“That’s how God so often works, isn’t it? Only the next step, the next shrub or tree, is visible when I want the whole forest. I need the whole picture so I can organize, mitigate disaster, plan for all possible outcomes, ready a list to ensure everything turns out the way it’s supposed to. “

The premise of this book reminded me of Angela Ruth Strong’s book, Husband Auditions, in which a young single influencer decides to film herself following an old-fashioned list for finding a beau. Only instead of a list from the 1950s, our heroine in Molly Rushmeyer’s contemporary rom-com uses a list from Regency times. Zoe and her best friend Eden produce a popular podcast. Using wisdom from Regency authors Jane Austin and A. Nathaniel Gladwin, Zoe gives advice about finding love in the modern world. Love, the “l” word, yet elusive to the two. They decide to attend a Regency cosplay singles retreat near Minneapolis, and drag along Eden’s brother, Harrison, as their producer.

The adventures the two get into along with Harrison, his assistant Jake, and a few other friends and attendees are quite hilarious and sad. Hilarious as Zoe is not very graceful, and that is putting it mildly. Sad, because as the reader, it is so easy to see what Zoe refuses to see… where her true feelings lie, but where she, in her need for a plan, decides to move ahead.

Harrison and Zoe take turns narrating the story, so we get a look at the pitfalls and likelihood of this being a friends-to-more story. Zoe is a planner who must have everything scheduled and perfect. Harrison finally tells her, “Besides, even when we think we’re controlling things, we’re really not. Surrender is acknowledging the fact that God has it under control, has our backs, and loves us. We don’t have to carry the burden of making everything right.” Yet, Zoe desperately clings to her idea of control, sure if she lets go, disaster will ensue.

When Zoe does finally begin to let go and trust God for her future, a sudden betrayal reinforces her misguided idea that she never should have given up the reins. Will she ever be able to understand that “God never promised, ‘Take my yoke upon you, and I’ll make sure your life’s smooth sailing, no pain or heartache’”? I know people who believe if they trust God, bad things shouldn’t happen to them. Will Harrison persist in his pursuit, or will he decide Zoe and he are too different to be God’s match for each other? How will Harrison and Eden’s overbearing, absent father affect the future of the podcast and any relationship between Harrison and Zoe?

While this is a light-hearted story, the lessons about letting go and letting God and relaxing our standards, not looking for perfection in others, are invaluable.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also purchased my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“That’s the thing I’ve come to see. I’ll never be perfect, I’ll never do everything right. But then He never asked me to. Instead, He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”- Harrison

“while people, even people I love deeply, can disappoint and betray me, God never will.”- Zoe

“when we keep secrets from others, we’re telling ourselves it’s for their good. To protect them. To protect our own hearts. But it’s a lie we tell ourselves to avoid doing what’s right.”- Zoe

“Maybe He [God]reveals one step at a time so I have to take His hand for the next one, the one I can’t quite see beyond. That way He can help me when I inevitably stumble or fall.”-Zoe

There seems to be an uptick in regency cosplay novels recently and I am here for it! I have never read any books by Mollie Rushmeyer before, but she has my attention.

In the Rules of Falling for You, Zoe Dufour is approaching 30 and is still single and childless. She runs a successful podcast with her best friend, Eden Lundquist. They convince Eden's brother, Harrison to join them for a week long Regency experience. They will eat, sleep, dress, and be entertained like 1817ish England. A possible goal could be to find the love of your life, Regency style. Harrison thinks the ladies obsession with all things Jane Austen is ridiculous. But he has a deep secret he is hiding: he's been in love with Zoe for years. Each time he tried to throw his hat in the ring, it's the wrong timing and his efforts backfire. During the walks, horse riding, and dancing, Harrison grits his teeth and watches other men vie for Zoe's favor. I don't want to spoil the book, so you should read for yourself if Zoe and Harrison find happiness, or if a deep betrayal ruins Harrison's chances for good.

I enjoyed The Rules of Falling for You. It has likable characters, an entertaining plot line, and a light Christian message. It is a clean romance and I will let my teenage girls read it.

The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer
4 Stars

What a delightful Christian rom-com with a Jane Austen twist!

Read if you like:

- Best Friends Brother Trope
- Jane Austen Elements in Books
- Podcast Details
- Books that make you Laugh
- Romance with lists/rules
- Regency References
- Forced Proximity
- Diabetes Rep
- Secret Admirer Letters
This was very charming. I liked how the author combined the regency inspired romance with a modern rom-com setting. We follow Harrison and Zoe in this book. Harrison is Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother. He agrees to attend a regency themed singles retreat with her to capture footage as Zoe searches for her real life "Mr. Darcy". Zoe has this ideal checklist, which undoubtedly has too many requirements lol. Harrison, the true man of her dreams, is right in front of her. When will she realize?

Harrison is such an honest man, a man of integrity. I loved how his cared about her. Zoe wasn't too sure about what to do with her feelings, but when things finally came to a close, I loved their resolution together. It was sweet.

This book beautifully highlights the message of trusting God’s timing instead of trying to control your love life with personal expectations or rigid “lists of requirements.” Usually those lists don’t truly matter and God’s plans are far greater. And even if you are not in a relationship, God's plan still remains true for your life.

I may have found myself being a little less engaged in some parts vs others, but overall I really enjoyed my time in this book. It made me smile, laugh and had the light hearted elements I enjoy in romance. Bonus points for this Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice fan here! :) p.s. 2005 P&P is my fav, haha!

Would recommend. Thank you to Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

This hilarious romcom is perfect for the Jane Austen and period drama lover, who will love all the references sprinkled throughout this funny modern-day romcom with Austenland vibes. The romance is a sweet he-falls-first romance with a friends-to-more flair, featuring a relatable heroine and a smitten hero who deal with realistic modern day romance conundrums, anxieties, and happy endings. I related very much to Zoe, who struggles internally to pair her dreams of a regency gentleman with the reality of modern day dating, and am so glad her character never settles when she finds her match with Harrison— although it’s a match that checks off her list in different ways than she thinks! The faith threads and emotional depth of this one are valuable, and are shown through the internal dialogue of both Zoe and Harrison as the story unfolds. This is a great romcom, and I recommend it to all the girls out there who love Jane Austen and dream of a perfect gentleman—you will learn a lot and perhaps snort-laugh in the meantime!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own. I loved it!

What a delightful story this book was. Combining Regency with Modern, Mollie Rushmeyer does a delightful job of making all of us fall in love all over again. I laughed out loud so many times with Zoe & Harrison. They were fabulous, as well as their side characters! You wont regret reading this one. I promise.

The Rules of Falling for You is the first book I have read written by Mollie Rushmeyer, and I am excited to read more of her books. This dual POV Rom-com with a nod to Regency is the perfect blend of funny and real.

The character development is good. I enjoyed watching Zoe as she is navigating her type 1 diabetes and growing her regency romance podcast, while also looking for the perfect guy. There was a lot of growth to find out what has always been right in front of her. Harrison has some things to unpack for himself. He is still trying to find his footing after his previous job, as well as his relationship with his parents.

The setting was perfect. Set in Minnesota for a singles retreat at a historical estate made for a great story. The storyline was a fun one. Now, if you don’t like Jane Austen or cheesy stories, this is probably not the story for you, and that is ok. I enjoyed it. Zoe is a podcaster who talks about Jane Austen and all things Regency. I loved all the different pieces of Regency throughout the novel. The singles retreat was such a fun concept and fit in perfectly with Zoe’s podcast. I loved all the different activities that the group got to do, as well as all of Zoe’s mishaps; it added to the rom-com aspect.

The romance was a sweet, a best friend’s brother, opposites attract, kisses-only romance.

Mollie Rushmeyer did a good job of intertwining faith throughout the book, with mentions of prayer and mentioning God.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐️ Such a cute read! I loved both Zoe and Harrison. This book had me laughing for sure, but the character development in both main characters and even some side characters really made this book stand out. Zoe grows so much, especially, learning some really important lessons about herself and her faith.

I definitely like regency stuff, but I’m not even close to Zoe’s level. I’ll even admit while I’ve read my Jane Austen, some of the other references were a little over my head. But that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story at all, in fact it maybe even enhanced it because of how over the top it could be.

I took off half a star just because I probably won’t reread, and that’s how my rating system works. I didn’t love the third act conflict, but it made the conclusion perfect and sweet, and helped solidify those lessons all our characters were learning!

Fans of the best friend’s brother trope will love this! Also great for any regency lovers, those interested in podcasts, and lovers of romcoms. Diabetes’ representation. Clean. Kisses only. Wonderful faith elements.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the author and publisher. I was not asked to leave a positive review. My opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5)

Release date: September 2, 2025

Podcaster Zoe Dufour heads to a Regency-themed singles retreat, determined to meet her ideal gentleman who checks every box on her list. But her producer—and best friend’s brother—Harrison thinks the whole idea is absurd. As sparks fly behind the camera, Zoe must decide if love looks less like rules and more like risk.

I’m basically this main character and I feel exposed 🙈😂 There is no one who loves a list more, struggles to realize perfectionism isn’t always good, yet wholeheartedly believes the perfect romance is out there. Her optimism is infectious, but her heartfelt fears are what will endear you most. They’re certainly what endeared Harrison 🥹 This man is down bad and men should take notes on his dedication to pining. There’s something so pure about his angsty unrequited love that makes this burly, hockey-playing man tender. Honey, if someone is willing to cosplay for you, there’s no need to question their commitment.

If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, Austenland, or any form of Regency romance—AND cosplay—I’ve found your book of the year.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention how comforting both characters’ quick little thoughts to God were. This author has a beautifully effortless way of showing how present the Lord can be in any moment without having to frame every scene around prayer or faith.

Thank you @bethanyhousefiction for the ARC 🥰 #BHPFiction I am so looking forward to reading Mollie’s next book to see where she takes this spunky and heartfelt writing style of hers.

Perfect for you if you like:
Unique mix of contemporary and regency
Cosplay
Sweet pining
Jane Austen superfans

Similar to:
Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay (open door)
Book Boyfriend by Emily Wbiberley and Austen Siegemund-Broka
Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham

⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️sick parent, past proposal rejection

This book is comedic genius, pairing contemporary rom-com with everything Austen and Regency.
Zoe and her friend Eden have a podcast based on their love for a fictional author: A. Nathaniel Gladwin. To be certain I had not missed another Regency author, I quickly looked up Gladwin. The author was that convincing!
Zoe is Miss Control as evidenced in her planning and many lists including her 30 by 30 list of things to accomplish in finding a spouse according to the standards of the Regency period. Let the fun begin when Eden’s brother Harrison helps the girls with filming. Zoe has had a crush on Harrison since she and Eden roped him into watching all things Austen when they were mere girls. Harrison is the voice of reason: “Surrender is acknowledging the fact that God has it under control, has our backs and loves us. We don’t have to carry the burden of making everything right.”
I loved the banter and a hero who could quote Austen and was brave enough to don a cravat and dance the period dances at a ball. Delightful mishaps abound at the Singles Regency Retreat that brought back scenes from Austen adaptations. This was an Austen lover’s dream of a story right down to the wet-shirt-Darcy want to be! Loads of fun with a plot that mimicked a Jane Austen novel.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

This book was so fun! The Rules of Falling for You is a sweet modern day rom-com with a regency twist. You’ll love the characters, the banter and wit of the book. As a type 1 diabetic, I was super excited to read a book with a main character portrayed as a diabetic. I felt the portrayal was very accurate, I personally would’ve liked a bit more with Zoe’s day to day struggle with it, but I enjoyed it very much!

I was given a copy by the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review.

From the very first chapter, this book hooked me with its romcom charm and Jane Austen flair. I loved the unique storyline of a Regency-era retreat where characters hope to find true love. It was both fun and entertaining. Zoe Dufour is a strong, independent podcaster who also lives with chronic illness, making her feel authentic and relatable. Harrison Lundquist was the perfect gentleman, his mix of sarcasm and genuine adoration for Zoe made me cheer for him and Zoe even more.

The cast of characters was delightful, full of humor and heart and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. The romance had wonderful chemistry, a great pace, and an engaging storyline that kept me turning pages. I especially appreciated the faith thread woven naturally into the story, because it added warmth without overpowering the romance.

Overall, this is a heartwarming, funny, and romantic read that I highly recommend for fans of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen-inspired stories and clean, contemporary romances. Mollie Rushmeyer is definitely an author I’ll be returning to!

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

This book was so cute! I found myself wrapped up in the story. I really liked how it was dual POV, and the YEARNING of the MMC was almost TOO good. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice or any regency era story.

Such. Good book ! I loved Josie and Harrison ! Josie is a podcaster and wants to be married by 30 . She has a love by Jane Austen with her friend (who also happens to be Harrison’s sister )
They go to a retreat that make believes they are in the 1800’s Jane Austen days . I loved the Jane Austen movie quotes
Harrison and Josie’s story was awesome!
🤩 Clean book
❤️God elements
Thank you NetGalley for the arc and publishers

🩷 Book Review 🩷

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this #gifted book!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: The Rules of Falling for You
Author: Mollie Rushmeyer
Genre: Romcom
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: Zoe Dufour with the help of her best friend Eden has gained quite the online following with her Regency-romance themed podcast, but her real life romance is lacking to say the least. As she nears thirty, she increasingly feels the pressure to find a man before she’s an old maid. But her rules of dating seem to be a little outdated. Until she stumbles upon the Minnesota Marriage Mart—a Regency-themed singles retreat. Seeing this as the perfect podcast opportunity, Zoe and her team—which now includes Zoe’s older brother Harrison—set out to see if Zoe can find her perfect match and record some good content in the process. And Harrison is dreading it. And as much as he cares for his sister and her best friend, he’d rather be anywhere else. But as the dates turn into disasters, Harrison realizes his care may be deeper than he thinks. But will Zoe be able to see the Regency man she’s looking for has been there all along?

Analysis: Can I just tell you what an adorable story this is?! This has a Pride and Prejudice meets Bride Wars feel but with a bit of a gender twist. Even though I’m not a huge classics reader, this book met all the marks with the regency references set in modern time! I think any Jane Austen fan will absolutely love this one. It’s cute and sweet and oh-so-funny! Some of Zoe’s failed dates still bring a smile to my face 😂 I wouldn’t put this one as super realistic (even though I did tell Mollie she should work on that regency retreat 😉). But I think you’ll find you relate to the characters and their emotions. I also loved how Mollie added the faith elements without it feeling forced or cheesy. If you’re looking for a sweet romcom to close out your summer, this is the perfect book to try!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Rules of Falling for You is a delightful debut rom-com from author Mollie Rushmeyer! A captivating modern day romcom with all things Regency! What a creative and original story, told with humor, and honesty. A charming heroine and the absolute BEST hero! I especially loved his anonymous notes to Zoe. Zoe Dufour and her best friend Eden Lundquist have a wildly successful Regency-themed advice column podcast. Eden's brother Harrison reluctantly agrees to accompany them to film their experience at a singles Regency retreat in Stillwater, Minnesota. He thinks the whole idea is ridiculous. Zoe has much in life that is out of her control, she feels that her 'nonnegotiable traits for her ideal gentleman' list will help her choose the ideal person to share her life with, or is it just that it looks good on paper, but not so much in real life? Must she follow her plan? Or can she be open to something else? It was fun to travel this journey with Zoe from the mishaps, to lessons learned, to true love. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Fans of delightful rom coms and Regency themes will love it!

Thank you to the author and Bethany House for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved this fun story. I’Ts like reading a modern-day regency. The characters were so lovable even the quirky ones. Harrison is so swoony. Flirty banter and chemistry-filled moments had me shouting Kiss her! The podcast and its part in the story tied everything up making this such a fantastic read!

The Rules of Falling for You is rom-com at it’s finest! I hated having to put the book down in order to take care of my own responsibilities but I also hated that I read it so fast. It was so cute. If you like books that make you laugh and characters who feel too real to be made up, then this book is for you. Seriously, gather your girlfriends and read this one together- it would be so fun to laugh and discuss it with others.

Charming rom-com with "Pride & Prejudice" echoes. Cute, funny and easy to read. This book was provided by the Author for me through NetGalley to read. The opinions expressed here are my own thoughts.

3.5 ⭐

If you enjoy Regency romance, Jane Austen, podcasts, romcoms, dual perspectives and contemporary romance sprinkled with faith and humour, this is not one to miss!

Zoe Dufour, 29, believes waiting for her Mr Darcy is worth the wait. She’s been focused on finding him before her 30th birthday, and, after several mismatches and mishaps, she has compiled a list of requirements she’s looking for.

How wonderful to be reminded that there’s more to a relationship than chemistry and good looks. It’s also good to take time out to laugh at ourselves!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

What a delightful and heartwarming read! The Rules of Falling for You takes the charm of Regency romance and blends it with a modern-day twist that had me smiling from start to finish.

Zoe Dufour, a relationship podcaster and Regency enthusiast, attends a Regency-themed singles’ retreat in hopes of finally meeting her perfect match—the one who checks all the boxes on her carefully crafted list of nonnegotiables. Enter Harrison Lundquist, her podcast producer and best friend’s brother, who tags along reluctantly to film the retreat and hopefully secure a promotion. To him, Zoe’s checklist and old-fashioned rules for love are completely absurd. But as he documents her whimsical (and often hilarious) pursuit of the perfect modern-day Mr. Darcy, his own feelings for Zoe become harder to ignore.

Why I Loved It:
• Charming Premise: A Regency-inspired singles’ retreat? Yes, please! It’s creative, fun, and full of swoony moments.
• Relatable Romance: Zoe’s journey of discovering that love can’t always be confined to a checklist felt authentic and heartfelt.
• Friends-to-Lovers Glow: The slow realization of feelings between Zoe and Harrison was tender, funny, and so satisfying.

This story is a perfect pick for fans of clean romcoms with humor, charm, and just the right amount of emotional depth. The Rules of Falling for You will leave you grinning, cheering for love, and maybe even rethinking your own “rules.”

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, and this is my honest and unbiased review.