Margo is half of the cast in a podcast called "Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts" with her best friend since kindergarten, Jo. Except everything is about to change because Jo is getting married! Since they still have one more season of the podcast to record, Margo suggests that she BREAKS the rules to show exactly why they're so important. Except she decides to break the rules with Declan, the hot best man who was once the worst kind of prankster in the high school they attended together. She thought it was no big deal to break the rules with a guy that she'd low-key despised for over a decade. But she hadn't reloaded how badly she would be breaking Rule Number Seven: Whatever you do, DON'T catch feelings.

Margo is a bit of a sad case of a character, practically a loner, with nothing really going for her except the podcast she runs with her bestie. She shares almost all her social media with Jo, and lives with Jo, and works with Jo... She doesn't have much of a life outside the podcast. The love story is compelling, and Declan is a very sweet character, so it was actually fun to read about her taking down walls so that she can learn how to put her faith and trust in someone that isn't her.

I enjoyed the story, and the romance is decent. I hope that the author puts out more good books soon (if she hasn't already...!) because I enjoyed this one and would love to see where else she might go with her writing.

There's ONE thing that really bugs me, and pulled me out of the story for a hot second. The main character is 30ish, right? So when her mom makes a d*ck joke, then the MC thinks she's talking about her best friend's from, Peter, it should just lead to an eye roll or something. But, like, the mom has to explain that "Peter" is yet another slang word for male genitalia. You are a grown woman. There's NO way you missed that term. You have a podcast about DATING. There's no. Damn. Way.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

Synopsis:

Margo and Jo run a viral podcast with 7 rules to hooking up without catching feelings. So when Jo surprises her by deciding to get married and taking up a sponsor's offer to host an all-expenses-paid wedding trip to Catalina island, they have their followers to answer to. To create some content, Margo decides to break all her own dating rules just to prove it's a bad idea. The groom's BFF and old high school nemesis Declan Walsh is perfect for it. There is no chance Margo will ever catch feelings for him . . . until she does.

Review:

This was an easy read with lots of heartwarming moments. I know the feeling of being jaded from relationships and meeting "the one" when you least expect it, so I really enjoyed reading it. It gave an inside view to the pressure that influencers face in trying to create content and portray a certain image all the time. I enjoyed the added drama by the sponsors of the event, because of course they are in it for their own publicity and marketing. Highly recommend for a light and easy read!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Romance, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
.
This was an easy book to request because the synopsis is just such a classic rom-com, enemies-to-lovers. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Jo and Margo, and their friendship felt truthful in its journey through their growing up and growing apart. Their lives cannot be the same now as they were years ago; that’s just simply not the way the world works. Margo is clinging to the past both in her opinions on love and on Declan as a person.
.
I often found Margo to be extremely frustrating and childish in her world-view, while Declan was meant to come off as more wild, but he was refreshing in his growth from their previous interactions. The plot itself moved at a quick pace and was continuously moving forward. The writing was good, and I would be interested in reading more from Miller for sure.

This book is one of my quickest reads and I really enjoyed it. The grumpy sunshine also made it all the better and it’s just a really great summer read on the beach, by the pool or just sitting out and soaking up the sun.

Margo and Jo run a podcast about dating without catching feelings. But when Jo decides to get married, they have to come up with new dialogue. She decides to break all of their own rules by using the best man, her former high school annoyance. But as she gets to know him as he is now, he isn't the same annoying boy.

This is fun, quick read. Enjoyable characters and storyline. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

Social media was a big part of this, because Margo and her best friend, Jo run a podcast that has a huge following and when they do the opposite of their 'rules' that they set to breaking hearts, especially Margo who has a reputation of the girl who doesn't believe in love. So when Jo gets married, her attitude is not supportive towards her best friend, but rather what can they do to get the number up and that includes sleeping with the best man who's also her rival. In reality, he wasn't her rival, it was simply a misunderstanding on her part which I'm glad was figured out early on. I was intrigued to see how she had to navigate the fallout of her lost phone and her also falling in love when she didn't want with a guy who doesn't like social media at all.

This was a fun, sweet romance. While it took me a little while to get invested, watching Margo work through her relationships, working through a deep consideration of the expectations she’s set for herself and just where they come from, is incredibly satisfying. I loved the relationship between Margo and Declan, who is such a great character, and I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at Go and Jo’s podcast.

I loved this book !! it was so cute and I love the enemies to lovers, reverse roll grumpy vs sunshine, and the mixed media with the podcast !! what a great debut !!

This was an interesting read, Definitely not my favorite of the year but I think that it had some really good points that could keep someone engaged. Thank you!

This was a little romance with a twist on the enemies to lovers theme. Actually, the hating was all on one side because Margo and Declan had gone to high school together, and Margo thought that Declan had deliberately sabotaged her in several things. Unfortunately, she discovers that he is the best man to her maid of honor for her best friend's wedding. Of course, she wants to avoid him as much as possible, but that turns out to be beyond difficult. Complicating things is the podcast she and her best friend had created called Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts. The idea was to constantly hook up with guys but never catch feelings, trying to turn the dating game on its head by reversing the idea that men operate that way. For me, I liked Declan a lot but couldn't stand Margo, so the book wasn't very satisfying. Plus I was turned off by the whole one night stand rules. I am probably too old to appreciate this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is cute and if you're looking for spice it has it too.

Two female best friends start the podcast and at some point they both admittedly saying that the podcast became bigger than them. However, as much as I don't love arguments with girlfriends, I do like they were able to work it out.

The story felt like it was how the beginning of how the "Call Her Daddy" Podcast started, which an addition of "How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days" given that one of the podcasters wanted to bring a challenge to their show of breaking their own rules they set forth for the podcast. My disclaimer being that I've never listened to Call Her Daddy, but I understand that's loosely what the beginnings of the podcast was about.

The book feels like it'll date itself easily. Making social media references to Instagram (even referred to as "the 'gram" at a point) and Tiktok and even say "unalive." I know it's slang culture and it's very now, but not sure how this will carry on in the long run.

You have tropes like long-term crushes, third act break up, and enemies to lovers, but the enemies is very one-sided. The FMC is better than me because no matter how much I've grown since high school, I'm not sure i'd be able to get over it as quickly she has. Granted, that's part of the miscommunication/misunderstanding trope that's here too.

I think anyone who's looking for a quick romance read who enjoys podcast culture, relationship podcasts and some of the tropes mentioned above are going to enjoy this book. However, if you roll your eyes at "influencer culture" (which obviously I don't blame anyone), I think you should pass. Especially since you find out a majority of this characters' experiences are based on sponsorships and they don't pay for anything, it'll be easy to get hung up on that and scoff at as the characters confronts some of their issues.

I'd also read something from this author again.

Best friends Jo and Margo have created a successful podcast advising woman on how to enjoy "hookup culture" and remain single, so they are the ones breaking hearts instead of getting their hearts broken. However, Jo has broken the seven rules and is engaged to get married. Margo cannot help but be happy for her best friend and is going to do her best to be a great maid of honor. However, she also cannot help but be somewhat upset by the changes this will bring about. In particular, what this will mean for the podcast and her career. The podcast was already growing somewhat stale, and now Jo and Margo are facing a lot of criticism from fans who feel betrayed by Jo's pending nuptials, but yet they are contractually obligated to complete another season. Adding to the pressure she is already facing, Margo has to contend with the best man being her high school nemesis, Declan Walsh. The bridal party is spending two weeks on Catalina Island preparing for the wedding. Needing content for the podcast, Margo comes up with a plan to use Declan to test out breaking the rules, and why it is a bad idea. However, Declan is not the same person he was in high school, and Margo's perception of high school Declan may not have been entirely accurate. As they get to know each other better, Margo begins to rethink her plans, but everything is turned upside down when her own words, taken out of context, are used against her in a very public manner.

Typical enemies to lovers but with a podcast host who swears off relationships & grudge from high school.

I had a hard time getting past the 15 year old grudge about nothing. I wasn’t super invested in the story but the influencer aspect was interesting & fun.

Love a redhead MMC

3.75/5

I ended up really liking this book more than I think I initially expected when I first stated to read it. I think my biggest issue with the book is that the characters at times just flat out annoyed me which is hard when you are a character driven reader. Overall though I ended up really enjoying the book and the conversation around social media came and how it effects people. The feeling of being stuck in a particular bubble is one that I’m sure many people can relate to. I also really enjoyed the MMC. He wasn’t afraid to call the Fmc out from the very beginning and I think they balanced each other out really well. Overall I felt like this was a great summer read and would recommend it.

When i first decided to get an arc for this book, I was hoping i’d provide the summer vibes that I was yearning for and it did not let me down! It was so much fun and the tropes couldn’t have been better! Opposites attract, they knew each-other since high school, forced proximity, he has been pining for her all this time! It was just great. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick, easy read that’ll be a lot of fun to get through

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Overall, the story was quite entertaining but dragging, it only paced faster towards the end and wrapped up pretty abruptly, like the author just wanted to be done with it. I also found the main character quite immature and lacked character growth throughout the book.

I received a free copy of How to Win a Breakup from Netgalley and Melanie Munton in exchange for an honest review.
Reasons Why Not to Date the Best Friend is the third book in the Shell Grove romance series. I adored the first two books and now this third one has lived up to all the hype I gave it in my mind. Munton’s characters are full and complete humans, and they are so funny.
Date the Best Friend is a childhood friends-to-lovers romance that has been built in the background the two previous novels. Finally, we get the payoff: a who novel focuses on the hilarious best friends Finn and Maggie. Their romance is fiery, cute, and ultimately satisfying to the reader.
I think it’s important to note that this series is quite spicy, too, so if you’re looking for some good spice let me tell you: you’ve found it.

Truly a spectacle of a story. I love when a synopsis pans out and the book ends up being a hit.

I just finished but sitting with my thoughts about certain moments within the book, I would say this is equivalent to How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, just more modern and sex.

The narrator was phenomenal. She made Declan so dreamy and she was ultimately such a good voice for this book.

Jo and Go host a podcast spelling out the rules for dating without committing to a relationship. So when her co-host and best friend gets engaged, Go (Margo) is feeling abandoned and deceived. But as the Maid of Honor she accompanies the bridal party on a two week trip, all expenses paid by a sponsor of their podcast. With the podcast in limbo, Margo is determined to come up with new content. And Declan, the Best Man and her high school nemesis might be the perfect target.
Declan was a great character! Shy and sweet and vulnerable. It was Margo that was hard to like. She was annoyed at everyone and self centered. She and Jo are supposed to be best friends and have this podcast together, but I never really got a good feel for their relationship. So while there was a lot going on with the vacation, the trip and the wedding but there was a lot more I would have liked to know about the characters.