, Mer accidentally kicks a guy in the face when she’s climbing down. Later, she’s going to talk to her grandparents at the farm on the vineyard when she sees that same guy already talking to them, his name is Wit. He’s the stepbrother of the groom. The wedding couple want to remember and honor Claire so they’ve planned a game of Assassin and everyone will fight to win with water guns. Mer and Wit decide to help each other with info as needed during the game. As Mer learns to deal with her grief, she’s able to repair relationships and build new ones.
4 stars for a cute romance growing in spite of overwhelming grief.

Ethnicity: predominantly white
Mature content: PG-13 - sex but the word isn’t mentioned and no details. “Our bodies tangled together"; underage drinking
Violence: drunk driver hitting sister in car
Language Content: R due to 7 f-bombs

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Why was I sleeping on this book? This was a fantastic summer romance that I enjoyed so much. I wish my family was like this!

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A joyful and sweet YA romcom perfect for summer! K.L. Walther writes a love story full of swoon and heart that left a smile on my face. I really enjoyed the elements of close knit family vacation, experiencing grief, summer fun and new love. This was a heartwarming coming of age story that I would recommend for readers of any age.
Thank you so much Sourcebooks and Netgalley for my copy.

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Gosh, this book was just what I needed a sweet, fast-paced, and lovable characters (with some Taylor Swift references thrown in too!). The memorable setting of Martha’s Vineyard swept me away, and I found myself wishing to have a getaway home like that of my own. I loved Meredith and Wit’s relationship, even if it did seem a bit insta-lovey at first. Their banter kept a smile on my face, and I appreciated how tender and empathetic his character was toward Meredith and her struggles. If you love a sweet (but not steamy) summer romance in an atmospheric setting along with goofy and lovable family and friends, give this book a shot. I can definitely see myself rereading it in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!

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I absolutely adored this book. It reminded me so much of my favorite books by Sarah Dessen. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of realistic fiction, and fun love stories. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this wonderful story.

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SO ADORABLE! this book definitely was a surprise and i enjoyed almost every bit of it! It’s a YA story more of in the mature side and really had me in all my emotions!! Such a heartwarming read, Summer romances are always fun to read, plus such a cute and happy ending!

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I enjoyed this young adult novel built around the game of Assassin on a family compound. The relationships between family members, generations and friends were fun to read about. I'm always a fan of romance.

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This was a very mediocre book for me. Maybe it’s just because YA romance doesn’t really do it for me anymore, but it just seemed very rushed and insta-love. The best parts had to do with Mer’s coming to terms with her grief of her sister, but the romance didn’t make me happy or sad. Very average, cutesy summer romance.

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This book was a fun and quick read. The assassin game was a super fun theme that kept me hooked, and the summer setting at Martha's Vineyard made it a perfect summer escape read. The characters were likeable and sweet, and it really is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson, as it was reminiscent of her YA books.

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I absolutely LOVED this story! It had everything that I would want and expect of a summer read. We have romance, summer, hijinks and a family wide game of assassins! It balanced the sadness of the loss of family in a way that was therapeutic for the characters and I appreciated it.

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The Summer of Broken Rules was a lovely and heartwarming YA romcom. My favourite part was the game of Assassin that is played, as it keeps the novel light and enjoyable. I definitely liked the setting, my wedding is coming up and this is just the cutest. I did find the romance and the lines a bit 'cheesy' but I still enjoyed it, and who doesn't like a bit of cheese!

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