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None of the Regular Rules
Sometimes, a few dares can change lives…
The weekend before the start of senior year, Sophie Erickson and her best friends, Ella and Grace, discover a handwritten list of dares tucked away in the glove compartment of Sophie’s beat-up old Toyota. But this isn’t just any list; it’s a dead girl's bucket list.
Sophie's beloved aunt Suzy died as a teenager in a fatal fall, leaving Sophie with an overly cautious family, a few fading photographs, and a bucket of bolts that barely passes for a car. But now, Sophie has Suzy’s list of the things she wanted to do in her last year of high school. Sophie can't help but wonder: What would happen if she tried to fulfill Suzy’s last wishes, to live out the longed-for life of her aunt, her hero?
As Sophie and her friends attempt to knock off the things on Suzy's list of dares, love blossoms in unexpected places and Sophie begins to feel that her life is finally coming together...when in fact, everything is slowly unraveling around her. When the truth about a long-held family secret threatens to shatter everything she believed to be true, Sophie is forced to question everything she knew about the life and people she believed in, and ultimately herself.
The weekend before the start of senior year, Sophie Erickson and her best friends, Ella and Grace, discover a handwritten list of dares tucked away in the glove compartment of Sophie’s beat-up old Toyota. But this isn’t just any list; it’s a dead girl's bucket list.
Sophie's beloved aunt Suzy died as a teenager in a fatal fall, leaving Sophie with an overly cautious family, a few fading photographs, and a bucket of bolts that barely passes for a car. But now, Sophie has Suzy’s list of the things she wanted to do in her last year of high school. Sophie can't help but wonder: What would happen if she tried to fulfill Suzy’s last wishes, to live out the longed-for life of her aunt, her hero?
As Sophie and her friends attempt to knock off the things on Suzy's list of dares, love blossoms in unexpected places and Sophie begins to feel that her life is finally coming together...when in fact, everything is slowly unraveling around her. When the truth about a long-held family secret threatens to shatter everything she believed to be true, Sophie is forced to question everything she knew about the life and people she believed in, and ultimately herself.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2012
10 people are currently reading
1435 people want to read
About the author
Erin Soderberg Downing
54 books268 followersI read and write lots of funny, adventurous, & heartwarming books for kids, tweens, and teens (and even a few romantic comedies for adults, too!) that are ultimately about finding your place, finding your people, and finding your voice. I always love book recommendations, so please send them my way. As a reader, I'm partial to contemporary romantic comedy, thrillers that keep the pages turning and have well-built characters, funny/original voices, quirky characters, and always kids' books with humor and heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 1, 2013
Review posted at Ja čitam, a ti?
This is one of these books that I thought I can't make mistake with. Well that's partly true, cause when I say I - I mean the person I used to be..it's looks like that. But I should tell you more about the story first.
Sophie is a really typical young girl. She is in high school now and most of her days she is spending with her two best friends. Her neighbor next door is a bit older. He is leaving for college this summer and that's why he's hosting parties in his yard all night long. Of course Sophie is invited but too scared to go. Until one day when by the accident she finds a list. It's a list her aunt left in the car which Sophie inherited. Her aunt was her hero and now she is gone - dead. Sophie feels like she needs to knock off the things on the list in memory of her aunt. She doesn't even dream that by doing so she will change herself too. She grows up with the list but unfortunately not always things go according to the plan.
Now back to the start. Like I said few years back this book would be something wonderful to me. It's a realistic story about teens growing up, getting to know the world, love and find themselves. Well today I guess I'm older and I don't feel the same. So I believe that the younger readers will love this book but I think it's time for me to leave them behind.
This is one of these books that I thought I can't make mistake with. Well that's partly true, cause when I say I - I mean the person I used to be..it's looks like that. But I should tell you more about the story first.
Sophie is a really typical young girl. She is in high school now and most of her days she is spending with her two best friends. Her neighbor next door is a bit older. He is leaving for college this summer and that's why he's hosting parties in his yard all night long. Of course Sophie is invited but too scared to go. Until one day when by the accident she finds a list. It's a list her aunt left in the car which Sophie inherited. Her aunt was her hero and now she is gone - dead. Sophie feels like she needs to knock off the things on the list in memory of her aunt. She doesn't even dream that by doing so she will change herself too. She grows up with the list but unfortunately not always things go according to the plan.
Now back to the start. Like I said few years back this book would be something wonderful to me. It's a realistic story about teens growing up, getting to know the world, love and find themselves. Well today I guess I'm older and I don't feel the same. So I believe that the younger readers will love this book but I think it's time for me to leave them behind.
February 26, 2013
This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf.
When I started to read this book, I expected it to be a sweet, funny story about a girl who finds her aunt's bucket list. But it was so much more. It is a story about growing up, about friendship and finding themselves on the way.
When Sophie and her friends find her aunt Suzy's bucket list hidden in the car, they decide to complete it in their senior year. They wanted to shake up their last year in High School, but for Sophie it also meant that she'd feel closer to her aunt who died when she was still a child.
I loved the plot and that the main focus was on completing the list, with a small romance subplot. In many novels I have a feeling that romance is the main plot and some stuff are just thrown in to make it a little bit more interesting, so None of the Regular Rules was really refreshing. The tasks on the list felt close to normal teenagers. They weren't some crazy things, but normal things like going to a party or jumping of the cliff into the sea.
The characters were well developed, likable and I found them very reletable. I liked the fact that Sophie and her friends, Ella and Grace, are all completly different but still were best friends. Of course, there were ups and downs like in every friendship, but they managed to overcome all of their disagreements.
Romance was sweet and it didn't feel rushed. Johnny Rush, Sophie's neighbour and the love interest in None of the Regular Rules was just a normal guy, your typical boy-next-door. I enjoyed how their friendship slowly progressed into something more and didn't escalate until the very end.
Overall, I really liked None of the Regular Rules and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes coming-of-age books. I look forward to reading Erin's books in the future and I hope I enjoy them as much as I enjoyed this one.
When I started to read this book, I expected it to be a sweet, funny story about a girl who finds her aunt's bucket list. But it was so much more. It is a story about growing up, about friendship and finding themselves on the way.
When Sophie and her friends find her aunt Suzy's bucket list hidden in the car, they decide to complete it in their senior year. They wanted to shake up their last year in High School, but for Sophie it also meant that she'd feel closer to her aunt who died when she was still a child.
I loved the plot and that the main focus was on completing the list, with a small romance subplot. In many novels I have a feeling that romance is the main plot and some stuff are just thrown in to make it a little bit more interesting, so None of the Regular Rules was really refreshing. The tasks on the list felt close to normal teenagers. They weren't some crazy things, but normal things like going to a party or jumping of the cliff into the sea.
The characters were well developed, likable and I found them very reletable. I liked the fact that Sophie and her friends, Ella and Grace, are all completly different but still were best friends. Of course, there were ups and downs like in every friendship, but they managed to overcome all of their disagreements.
Romance was sweet and it didn't feel rushed. Johnny Rush, Sophie's neighbour and the love interest in None of the Regular Rules was just a normal guy, your typical boy-next-door. I enjoyed how their friendship slowly progressed into something more and didn't escalate until the very end.
Overall, I really liked None of the Regular Rules and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes coming-of-age books. I look forward to reading Erin's books in the future and I hope I enjoy them as much as I enjoyed this one.
April 3, 2013
3.5 stars. (Goodreads, we really need the half rating.)
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading
Two words: Johnny Rush.
I just had to get that out of my system. Even though romance isn’t the main premise of None of the Regular Rules, Johnny is kind of a memorable character. He’s Sophie’s next door neighbor, her long-time crush, and he has a girlfriend. But because he opts out of college when all his friends are off to start their freshman year, he’s hanging around a lot and falls into a friendship with Sophie.
Man, the tension is so thick. Johnny pops up everywhere, and you can tell they like each other, and it’s oh-so painful because he has a girlfriend, and, shock of all shocks, he is a complete stand-up guy. (You’ll have to figure out why yourself.) Despite the swoony stuff, I really liked how supportive he was of Sophie letting her hair down and doing things that scared her.
The big takeaway from None of the Regular Rules is the utter pressure of senior year. Aunt Suzy’s list serves as a great way to ensure time spent with Sophie and her two best friends, Ella and Grace. I loved their friendship so much; they were comfortable being honest with each other (even when it hurt) and made the effort to ensure they have ample hang out time. They are so game to conquer Suzy’s list, but it’s the complete sandstorm of senior year — the fear of the unknown, boys, crazy changes — that starts to chip away at their relationships with one another. It’s been a long time since I read a book where actual friends were fighting with each other, and this particular situation felt entirely authentic.
Family dynamics are also tested because Aunt Suzy’s name has become pretty taboo around Sophie’s household. After her death, no one talked about her anymore and Sophie never understood why. Adopting the list and going on these adventures makes her feel closer to her aunt, and when certain truths come to the surface, they hit that much harder. For all the steps Sophie has taken to being spontaneous and acting outside of her comfort zone, there’s a point where she ends up totally retracting and losing focus on what’s important.
None of the Regular Rules is a super fast-paced read that will keep you entertained until the very end. Sure, the storyline is a little thin at times and there are some uber-dramatic moments but I liked how not every character chose the same path post-high school, Sophie building the courage to confront her protective parents, and the mix of impatience and fear that comes with moving on from high school to college.
And there’s Johnny Rush. Did I mention that?
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading
Two words: Johnny Rush.
I just had to get that out of my system. Even though romance isn’t the main premise of None of the Regular Rules, Johnny is kind of a memorable character. He’s Sophie’s next door neighbor, her long-time crush, and he has a girlfriend. But because he opts out of college when all his friends are off to start their freshman year, he’s hanging around a lot and falls into a friendship with Sophie.
Man, the tension is so thick. Johnny pops up everywhere, and you can tell they like each other, and it’s oh-so painful because he has a girlfriend, and, shock of all shocks, he is a complete stand-up guy. (You’ll have to figure out why yourself.) Despite the swoony stuff, I really liked how supportive he was of Sophie letting her hair down and doing things that scared her.
The big takeaway from None of the Regular Rules is the utter pressure of senior year. Aunt Suzy’s list serves as a great way to ensure time spent with Sophie and her two best friends, Ella and Grace. I loved their friendship so much; they were comfortable being honest with each other (even when it hurt) and made the effort to ensure they have ample hang out time. They are so game to conquer Suzy’s list, but it’s the complete sandstorm of senior year — the fear of the unknown, boys, crazy changes — that starts to chip away at their relationships with one another. It’s been a long time since I read a book where actual friends were fighting with each other, and this particular situation felt entirely authentic.
Family dynamics are also tested because Aunt Suzy’s name has become pretty taboo around Sophie’s household. After her death, no one talked about her anymore and Sophie never understood why. Adopting the list and going on these adventures makes her feel closer to her aunt, and when certain truths come to the surface, they hit that much harder. For all the steps Sophie has taken to being spontaneous and acting outside of her comfort zone, there’s a point where she ends up totally retracting and losing focus on what’s important.
None of the Regular Rules is a super fast-paced read that will keep you entertained until the very end. Sure, the storyline is a little thin at times and there are some uber-dramatic moments but I liked how not every character chose the same path post-high school, Sophie building the courage to confront her protective parents, and the mix of impatience and fear that comes with moving on from high school to college.
And there’s Johnny Rush. Did I mention that?
February 27, 2013
None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing was a quick, easy read. Though the story was decent, it was one that unfortunately didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. Perhaps because of the short length, the characters were also a bit flat.
While I liked Sophie, she and her friends were just a tad self-absorbed. As a result, my favourite character in the novel was probably Johnny because of his easygoing attitude and the way he helped Sophie and her friends with their dares, eventually becoming a friend of Sophie’s.
I also appreciated that Downing didn’t force her characters to rush into a relationship. When Sophie realizes that her crush on Johnny might be reciprocated, she lets him know that she isn’t interested in being strung along or becoming the other girl. Instead, she gives him time and space to figure out who he wants to be with. It was really nice to see a YA protagonist deal with her love life in a mature manner.
While I liked Sophie, she and her friends were just a tad self-absorbed. As a result, my favourite character in the novel was probably Johnny because of his easygoing attitude and the way he helped Sophie and her friends with their dares, eventually becoming a friend of Sophie’s.
I also appreciated that Downing didn’t force her characters to rush into a relationship. When Sophie realizes that her crush on Johnny might be reciprocated, she lets him know that she isn’t interested in being strung along or becoming the other girl. Instead, she gives him time and space to figure out who he wants to be with. It was really nice to see a YA protagonist deal with her love life in a mature manner.
January 2, 2013
Also posted in Oops! I Read A Book Again
I was gifted by Erin a copy for review. Wanting to read a contemporary YA, I dove straight into reading None of the Regular Rules and I was rewarded. It sure was a fun and sweet contemporary YA.
Sophie is your regular good senior - doesn't get into trouble, doesn't take risks, friends with the good crowd and she doesn't even go to her neighbor's party. Well, her neighbor is no other than Johnny Rush, incoming college freshman, which she's been crushing on for so long. Sophie's friends with the overachiever Grace and artistic Ella. One day, she discovers a list of dares in her car's glove box, which was previously owned by her late Aunt Suzy. She now takes on doing everything listed on the list, living her aunt's life for her, and enlists her bestfriends into it. Sophie gets into this list too much, causing a rift with both her bestfriends. Meanwhile, she gets closer to Johnny Rush, but Johnny has a girlfriend. Uh-oh. Will Sophie's senior year rock or tank?
What kind of name is Johnny Rush, you might say. When I first encountered his name, I balked at the idea. Why would Erin Downing name him like this? But it was for good because Erin does meta on us and actually says it, Johnny Rush sounds like a p*rn star name. Haha! I was laughing when I read that because, way to go, Erin! Give your character that kind of name and make your characters know and say what the readers are thinking. Hee. Smart, so smart. I love meta.
I enjoyed this book maybe because I love contemporary YA in general. It was cohesively written and the characters' dialogue sounded normal. Teenspeak, as I would say. The dialogues weren't stilted and we all know dialogue can make or break novels, am I right? Moreover, this book touches a lot of issues such as friendship, love, death, family, college, break-ups, daredevilry and breaking out of your shell. In general, I could have really liked this book, if not for the characters.
Johnny was the only character I like. Probably my most hated characteristic of all time is being self-centered. When characters go "it's all about me" on me, I just can't symphatize with them. Sophie, Grace and Ella irked me at times with their self-centeredness. I mean, of course, their friendship must first be tested in order for it to be stronger but meh, isn't there any other way? Sigh. I hate Ian too and I know that is his purpose but gah, I hate controlling men and then the women who lets them. I mean, come on, girls!
It doesn't help that Johnny kinda rocks in the personality department so it's just the contrast is starkingly evident. I do like that Grace and Ella had their own issues and problems to solve so they didn't feel like too much of sidekicks. But then, they are also stock characters so they didn't appeal to me as much. Plus, Johnny, while being playful, was truly mature and he always did the right thing, with Sophie and with himself. I truly adore this guy.
The cover's kinda inaccurate as Johnny, I think, is blonde. The guy's hair length's right though. I seriously believe that the cover needs a do-over as it doesn't relate much to the story. Plus, eeeep, is it just me or their kiss or at least that moment in their kiss doesn't look too appealing?
But I could say that I didn't expect the giant reveal. Maybe I wasn't focused enough while reading but I had no idea. But I kinda felt something was wrong with how Sophie described how her family reacts towards her aunt's death. Just not enough to put two and two together.
I do admit that the way Erin Downing mentioned the title in the story and how it relates owned you suckas out there. Love it. And gah, that kiss, SO HOT. So freaking hot. Plus points for that and all the other sweet things Johnny said and did, which made me squeal like a dolphin. Just a sample of all the sweet things Johnny says: "I left for me, Sophie, but I came back for you." Eeeeeeeekkk! My panties just fell. And wee, the ending! BFFs forever!
Overall, a nice read, with parts sweet, deep and irritating. Haha! I recommend this to anyone who wants to read something simple, something to unwind with. Yeap, this is not a stressful read and we all need that once in a while, right?
Once again, thank you Erin for the copy!
I was gifted by Erin a copy for review. Wanting to read a contemporary YA, I dove straight into reading None of the Regular Rules and I was rewarded. It sure was a fun and sweet contemporary YA.
Sophie is your regular good senior - doesn't get into trouble, doesn't take risks, friends with the good crowd and she doesn't even go to her neighbor's party. Well, her neighbor is no other than Johnny Rush, incoming college freshman, which she's been crushing on for so long. Sophie's friends with the overachiever Grace and artistic Ella. One day, she discovers a list of dares in her car's glove box, which was previously owned by her late Aunt Suzy. She now takes on doing everything listed on the list, living her aunt's life for her, and enlists her bestfriends into it. Sophie gets into this list too much, causing a rift with both her bestfriends. Meanwhile, she gets closer to Johnny Rush, but Johnny has a girlfriend. Uh-oh. Will Sophie's senior year rock or tank?
What kind of name is Johnny Rush, you might say. When I first encountered his name, I balked at the idea. Why would Erin Downing name him like this? But it was for good because Erin does meta on us and actually says it, Johnny Rush sounds like a p*rn star name. Haha! I was laughing when I read that because, way to go, Erin! Give your character that kind of name and make your characters know and say what the readers are thinking. Hee. Smart, so smart. I love meta.
I enjoyed this book maybe because I love contemporary YA in general. It was cohesively written and the characters' dialogue sounded normal. Teenspeak, as I would say. The dialogues weren't stilted and we all know dialogue can make or break novels, am I right? Moreover, this book touches a lot of issues such as friendship, love, death, family, college, break-ups, daredevilry and breaking out of your shell. In general, I could have really liked this book, if not for the characters.
Johnny was the only character I like. Probably my most hated characteristic of all time is being self-centered. When characters go "it's all about me" on me, I just can't symphatize with them. Sophie, Grace and Ella irked me at times with their self-centeredness. I mean, of course, their friendship must first be tested in order for it to be stronger but meh, isn't there any other way? Sigh. I hate Ian too and I know that is his purpose but gah, I hate controlling men and then the women who lets them. I mean, come on, girls!
It doesn't help that Johnny kinda rocks in the personality department so it's just the contrast is starkingly evident. I do like that Grace and Ella had their own issues and problems to solve so they didn't feel like too much of sidekicks. But then, they are also stock characters so they didn't appeal to me as much. Plus, Johnny, while being playful, was truly mature and he always did the right thing, with Sophie and with himself. I truly adore this guy.
The cover's kinda inaccurate as Johnny, I think, is blonde. The guy's hair length's right though. I seriously believe that the cover needs a do-over as it doesn't relate much to the story. Plus, eeeep, is it just me or their kiss or at least that moment in their kiss doesn't look too appealing?
But I could say that I didn't expect the giant reveal. Maybe I wasn't focused enough while reading but I had no idea. But I kinda felt something was wrong with how Sophie described how her family reacts towards her aunt's death. Just not enough to put two and two together.
I do admit that the way Erin Downing mentioned the title in the story and how it relates owned you suckas out there. Love it. And gah, that kiss, SO HOT. So freaking hot. Plus points for that and all the other sweet things Johnny said and did, which made me squeal like a dolphin. Just a sample of all the sweet things Johnny says: "I left for me, Sophie, but I came back for you." Eeeeeeeekkk! My panties just fell. And wee, the ending! BFFs forever!
Overall, a nice read, with parts sweet, deep and irritating. Haha! I recommend this to anyone who wants to read something simple, something to unwind with. Yeap, this is not a stressful read and we all need that once in a while, right?
Once again, thank you Erin for the copy!
December 2, 2012
What a gem of a story!
Don’t you love it when you pick a book up having no expectations and it just pleases the heck out of you?? That is what I found with my most recent read ‘None of the Regular Rules’ by Erin Downing. I came across this book through my favorite tech friend Twitter. See Erin was offering up copies of None of the Regular Rules to bloggers for free in exchange for reviews so I thought “what the heck!” Now I had never read an Erin Downing book but I loved the cover and blurb so I shot her a message and she sent me the book. Well can you say win-win? Thanks Erin for offering up your book because I loved it and here is my review...
The official Blurb:
Sometimes, a few dares can change lives…
The weekend before the start of senior year, Sophie Erickson and her best friends, Ella and Grace, discover a handwritten list of dares tucked away in the glove compartment of Sophie’s beat-up old Toyota. But this isn’t just any list; it’s a dead girl's bucket list.
Sophie's beloved aunt Suzy died as a teenager in a fatal fall, leaving Sophie with an overly cautious family, a few fading photographs, and a bucket of bolts that barely passes for a car. But now, Sophie has Suzy’s list of the things she wanted to do in her last year of high school. Sophie can't help but wonder: What would happen if she tried to fulfill Suzy’s last wishes, to live out the longed-for life of her aunt, her hero?
As Sophie and her friends attempt to knock off the things on Suzy's list of dares, love blossoms in unexpected places and Sophie begins to feel that her life is finally coming together...when in fact, everything is slowly unraveling around her. When the truth about a long-held family secret threatens to shatter everything she believed to be true, Sophie is forced to question everything she knew about the life and people she believed in, and ultimately herself.
My thoughts upon finishing:
- Awwwwww!
- I need a reasonable bucket list to work on.
Meet Sophie, a smart go with the flow type of girl starting her senior year with her two best friends hippie Ella and over achiever Grace. Despite their differences the girls have been best friends since elementary school and are celebrating the start of their senior year when they come across a list of “dares” written by Sophie’s dead aunt when she was a senior.
Bring in Johnny Rush, Sophie’s uber popular neighbor, and longtime crush, who's about to head off to college but becomes a key in helping Sophie begin to find the confidence to complete some of her bucket list. Johnny and Sophie have lived side by side for years but she was always too timid to step outside her invisible fence to speak with him. Now, thanks to the bucket list, she and her friends attend their first “Johnny Rush” party which starts a chain of events that have the power to change their lives and their friendships.
As Sophie begins to feel happy with herself and the changes she has made she begins to realize that things are not quite what they seem and a huge family secret destroys her at a time when everything else has already fallen apart.
None of the Regular Rules is full of teenage fun and angst. I was brought back to high school as I recalled the need to want to fit in, the longing for that one guy that will never be the right one, the struggle with parents who didn’t understand and the need to find yourself. I read the book in two midnight sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. A true YA novel with minimal (if any) language and no overtly sexual situations. This is a book you could give to an actual high schooler without worry of their parents getting mad at you ;) If you are a fan of YA realistic fiction, with a bit of drama, romance and comedy I would highly recommend None of the Regular Rules to you.
This review review was first posted on SupaGurl Books. Come check us out for reviews, giveaways and lots of fun!
http://supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/201...
Don’t you love it when you pick a book up having no expectations and it just pleases the heck out of you?? That is what I found with my most recent read ‘None of the Regular Rules’ by Erin Downing. I came across this book through my favorite tech friend Twitter. See Erin was offering up copies of None of the Regular Rules to bloggers for free in exchange for reviews so I thought “what the heck!” Now I had never read an Erin Downing book but I loved the cover and blurb so I shot her a message and she sent me the book. Well can you say win-win? Thanks Erin for offering up your book because I loved it and here is my review...
The official Blurb:
Sometimes, a few dares can change lives…
The weekend before the start of senior year, Sophie Erickson and her best friends, Ella and Grace, discover a handwritten list of dares tucked away in the glove compartment of Sophie’s beat-up old Toyota. But this isn’t just any list; it’s a dead girl's bucket list.
Sophie's beloved aunt Suzy died as a teenager in a fatal fall, leaving Sophie with an overly cautious family, a few fading photographs, and a bucket of bolts that barely passes for a car. But now, Sophie has Suzy’s list of the things she wanted to do in her last year of high school. Sophie can't help but wonder: What would happen if she tried to fulfill Suzy’s last wishes, to live out the longed-for life of her aunt, her hero?
As Sophie and her friends attempt to knock off the things on Suzy's list of dares, love blossoms in unexpected places and Sophie begins to feel that her life is finally coming together...when in fact, everything is slowly unraveling around her. When the truth about a long-held family secret threatens to shatter everything she believed to be true, Sophie is forced to question everything she knew about the life and people she believed in, and ultimately herself.
My thoughts upon finishing:
- Awwwwww!
- I need a reasonable bucket list to work on.
Meet Sophie, a smart go with the flow type of girl starting her senior year with her two best friends hippie Ella and over achiever Grace. Despite their differences the girls have been best friends since elementary school and are celebrating the start of their senior year when they come across a list of “dares” written by Sophie’s dead aunt when she was a senior.
Bring in Johnny Rush, Sophie’s uber popular neighbor, and longtime crush, who's about to head off to college but becomes a key in helping Sophie begin to find the confidence to complete some of her bucket list. Johnny and Sophie have lived side by side for years but she was always too timid to step outside her invisible fence to speak with him. Now, thanks to the bucket list, she and her friends attend their first “Johnny Rush” party which starts a chain of events that have the power to change their lives and their friendships.
As Sophie begins to feel happy with herself and the changes she has made she begins to realize that things are not quite what they seem and a huge family secret destroys her at a time when everything else has already fallen apart.
None of the Regular Rules is full of teenage fun and angst. I was brought back to high school as I recalled the need to want to fit in, the longing for that one guy that will never be the right one, the struggle with parents who didn’t understand and the need to find yourself. I read the book in two midnight sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. A true YA novel with minimal (if any) language and no overtly sexual situations. This is a book you could give to an actual high schooler without worry of their parents getting mad at you ;) If you are a fan of YA realistic fiction, with a bit of drama, romance and comedy I would highly recommend None of the Regular Rules to you.
This review review was first posted on SupaGurl Books. Come check us out for reviews, giveaways and lots of fun!
http://supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/201...
March 19, 2013
★★★½
Sophie Erickson is existing. She’s doing what’s expected of her. She doesn’t give her parents anything significant to worry about. She’s not edgy, not a rule breaker, doesn’t push the envelope or explore her boundaries. Sophie’s not unhappy, per se, but she feels adrift, restless, and tired of waiting around for amazing things to happen to her. So when she discovers her beloved aunt’s bucket list, an aunt who passed away when Sophie was a small child, she finds something to latch onto in her quest for purpose and identity.
None of the Regular Rules is very much a book about making the most of life. Not just existing, but really living; taking ownership of your life and living in the here in now. It’s about making mistakes, learning from them, creating your own opportunities, seizing the moment, taking a risk, challenging yourself, learning to navigate life’s highs and lows. Sophie’s journey toward enlightenment and self-discovery is alternately heart-wrenching and heart-warming, and is presented very poignantly by Downing through Sophie’s introspective narration and her interactions with those around her.
Romance. While this book is definitely more about Sophie growing as an individual, it does contain some cute romance. Sophie’s crush is an appealing blend of a friendly, seemingly-carefree guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously while he’s also mysterious and somewhat broken. The romance is more realistic in nature, and while I understand why it was that way, I do wish it had been fleshed out a little more thoroughly. It just left me wishing for a little… more.
Story. As a whole, None of the Regular Rules is an enjoyable book, both for it’s evocative qualities that were previously mentioned, as well as Downing’s writing style which makes for a very enjoyable read. However, having given it more thought since finishing, there are a couple plot points that felt a little forced, a little too contrived, put in place to move other areas of the story forward in a way I found odd or to generate drama-drama-drama. There is also a subplot involving one of Sophie’s friends that held some interesting potential, but it just never saw enough development, with the end result of it feeling slightly unnecessary and tagged on. That said, it didn’t detract too much from my reading experience as my nose stayed pretty firmly pressed to my Kindle until I finished Sophie’s story.
Overall. Barring a few hangups, None of the Regular Rules is an enjoyable story about a girl attempting to discover, for the very first time, what it truly means to live.
Sophie Erickson is existing. She’s doing what’s expected of her. She doesn’t give her parents anything significant to worry about. She’s not edgy, not a rule breaker, doesn’t push the envelope or explore her boundaries. Sophie’s not unhappy, per se, but she feels adrift, restless, and tired of waiting around for amazing things to happen to her. So when she discovers her beloved aunt’s bucket list, an aunt who passed away when Sophie was a small child, she finds something to latch onto in her quest for purpose and identity.
None of the Regular Rules is very much a book about making the most of life. Not just existing, but really living; taking ownership of your life and living in the here in now. It’s about making mistakes, learning from them, creating your own opportunities, seizing the moment, taking a risk, challenging yourself, learning to navigate life’s highs and lows. Sophie’s journey toward enlightenment and self-discovery is alternately heart-wrenching and heart-warming, and is presented very poignantly by Downing through Sophie’s introspective narration and her interactions with those around her.
Romance. While this book is definitely more about Sophie growing as an individual, it does contain some cute romance. Sophie’s crush is an appealing blend of a friendly, seemingly-carefree guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously while he’s also mysterious and somewhat broken. The romance is more realistic in nature, and while I understand why it was that way, I do wish it had been fleshed out a little more thoroughly. It just left me wishing for a little… more.
Story. As a whole, None of the Regular Rules is an enjoyable book, both for it’s evocative qualities that were previously mentioned, as well as Downing’s writing style which makes for a very enjoyable read. However, having given it more thought since finishing, there are a couple plot points that felt a little forced, a little too contrived, put in place to move other areas of the story forward in a way I found odd or to generate drama-drama-drama. There is also a subplot involving one of Sophie’s friends that held some interesting potential, but it just never saw enough development, with the end result of it feeling slightly unnecessary and tagged on. That said, it didn’t detract too much from my reading experience as my nose stayed pretty firmly pressed to my Kindle until I finished Sophie’s story.
Overall. Barring a few hangups, None of the Regular Rules is an enjoyable story about a girl attempting to discover, for the very first time, what it truly means to live.
November 26, 2012
None of the Regular Rules was a well written contemporary YA novel with wonderful characters that I felt like I knew and could relate to. This book was realistic in many ways without being extreme or gritty or dark. It dealt with many issues like coming of age, family, friends, romance, abuse, death, etc without being overly inspirational or overly dark, which I liked. While I do love gritty novels, this was not one of them and I thought that it still captured being a teenager extremely well.
When Sophie finds her dead aunt’s high school bucket list, she’s immediately inspired to start doing some of the things and crossing them off, especially because her aunt died young and didn’t have the chance to complete the list. By pushing herself and her friends to the limit, Sophie discovers a lot about herself and the people she cares about. Not only was she able to do things she never had the guts to do, she was forced to look at what kind of person she was and her own future. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to feeling like you are going to leave high school without ever doing some of the things you’ve always wanted to do or finally doing some of the things you’ve always wanted to and finding out it’s disappointing.
Parents are definitely present in this YA novel, which was refreshing. Parental involvement is frequently missing in YA novels and I think this one is more relatable because they are present in their children’s lives. Sophie and her friends have a variety of issues with their own families that they deal with in the book, which makes it realistic. It also adds intrigue to some of the tasks on the list because there is a chance of the girls getting caught by their parents. Overall, I enjoyed this aspect of the book.
There’s a touch of romance in the book, which I also liked. It wasn’t the main point, but I think it was enough that lovers of YA romance will be satisfied. There is absolutely no love triangle at all (!!! I know!!), which was nice and I think YA lovers that are a bit tired of love triangles will appreciate this book. It’s also not a part of a series, so YA lovers that are also tired of waiting for series or miss a good stand alone book will also appreciate it.
I thought None of the Regular Rules was a refreshing contemporary YA that makes for a great light read with a lot of realness to it. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
When Sophie finds her dead aunt’s high school bucket list, she’s immediately inspired to start doing some of the things and crossing them off, especially because her aunt died young and didn’t have the chance to complete the list. By pushing herself and her friends to the limit, Sophie discovers a lot about herself and the people she cares about. Not only was she able to do things she never had the guts to do, she was forced to look at what kind of person she was and her own future. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to feeling like you are going to leave high school without ever doing some of the things you’ve always wanted to do or finally doing some of the things you’ve always wanted to and finding out it’s disappointing.
Parents are definitely present in this YA novel, which was refreshing. Parental involvement is frequently missing in YA novels and I think this one is more relatable because they are present in their children’s lives. Sophie and her friends have a variety of issues with their own families that they deal with in the book, which makes it realistic. It also adds intrigue to some of the tasks on the list because there is a chance of the girls getting caught by their parents. Overall, I enjoyed this aspect of the book.
There’s a touch of romance in the book, which I also liked. It wasn’t the main point, but I think it was enough that lovers of YA romance will be satisfied. There is absolutely no love triangle at all (!!! I know!!), which was nice and I think YA lovers that are a bit tired of love triangles will appreciate this book. It’s also not a part of a series, so YA lovers that are also tired of waiting for series or miss a good stand alone book will also appreciate it.
I thought None of the Regular Rules was a refreshing contemporary YA that makes for a great light read with a lot of realness to it. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
February 25, 2013
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed @ Enticed by Books
Looking at the cover I thought it would be more romantic, but None of the Regular Rules is a story about friendship, freedom and living the moment without any regrets. I love the storyline, three friends finding a bucket list of dares and completing each one of them as they go along with their senior year in high school. It is such a fun concept and Erin Downing did a great job keeping the story entertaining considering it did dealt with some serious issues.
Sophie has always been close to her late aunt Suzy, so when she gets her aunt's old car and finds a list of dares tucked in the glove compartment, she and her best friends, Grace & Ella makes a pact to check off each item listed and have fun with it. I couldn't get a good handle on Sophie, she is normal one minute and over-dramtic & snappish the next for no reason. I get that the big secret revealed was troubling for her, but I still felt that her behavior towards other people during that period was too much especially with Johnny Rush, that whole scenario was uncalled for. Johnny is one of those people who can make a fool of themselves and still be a charmer at the end. He was the life of the party and I simply loved him.
One person I have to point out is Grace. I really liked Grace, her story was my favorite. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Ian, was so difficult and the author did a fantastic job making it so realistic. I felt for Grace, I understand why she acted so defensively throughout the book, and I was so proud of her at the end. What I felt bad for was that none of her friends helped her at all, they just laughed and giggled and hated Ian, but no one really helped Grace which made me question the root of their friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed reading None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing. I liked that it didn't have a full on romance because that's not what the story is about. It's about letting go and explore new things. I loved that at the end everyone was happy with their decisions, and my favorite part was how much stronger and confident Sophie turned out to be. Just a simple list of dares made a huge difference in her life. I did like her by the end. None of the Regular Rules is recommended to readers to enjoy light, fun, adventurous reads.
Reviewed @ Enticed by Books
Looking at the cover I thought it would be more romantic, but None of the Regular Rules is a story about friendship, freedom and living the moment without any regrets. I love the storyline, three friends finding a bucket list of dares and completing each one of them as they go along with their senior year in high school. It is such a fun concept and Erin Downing did a great job keeping the story entertaining considering it did dealt with some serious issues.
Sophie has always been close to her late aunt Suzy, so when she gets her aunt's old car and finds a list of dares tucked in the glove compartment, she and her best friends, Grace & Ella makes a pact to check off each item listed and have fun with it. I couldn't get a good handle on Sophie, she is normal one minute and over-dramtic & snappish the next for no reason. I get that the big secret revealed was troubling for her, but I still felt that her behavior towards other people during that period was too much especially with Johnny Rush, that whole scenario was uncalled for. Johnny is one of those people who can make a fool of themselves and still be a charmer at the end. He was the life of the party and I simply loved him.
One person I have to point out is Grace. I really liked Grace, her story was my favorite. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Ian, was so difficult and the author did a fantastic job making it so realistic. I felt for Grace, I understand why she acted so defensively throughout the book, and I was so proud of her at the end. What I felt bad for was that none of her friends helped her at all, they just laughed and giggled and hated Ian, but no one really helped Grace which made me question the root of their friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed reading None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing. I liked that it didn't have a full on romance because that's not what the story is about. It's about letting go and explore new things. I loved that at the end everyone was happy with their decisions, and my favorite part was how much stronger and confident Sophie turned out to be. Just a simple list of dares made a huge difference in her life. I did like her by the end. None of the Regular Rules is recommended to readers to enjoy light, fun, adventurous reads.
February 27, 2013
When I first heard of this book/ was offered the opportunity to read and review it I was beyond excited, as of late I have been on a contemp/ NA kick and this sounded right up my alley. However, as I began to read it I found my excitement begin to wane more and more. That being said, I did believe that the latter half of the book was much more enjoyable, much more along the lines of what I had expected.
I think that my biggest complaint about the book prior to the 50% mark were the characters. For one, I found Sophie to be quite whiny, especially when it came to her parents- compared to her friends parents hers were GODS (I mean, her biggest worry was essentially that her mom wanted her to eat healthy, whereas her friends was that theirs were bitter, broke, or had basically even up on them) and I think that she really took them for granted. I would have like a more detailed look about why their relationship was as strained as it was. Additionally, I found that the girls went on so many random tangents that I found my mind drifting during these moments, not remembering what I had just read by the time I had come to the period at the end of the sentence.
That being said, as mentioned, I do believe that the second half of the book was much more enjoyable than the first half. The characters, Sophie especially, slowly started to grow on me as I came to gain a better understanding of their characters (Sophie's parents might be overprotective at times because of their want to protect her, physically, mentally, and emotionally, Ella has had to develop a somewhat prickly exterior because of her home-life, Grace acts like any other teen would when facing their first experience with love, etc.). I loved that there was actual character growth as the book progressed. Furthermore, I loved seeing more and more of Johnny in the second half of the novel, I thought that he brought a lot of humor to the book and was truly the icing on the top of the cake.
All in all, despite my earlier complaints I'm glad that I did stick out the remainder of the book (if you are like me and are debating whether to finish it halfway through I do encourage you to do so). Furthermore, I think that this is the perfect book for those YA readers who are still hesitant to make the jump to NA.
I think that my biggest complaint about the book prior to the 50% mark were the characters. For one, I found Sophie to be quite whiny, especially when it came to her parents- compared to her friends parents hers were GODS (I mean, her biggest worry was essentially that her mom wanted her to eat healthy, whereas her friends was that theirs were bitter, broke, or had basically even up on them) and I think that she really took them for granted. I would have like a more detailed look about why their relationship was as strained as it was. Additionally, I found that the girls went on so many random tangents that I found my mind drifting during these moments, not remembering what I had just read by the time I had come to the period at the end of the sentence.
That being said, as mentioned, I do believe that the second half of the book was much more enjoyable than the first half. The characters, Sophie especially, slowly started to grow on me as I came to gain a better understanding of their characters (Sophie's parents might be overprotective at times because of their want to protect her, physically, mentally, and emotionally, Ella has had to develop a somewhat prickly exterior because of her home-life, Grace acts like any other teen would when facing their first experience with love, etc.). I loved that there was actual character growth as the book progressed. Furthermore, I loved seeing more and more of Johnny in the second half of the novel, I thought that he brought a lot of humor to the book and was truly the icing on the top of the cake.
All in all, despite my earlier complaints I'm glad that I did stick out the remainder of the book (if you are like me and are debating whether to finish it halfway through I do encourage you to do so). Furthermore, I think that this is the perfect book for those YA readers who are still hesitant to make the jump to NA.
March 2, 2013
I went into None of the Regular Rules without reading the blurb. Judging from the cover, I thought it would be one of those cute contemporaries and I was in the mood for a cute contemporary. But, None of the Regular Rules ended up being so much more than that.
I really enjoyed the character dynamics in this book. The main character, Sophie and her friends Ella and Grace were such colorful, well-developed characters that I saw myself being a part of their group. I will admit that they were not easy to like at first, but over the course of the book, they grow and blossom into wonderful characters which made reading this book so much more enjoyable for me. I have always enjoyed characters that start out as rather bland, but then mature throughout the book so much, that by the end of the book I feel like I know them personally. That's exactly what reading about the characters of None of the Regular Rules was for me. Through the list, we also get snippets to Sophie's dead aunt's character. Although, I had guessed what had really happened to her, it didn't make it easier when the revelation finally came to light. The love interest, Johnny, was my favorite kind. Sweet, down-to-earth and supportive. Those three words sum him up perfectly. It's those personality traits that I thought made him such a lovable guy.
There are multiple themes scattered all over None of the Regular Rules, but the main ones according to me were friendship and growing up. I thought the author weaved those two main themes perfectly. The romance in the book was the sort that I like in my YA books : sweet and never overwhelming the plot. Johnny and Sophie are neighbors and friends before their relationship developed into something more. I appreciated the lack of insta-love and thought the dose of romance was simply perfect for this book. As for Erin Downing's writing style, I'm only going to say one thing, None of the Regular Rules is not going to be the last book of hers that read.
To sum up, None of the Regular Rules was a beautiful and emotional tale of a girl growing up and coming to terms with reality. With its well-fleshed out characters, dash of romance and powerful themes, None of the Regular Rules is not a book to pass up.
February 28, 2013
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None of the Regular Rules Review
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Full formatting of this review at link above.
The reason why I think I loved this so much was because it was my first near perfect contemporary YA. Not the regular damaged girl meets damaged boy destined to be together type of contemporary, which I was really getting tired of. The romance in NONE OF THE REGULAR RULES is an important part of the story, but it is not the main focus. That is what made it all the more special.
It is a story about friendship, most of all.
Sophie and her friends Grace and Ella are starting their senior year of high school when Sophie finds a list of dares that her late aunt Suzy had put in her car, a list she made right before she died. Sophie, who always liked Suzy, decides to complete the list because she thinks it will make her closer to Suzy and help fulfill some of the things Suzy had meant to do before she died.
Sophie and her friends gradually complete the list, Sophie getting more and more obsessed with completing it. The list makes them challenge themselves to do things they would not otherwise do. Thrown into this is neighbor Johnny Rush, a college boy who has problems of his own.
I thought the relationships in this were written perfectly, the romance was realistic and slow building. Where NONE OF THE REGULAR RULES really shines, though, is showing us the incredible bond between these three girls, who through everything, still remain friends-despite how the future leads them apart.
The ending was perfect, I absolutely loved it. It tied up everything and left some things to think about, which is the best kind of book, if you ask me. I hope it comes out in paperback so I can own a copy for my shelves! This one is a must read for contemporary fans!
None of the Regular Rules Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.
The reason why I think I loved this so much was because it was my first near perfect contemporary YA. Not the regular damaged girl meets damaged boy destined to be together type of contemporary, which I was really getting tired of. The romance in NONE OF THE REGULAR RULES is an important part of the story, but it is not the main focus. That is what made it all the more special.
It is a story about friendship, most of all.
Sophie and her friends Grace and Ella are starting their senior year of high school when Sophie finds a list of dares that her late aunt Suzy had put in her car, a list she made right before she died. Sophie, who always liked Suzy, decides to complete the list because she thinks it will make her closer to Suzy and help fulfill some of the things Suzy had meant to do before she died.
Sophie and her friends gradually complete the list, Sophie getting more and more obsessed with completing it. The list makes them challenge themselves to do things they would not otherwise do. Thrown into this is neighbor Johnny Rush, a college boy who has problems of his own.
I thought the relationships in this were written perfectly, the romance was realistic and slow building. Where NONE OF THE REGULAR RULES really shines, though, is showing us the incredible bond between these three girls, who through everything, still remain friends-despite how the future leads them apart.
The ending was perfect, I absolutely loved it. It tied up everything and left some things to think about, which is the best kind of book, if you ask me. I hope it comes out in paperback so I can own a copy for my shelves! This one is a must read for contemporary fans!
December 3, 2012
An ebook was provided to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review
3.5 Stars
This book starts off pretty stranded for a fluff read. She has friends that lack some depth but it's something you know will be cute and you will enjoy. So I was reading this thinking this was pretty typical for this kind of story, but the book has a turning point that separates it from the norm. In some ways the events that occur are pretty ordinary, but where Downing takes them and what she does with them, is where things become more of her own.
I don't like spoilers of any kind in my reviews so I'm going to try to explain this as best as I can without giving anything away. So, basically this is the part of the book where the main character is at her lowest, this section is not some over dramatic self loathing, it's a natural response to something that happens, its very real and very well written. It's here that the book stops being a fluff read and becomes something a reader can really connect with. The whole book just kind of changes course at this moment, suddenly we're not reading about a girl and some boy destined to be together, we're reading about a girl, in her senior year, struggling to come to terms with things she never knew.
So, this book is not a fluff read, and while there is a boy, and he's in the book a fair amount, he's separate from the main plot, which is about a girl trying to reconnect with the young aunt she lost 10 years ago. It still has the romance you expect, but the book goes deeper as well. I just wish the first half was written as nicely as the second half, I think it was her friends that made is seem weaker, they just did not feel developed or as real to me in the beginning.
Also the title is a sentence in the book which always makes me smile.
3.5 Stars
This book starts off pretty stranded for a fluff read. She has friends that lack some depth but it's something you know will be cute and you will enjoy. So I was reading this thinking this was pretty typical for this kind of story, but the book has a turning point that separates it from the norm. In some ways the events that occur are pretty ordinary, but where Downing takes them and what she does with them, is where things become more of her own.
I don't like spoilers of any kind in my reviews so I'm going to try to explain this as best as I can without giving anything away. So, basically this is the part of the book where the main character is at her lowest, this section is not some over dramatic self loathing, it's a natural response to something that happens, its very real and very well written. It's here that the book stops being a fluff read and becomes something a reader can really connect with. The whole book just kind of changes course at this moment, suddenly we're not reading about a girl and some boy destined to be together, we're reading about a girl, in her senior year, struggling to come to terms with things she never knew.
So, this book is not a fluff read, and while there is a boy, and he's in the book a fair amount, he's separate from the main plot, which is about a girl trying to reconnect with the young aunt she lost 10 years ago. It still has the romance you expect, but the book goes deeper as well. I just wish the first half was written as nicely as the second half, I think it was her friends that made is seem weaker, they just did not feel developed or as real to me in the beginning.
Also the title is a sentence in the book which always makes me smile.
February 28, 2013
Sophie is sick of doing the same old things day after day. She’s graduating soon but she feels as if she has no direction or purpose whatsoever. So once Sophie find's her dead aunt's bucket list she finally feels like she has something to do. So Sophie and her friends decide to give this list of dares a chance.
None of the Regular Rules is a wonderful coming of age story that deals with self-discovery, fear and love. It’s also a lesson that points out that nothing is as it seems.
You cannot help but fall in love with the characters that Erin Downing has created-They were lovable, flawed, funny and very very real.
I could relate very well to the MC Sophie, she was a cautious girl who preferred to watch life from the side-lines rather than be a part of it.No she was not just a wallflower, she was more than that. She wanted to be a part of all of it.She wanted to come out of her shell. Her need to be something more was relate-able. Sophie and her friends Grace and Ella are very different but this does not stop them from being very close. Their friendship was portrayed well and it's a very important part of the story. This was a pleasant change because usually the book revolves around a love story.
Sophie's love interest Jonny Rush (yes, that really is his name!) seems like the cliché golden college boy with his good looks and charm. He is the life of the party. But that's not all he is, he’s so much more.Jonny's relationships with Sophie was realistic and well built. None of that silly insta-love.With a little help from the bucket list their friendship evolved into a sweet romance.
Erin Downing is an amazing author who deals smoothly with sensitive issues and yet manages to make you believe and feel good.None of the Regular Rules is a bitter sweet novel that leaves you with hope and inspires you to be more.
November 27, 2012
I was very lucky to have this book gifted to me by the Author Erin Downings. I read this book in about 8 hours. I stayed up until 3am to finish this book. I literally could not close my eyes until this book was finished. Now this is a little different of a book I am use to reading. I love adult romance books, and often enjoy a good YA novel. This book was extremely powerful. I really felt the emotion Erin Downing put into this book. You actually felt like you were living in the book. I am so proud of Sophie, for her to overcome what she had was quite amazing. It did take her some time, but when she fin ally let go and lived I felt a little envy. I also have some fear issues and this book opened up a new perspective to me that I have tried to find. For me this book really does something to a person. Makes them open their eyes, and see things differently. Now we move on to Johnny Rush!!!!! Want an incredible person. He seems like the perfect guy. Although, people at first might perceive him as the bad boy, cocky guy. But you figure out that he is nothing like that. He is the big man on campus guy that every girl dreams about. It is not until you get to know that he is that and so much more. If only I was 18 again. I had a love hate relationship with her friends at first. Until I realized that all the characters were broken in their own way. It funny you don’t realize how true this story could be. How this is a story that could be happening in front of you and you wouldn’t even know. It teaches you how nobody is perfect, but you have to embrace the life that you have. I definitely would recommend this book to others. Younger and older. It is a great book.
January 8, 2013
None of the Regular Rules is a story that teaches you that sometimes when you set out to find yourself, you have to lose yourself in the process.
The best thing about this book is Sophie. She's the quiet girl that everybody knows, but no one really knows. Her responses and mistakes are realistic. Sometimes when I'm reading a book I think:"How the hell did she/he get in this situation? It could have been easily avoided!". Plus, even though she really liked Johnny, she didn't start anything with him while he still had a girlfriend.
Grace and Ella are Sophie's rock. They aren't afraid to call her out when they see that she's wrong. Even though they had a falling out, they weren't too proud so none of them would make the first move to fix things. Plus it was entertaining to see how they handled their love lives. I thought the reason that Grace didn't break up with Ian sooner, is because at first she wanted to give him another chance, then she wanted to prove her friends wrong, then she was too proud to admit she was wrong.
The thing is about this book, is that everyone goes through some of these things in their lives and when it does happen you think that you could have prevented it. But actually there is no way to prevent it, you just have to live with it and then get over it. And I think reading about these things helps you realize that.
So after all that deep talk and all, I'd say that this book deserves 3.5 stars.
Full review on Booklicker
The best thing about this book is Sophie. She's the quiet girl that everybody knows, but no one really knows. Her responses and mistakes are realistic. Sometimes when I'm reading a book I think:"How the hell did she/he get in this situation? It could have been easily avoided!". Plus, even though she really liked Johnny, she didn't start anything with him while he still had a girlfriend.
Grace and Ella are Sophie's rock. They aren't afraid to call her out when they see that she's wrong. Even though they had a falling out, they weren't too proud so none of them would make the first move to fix things. Plus it was entertaining to see how they handled their love lives. I thought the reason that Grace didn't break up with Ian sooner, is because at first she wanted to give him another chance, then she wanted to prove her friends wrong, then she was too proud to admit she was wrong.
The thing is about this book, is that everyone goes through some of these things in their lives and when it does happen you think that you could have prevented it. But actually there is no way to prevent it, you just have to live with it and then get over it. And I think reading about these things helps you realize that.
So after all that deep talk and all, I'd say that this book deserves 3.5 stars.
Full review on Booklicker
January 28, 2013
This was such a wonderful story. None of the Regular Rules is a book about growing up and learning who your friends are, living for now and taking chances. It's also about the lasting power of friendship and admitting when you're wrong in order to move forward. Sophie, Ella and Grace's personalities were all so different that they occasionally clashed, and to me that was the interesting part of the story. And the sweet romance too, of course! I could have done with more of Johnny Rush hehehe but when it came down to it, I appreciated that he wasn't the focus of the story.This is the kind of YA book that leaves you with a feel-good feeling of hope for the future.
February 27, 2013
I wanted to feel the pressure of trying something new – of risking something before we were thrown out into the world with a bunch of strangers and all of the security of home stripped away.
Senior year is about to begin and Sophie Erickson has decided that she wants more from her life than her safe, parental-approved existence. She sees her future after high school stretching out before her with a big blank, impenetrable wall blocking the way, and she's ready to do something to change that. Instead of watching safely from the sidelines Sophie decides that this is the year that she will step out from the background and experience life. She wants to do something to define herself, but she’s not sure what that will be. Until she finds a hand written list of dares in her late aunt Suzy's car.
Sophie always looked up to her aunt, whom she saw as brave and the only person in her family willing to take chances and go after what she want. Although Suzy died tragically 10 years ago when she was in high school and Sophie was only 8, Sophie still feels a strong connection to her. That bond has never been stronger than now, when Sophie is entering her own senior year of high school and has inherited Suzy's car. When Sophie and her two best friends find the list of dares that her aunt wrote in high school, Sophie decides that she will complete the list to honor her aunt, but also as a way to step outside of herself and hopefully, discover who she is in the process.
None of the Regular Rules is a book about friendships. Although Sophie is the driving force behind committing to the list of dares, she wants to share the experience with her two best friends, Grace and Ella. It is Sophie's enthusiasm that makes them excited to participate. Grace is popular, athletic and a great student; Ella has an eccentric, artistic style, is a part of the yearbook crowd and wants to see the world after high school. Sophie in many ways is the balance between them, but each of the three girls is dissatisfied with something in her life. The three of them have been friends since childhood, and though they are are all different from each other, they have somehow been able to maintain a friendship throughout school. I really love that this is a book about a friendship between three girls. It is how many of my friendships have formed, and the story was more relatable because of it.
Sophie, Ella and Grace have known each other long enough to be able to read each others’ moods, call the other out when she is being idiots and also push each other’s buttons. During their senior year, their relationship will be tested by guys, misunderstandings and pressures at the end of high school. With the big changes of college – and expectations for the future – looming, they are still growing and learning how to relate to each other, they are also still having fun and challenging each other in the process. Sophie, Ella and Grace’s relationship is by no means perfect, but it is dynamic and that makes it real. It was refreshing to read a book that focuses on healthy, supportive girl friendships.
In addition to the focus on friendships, two themes that really resonated with me in None of The Regular Rules were perception and identity. How you perceive someone before you meet them can be very different than what they are like once you get to know them. We all judge others before we know who they are, or put people on pedestals only to watch them fall. This is never an easy lesson, but it is one that everyone learns - sometimes in more painful ways than others. On the flip side, is the concept of developing your own identity. Learning how to be authentic regardless of what others think is true about you (or want to be true about you), and regardless of whether you disappoint others in the process. It is never so important to learn these lessons than the end of high school, when your future is looming ahead, and when you have to make your own decisions about what that future looks like for you, regardless of what your parents or anyone else thinks. It takes a fair bit of bravery to do this, which is something that each of the three girls develops over the course of the book.
Of course a romance weaves its way through the story. Featuring Sophie and her neighbor Johnny Rush, the love story is not the center of the plot, but fits into it nicely. While I will admit to being slightly disappointed in the way it progresses, it does feature some sweet and swoonworthy moments that I enjoyed. I wish we'd gotten to know Johnny a little better, and that he'd opened up to Sophie sooner. Despite his friendly, upbeat personality, he was not always forthcoming with information about himself and that made me suspicious about him.
None of the Regular Rules is a fantastic look at friendships, love and identity at the end of high school. Growing up and defining who you are doesn't have to mean loosing friends or leaving your past behind. And though trying something new can open yourself up to failure, it can also bring things - and people - into your life that you would have missed otherwise.
Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
Senior year is about to begin and Sophie Erickson has decided that she wants more from her life than her safe, parental-approved existence. She sees her future after high school stretching out before her with a big blank, impenetrable wall blocking the way, and she's ready to do something to change that. Instead of watching safely from the sidelines Sophie decides that this is the year that she will step out from the background and experience life. She wants to do something to define herself, but she’s not sure what that will be. Until she finds a hand written list of dares in her late aunt Suzy's car.
Sophie always looked up to her aunt, whom she saw as brave and the only person in her family willing to take chances and go after what she want. Although Suzy died tragically 10 years ago when she was in high school and Sophie was only 8, Sophie still feels a strong connection to her. That bond has never been stronger than now, when Sophie is entering her own senior year of high school and has inherited Suzy's car. When Sophie and her two best friends find the list of dares that her aunt wrote in high school, Sophie decides that she will complete the list to honor her aunt, but also as a way to step outside of herself and hopefully, discover who she is in the process.
None of the Regular Rules is a book about friendships. Although Sophie is the driving force behind committing to the list of dares, she wants to share the experience with her two best friends, Grace and Ella. It is Sophie's enthusiasm that makes them excited to participate. Grace is popular, athletic and a great student; Ella has an eccentric, artistic style, is a part of the yearbook crowd and wants to see the world after high school. Sophie in many ways is the balance between them, but each of the three girls is dissatisfied with something in her life. The three of them have been friends since childhood, and though they are are all different from each other, they have somehow been able to maintain a friendship throughout school. I really love that this is a book about a friendship between three girls. It is how many of my friendships have formed, and the story was more relatable because of it.
Sophie, Ella and Grace have known each other long enough to be able to read each others’ moods, call the other out when she is being idiots and also push each other’s buttons. During their senior year, their relationship will be tested by guys, misunderstandings and pressures at the end of high school. With the big changes of college – and expectations for the future – looming, they are still growing and learning how to relate to each other, they are also still having fun and challenging each other in the process. Sophie, Ella and Grace’s relationship is by no means perfect, but it is dynamic and that makes it real. It was refreshing to read a book that focuses on healthy, supportive girl friendships.
In addition to the focus on friendships, two themes that really resonated with me in None of The Regular Rules were perception and identity. How you perceive someone before you meet them can be very different than what they are like once you get to know them. We all judge others before we know who they are, or put people on pedestals only to watch them fall. This is never an easy lesson, but it is one that everyone learns - sometimes in more painful ways than others. On the flip side, is the concept of developing your own identity. Learning how to be authentic regardless of what others think is true about you (or want to be true about you), and regardless of whether you disappoint others in the process. It is never so important to learn these lessons than the end of high school, when your future is looming ahead, and when you have to make your own decisions about what that future looks like for you, regardless of what your parents or anyone else thinks. It takes a fair bit of bravery to do this, which is something that each of the three girls develops over the course of the book.
Of course a romance weaves its way through the story. Featuring Sophie and her neighbor Johnny Rush, the love story is not the center of the plot, but fits into it nicely. While I will admit to being slightly disappointed in the way it progresses, it does feature some sweet and swoonworthy moments that I enjoyed. I wish we'd gotten to know Johnny a little better, and that he'd opened up to Sophie sooner. Despite his friendly, upbeat personality, he was not always forthcoming with information about himself and that made me suspicious about him.
None of the Regular Rules is a fantastic look at friendships, love and identity at the end of high school. Growing up and defining who you are doesn't have to mean loosing friends or leaving your past behind. And though trying something new can open yourself up to failure, it can also bring things - and people - into your life that you would have missed otherwise.
Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 26, 2013
Visit Into the Hall of Books for one of my full Three-Things Reviews: http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/201...
There is also an international giveaway up on the blog until 3/10/13.
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None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing came along at exactly the right time for me. It was exactly the book I needed to read, but it actually was exactly the book I wanted to read as well. It was such a great story about a girl searching for something, anything to liven up her boring life. It was a great coming-of-age story, with a wonderful friendship story and great romance interlaced throughout.
At the time Sophie finds her Aunt Suzy's list, she already feels like she's living life by going through the motions, just breezing by. Sophie is going into her senior year of high school and doesn't feel like she has left her mark on anything and has nothing to show that she's actually been there. In a way, finding the note gives her a way to leave her mark and burn her existance into her high school career. It also gives her a way to honor her Aunt Suzy, who meant so much to her. Most importantly, her two best friends can join her in this endeavor so it is something they can do for fun together. And it does seem fun - until things start to go wrong.
Sophie eats, breaths, and sleeps the list. She carries it around in her pocket every day. It's pretty much all she thinks about. She kind of expects the same from Grace and Ella, and while they're on board with Sophie - they have lives of their own. The list never consumes them the way it does Sophie, and it takes her a while to realize that. Eventually it causes friction in their wonderful friendship, and the friction turns into an all-out fight that leaves them not speaking for a length of time. It broke my heart to read about this small break in their friendship, but I also found it very true to life and authentic because I know that at least in my experience, most friends go through periods where they need a break from each other for awhile, or they at least have disagreements. The best part of all of this comes in how this fight/disagreement/break is resolved, and how it is obvious that the three are stronger friends than we readers even knew from the beginning. It is a marvelously written friendship, filled with honesty (even when it isn't all that pretty), fun times, and short-term friendship break-ups. I loved it.
Let's talk about this romance for a second. Johnny Rush is one of the best male main characters in a book I think I've ever read. He is thoughtful, caring, and kind. He's funny and has a sense of adventure. When he has parties, he goes around and spends time with pretty much everyone that takes the time to attend. When you're speaking with him, he makes you feel like you're the only person on earth. There are details that come out in the story that show you that he is willing to sacrifice the things that he wants for other people, even when it kind of breaks his heart a little. And best of all, Johnny Rush respects women. He really is one of the more perfect YA male characters out there. So I understand completely why Sophie would fall for him, despite her best efforts at trying not to because he already has a girlfriend. The thing about this is how the two handle the "But you have a girlfriend!" thing. I'm pretty sure everyone will approve. It's so sweet and wonderful and refreshing and handled in a way that is...really, really nice. Way to go, Johnny Rush!
The summary speaks of a "long-held family secret" and I have to admit I was wondering when that would come up as I kept reading. What could it be? The book was so good and I didn't really want anything that would shatter my feelings about it! When the secret was revealed, it breaks Sophie's heart and it just happens to occur during one of the worst times possible for her. Isn't that how life is sometimes? For a time, we see Sophie kind of spiral downward. It's tough, but it's part of the coming-of-age tale in the story. The wonderful part of this is later on, when the girls come back around and when Johnny comes back home, hearts get healed. Sophie is able to share her thoughts and feelings on this big issue and thus begin her healing process with this big life-changing secret.
None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing is one of those absolutely, all-around good books. It's one you read when you're looking for comfort, for something happy. It's a quick read with wonderful, wonderful characters. I recommend None of the Regular Rules for fans of YA contemporary romance that enjoy slow-burn romances and great friendships and coming-of-age tales.
There is also an international giveaway up on the blog until 3/10/13.
*******************************************************
None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing came along at exactly the right time for me. It was exactly the book I needed to read, but it actually was exactly the book I wanted to read as well. It was such a great story about a girl searching for something, anything to liven up her boring life. It was a great coming-of-age story, with a wonderful friendship story and great romance interlaced throughout.
At the time Sophie finds her Aunt Suzy's list, she already feels like she's living life by going through the motions, just breezing by. Sophie is going into her senior year of high school and doesn't feel like she has left her mark on anything and has nothing to show that she's actually been there. In a way, finding the note gives her a way to leave her mark and burn her existance into her high school career. It also gives her a way to honor her Aunt Suzy, who meant so much to her. Most importantly, her two best friends can join her in this endeavor so it is something they can do for fun together. And it does seem fun - until things start to go wrong.
Sophie eats, breaths, and sleeps the list. She carries it around in her pocket every day. It's pretty much all she thinks about. She kind of expects the same from Grace and Ella, and while they're on board with Sophie - they have lives of their own. The list never consumes them the way it does Sophie, and it takes her a while to realize that. Eventually it causes friction in their wonderful friendship, and the friction turns into an all-out fight that leaves them not speaking for a length of time. It broke my heart to read about this small break in their friendship, but I also found it very true to life and authentic because I know that at least in my experience, most friends go through periods where they need a break from each other for awhile, or they at least have disagreements. The best part of all of this comes in how this fight/disagreement/break is resolved, and how it is obvious that the three are stronger friends than we readers even knew from the beginning. It is a marvelously written friendship, filled with honesty (even when it isn't all that pretty), fun times, and short-term friendship break-ups. I loved it.
Let's talk about this romance for a second. Johnny Rush is one of the best male main characters in a book I think I've ever read. He is thoughtful, caring, and kind. He's funny and has a sense of adventure. When he has parties, he goes around and spends time with pretty much everyone that takes the time to attend. When you're speaking with him, he makes you feel like you're the only person on earth. There are details that come out in the story that show you that he is willing to sacrifice the things that he wants for other people, even when it kind of breaks his heart a little. And best of all, Johnny Rush respects women. He really is one of the more perfect YA male characters out there. So I understand completely why Sophie would fall for him, despite her best efforts at trying not to because he already has a girlfriend. The thing about this is how the two handle the "But you have a girlfriend!" thing. I'm pretty sure everyone will approve. It's so sweet and wonderful and refreshing and handled in a way that is...really, really nice. Way to go, Johnny Rush!
The summary speaks of a "long-held family secret" and I have to admit I was wondering when that would come up as I kept reading. What could it be? The book was so good and I didn't really want anything that would shatter my feelings about it! When the secret was revealed, it breaks Sophie's heart and it just happens to occur during one of the worst times possible for her. Isn't that how life is sometimes? For a time, we see Sophie kind of spiral downward. It's tough, but it's part of the coming-of-age tale in the story. The wonderful part of this is later on, when the girls come back around and when Johnny comes back home, hearts get healed. Sophie is able to share her thoughts and feelings on this big issue and thus begin her healing process with this big life-changing secret.
None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing is one of those absolutely, all-around good books. It's one you read when you're looking for comfort, for something happy. It's a quick read with wonderful, wonderful characters. I recommend None of the Regular Rules for fans of YA contemporary romance that enjoy slow-burn romances and great friendships and coming-of-age tales.
June 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A heartfelt story about friendship, family, and finding courage. None of the Regular Rules balances teenage dares with emotional depth, and while not everything landed for me, I really appreciated the honest coming-of-age tone. I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy light drama with a sentimental core.
A heartfelt story about friendship, family, and finding courage. None of the Regular Rules balances teenage dares with emotional depth, and while not everything landed for me, I really appreciated the honest coming-of-age tone. I'd recommend it for readers who enjoy light drama with a sentimental core.
January 4, 2013
This review is also posted HERE.
Bucket lists. We all have them. Sure, the may not be technically written, but they're there in the backs of our minds. After reading this book's blurb, I knew that I had to read it. I've just started writing a bucket list a few weeks ago, and almost immediately after, I chanced upon this jewel of a novel. It's almost like fate, huh?
Sophie is at a time in her life where every single thing she does had become part of a boring routine, and she can't quite shake the feeling she ought to be doing more in life. She's currently a senior in high school, yet somehow, she feels like she hasn't been able to do anything that would set her apart from her peers - anything that would make her feel that she was able to me something out of herself. When she finds the her dead aunt's list, she finds a purpose, and she embraces it whole-heartedly. Not only did the list serve as a way to both honor and get to know her late aunt better, it also serves as a method for her to step out of her shell.
I enjoyed reading about Sophie's journey - her desire to make something more of her life was palpable, almost tangible even. She was overjoyed at finding her dead aunt's bucket list, because she knew that dares it contained would push her out of her comfort zone, and would ultimately make her final year in high school memorable. Moreover, Sophie knew that she had to fulfill her late aunt's wishes, simply because this was her way to keep her aunt's memory intact, and also at the same time to bring honor to the aunt whom she truly loved. Like Sophie, I'd always found myself wishing for something more, hoping for something more, and truly being joyous whenever I get a little push towards the direction I want to see myself moving towards. We all need a little prodding - a little encouragement - in life sometimes, after all. Downing was able to portray Sophie in a way that readers would see bits of themselves through her, and ultimately connect and relate to the said character.
Honestly, however, I wasn't quite fond of Ella's and Grace's characters. I found them stereotypical - Ella was the in-your-face girl who was using her brashness as a means to hide her despair at her filial issues; Grace, meanwhile, was the shy and highly intelligent overachiever who somehow couldn't see that her boyfriend was practically controlling and manhandling her. Also, I felt like their characters were never explored enough - None of the Regular Rules is a rather short novel, and since most parts of it focused on Sophie, Ella and Grace often felt like afterthoughts. I know that they had their own problems, but I couldn't quite shake the feeling that everything about them was forced. I couldn't make myself care about their characters. Ultimately, I saw Ella and Grace as nothing but sidekicks, and I wasn't really able to dispel that notion.
The novel started out innocently enough - three friends find a list of dares and set out to do it, but midway though, Sophie was privy to a revelation that shocked her to her very core. Everything she believed in was a lie, and she had no idea how to go about her life now. She was at the lowest of the lows, and yet she didn't want to claw her way out. She was more than willing to wallow in the sallow depths of her misery. Moreover, at this time, Sophie, Ella and Grace had managed to alienate themselves from each other, and Sophie had no one to rely on. It was during this point that this novel proved to be memorable, and one of those literary works you will think about again some time in the future. Downing's writing - while already smooth, concise and overall good - at this part was phenomenal. You could truly feel Sophie's undoing - her resentment, her despair, her discontentment were like these tangible tendrils that wrapped at your wrists and wouldn't let go.
All in all, None of the Regular Rules surprised me - I delved into it expecting a light read, and it ended up tackling serious issues. While I wasn't particularly enamored with the characters of Ella and Grace, I did like Johnny Rush (what a tool of a name!) and what he brought to the novel. Also, as I've previously said, I also liked how the MC, Sophie, was portrayed. Most importantly, however, I really enjoyed reading about how Sophie tried to tread the line between living someone else's life and having it merely influence her own.
Bucket lists. We all have them. Sure, the may not be technically written, but they're there in the backs of our minds. After reading this book's blurb, I knew that I had to read it. I've just started writing a bucket list a few weeks ago, and almost immediately after, I chanced upon this jewel of a novel. It's almost like fate, huh?
Sophie is at a time in her life where every single thing she does had become part of a boring routine, and she can't quite shake the feeling she ought to be doing more in life. She's currently a senior in high school, yet somehow, she feels like she hasn't been able to do anything that would set her apart from her peers - anything that would make her feel that she was able to me something out of herself. When she finds the her dead aunt's list, she finds a purpose, and she embraces it whole-heartedly. Not only did the list serve as a way to both honor and get to know her late aunt better, it also serves as a method for her to step out of her shell.
I enjoyed reading about Sophie's journey - her desire to make something more of her life was palpable, almost tangible even. She was overjoyed at finding her dead aunt's bucket list, because she knew that dares it contained would push her out of her comfort zone, and would ultimately make her final year in high school memorable. Moreover, Sophie knew that she had to fulfill her late aunt's wishes, simply because this was her way to keep her aunt's memory intact, and also at the same time to bring honor to the aunt whom she truly loved. Like Sophie, I'd always found myself wishing for something more, hoping for something more, and truly being joyous whenever I get a little push towards the direction I want to see myself moving towards. We all need a little prodding - a little encouragement - in life sometimes, after all. Downing was able to portray Sophie in a way that readers would see bits of themselves through her, and ultimately connect and relate to the said character.
Honestly, however, I wasn't quite fond of Ella's and Grace's characters. I found them stereotypical - Ella was the in-your-face girl who was using her brashness as a means to hide her despair at her filial issues; Grace, meanwhile, was the shy and highly intelligent overachiever who somehow couldn't see that her boyfriend was practically controlling and manhandling her. Also, I felt like their characters were never explored enough - None of the Regular Rules is a rather short novel, and since most parts of it focused on Sophie, Ella and Grace often felt like afterthoughts. I know that they had their own problems, but I couldn't quite shake the feeling that everything about them was forced. I couldn't make myself care about their characters. Ultimately, I saw Ella and Grace as nothing but sidekicks, and I wasn't really able to dispel that notion.
The novel started out innocently enough - three friends find a list of dares and set out to do it, but midway though, Sophie was privy to a revelation that shocked her to her very core. Everything she believed in was a lie, and she had no idea how to go about her life now. She was at the lowest of the lows, and yet she didn't want to claw her way out. She was more than willing to wallow in the sallow depths of her misery. Moreover, at this time, Sophie, Ella and Grace had managed to alienate themselves from each other, and Sophie had no one to rely on. It was during this point that this novel proved to be memorable, and one of those literary works you will think about again some time in the future. Downing's writing - while already smooth, concise and overall good - at this part was phenomenal. You could truly feel Sophie's undoing - her resentment, her despair, her discontentment were like these tangible tendrils that wrapped at your wrists and wouldn't let go.
All in all, None of the Regular Rules surprised me - I delved into it expecting a light read, and it ended up tackling serious issues. While I wasn't particularly enamored with the characters of Ella and Grace, I did like Johnny Rush (what a tool of a name!) and what he brought to the novel. Also, as I've previously said, I also liked how the MC, Sophie, was portrayed. Most importantly, however, I really enjoyed reading about how Sophie tried to tread the line between living someone else's life and having it merely influence her own.
January 3, 2013
“None of the regular rules” mi è stato donato direttamente dalla sua scrittrice, Erin Downing, dopo aver letto un suo tweet. Il titolo mi aveva intrigato particolarmente, così come la trama e devo dire che è stata una lettura piacevole e piena di divertimento come poche e in definitiva sono molto contenta di averlo letto. Anche perché io adoro questo genere di storie, come chi mi segue da un po’ sa fin troppo bene.
Sophie sta per iniziare il suo senior year con le sue migliori amiche di sempre Grace Cutler e Ella Ambrose ma vorrebbe cambiare la sua vita e darle uno scossone e non essere spaventata anche di andare ad una festa del suo vicino di casa, il popolarissimo Johnny Rush. Così quando una sera trova una lista di sfide (dares) nella vecchia macchina della Zia Suzie, morta a soli diciotto anni, le tre amiche decidono di portarli a termine. Ma se alcuni sono estremamente semplici come cambiare una ruota bucata, altri metteranno a dura prova la loro amicizia mentre Sophie dovrà fare i conti con i fantasmi del suo passato e capire che la vita a volte prende svolte inaspettate.
La Downing ha scritto un libro molto interessante, estremamente verosimile che non ha nulla di scontato. La lista delle sfide che le ragazze trovano è solo un pretesto per un viaggio alla scoperta di sé stesse, un viaggio spirituale alla ricerca del senso profondo della crescita e di cosa vuol dire vivere e sperimentare, quando tutto sembra piatto e privo di significato.
Sophie racconta la sua storia in prima persona ed è una quasi diciottenne come ce ne sono tante. Ha transitato per il liceo senza lasciare una grande immagine dietro di sé, senza essere né estremamente popolare né super sfigata, con un gruppo di amici stretti e la voglia di essere serena. Una famiglia molto unita, anche se smembrata dopo la partenza del fratello Shane per il college e un segreto che li mangia dall’interno e che è la causa di uno dei momenti più difficili della vita di Sophie. Appassionata, un’amica leale è convinta che vivere i sogni di Suzie in qualche modo la riporti indietro o comunque possa farla riposare in pace, quando poi alla fine sono i suoi desideri a plasmarsi in una nuova lista di sogni da porta re a compimento.
Ma questa è anche una storia di amicizia e se Grace è la brava ragazza, tradizionalista, legata al suo fidanzato Ian e impegnatissima nelle attività scolastiche, Ella è lo spirito libero, dai vestiti stravaganti e la cotta che va avanti da anni per Peter. Amicizia che verrà messa a dura prova, ma che in definitiva vincerà su tutto anche quando non si credeva possibile.
Naturalmente c’è romance per Sophie, c’è l’incontro con un ragazzo, c’è l’innamoramento e c’è la delusione, nonché la consapevolezza che un rapporto è fatto anche di compromessi, di perdono e seconde chances.
Uno dei personaggi che vorrei citare è Andy Trever, il vicino di armadietto di Sophie, dai progetti stravaganti e la parlata assurda che farà perdere la testa ad una delle ragazze nonostante il suo straordinario modo di fare.
Anche l’ambientazione gioca un ruolo importante nel rendere il libro abbordabile e interessante. La protagonista vive in un piccolo paesino di periferia vicino ad un lago e il massimo del divertimento è dato dal Hanging rock un dirupo da cui i ragazzi si divertono a saltare. Un posto normale, per una storia normale in cui il lettore si può facilmente identificare.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una torre di zucche. Perché? Leggete e scopritelo.
Una storia semplice e immediata capace di arrivare dritta al cuore del lettore. Una protagonista simpatica che cerca di vivere la sua adolescenza in modo pieno senza tirarsi indietro anche se spaventata dal futuro e da un mondo che le impone di correre. Una storia come tante, ma proprio per questo vale la pena leggerla.
Buona lettura guys!
Io intanto ringrazio immensamente Erin Downing per avermi concesso la possibilità di leggere il suo bellissimo libro in cambio della mia opinione. Grazie mille.
Sophie sta per iniziare il suo senior year con le sue migliori amiche di sempre Grace Cutler e Ella Ambrose ma vorrebbe cambiare la sua vita e darle uno scossone e non essere spaventata anche di andare ad una festa del suo vicino di casa, il popolarissimo Johnny Rush. Così quando una sera trova una lista di sfide (dares) nella vecchia macchina della Zia Suzie, morta a soli diciotto anni, le tre amiche decidono di portarli a termine. Ma se alcuni sono estremamente semplici come cambiare una ruota bucata, altri metteranno a dura prova la loro amicizia mentre Sophie dovrà fare i conti con i fantasmi del suo passato e capire che la vita a volte prende svolte inaspettate.
La Downing ha scritto un libro molto interessante, estremamente verosimile che non ha nulla di scontato. La lista delle sfide che le ragazze trovano è solo un pretesto per un viaggio alla scoperta di sé stesse, un viaggio spirituale alla ricerca del senso profondo della crescita e di cosa vuol dire vivere e sperimentare, quando tutto sembra piatto e privo di significato.
Sophie racconta la sua storia in prima persona ed è una quasi diciottenne come ce ne sono tante. Ha transitato per il liceo senza lasciare una grande immagine dietro di sé, senza essere né estremamente popolare né super sfigata, con un gruppo di amici stretti e la voglia di essere serena. Una famiglia molto unita, anche se smembrata dopo la partenza del fratello Shane per il college e un segreto che li mangia dall’interno e che è la causa di uno dei momenti più difficili della vita di Sophie. Appassionata, un’amica leale è convinta che vivere i sogni di Suzie in qualche modo la riporti indietro o comunque possa farla riposare in pace, quando poi alla fine sono i suoi desideri a plasmarsi in una nuova lista di sogni da porta re a compimento.
Ma questa è anche una storia di amicizia e se Grace è la brava ragazza, tradizionalista, legata al suo fidanzato Ian e impegnatissima nelle attività scolastiche, Ella è lo spirito libero, dai vestiti stravaganti e la cotta che va avanti da anni per Peter. Amicizia che verrà messa a dura prova, ma che in definitiva vincerà su tutto anche quando non si credeva possibile.
Naturalmente c’è romance per Sophie, c’è l’incontro con un ragazzo, c’è l’innamoramento e c’è la delusione, nonché la consapevolezza che un rapporto è fatto anche di compromessi, di perdono e seconde chances.
Uno dei personaggi che vorrei citare è Andy Trever, il vicino di armadietto di Sophie, dai progetti stravaganti e la parlata assurda che farà perdere la testa ad una delle ragazze nonostante il suo straordinario modo di fare.
Anche l’ambientazione gioca un ruolo importante nel rendere il libro abbordabile e interessante. La protagonista vive in un piccolo paesino di periferia vicino ad un lago e il massimo del divertimento è dato dal Hanging rock un dirupo da cui i ragazzi si divertono a saltare. Un posto normale, per una storia normale in cui il lettore si può facilmente identificare.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Una torre di zucche. Perché? Leggete e scopritelo.
Una storia semplice e immediata capace di arrivare dritta al cuore del lettore. Una protagonista simpatica che cerca di vivere la sua adolescenza in modo pieno senza tirarsi indietro anche se spaventata dal futuro e da un mondo che le impone di correre. Una storia come tante, ma proprio per questo vale la pena leggerla.
Buona lettura guys!
Io intanto ringrazio immensamente Erin Downing per avermi concesso la possibilità di leggere il suo bellissimo libro in cambio della mia opinione. Grazie mille.
March 26, 2013
None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing was one book I opened up, started to read, and before I knew it I was at the end wondering how in the world I got there. I lost all track of time when reading this book. It’s not enough to say that I loved, enjoyed, adored, and ravished this book with all of my being.
Main character Sophie, and one amazing one at that, was the quiet, kept to herself kind of girl. She wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful nor popular in any high standard, but was down to earth and an easy going type of person that you could not help but like. She was the type of character you could have met in real life and become friends with easily. I loved the way she carried herself, her little quips and quirks, and the quiet confidence and self-assurance she had but didn’t know she did. To me, Sophie was more than comfortable in her skin. She was scared of the future, but determined to do something, be someone, and not fade into the background. She was in no way perfect, flawed in every aspect, but real in every sense.
The idea of finding a bucket list and going through the notion of fulfilling everything on that list was a very interesting twist that drew me in from the beginning. Better yet, I loved that there was a story, something meaningful behind the list for Sophie. It wasn’t just a list to complete, but a sort of way to honor and remember Sophie’s beloved aunt. It was the opening that gave Sophie the courage to do things she has never done before and I reveled in her new found outlook in her life.
I really enjoyed the dynamic friendship between Sophie, Ella and Grace. They were like the the Gilmore Girls, only plus one with their clever, never ending banter. It was obvious how close and deep their friendship was. I love how they were open with one another, looked out for each other, and had the right mind to keep each other in check when one of them got out of hand. Their friendship was one I knew that could stand the test of time and distance even when things were looking up and mostly when things were looking down.
The romance in this book was very light, but in the best and most sweet and heart warming way. It was no where near the main focus of the story, but a lovely addition nonetheless. Johnny Rush was an adventure; loud and outgoing and loved by all. He was fun and did what he wanted, when he wanted without the care of what others thought. He was a cool guy that I was immediately taken with as much as Sophie, if not more. I thought he was great with Sophie and while I wished there were way more moments with them then there were, the ones given were just perfect.
Although the truth about the family secret surrounding Sophie’s aunt Suzy didn’t surprise or shock me, because I suspected, it really hurt Sophie and in turn, hurt me as well. I thought this twist really changed Sophie and continued to allow her to see her life in another light before she found the list and it allowed her to grow more. She was lost, but she found herself again and that was the important part. None of the Regular Rules was not only amusing and highly entertaining, it was really insightful. It makes you want to reevaluate the life you're living now the way Sophie does.
Overall, this book was an amazing coming of age kind of story that will truly please all. It was all about truth, finding yourself, true friendships, having fun, and finding your happiness. It had the take home message of letting go what is not good for you, taking chances when necessary, and not changing yourself for others.
More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books
Main character Sophie, and one amazing one at that, was the quiet, kept to herself kind of girl. She wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful nor popular in any high standard, but was down to earth and an easy going type of person that you could not help but like. She was the type of character you could have met in real life and become friends with easily. I loved the way she carried herself, her little quips and quirks, and the quiet confidence and self-assurance she had but didn’t know she did. To me, Sophie was more than comfortable in her skin. She was scared of the future, but determined to do something, be someone, and not fade into the background. She was in no way perfect, flawed in every aspect, but real in every sense.
The idea of finding a bucket list and going through the notion of fulfilling everything on that list was a very interesting twist that drew me in from the beginning. Better yet, I loved that there was a story, something meaningful behind the list for Sophie. It wasn’t just a list to complete, but a sort of way to honor and remember Sophie’s beloved aunt. It was the opening that gave Sophie the courage to do things she has never done before and I reveled in her new found outlook in her life.
I really enjoyed the dynamic friendship between Sophie, Ella and Grace. They were like the the Gilmore Girls, only plus one with their clever, never ending banter. It was obvious how close and deep their friendship was. I love how they were open with one another, looked out for each other, and had the right mind to keep each other in check when one of them got out of hand. Their friendship was one I knew that could stand the test of time and distance even when things were looking up and mostly when things were looking down.
The romance in this book was very light, but in the best and most sweet and heart warming way. It was no where near the main focus of the story, but a lovely addition nonetheless. Johnny Rush was an adventure; loud and outgoing and loved by all. He was fun and did what he wanted, when he wanted without the care of what others thought. He was a cool guy that I was immediately taken with as much as Sophie, if not more. I thought he was great with Sophie and while I wished there were way more moments with them then there were, the ones given were just perfect.
Although the truth about the family secret surrounding Sophie’s aunt Suzy didn’t surprise or shock me, because I suspected, it really hurt Sophie and in turn, hurt me as well. I thought this twist really changed Sophie and continued to allow her to see her life in another light before she found the list and it allowed her to grow more. She was lost, but she found herself again and that was the important part. None of the Regular Rules was not only amusing and highly entertaining, it was really insightful. It makes you want to reevaluate the life you're living now the way Sophie does.
Overall, this book was an amazing coming of age kind of story that will truly please all. It was all about truth, finding yourself, true friendships, having fun, and finding your happiness. It had the take home message of letting go what is not good for you, taking chances when necessary, and not changing yourself for others.
More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books
February 28, 2013
~Was provided to me by the author for being a part of a Blog Tour~
Originally posted here with Giveaway~ http://www.paranormalsisters.blogspot...
When the concept of a book happens to be about a list of dares or some sort of bucket list, I am automatically drawn to it. Why? Because I think it’s a blast to watch the characters do things that are out of their comfort zone and sometimes those things may just end them up in some funny situations, so yea I enjoy these kinds of books.
So the moment I started reading I was hooked. I think what helped most for that was the way the font looked in kindle form, it looked easy breezy. It came with this certain charm that pulled me in and it made me feel like I could get lost in it, not worry how long the chapters were cause I wanted to badly read it. And if you've read in kindle form before you know it works differently from print copies and how one page is split into two, so the chapters are actually a bit longer. Thankfully the chapters are short and it made this an easier read for me.
When Sophie found that list of dares with her friends around, I got excited and I couldn't wait for them to start on it. But now I remember these kind of concepts aren’t really meant to being all about that list, it’s about how those things on the list can change your life, and how you handle those changes. Then you see the main character having a hard time finishing it because of those changes. So in the end, this is really a coming of age kind of book.
I enjoy these kinds of books, I hope to write a couple of these kinds of books in the future, however the main character kinda started to bug me. Especially when she wanted to break into the planetarium with a ski mask on as if she was going to rob it, along with that she wanted her friends to wear the same ski masks. Does that seem a bit much for a simple little dare that apparently all the seniors do at one point? So yea, she seemed to get a bit obsess about it.
Though in the end, this list of dares did help out Sophie and it helped her find some things out about her aunt that had died when she was 8, which in a way I kinda saw what was coming with that by how she died, so I'm sure you'll probably figure that out too. But I also liked how it not only helped out Sophie, it also helped out her two best friends.
Elle is this confident girl that seems like she may know what she wants to do with herself in the future but when it comes to this certain guy she is totally tongue tied. But I'm glad this list opens her eyes to other worthy candidates. Grace is this smart girl but in one situation she isn't all that smart. Her boyfriend is this controlling little bastard and he just got under my skin every time in came into the scene. Thankfully Grace found her voice because of this list and strong friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed this but for some reason I just don't feel fully satisfied. Though I did love the romance between Sophie and her crush, it was an adorable relationship but one that took time to become a relationship. I did love the dares, I did enjoy the characters growth within themselves and I did have a blast with the story line and the overall writing of it. But again I wasn’t as completely satisfied as I hoped I would be. However I did like the ending and the sense of humor but I think who’ll love this the most are the bookworms that just love contemporaries.
Originally posted here with Giveaway~ http://www.paranormalsisters.blogspot...
When the concept of a book happens to be about a list of dares or some sort of bucket list, I am automatically drawn to it. Why? Because I think it’s a blast to watch the characters do things that are out of their comfort zone and sometimes those things may just end them up in some funny situations, so yea I enjoy these kinds of books.
So the moment I started reading I was hooked. I think what helped most for that was the way the font looked in kindle form, it looked easy breezy. It came with this certain charm that pulled me in and it made me feel like I could get lost in it, not worry how long the chapters were cause I wanted to badly read it. And if you've read in kindle form before you know it works differently from print copies and how one page is split into two, so the chapters are actually a bit longer. Thankfully the chapters are short and it made this an easier read for me.
When Sophie found that list of dares with her friends around, I got excited and I couldn't wait for them to start on it. But now I remember these kind of concepts aren’t really meant to being all about that list, it’s about how those things on the list can change your life, and how you handle those changes. Then you see the main character having a hard time finishing it because of those changes. So in the end, this is really a coming of age kind of book.
I enjoy these kinds of books, I hope to write a couple of these kinds of books in the future, however the main character kinda started to bug me. Especially when she wanted to break into the planetarium with a ski mask on as if she was going to rob it, along with that she wanted her friends to wear the same ski masks. Does that seem a bit much for a simple little dare that apparently all the seniors do at one point? So yea, she seemed to get a bit obsess about it.
Though in the end, this list of dares did help out Sophie and it helped her find some things out about her aunt that had died when she was 8, which in a way I kinda saw what was coming with that by how she died, so I'm sure you'll probably figure that out too. But I also liked how it not only helped out Sophie, it also helped out her two best friends.
Elle is this confident girl that seems like she may know what she wants to do with herself in the future but when it comes to this certain guy she is totally tongue tied. But I'm glad this list opens her eyes to other worthy candidates. Grace is this smart girl but in one situation she isn't all that smart. Her boyfriend is this controlling little bastard and he just got under my skin every time in came into the scene. Thankfully Grace found her voice because of this list and strong friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed this but for some reason I just don't feel fully satisfied. Though I did love the romance between Sophie and her crush, it was an adorable relationship but one that took time to become a relationship. I did love the dares, I did enjoy the characters growth within themselves and I did have a blast with the story line and the overall writing of it. But again I wasn’t as completely satisfied as I hoped I would be. However I did like the ending and the sense of humor but I think who’ll love this the most are the bookworms that just love contemporaries.
June 22, 2013
Sophie’s life is pretty boring. It’s safe. She’s nearly eighteen years old, starting her senior year of high school, and she’s ready for a change. She’s finished with spending her weekends watching movies and having sleepovers with her two best (and only) friends, Grace and Ella. She’s ready for adventure, which arrives in the form of a list she finds in the car of her dead aunt Suzy. It’s a list of dares, of things that Suzy never got to do, and Sophie decides to follow her aunt’s dreams, as they happen to coincide with some of her own.
Sophie’s story was a very pleasant read. It was truly a coming-of-age story disguised as a romance novel. The cover certainly does not accurately portray what the book is about. It’s very misleading, and I was so off-put by its cheesiness that I nearly didn’t bother reading the book. I’m glad that I did, though.
The characterization, for one, was brilliant. Sophie is kind of annoying at times, but it’s because she’s real. She behaves like a real person and that is sometimes upsetting, but in the best possible way. She reminds me a lot of teenage me, which is probably why I disliked her from time to time. I was similarly sheltered, but unlike Sophie I didn’t have a pair of amazing, supportive friends to keep me in check.
Ella and Grace were one of my favourite things about None of the Regular Rules. I loved that they had their own lives and that they had affairs beyond Sophie and her problems. Grace’s relationship with Ian was really difficult to read, but it had a happy ending and it made sense why she stayed with him as long as she did. She was scared and vulnerable and didn’t want to let people see that she didn’t have everything as put together as she led people to believe. Ella’s relationships with her own identity and her parents (a depressed and manipulative single mother and a convict father) were equally well-portrayed.
On to the romance! I was so happy to find that Johnny wasn’t just a superficial party boy – after all, with a name like Johnny Rush, what are you really expecting? It’s definitely a porn star name. He was so sweet and though I hated that he kind of led Sophie and Mackenzie on, he was trying to do the right thing and he ultimately made some great choices. It was lovely to see a LI who doesn’t immediately fall head over heels for the MC, proclaiming their undying devotion and vowing never to love another. It gets old, and frankly it’s kind of ridiculous. Johnny was one of the most charismatic LIs I’ve come across in a long time, and I’m kind of in love now. I felt like his storyline regarding not going to University was kind of lame, but it all worked out in the end! I also loved that THERE WAS NO INSTA-LOVE! YAY! I mean, Sophie had a crush on him, which I think was partially to do with the fact that she envied his lifestyle and carefree attitude (and his hair), but it took a long time for it to develop into anything real.
The biggest complaint I have about None of the Regular Rules is that it’s too short! It was over so quickly and I wanted it to keep going, which I think is the mark of a good book. I usually have the opposite problem.
Also, I’m not sure why some people have it shelved as NA? It’s definitely a YA book.
Sophie’s story was a very pleasant read. It was truly a coming-of-age story disguised as a romance novel. The cover certainly does not accurately portray what the book is about. It’s very misleading, and I was so off-put by its cheesiness that I nearly didn’t bother reading the book. I’m glad that I did, though.
The characterization, for one, was brilliant. Sophie is kind of annoying at times, but it’s because she’s real. She behaves like a real person and that is sometimes upsetting, but in the best possible way. She reminds me a lot of teenage me, which is probably why I disliked her from time to time. I was similarly sheltered, but unlike Sophie I didn’t have a pair of amazing, supportive friends to keep me in check.
Ella and Grace were one of my favourite things about None of the Regular Rules. I loved that they had their own lives and that they had affairs beyond Sophie and her problems. Grace’s relationship with Ian was really difficult to read, but it had a happy ending and it made sense why she stayed with him as long as she did. She was scared and vulnerable and didn’t want to let people see that she didn’t have everything as put together as she led people to believe. Ella’s relationships with her own identity and her parents (a depressed and manipulative single mother and a convict father) were equally well-portrayed.
On to the romance! I was so happy to find that Johnny wasn’t just a superficial party boy – after all, with a name like Johnny Rush, what are you really expecting? It’s definitely a porn star name. He was so sweet and though I hated that he kind of led Sophie and Mackenzie on, he was trying to do the right thing and he ultimately made some great choices. It was lovely to see a LI who doesn’t immediately fall head over heels for the MC, proclaiming their undying devotion and vowing never to love another. It gets old, and frankly it’s kind of ridiculous. Johnny was one of the most charismatic LIs I’ve come across in a long time, and I’m kind of in love now. I felt like his storyline regarding not going to University was kind of lame, but it all worked out in the end! I also loved that THERE WAS NO INSTA-LOVE! YAY! I mean, Sophie had a crush on him, which I think was partially to do with the fact that she envied his lifestyle and carefree attitude (and his hair), but it took a long time for it to develop into anything real.
The biggest complaint I have about None of the Regular Rules is that it’s too short! It was over so quickly and I wanted it to keep going, which I think is the mark of a good book. I usually have the opposite problem.
Also, I’m not sure why some people have it shelved as NA? It’s definitely a YA book.
December 12, 2012
I was kindly gifted this to review by the author, it’s currently only available as an ebook, but if you’re from the UK like I am. It’s only £2.00 in the kindle store so it’s not a bad price as books go.
Right, so, the book:
This is the story of Sophie as she is about to embark on her senior year and, like most people leaving school, she wants it to be special. However, she fears that it won’t be and that she’ll be unsatisfied with her final year of school if she can’t even work up the courage to go to her fit neighbour’s house party. But then, on a casual drive with her friends in her recently inherited car, she finds her late aunts bucket list and the three of them decide to complete each dare on the list so they can make their senior year truly memorable.
As the story progresses you see each of the characters have their own individual issues which conflicts with the list, like one of the dares is to jump off of a cliff into a stream and Sophie’s fear of heights has always prevented her from doing it.
In fact, all the characters are really interesting, I particularly thought Grace and Ella (the two friends) and their relationships with their families and the boys they’re crushing on really intriguing so it’s kind of frustrating that none of the characters had much depth.
None of the Regular Rules has a brilliant premise, it’s a great idea but I found the writing style hard to get into at certain points. There are moments where stuff is explained with too much detail or is mentioned that has no real impact on the story and it diverts attention and breaks the flow. But, if you can work past that then the story itself is engaging. I find the whole idea to be quite inspirational, if, like Sophie, you’ve come to a mile stone in your life and you want to do something different and exciting then this is great, you get to see how they all cope deviating from their usual lives and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
I found the reveal about Suzy a little predictable, I personally saw it coming from the moment it was first bought up, but even so, it still packed a bit of an emotional punch. The ending was great too and I thought the Sophie and Johnny moments when they were getting to know each other and watching their relationship develop was really cute. It’s just the slightly bumbly prose that I had a few issue with but I’m fully prepared to accept that that was just me.
The absolute best moment had to be where Erin Downing did the thing. The thing where you mention the name of the work in the work. That happened. SHE DID THE THING! It doesn’t come across as being forced either, it happened and I was like AHAHAAA!! THE THING! WHERE YOU MENTION THE TITLE IN THE NARRATIVE!!!!!
All in all, it was an enjoyable journey through Sophie’s senior year and a great concept for a YA novel.
Right, so, the book:
This is the story of Sophie as she is about to embark on her senior year and, like most people leaving school, she wants it to be special. However, she fears that it won’t be and that she’ll be unsatisfied with her final year of school if she can’t even work up the courage to go to her fit neighbour’s house party. But then, on a casual drive with her friends in her recently inherited car, she finds her late aunts bucket list and the three of them decide to complete each dare on the list so they can make their senior year truly memorable.
As the story progresses you see each of the characters have their own individual issues which conflicts with the list, like one of the dares is to jump off of a cliff into a stream and Sophie’s fear of heights has always prevented her from doing it.
In fact, all the characters are really interesting, I particularly thought Grace and Ella (the two friends) and their relationships with their families and the boys they’re crushing on really intriguing so it’s kind of frustrating that none of the characters had much depth.
None of the Regular Rules has a brilliant premise, it’s a great idea but I found the writing style hard to get into at certain points. There are moments where stuff is explained with too much detail or is mentioned that has no real impact on the story and it diverts attention and breaks the flow. But, if you can work past that then the story itself is engaging. I find the whole idea to be quite inspirational, if, like Sophie, you’ve come to a mile stone in your life and you want to do something different and exciting then this is great, you get to see how they all cope deviating from their usual lives and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
I found the reveal about Suzy a little predictable, I personally saw it coming from the moment it was first bought up, but even so, it still packed a bit of an emotional punch. The ending was great too and I thought the Sophie and Johnny moments when they were getting to know each other and watching their relationship develop was really cute. It’s just the slightly bumbly prose that I had a few issue with but I’m fully prepared to accept that that was just me.
The absolute best moment had to be where Erin Downing did the thing. The thing where you mention the name of the work in the work. That happened. SHE DID THE THING! It doesn’t come across as being forced either, it happened and I was like AHAHAAA!! THE THING! WHERE YOU MENTION THE TITLE IN THE NARRATIVE!!!!!
All in all, it was an enjoyable journey through Sophie’s senior year and a great concept for a YA novel.
February 10, 2017
None of the Regular Rules was an awesome story. It has romance, friendship, and amazing character growth. :D
Sophie was a wonderful main character. I found her super easy to relate to...and I definitely could put myself in her shoes since I tend to be a bit more cautious just like she was. I loved that she was willing to put herself out there, and once she started taking risks, I was super impressed by her! :D I also loved her friends Ella and Grace, although I must admit when Sophie was annoyed with them, so was I. :P haha And aside from Sophie, my favourite character just had to be Johnny! :D
Along with the fabulous characters, the relationships in None of the Regular Rules were awesome! I loved the friendship between Sophie, Grace, and Ella, and I absolutely adored how Sophie and Johnny's relationship changed throughout the book. I loved that Johnny helped Sophie take more risks, and I loved their whole relationship. They had awesome chemistry, witty and sarcastic banter, and it was fantastic seeing their friendship start and change.
I also loved that friendship was so central to the story. Grace and Ella were integral in Sophie's life and I thought it was awesome seeing friendships that were so strong. The girls definitely fight in the book, but they make up, and while it may not happen immediately, when it really matters they confronted their issues. Most importantly though, when it really matters Grace, Ella, and Sophie were all there for each other, and that is what I found amazing. Too many books ignore have main characters whose friendships almost completely disappear when a guy shows up, and while that does cause issues in this book (for more than one character :P) in the end the girls realize just how important their friendships are and they are there for each other when their friends need them.
The overall story was incredibly easy to relate to since I'm sure everyone at one point or another ponders their future and wonders if they'll be happy with what they choose. Sophie spends a large par of the story struggling with what she wants from her future. Her insecurities and the way she handled them were so realistic and I loved that aspect about her. She is real and I thought that was really refreshing. :)
I absolutely loved None of the Regular Rules and would recommend it to contemporary fans who love main characters that grow into themselves. Sophie isn't crazy outgoing, but throughout the novel she realizes what really matters to her. There is romance, but the story focuses much more on friendship, which also shapes the romantic aspect of the story. I think that if you like realistic main characters, and books with a strong focus on friendship and what it means to really be a friend, you'll enjoy this one. :D
Sophie was a wonderful main character. I found her super easy to relate to...and I definitely could put myself in her shoes since I tend to be a bit more cautious just like she was. I loved that she was willing to put herself out there, and once she started taking risks, I was super impressed by her! :D I also loved her friends Ella and Grace, although I must admit when Sophie was annoyed with them, so was I. :P haha And aside from Sophie, my favourite character just had to be Johnny! :D
Along with the fabulous characters, the relationships in None of the Regular Rules were awesome! I loved the friendship between Sophie, Grace, and Ella, and I absolutely adored how Sophie and Johnny's relationship changed throughout the book. I loved that Johnny helped Sophie take more risks, and I loved their whole relationship. They had awesome chemistry, witty and sarcastic banter, and it was fantastic seeing their friendship start and change.
I also loved that friendship was so central to the story. Grace and Ella were integral in Sophie's life and I thought it was awesome seeing friendships that were so strong. The girls definitely fight in the book, but they make up, and while it may not happen immediately, when it really matters they confronted their issues. Most importantly though, when it really matters Grace, Ella, and Sophie were all there for each other, and that is what I found amazing. Too many books ignore have main characters whose friendships almost completely disappear when a guy shows up, and while that does cause issues in this book (for more than one character :P) in the end the girls realize just how important their friendships are and they are there for each other when their friends need them.
The overall story was incredibly easy to relate to since I'm sure everyone at one point or another ponders their future and wonders if they'll be happy with what they choose. Sophie spends a large par of the story struggling with what she wants from her future. Her insecurities and the way she handled them were so realistic and I loved that aspect about her. She is real and I thought that was really refreshing. :)
I absolutely loved None of the Regular Rules and would recommend it to contemporary fans who love main characters that grow into themselves. Sophie isn't crazy outgoing, but throughout the novel she realizes what really matters to her. There is romance, but the story focuses much more on friendship, which also shapes the romantic aspect of the story. I think that if you like realistic main characters, and books with a strong focus on friendship and what it means to really be a friend, you'll enjoy this one. :D
December 15, 2012
(Note: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
Just before senior year starts, Sophie, Ella and Grace find a list of dares written by Sophie's aunt Suzy. Suzy died a decade ago and has barely been spoken of since by Sophie's family. To pay tribute to her, the trio make up their mind to complete every dare on the list. But as much fun as ticking off items like "change a tyre", "go to a party" and "sneak into the planetarium" is, nothing can prepare Sophie for a revelation about her family.
None Of The Regular Rules does everything at least pretty well - Downing has an easy to read writing style, her dialogue is good, and she captures the fraught relationships between teenagers and their mothers with particular skill. However the stand-out part, which lifts it far above 'readable' and into 'go read now' territory, is the chemistry between narrator Sophie and Johnny Rush, the guy with the porn star name. (Her words, not mine!) The heat between the pair of them is so great that if it wasn't an e-book, I'd be expecting the pages to catch fire. Sophie is a wonderful main character but Johnny is seriously swoon-worthy, and gets more so every time he's on the page.
It's also a much darker book than I was expecting, in many ways. It starts off as a fairly light read, apart from the shadow of Suzy's death a decade in the past, but as the book goes on Downing weaves in some far grittier topics, which she handles well. I did think that one particular subplot was perhaps a tad rushed, though, but on the other hand it's quite interesting to see the topic involved there crop up in a book without being the main subject of the novel. (Apologies if that sentence is even more incomprehensible than usual, as always, fear of spoilers trumps clarity in my revews.)
Additionally, Downing captures the atmosphere of the end of school brilliantly. In fact, I'd say the only other book I can think of which really brings down the curtains on its characters' high-school experience as well as this one does is John Green's superb Paper Towns (which is set over a much shorter period of time.) Oh, one last thing - Trever German may be my new favourite minor character ever, or certainly my favourite of 2012. He's utterly wonderful every time he appears!
Definite recommendations to fans of YA contemporary books as an absolute bargain at just £1.94, I really want to get my hand on some of Erin Downing's others now!
Just before senior year starts, Sophie, Ella and Grace find a list of dares written by Sophie's aunt Suzy. Suzy died a decade ago and has barely been spoken of since by Sophie's family. To pay tribute to her, the trio make up their mind to complete every dare on the list. But as much fun as ticking off items like "change a tyre", "go to a party" and "sneak into the planetarium" is, nothing can prepare Sophie for a revelation about her family.
None Of The Regular Rules does everything at least pretty well - Downing has an easy to read writing style, her dialogue is good, and she captures the fraught relationships between teenagers and their mothers with particular skill. However the stand-out part, which lifts it far above 'readable' and into 'go read now' territory, is the chemistry between narrator Sophie and Johnny Rush, the guy with the porn star name. (Her words, not mine!) The heat between the pair of them is so great that if it wasn't an e-book, I'd be expecting the pages to catch fire. Sophie is a wonderful main character but Johnny is seriously swoon-worthy, and gets more so every time he's on the page.
It's also a much darker book than I was expecting, in many ways. It starts off as a fairly light read, apart from the shadow of Suzy's death a decade in the past, but as the book goes on Downing weaves in some far grittier topics, which she handles well. I did think that one particular subplot was perhaps a tad rushed, though, but on the other hand it's quite interesting to see the topic involved there crop up in a book without being the main subject of the novel. (Apologies if that sentence is even more incomprehensible than usual, as always, fear of spoilers trumps clarity in my revews.)
Additionally, Downing captures the atmosphere of the end of school brilliantly. In fact, I'd say the only other book I can think of which really brings down the curtains on its characters' high-school experience as well as this one does is John Green's superb Paper Towns (which is set over a much shorter period of time.) Oh, one last thing - Trever German may be my new favourite minor character ever, or certainly my favourite of 2012. He's utterly wonderful every time he appears!
Definite recommendations to fans of YA contemporary books as an absolute bargain at just £1.94, I really want to get my hand on some of Erin Downing's others now!
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