Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don’t like your best friend’s boyfriend.
Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He’s easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he’s paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna’s boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah’s best friend.
Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she’s thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It’s wonderful…and awful.
Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can’t stop herself from wanting more…
I’ve wanted to read this book ever since Mollie reviewed it. And then when we discussed it further after I reviewed Susane Colasanti’s Something Like Fate, which has a similar storyline.
I have to say The Unwritten Rule was a better read than Something Like Fate. The issue I had with SLF, the cat fighting between friends, wasn’t an issue with tUR. It didn’t take up as much page time and the dynamics between Sarah and Brianna, her best friend, are different.
So, Brianna and Ryan have been going out for 6 weeks. But as we’re quick to find out, Sarah liked him first. She’s liked him ever since 8th grade and now that they’re in high school and Ryan’s filled out over the summer, Sarah is even more interested in him. But at the last summer party, Brianna notices Ryan and goes after him, not knowing how Sarah feels about him. And now Brianna is dragging Sarah along to everything she and Ryan does, which is torture for Sarah. Because she knows what she wants is wrong – you do not go after your best friend’s boyfriend. But then when Sarah wants to leave the party early, Ryan offers to drive her home…and they kiss in her driveway. Now when the three of them hang out, things are even worse for Sarah, because she knows what it feels like to be in Ryan’s arms.
Ok, I really really enjoyed the Unwritten Rule. For sure it’s going on my keeper shelf! I liked that Sarah knew Ryan for a while, that she liked him first. I like how that night at the party held so much meaning to both her and Ryan (things aren’t as cut and dry as I make them) – and all the events that seemed to happen a certain way after the party actually didn’t have the meaning Sarah thought they did. And what really got me was the friendship between Sarah and Brianna. That’s always the core around a story like this – and their friendship was very uneven. And everyone saw that but Sarah. But they’re written in such a way that you get their motivations. Very well written characters.
And the tension between Sarah and Ryan. Rowr.
Final Grade: B+
So glad you liked it! That’s why I didn’t read SLF because I figured Scott had done the same story line…and had done it WELL. So I don’t think I’m going to be reading SLF. Got too many other things to read! 🙂 Thanks for helping eliminate some book from my TBR pile!
Have you read any other Scott?
i just got this book in the mail last week. after i read the synopsis i thought it had a similar story line to Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (one of my favorite chick lits) but after i read your review, it sounds like it is Something Borrowed but written for the YA crowd. can’t wait to dive into this book! thanks for the review ames!!
Yay I’m glad you liked it! I’ve heard mixed reviews about this one, so I haven’t read it yet. I love Elizabeth Scott so I think I’ll try it. Thanks for the lovely review 🙂
Rowr, huh? LOL. I love it! I want to read this book so bad! Thanks for the review, must get my hands on this book soon!
Mollie-Scott definitely did it better than Colasanti. But also different circumstances. And this was my first Scott novel – although I do have Bloom in my tbr pile. Thanks to your book pimping skills. LOL
Chelley-I’m going to have to look for that book! Did you enjoy it?
Sara-I’ve seen one so-so review and one good review (Mollie’s) so I decided to trust Mollie. LOL It paid off. I hope you enjoy it too.
Wena-Yes, rowr. LOL
…Idk…I just get so sad when I read stories like this where the friend cheats with her bff’s guy. The book sounds great but you know me and I have issues with seeing past that stuff…idk lol glad you enjoyed it MAYBE I can grow a pair and pick it up! 😉
Great review sweets!
Monroe-I don’t want to give anything away here, but Brianna isn’t a victim. There’s other stuff going on. But I understand where you’re coming from.
This sounds like a great read… I’m already intrigued by the synopsis, that’s for sure! The drama and the tension seems very well-written. Great review (:
@monroe, I don’t like that type of story either but Scott does it perfectly. Which is why I’m leaving it at that and not reading Something Like Fate. You should give it a try!
BTW, Wena, why isn’t Kristen Cashore on your author poll…. 😀
It is now my mission in life to get you to read GRACELING.
Ames, you too.
LOL, she may not be on my list but she’s at the top of my MUST READ authors soon! Don’t worry Mollie, I haven’t forgotten!
Linna-It’s an excellent read, very well-written. I hope you enjoy it!
Mollie-LOL I will, one day. Have patience with me. 😛
Thanks for the review. I read some other reviews which persuaded me not to read it. But it sounds like there are other things going on in this story.
I’ve chabged my mind, I think I’ll give it a go, but I’m still #1 for happy endings!
I just started on YA books recently, specifically, YA Urban Fantasy. But I’m running out of the UF books to read so your review here is intriguing…from the comments and response here, I feel better that Brianna is not a victim because then I wouldn’t want to read. Thanks for a great review.
I just finished reading it and I loved it…!
I just finished reading it and I loved it…!