Review: Three and a half stars: A summer filled with growing up and making new rules.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 25, 2013
Hannah is happy to escape the pressures of her everyday life, especially after her father's drug overdose. She is opting to spend the summer with her Aunt instead of going to Paris with her mother. Hannah is nearly suffocating from the expectations and rules of her parents. She doesn't expect to meet someone who will help her break free of those rules. Can Hannah find a new beginning for herself and set her own rules?What I Liked:*I picked this one up expecting a light, fluffy, summery romance, but what I got was a book all about finding yourself and learning to let go of the past. While I was a tiny bit disappointed that this wasn't all feel good and easy reading, I was happy to see that it tackled some important issues such as: drug and alcohol abuse, loss, growing up, deciding your own future and healing. This book doesn't stray too far into the overly dramatic and gut wrenching fare that is so popular right now. I think this towed the line perfectly as it carried a nice balance between dramatic and fun. If you are a fan of the popular New Adult books, but want something that won't tear your heart out, this would be a good pick.*The romance in this one is slow and subtle. Two people meet, and the first meeting isn't exactly all sparkles and butterflies, neither is the second. Over time, Hannah ends up forming a friendship with Jude, a troubled young man who just recently lost in brother in Afghanistan. The pair are complete opposites, Hannah is the good girl, straight A student who adheres to a set of complex rules. Jude is a bit of a bad boy and a rebel, especially since the death of his brother. Over the summer, a shirt flapping from a tree, a broken truck, and a mountain will bring the two together and through it all they form a strong friendship that eventually turns into something a bit more. This romance builds very slowly, and in fact it takes the entire book to get there, but I am a fan of romances that take their sweet time and are formed out of friendship. I thought the romance in this one was just right.*I am a fan of character growth, and this book excels at character transformation. Hannah with Jude's help, learns to let go over the ridiculously stringent rules set by her parents. During the summer, she sets her own new rules to live by, and in the process, she learns a few things about herself, finds the courage to live as she wants by not adhering to other's expectations, she lets go and even does a few things that scare her the most. Jude also transforms. He is carrying a lot of baggage from his brother's death and he has not been able to break free. His friendship with Hannah helps him to finally bury his brother and move toward a new future. I thoroughly enjoyed the maturation of both characters.*I enjoyed the writing in this one. Ms. Norris gives us plenty of sage advice on living, loving and more. There are some notable quotes and good advice to take to heart.And The Not So Much:*I felt like I was missing something as far as Hannah's backstory. She is fresh off a breakup with her boyfriend Zac. I got the impression that there was more to the story, and after I finished the book I learned that this was the companion novel to The Boyfriend Thief, and I am guessing the details of Hannah and Zac's relationship are chronicled in that book. This is not an issue because Hannah's story with Zac is in the past, but there are a couple of references to it. I am eager to go back and read The Boyfriend Thief now.*I never felt like I had a firm grasp on Aunt Lydia's character. She seems aloof and rather mysterious for most of the book. She doesn't come across as particularly warm and fuzzy, but in contrast to Hannah's parents she is a far better role model. I finally got some answer toward the end of the book, but I found that I wanted to understand her a bit more. I would like to have more details on the relationship between Lydia and Hannah's mother.*At the end, Hannah and her parents are working toward healing their relationship. I hated the way Hannah's mother treated Hannah and did not like her actions. I was hoping for a bit more admission of guilt and a little more resolution in regards to the mother daughter relationship, but it was realistic, and I know that in real life this is often the way things go.*There were a few unanswered issues for Jude. For instance: I wanted to know what happened with Jude's mother. Did he get her to clean up her act? Did they make up? Will they be okay? What really happened with the missing money from Jude's former job? I really wished that the issue with the stolen money was resolved.The Rules of You and Me is a book that will take you through the trials and tribulations of leaving behind childhood and moving toward an adult. There are always some difficult choices, and the question is will you learn to let go of the past and choose the path that will make you the most happy or will you adhere to the tight expectations of others?Favorite Quotations:"Be yourself, but be the you that you could be, not the you that everyone else wants you to be.""The rules you think you should follow in life aren't always the right rules for you.""I know the guy your parents don't like is exactly the kind of guy you think you want. But the idea of the bad boy is sometimes better than the reality of him.""I wish I had the courage to not be the person everyone expects me to be.""She loves the person she wants me to be. I'm not sure that she really loves me as I am."I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.