Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts is an enemies to lovers romance and unfortunately it was a miss for me. Margo is a podcaster/social media influencer along-side her best friend Jo and their podcast is starting to get a little stale not only because they haven’t really been able to think up new content, but because Jo is getting married and that kind of defeats the message behind their show. In an effort to change things up Margo sets her sights on the best man, Declan, who also happens to be who she considers her teenage nemesis. My biggest issue with this book is that I felt there was no chemistry between any of the characters. Margo and Jo are supposed to be best friends, but I didn’t feel their connection, and Margo and Declan went from 0-100 without much in-between, and it didn’t seem super natural to me. Also it annoyed me a little how tightly Margo was holding on to grudges against two of the male MCs in the book just because they weren’t their best selves in HS. I know HS boys can be rough, but I feel like she judged them before even trying to give them a chance to show whether they’ve changed or not. Two things that I did like was that this book really highlights the fragility of being a social media influencer, how intense it really is to keep up with everything, and how one misstep can make it all fall apart. The other thing I thought was done well was that Margo really took the time to find herself and figure out who she wanted to be towards the end of the book

Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts by Kristyn J. Miller

Margo and her best friend, Jo, are the voices behind a podcast promoting hooking up without dealing with emotions. Jo is getting married, and Margo is trying to figure out how to proceed so she thinks maybe she could break all of the rules to feature in the next season. Enter Declan. Margo did not plan to fall for Declan, but they were perfect for each other.

This was an interesting read a bit different with the Podcast and Margo's rules she uses with the men she has basically one-night stands with. I thought this aspect of the story was interesting she got what she needed and left the men in her wake. This all changed when she met Declan now Margo has to decide if her rules are worth breaking and giving up her podcast revolving around her rules for breaking hearts. Will Margo's heart get broken?

The humor in the story had me laughing. The story is predictable though and has the enemies to lover's storyline. I recommend this to romance readers who like enemies to lover's stories. Also, if you like podcast type stories this aspect of the story was good.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for a free copy of Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

This was a fun, mostly lighthearted story about what happens when you break the rules, especially when your livelihood may depend on those rules. Go and Jo have made a career out of being the voices for all the single people out there who don't want to deal with broken hearts. What happens when things change? When you fall, despite not wanting to? Declan and Margo have history, albeit ancient history, but forced proximity changes everything. I adored Declan so much, but Margo took a bit longer to embrace. In the end, a cute rom-com.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the digital ARC of Kristyn J. Miller’s Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts which publishes today, 5/16/23. All opinions are my own.

Mar(Go) Anderson and her long time best friend Jo have a podcast about how to be (and stay) proudly single. When Jo falls in love and is getting married on Catalina Island, it causes some problems with the future of their podcast. When Margo decides to drop their rules during their two week stay on the island, it causes some problems for her too, one by the name of Declan Walsh.

I absolutely love, love, love that this book took place on Catalina, an island off the coast of California. It brought back so many fun memories for me and was a unique setting for this story! As a coincidence, as I was reading this, some relatives dropped by to see us on their way to and from their first trip to Catalina Island, and I asked to use some photos from their trip. So here they are, a pretty view similar to the one on the cover of the book, and a photo of the location of the wedding that the characters are in.

I think a lot of people will like this romance but to me it was just alright. I didn’t bond with the characters and it wasn’t clear to me why they were falling for each other. The idea was great, the writing was great, but I wasn’t captured.

Open 🚪 but not super detailed
3.5/5 ⭐️
Location: California

Romance

7RfBH is a fantastic debut novel. It is a wonderful combination of funny, sweet and sexy.

Margo and her best friend Jocelyn started a podcast about 6 years ago. It is based on a set of rules they created for women and staying single. The problem is that Jocelyn has met the love of her life and is about to get married, which will tank the podcast and by extension Margo's life.

A sponsor offered up their location to host pre-wedding activities as well as the wedding ceremony and reception. So, Margo, Jocelyn, Margo's husband to be - Pete, and Pete's best man - Declan arrive on Catalina Island 2 weeks before the wedding to get everything ready. The first problem is that Declan played lots of pranks in high school, many of which were on Margo and she doesn't really want to spend any time with him.

Of course, high school was a number of years ago, people change and they have chemistry. Margo and Jocelyn have at least one more season of their podcast to produce and are a bit stumped about what to do since Jocelyn getting married calls the whole premise of their podcast into question. Margo comes up with the idea of throwing out the rules for two weeks while on Catalina and then telling the results of the experiment to their listeners. The next problem happens when Jocelyn catches feelings for Declan and decides she can't put anything with their relationship on air.

The third problem causes all kinds of other issues and calls the reality and longevity of their relationship into question. Will they or won't they?

It was a lovely story and I really liked how Margo navigates all the issues. it's also super empowering that her life isn't dependent on the relationship with Declan. This was a great novel and I will look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

Initially a tad off putting and very slow to find its rhythm, Kristyn J. Miller’s debut novel Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts finishes strong as it weaves a cautionary tale of how too many rules protecting us, can also act as the weights that sink us.

Meet Margo (Go for short) of the dynamic duo Jo and Go from the Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts - a podcast by single women, for single women who want to stay that way. At least, that was the plan until Margo discovers that her partner in crime has found the love of her life and is getting married! Now Margo’s world (and financial future) has been turned upside down. Their audience is not happy, their sponsors are dropping, and Margo is fresh out of ideas. With Season Seven coming up and Jo’s impending nuptials only two weeks away, Margo decides to go nuclear. She is going to break all seven rules and prove why they are necessary for those who are now questioning the validity of the show. The problem is, Margo needs a guinea pig. Stuck on an island, her choices are limited. Solution? She sets her intentions on the groom’s best man and conveniently - her former childhood nemesis. Not only will she get the content she needs for the show, she’ll finally get a little payback for the nightmares he caused her in high school. Staying true to her commitment to being single, she isn’t worried about catching feelings or wanting a relationship. All that matters is she gets what's needed for the show. She just has to keep telling herself that as her heart starts to get other ideas.

What I like about it: The most frustrating (and highly relatable) thing about Margo is that she over complicated everything! Whether is was content for the podcast, being honest with Jo, dealing with Declan - if it could take three steps, she made it twelve! Even the bartender Shelley called her out on it! Simple just wasn’t her forte. It was as if making a less complex decision made it easier to be blamed if things went wrong. Her attention to the rules were also her gateway drug to self-sabotage. If things don’t work out, it is not because of her, it is because of the rules and that is why they are in place.

What I don’t like about it: I am all for setting a good foundation; but, eight chapters in and I still didn’t feel like we were moving forward with the book. The sprinkling of cookie crumb premises just made it move too slowly initially. We got the general idea within the first few chapters: podcast potentially in trouble due to best friend getting married, high school nemesis will be at the wedding, and Margo can’t seem to let go of the past, try as she might. Too much time was spent on setting the scene (as gorgeous as it may have been) and firmly establishing the premise (again - thoroughly achieved within the first few chapters).

In terms of spiciness - this was definitely an open door romance that brought the heat! It was surprising how reserved Declan was and yet behind close doors, wow! The build up moments were just as intense but most of all, I appreciated how "in his feelings" he was about the whole thing. It wasn't surprising as the connection between the two characters was super charged from their reunion. I simply loved how Declan and Margo played off each other so well how much that intensified every physical exchange!

Once the author was able to step away from the scenery and hone in on the characters, Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts was a lighthearted, fun, and swoon-worthy treat.

What I read: Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts by Kristyn J. Miller

Why I picked it up: I liked the cover when I was searching for books on NetGalley earlier this year. I received this free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

How I read it: On eGalley in just a day.

What it’s about: Margo is 1/2 of a podcast devoted to helping single ladies stay single while playing the field – the whole point of their podcast is to empower women by helping them do all of the stereotypical things men do without feeling any shame. Except her partner has found her own partner and is getting married. Now she’s trying to create content for the final season with the best man without breaking her rule of “catching feelings” but she’s unsuccessful because humans are created with feelings, surprise, suprise.

What I liked: I appreciated that Declan, the best man, was a good guy who didn’t care about anyone’s job being “influencer” nor was he taken in by that persona. He saw Margo for who she really was and inspired her to be okay with herself as she was too.

What I disliked: The world is so backwards about relationships and physical intimacy and vulnerability – and we think we can be physical with someone without that effecting our feelings, and then we’re surprised when we’re hurt by it in the end. Why?

Genre: Social Media, finding oneself, open door.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and no – gets 3 starts for being well written, but I did not love the story and felt like the characters learned the wrong lessons in the end, just not for me – definitely for someone, but not me.

This was an easy read I found myself immersed in after a few chapters. The writing was quick and the characters amusing and well developed. I liked the quick pace of the story and thought it was a fun read. Check it out if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet, and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and will look for others by this author.

Happy Pub Day to Seven Rules for Breaking a hearts! 💔💔💔

Margo and her best friend Jo host a popular podcast about hooking up without feelings and avoid relationships. But Jo shocks Margo when she announced that she’s getting married and her wedding is just weeks away sponsored by a company and includes a paid 2 week trip to Catalina Island in exchange for some promotion on the podcast.

Margo is working to figure out a way to keep listeners engaged after Jo is getting married. It goes against everything their podcast is about! So she sets about breaking all her rules and she picks the groom’s best man and her former HS rival, Declan. With all the wedding planning and love in the air, it’s hard for Margo to not start to feel for Declan. And definitely not after they get stuck in an elevator together…

Declan isn’t into one night stands and is firmly a “relationship guy.” So he’s hesitant to do anything with Margo since she’s so publicly against relationships. They have good banter together, but it seems like opposites don’t quite attract until pretty far into the book.

It did seem a little strange that Margo was so surprised by Jo’s marriage announcement? They were supposed to be glued to the hip so this seemed a little off. But after you get past that, the book is super cute!

Thank you @stmartinspress @prhaudio @KristynJMiller for my gifted ebook and ALC! Seven Rules is out now!

This title wasn't something I could get into, so I won't be finishing it. I really hope that others enjoy it.

I enjoyed this second chance, enemies to lovers read. It was a cute and easy read set on a small beach town/island with the big event of a wedding happening. I really liked how parts of the FMC’s podcast were in the story and how it walked you through what was happening. You honestly won’t be able to not root for these main characters.

4.5 stars

This book was a perfect summer read!

An enemies to lovers, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days in reverse that had me hooked from the first page! This book is a romcom centering on a heroine who has NO plans to fall in love but then she is stuck at her best friends wedding with her highschool nemesis....what can go wrong, or right? This book was so fun! I loved the banter and the side characters. The only thing that I didn't like was that this book did have a third-act break up. Why can't people just communicate!!! However I can't wait to read whatever Kristyn Miller writes next!

Things to look forward to:
-amazing banter
-mixed media (text messages and podcast transcripts!!)
-bison sightseeing
-sexy jeans shopping
-maid outfits??!!
-beautiful beach destination descriptions...i hate the beach and this book kinda made me want to go again

This book was really cute, but I feel like it was kind of forgettable. Neither of the main characters really stuck out to me, and I lost interest pretty quickly. There wasn't anything glaringly terrible about this book, I just felt like the execution fell kind of flat.

3.5/5⭐️
1.5/5🌶️

thank you netgalley and st. martin’s griffin publishing for this arc! this book will release on may 16, 2023.

this was a very quick and pretty quick rom-com read. i really enjoyed the witty banter, the complex characters, and the relationship between declan and margo. this has a slight enemies to lovers vibe from when declan and margo where in high school together and i really enjoyed that aspect as well. the spice was pretty light, but still enjoyable. i really liked that this author focused a lot of the story around the pressure of social media. i felt like the story was a bit predictable and margo’s character as the beginning of the story was such a turn off for me, but her growth was very impressive and i did end the hook liking her character. overall, a pretty decent and quick read!

“it was a tender kiss, not all noisy passion but the kind that made the world around me go quiet, like i’d hit pause.”

Such a fun, cute read! I loved the main character having a podcast with her friend. I loved the use of social media at the end of some of the chapters! I loved the setting of Catalina Island. Enemies to lovers is always a treat and Declan was just great.

This was such a cute debut! It incorporated a lot of my favorite things in a romance novel. There was some enemies to lovers, island wedding vibes, a podcast, and of course, a totally loveable love interest! I thought the two main characters started their romance a little quickly, but the romance seemed more organic and believable as the story progressed. Declan (love interest) was so sweet and adorable. Recently, I have read a lot of romance with a male love interest who is just so rude and grumpy. Declan was not that way at all and he was a breath of fresh air. Something I would have liked is a deeper dive into the relationship between Margo (main character) and her best friend Jo. I would have liked to see their relationship go a little deeper than it did. Overall, this was a good debut and I am looking forward to seeing what else this author writes!

Margo reconnects with her high school crush, Declan Walsh, at the wedding of her best friend and co-podcast host Jo. Margo and Jo's podcast focuses on not getting attached to anyone and keeping relationships casual and one night stands. Declan doesn't date that way. Margo comes up with a plan to break all the rules from her podcast and ends up falling for Declan, until finds out what the plan really is.

This was another good romcom. I felt like the characters meshed really well. Set in southern California and Catalina Island

Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts by Kristyn Miller was the forced proximity romance we needed. It's so modern with the main characters, best friends Margo and Jo, hosting a podcast together about hooking up and not catching feelings. When Jo decides to get married, Margo is in a scramble. It was a slow build story but once things started to take off you better hold on. While the story is predictable, it was cute and fun. Overall a great fun summer read!

After not reading for a bit due to wedding planning I needed a book just like Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts. It was an absolutely quick read and helped me get out of my slight slump!

Both of the MCs were great and I enjoyed them wholeheartedly. The enemies-to-lovers trope was in full force, and I think Kristyn wrote it beautifully. I was feeling the chemistry from the get-go & I think that allowed me to read this book so quickly. I just kept wanting more and more from the two MCs as a whole but also wanted more from them on their own.

I loved the different means of writing in the book – having breaks from just paragraph pages was perfect. Again, things like this help me a lot when reading it.

This book was great, page after page. My husband and I didn’t take a honeymoon, but reading this book put me in all the feels with the beachy vibes. I definitely recommend picking this book up for some summertime vibes.