Meh.

I can't say that it was bad, but it just doesn't have that oomph I was expecting. Perhaps the book picks up after the preview ends.

An entertaining beginning (first 5 chapters) for a friends-to-lovers queer historical romance. I look forward to reading more!

I am shocked to announce that even after several tries I could not force myself to continue even the preview. It was simply to many characters and the writing style did not appeal to me even though I was hooked when I say the description.

I was immediately hooked after these first 4 chapters sneak peek and ran to find the audiobook in one of my apps!

FULL REVIEW:
A very fun Friends to Lovers regency romance! From the first couple chapters I was hooked, I kind of wished we got to see more of their school days when Noah and David were becoming friends but the dynamic was fun, the characters had good chemistry and it's not much of a slow burn, which I appreciated!

I really did myself a disservice by not getting the whole book initially, but luckily it's out now and I can continue it! There really needs to be more friends to lovers books, and this one was so cute! I loved all the characters and I can't wait to read the rest of it!

Thank you NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC preview!

If you enjoyed "The Gentleman's Book of Vices," then it's likely that you'll also find "A Rulebook for Restless Rogues" appealing. If you have a penchant for stories that capture the essence of Bridgerton with an MLM (Male-love-Male) dynamic, this book might be a perfect fit for your preferences. In fact, it might evoke memories of that particular scene from Bridgerton season one involving Benedict at the paint club. The thematic continuity and the reminiscent vibes make it a promising choice for readers who appreciated the first book and are seeking a similar experience.

While this is a five chapter preview of the full novel, it is full of story already, and there is much foreshadowing to indicate the novel's direction. Noah and David have been best friends since they were in school. Early in their friendship, there was some sexual experimenting between the two. Neither have forgotten, but have moved on to be best friends without crossing any lines. Noah has gone against his family's wish for him to be a doctor, but instead has flourished as a tailor, as he wanted. David runs the Curious Fox, a gay club, but doesn't own it. He and Noah see other quite often, and Noah dresses as a "queen," his words.
The owner comes one day to tell David there will be a raid, and everything must be cleaned out from the club. Things are about to happen regarding both the club as well as the two main characters.
The preview was a very quick and easy read. I like how it started at the beginning of their friendship, and how it came to be. The flashbacks, each their own chapter, show their journey over thr years, and almost a separate and parallel story.
The preview left me with two immediate questions. Who's knocking at the door? Am I reading too much into someone is knocking at the door. David is nervous about Noah because be hasn't always been dependable, and I think that may be an ongoing trust issue for David.
This is definitely a book I'd like to read in its entirety.
While I have received an advance copy, my review is mine alone, and not influenced in any way.

This preview only got me more excited for the rest of this book! I enjoyed the first book in this series and this preview certainly doesn’t disappoint!

It was great to revisit locations and characters and I am looking forward to the full story after such an engaging start!

I enjoyed this sample! I love the story of boys becoming friends at boarding school and then grown up they get together. I will check out the book once it’s published.

Really enjoyed this preview. Hard for me to give a full review because I only was able to read the first couple of chapters, but it hooked me well enough that I will seek out the rest of the book when it comes out. I was frustrated to get to the end of the preview! Feels like it promises to be steamy and heartwarmingly queer.

Great insight to the story! Made me want to go out and get it to read the rest!
I look forward to hearing how the story goes, and where the characters end up.

A very promising sample for the book! I love that there was history between the MCs in the form of flashbacks to their school years and the things they got into, a mix of intimate and funny. Fastforward to the present and its wonderful to see their friendship is as strong as ever, seeing how comfortable and flirty they are together while not being anything more than just "really close friends".

Noah and David have the playful banter I dream about. The way David is enamored with Noah is contagious—and Noah’s not-so-coy-but-instead-exceedingly-sassy remarks, told through his lashes and with a mischievous grin, makes me giggle. These two are a cocktail of chaos and gin, and I’m very excited to see where they go!

06/04/2023 || A Rulebook for Restless Rogues- PREVIEW by Jess Everlee
#ARulebookforRestlessRoguesPREVIEW #NetGalley

My utmost gratitude to NetGalley, Jess Everlee, and all those in power that made this preview available!
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author and myself.

All of my thoughts are my own~

That being said- I ADORED this preview so much and I have to be honest, I am finding myself much more enticed, attached, and excited during this preview than I did the previous Lucky Lovers of London installation which I didn't think could be possible but it is!

Where The Gentleman's Book of Vices left me wanting to get to know the characters a lot better in the start, A Rulebook for Restless Rouges starts off introducing Noah and David to us 15 years prior when they were in school and first met! I love how much we get to see David be protective of dearest Noah and how their friendship developed and evolved over the years. The back and forth perspective between current times and the past really helps a reader connect and understand these characters.

I cannot wait for July for when this book is released into the wild- I absolutely need to know what happens next for David and the club? Where will the relationship between Noah and him take them both? Will we see more of their past and how it connects to the now?

So far, these two are my all time favorites! Don't tell Charlie and Miles tho!

I have only read the first 5 chapters.
The story starts in Noah and David's school days. I like the two timelines and I hope it continues throughout the story. The two characters are interesting, well written and super engaging. The language and style used for the flashback chapters is different to the present day chapters, I really like that detail. The chapters also change Pov, the author managed to successfully write in a different style for David's and Noah's Pov. The story is gripping and a real page turner.

The writing style is modern and easy to read but there are historic details included, which can sometimes be lacking in historic fiction. I enjoyed the detail of different Christian denominations, and found the portrail to be accurate. My only complaint in this matter is the use of the word 'snogging' which I found odd. I love the care which the author has taken in building the setting and it is generally well done (minus the use of the word snogging).

I would love to read the rest of the book and I hope it is as good compelling.

i’m fresh off of reading book one to this historical romance series, and jess everlee gives me everything i adore in this genre: delightfully gay, carefully curated setting, and a swoon-worthy romance.

these first five chapters of the next installment made me fall even more for david and noah and their shared past. the flashbacks feel nicely balanced to give context where it makes sense, and the plot threads of present day feel just as compelling as our two lovebirds’ undeniable chemistry. i love a friends to lovers (especially when they start as childhood friends) when done well, and this beginning taste is telling me that i can indeed trust jess everlee with one of my favorite tropes.

i will say that the cutoff right before the steam picked up at the end of chapter five was the biggest tease, so now i’m dying to tear into the rest of the book. (but of course, this works excellent for a preview)

I’ve only read 5 chapters, and this has made to my list of potential five stars. I’m already in love with Noah and David, it’s actually insane. One of my favourite things about the preview is that based on it, I could distinctly tell what POV is David’s and which one is Noah’s— which is pretty rare for me, so kudos to that. Recently, historical romances have been a miss for me, but this piqued my interest, so I’m eager to read this novel.

I LOVED the flashback to the characters as school boys so darn much. That writing was exquisite! We also get a taste into where the heroes are in their adulthood and the challenges they face. Things were just about to get a little steamy and I certainly wasn’t mad about it!

A great 5 chapter sampler, well done!

This preview was great, and once I had finished it, I instantly went to the Kindle store to see when its release would be.
The sample opens with David, one of our main characters, as a teen in a private school who's just been caned by the headmaster for getting in a fight. He bumps into Noah, who's avoiding bullies, and the two develop a friendship.
A 15-year time jump then follows, where we see Noah and David in an evening club. I kind of got a bit lost here with the sudden change of characters and a fairly chaotic setting of the club and things going on. I enjoyed the jump between them as teenagers and then as adults, and their history paved the way for intense chemistry.
I will definitely be reading the full book upon its release, and hopefully, I will find my footing in understanding what is happening.

Thank you to Carina Press & Carina Adores and NetGalley for providing this ARC!

I haven’t read the first books in this series, but the friends-to-lovers plot and charming setting interested me right away! The first five chapters did an excellent job setting up a tantalizing romance plot along with a properly concerning external conflict. Personally, the interspersed flashbacks of the main characters’ youths weren’t for me—I’d rather read about the current-day plot with references to their past worked in—but it provided an insight into how the main duo became so close. And I’m especially thrilled with the inclusion of drag in historical fiction and romance; I’m glad to see it become more common, painting an even fuller picture of queer history alongside this lovely romance. I'd absolutely love to read more.

Four books for a lovely, readable time and the promise of more excitement!