Thank you to the publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was super cute! A fun, easy read and I loved it! I really enjoyed the story and it was easy to get lost in.

I love reading books from new authors and Kristyn J. Miller’s debut was a funny, sexy, thoughtful rom-com. It’s so nice to read about a FMC that has a modern career, and what could be more of-the-times than a feminist podcaster discussing dating rules. Margo doesn’t believe in “catching feelings”, exceeding her date’s effort, or sleeping over, among other rules, and started the #SingleNotSeeking revolution. So when she finds herself on Catalina Island for her co-podcaster’s all expenses paid wedding, she begins to question how the 7 Rules pod will continue post-celebration. When Declan shows up as the best-man, Margo is reminded of all the pranks he played on her in high school and even though she finds him attractive, she plans to put him in her Rules box and maybe even use him as content for the podcast. Margo is flat out MEAN to Declan. Granted he did some not too nice pranks on her, but she seems to have held a huge grudge. Because of this, I initially didn’t like Margo. Add to that that she was unaware her so-called best-friend Jo was seriously dating a guy, and I worried that Margo would be an unredeemable character. Needless to say, I was nervous about how I felt about 7 Rules at the start of this book.
Yet Declan made this book what it is. Margo can’t get a read on him at first, which frustrates her to no end, but we soon discover he is the most tender-hearted, kind, thoughtful, sexy red-headed Jamie Fraser lookalike. (And let me tell you, his first intimate encounter with Margo is HOT). It’s Declan who gets Margo to reconsider her opinions on dating and sex and he helps reshape her feelings towards him. In some ways I felt that Declan was too good for Margo and really deserved better, but the fact that she is able to self-reflect after the third act breakup, helped me reconsider my opinions of Margo. This is an example of a book where I liked the second half much more than the first due to character growth alone. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a romcom with a little spice, a FMC who knows how to grovel, and anyone who enjoys feeling like they’ve been transported to another place (Catalina Island!!!). I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I should have known from the cover that this book would be extra fun for me – the majority of the action in [book:Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts] takes place on Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California. I have been to Catalina a number of times, and really enjoyed the pitch-perfect classy/nostalgia setting there. Plus, you know, the <s>buffalo</s> bison.

Even if you didn’t grow up taking the hour-long ferry to Catalina, there’s still a lot to enjoy in [author: Kristyn J. Miller]’s debut novel, featuring Margo, a determinedly single podcaster and Declan, her high school nemesis forced into proximity when Margo’s best friend and podcast co-host breaks from her singledom and prepares to marry Declan’s best friend.

Margo is determined to hold onto her chosen commitment-free lifestyle – the aforementioned Seven Rules keeping her in charge and in no danger of turning a one night stand into anything more – and looks down on her best friend’s betrayal (aka Jo fell in love and decided to get married rather than stay single forever). Desperate to save the show, Margo considers what it would be like to live without rules and Declan has definitely grown into his gawky looks and carrot-orange hair, so seems like a great candidate for her experiment.

The enemies-to-FWB-to-lovers goes about as well as expected for Margo and Declan, but generally the central relationship is really cute. Declan is secretly a sweetheart behind his pranks and his tendency to argue with Margo, so it’s no surprise when Margo realizes she’s broken Rule #7: <i>Don’t catch feelings</i>. The details of Margo and Jo’s lives as podcasters, and the banal tasks they are contractually obligated to fulfill in order to have Jo’s wedding fully paid for by sponsors, were as dull to read as it seemed they were unwelcome to Jo.

All in all, a breezy read with vividly drawn (if more than occasionally frustrating) characters and a charming setting.

[book:Seven Secrets for Breaking Hearts] by [author:Kristyn J. Miller]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 rounded up
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ Started in a tacky clothes shop and only elevated from there
🚣‍♀️🤜🦈 No sharks were punched in the writing off this book (probably)
🦬🚙🩴 Appropriate footwear is suggested for breakdowns when viewing Catalina’s bison
🌹 🌹 🌹 Well-timed bouquets go a long way

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a cute, quick beach read that is perfect for someone looking for an easy summer read. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

This was fine! Definitely enjoyed reading it but I don't think much about it will stay with me. (Except for an infuriating metaphor about Achilles in the Trojan Horse that has driven me CRAZY, but I digress.)

There were parts that were gimmicky and clunky, and a bit repetitive. The characters also didn't seem very fleshed out;, I never could really get a grasp on their motivations and vibe.

All that said, I was pretty invested by the end and was happy how Margo and Declan reconciled. The Island setting was fun.

Sorry I really tried to get into this book but it just wasn't for me. Had to make it a DNF really did not like the main character and just couldn't get past that. Influencer culture is hard I think to write about and make the characters relatable. Just not the book for me but think others would enjoy it. Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Margo Anderson and her best friend, Jo, run a successful podcast featuring rules for hooking up without catching feelings. Margo never has issues following these rules since she has sworn off love and commitment altogether, but Jo surprises everyone when she announces that she is getting married. Naturally, their followers are furious and Margo and Jo find themselves scrambling to find new content ideas for the next season of their podcast. Margo comes up with an idea to ditch the rules for the duration of their 2 week vacation for Jo’s wedding and chooses the best man, Declan, to experiment with to fulfill the season 7 content. She quickly finds herself enjoying time with Declan and can’t ignore the obvious spark between them, but will she truly be able to ditch the rules completely to let him in?

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It was quick, witty, funny, and a little emotional. The characters were fun and relatable and the island setting was dreamy. The perfect romcom and the perfect beach read! Highly recommend!
This is Kristyn J. Miller’s debut novel and it left me with such a serious book hangover that I am already anxiously awaiting her next book. 😆

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that love doesn’t play by the rules in the first place.”

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a gifted ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was enjoyable. A somewhat predictable/typical read, but still good enough to continue reading. It’s also a pretty fast read. A good book if you just want to read something but not something too heavy or where you have to be super invested.

Thank you the NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book followed Margo, co-host of a popular podcast about the rules for maintaining the perfect single lifestyle, and Declan, her arch nemesis from high school.

I’m a sucker for Enemies to Lovers with the caveat that a perfect one is hard to find. This fell a little flat on that, it was more that she hated him and he didn’t know how to communicate that he didn’t hate her.

I unfortunately found Margo to be mostly unlikable and her co-host, Jo, even more so. I wanted to like their friendship so much but they felt like two people who didn’t need to be friends anymore.

This was a good book, I would read it again but the characters and story fell a little flat.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts!

Margot and her best friend Jo host a podcast together about living the single life with a list of seven specific rules. When Jo falls into a whirlwind romance and ends up engaged to be married, Margot is put into a predicament where she must decide what the next steps are for a podcast about being single when only one half of the hosts are single. As they arrive at the wedding location she comes up with an idea to do an experiment on purposefully breaking her own rules for season seven of the podcast, her test subject is no other than the best man, Declan, who has had a crush on her since high school. Soon she starts to question her way of life and if it is truly what she wants anymore…

This was a really cute romance. It involves reevaluating one’s morals/goals, navigating relationships in the midst of change, and finding love for yourself and for someone else. I loved the summer/vacation setting of the book and how it was revolved around the wedding and fun activities the wedding party got to do together.

My biggest issue with this book was that the main character was just not likeable for me. She was very hard to connect with and had a very negative personality almost the whole way through the book.

Honestly, the first few chapters were rough. I really wanted to DNF it up until chapter 9 or so. I wasn't feeling these characters, I didn't believe Margo's motivation, it felt like it was forced.
That being said once she started catching feelings, she became much more likeable/relatable.
I can't say enough about Declan and how freaking ADORABLE I think he is🥰.
I'm really glad I stuck with it, overall a very enjoyable book.

Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts was a really entertaining debut romantic comedy. Margo is a podcaster known for being anti-commitment, but deep down she struggles with realizing that she deserves to be loved and to find the right person. Declan is her former high school classmate who unfortunately she mainly remembers for the embarrassing pranks he played on her. But realistically, Declan was a teenager with a major crush who didn't know how to approach her. Adult Declan is nerdy but sexy and adorable. Margo was relatable in a lot of ways - but there were some cringeworthy moments (obviously her original plan to "break the rules" without any regard for anyone's feelings, and the interactions with Shelley and how she put herself in a somewhat elitist position with people at the hotel just because of her podcast "celebrity" status).
I really enjoyed the author's writing style so I'm looking forward to what she is working on next. The book was a little slow to grab my attention at the beginning but as soon as Margo and Declan interacted more - their banter had me hooked. It is a really fun summer romance to read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in advance.

This was a fun read & I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy romcoms! I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one! The setting was fun, especially since I have been there. I think the whole forgetting the phone issue was unrealistic but that's just me. Everything else was pretty good.

This was a cute rom com! It’s set in California & a lot of it takes place on Catalina Island which gave it summer vibes 🌞 it kind of reminded me of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days but more one sided (the MMC is not plotting anything). The concept was fun & very modern! The FMC has a podcast with her best friend and the storyline revolves around that. I didn’t love the FMC at first but she definitely grew on me as the book went on. I did love Declan, the MMC. He was so sweet 🥹 overall a cute, fun rom com read that I would recommend for your summer tbr when you need a good book to put you in the summer mood 🥰

Cute. Overall, I like Margo and Jo, silly friends that let business get in the way. Jo and Peter are getting married, and the whole bridal party ends up together on an island for 2 weeks. Declan and Peter are best friends, so Margo has to see her high school nemesis every day during the trip….what if he’s not her nemesis though?

The side characters did not get enough time - I needed more about Autumn and Lucas, needed more on Jo and Peter, and how this whole thing started. The story seems to start in the middle, because we missed all of who Jo is, how she and Peter got together, and how Margo found out. We get this info interspersed in the story, but honestly, they should have started with this.

Like I said, overall, I liked it, but there were some missed opportunities in this book.

This was cute summer romance, but it dragged a little bit for me. I'm interested in seeing what else this author writes.

This was a free copy via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but that quickly changed once I got past the beginning podcaster stuff and I devoured it! I loved the enemies-turned-lovers, skeptic pessimist-turned hope-filled believer. The humor and witty banter between Margo and Declan had me laughing out loud!!
Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for ARC!!

The Unhoneymooners meets The Ex-Talk in this enemies-to-lovers, maid of honor/best man, vacation setting rom-com with a side of a podcast!! Coming out on 5/16/23, Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts was funny, sweet, and hot all at once. Declan was absolutely lovable, and Margo was a really relatable character for me. The author really captures the feeling of being caught totally off guard by a relationship, and I thought it was a great read all the way through, with some great spicy scenes peppered in throughout!

I enjoyed the premise of high school enemies to lovers storyline. It was lighthearted and fun, and the dialogue was so easy to follow along. The female friendships were superficial and felt sidelined by the bigger romance but I enjoyed Margo’s emotional journey throughout. The love interest is easy to like and the romance was just a little steamy. Overall, I’d recommend for other romance lovers for a easy read but I wouldn’t put it in my personal top 5 favorite romances.