About The Rules of Rebellion:
- Skinny dip (her idea)
- Prank someone (his idea)
- Stargaze (her idea)
- Kiss someone (his idea)
Leo Zimmerman has had a crush on his curvy best friend Kylie Jenkins since forever, so When he discovers the girl with a flair for baking has a newfound plan to rebel against her overbearing parents, he’s determined to be the one to help her carry it out. Who better than a self-proclaimed rebel like himself to show her the ropes of letting loose?
Sure, taking her to her first high school party, helping her sneak out of the house, or watching a sunset together isn’t exactly a hardship, but much harder is masking his feelings the more time they spend together. And when he suggests adding “kiss a boy” to Kylie’s plan and she accepts…suddenly all his dreams seem to be coming true.
But Leo’s got a secret that could change everything between them, and it’s only a matter of time before it comes to the surface.
Excerpt:
Her dimples popped into place, her smile so bright it about knocked me senseless. She bounced a bit on her tiptoes, and for one hopeful second I thought she’d maybe hug me. Unfortunately, she reined in her enthusiasm.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” she said. “I’ve got to run. My sister is probably pacing in front of my car by now. See you later.”
She scurried off, and I was disappointed the conversation had ended so quickly. I didn’t mind watching her walk away, though. I loved how the girl filled out a pair of jeans. She had more bounce in her step than most of the cheerleaders. Kylie was just plain…perky. She always seemed to be happy and smiling. I’d suspected Kylie was one of those rare people who was always fun to be around. Spending time with her these past few months had proven I wasn’t wrong.
She finally rounded the corner, slipping from my view. As I twisted back around, something crinkled beneath my foot. On the floor, directly where we’d been talking, was a pink slip of paper. It looked suspiciously similar to the one that had been sticking out of Kylie’s notebook earlier today.
I swiped it off the floor as I cast another glance down the hallway. It was too late to call after her. I’d have to give it back to her later. I reflexively glanced at the page, assuming it was a recipe, but wanting to be sure it wasn’t something important. Something she might need immediately.
Senior Checklist.
I glanced down the hallway again, confirming that she was out of sight and that she hadn’t realized she dropped the paper and was coming back. The hallway was clearing out, most of us anxious to get out of here at the end of the day.
With no sign of Kylie, I leaned against my locker and glanced at the sheet in my hand again. I was expecting to see items like Choose date and time for graduation party. Or Tour college campus.
I did not expect to see the items that were actually listed.
Senior Checklist:
- Skinny dip (sort of)
- Sneak out (but don’t get caught)
- Prank someone (nothing destructive)
- Go to a party (no drinking)
- Kiss a boy (finally!)
- Watch a sunset (so romantic)
If I’d had any idea her list was going to be so private, I wouldn’t have read it. But once I’d seen it, I couldn’t exactly un-see it.
So I read it again.
Review:
Rules of Rebellion is a lighthearted and fun contemporary YA. Leo and Kylie are all kinds of adorable together, and the premise of a “list” to help Kylie break out of her “tediously boring” life (her little sister’s words, not mine. I’m all in favor of sitting home nights reading fantasy novels) is a fun one.
Ms. Hope did a nice job of showing the fun and peril of dating among a group of friends without going over the top with angsty teenage drama. When Leo’s “secret” puts their relationship in peril their friends are sympathetic but don’t go overboard with picking sides or the like. Even though I didn’t always agree with the parental attitudes here (what is up with Leo’s mom’s bias against his hobby?) I did appreciate the role that both Leo and Kylie’s families played in bringing the two of them back together in the end.
Though I do have to wonder if Leo’s big brother Mike will always be the villain he’s portrayed as here–surely he’s going to grow up at some point and regret his actions in high school…?
The Rules of Rebellion is a sweet romance, with some hand holding, kissing and one freezing cold, almost-but-not-quite skinny dipping scene. It shares some characters with another of Ms. Hope’s novels ( The Rules of Persuasion ) but works fine as a standalone.
This was my first book from this author, but definitely not my last!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About Amity Hope:
Amity lives in beautiful northern Minnesota with her two sons, two cats and their Rottweiler.
She has a degree in elementary education and worked in that field for ten years before deciding to self-publish.
Her first self-published novel, Twisted, was listed by Amazon as a Top 100 Kids & Teens Kindle Book of 2012. It hit Amazon’s Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance Best Sellers List in several countries. Truths and Dares held the #1 position on Amazon’s Best Sellers in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance eBooks in the UK.
If she’s not writing or spending time with her boys, she’s most likely reading.
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