Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts

by Kristyn Miller

• ISBN10: 1250861829
• ISBN13: 9781250861825
• Publish Date: 16 May 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: St. Martin's Griffin
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[The Romantic Comedy Book Club]

Initially a tad off putting and very slow to find its rhythm, Kristyn J. Miller's debut novel Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts finishes strong as it weaves a cautionary tale of how too many rules protecting us, can also act as the weights that sink us.

 

Meet Margo (Go for short) of the dynamic duo Jo and Go from the Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts - a podcast by single women, for single women who want to stay that way. At least, that was the plan until Margo discovers that her partner in crime has found the love of her life and is getting married! Now Margo’s world (and financial future) has been turned upside down. Their audience is not happy, their sponsors are dropping, and Margo is fresh out of ideas. With Season Seven coming up and Jo’s impending nuptials only two weeks away, Margo decides to go nuclear. She is going to break all seven rules and prove why they are necessary for those who are now questioning the validity of the show. The problem is, Margo needs a guinea pig. Stuck on an island, her choices are limited. Solution? She sets her intentions on the groom’s best man and conveniently - her former childhood nemesis. Not only will she get the content she needs for the show, she’ll finally get a little payback for the nightmares he caused her in high school. Staying true to her commitment to being single, she isn’t worried about catching feelings or wanting a relationship. All that matters is she gets what's needed for the show. She just has to keep telling herself that as her heart starts to get other ideas.

 

What I like about it: The most frustrating (and highly relatable) thing about Margo is that she over complicated everything! Whether is was content for the podcast, being honest with Jo, dealing with Declan - if it could take three steps, she made it twelve! Even the bartender Shelley called her out on it! Simple just wasn’t her forte. It was as if making a less complex decision made it easier to be blamed if things went wrong. Her attention to the rules were also her gateway drug to self-sabotage. If things don’t work out, it is not because of her, it is because of the rules and that is why they are in place.

 

What I don’t like about it: I am all for setting a good foundation; but, eight chapters in and I still didn’t feel like we were moving forward with the book. The sprinkling of cookie crumb premises just made it move too slowly initially. We got the general idea within the first few chapters: podcast potentially in trouble due to best friend getting married, high school nemesis will be at the wedding, and Margo can’t seem to let go of the past, try as she might. Too much time was spent on setting the scene (as gorgeous as it may have been) and firmly establishing the premise (again - thoroughly achieved within the first few chapters).

 

In terms of spiciness - this was definitely an open door romance that brought the heat! It was surprising how reserved Declan was and yet behind close doors, wow! The build up moments were just as intense but most of all, I appreciated how "in his feelings" he was about the whole thing. It wasn't surprising as the connection between the two characters was super charged from their reunion. I simply loved how Declan and Margo played off each other so well how much that intensified every physical exchange!

 

Once the author was able to step away from the scenery and hone in on the characters, Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts was a lighthearted, fun, and swoon-worthy treat.

[chymerra]

Margo and her best friend, Jo, are co-hosts of a viral podcast that they made famous for seven rules for hooking up without getting feelings involved. So, the internet freaked out when Jo announced she was getting married and using a sponsor’s offer for an all-expenses paid wedding trip to Catalina Island. Also upset was Margo. She was left dealing with the fallout from Jo’s announcement. So, she devised a plan. She’s going to break her own dating rules to prove that it is a bad idea. Her victim: Declan Walsh, the groom’s best man and Margo’s arch nemesis from high school. But, as Margo spends time with Declan, he isn’t who she remembered, and she does something that she vowed never to do: She caught feelings for him. But, when a vengeful fan reveals her plan, Margo might just have lost the best thing that has happened to her. Will Margo prove to Declan that what she feels is real? Or has she blown it?

Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts was a medium to fast-paced book that made me laugh in places and want to cry in others. It is mainly set on Catalina Island, centering on the resort and the town of Avalon. Having always wanted to go to Catalina Island, I enjoyed the brief forays into the water and one memorable hike to see bison. On a side note, I was surprised when that came up in this book and did a Google search of it. Seeing that it is real, I want to go there even more.

The main storyline of Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts centers around Margo, Declan, Margo’s plans to do damage control, Jo’s wedding, and the various trips the wedding party takes. I wasn’t a massive fan of Margo’s plan and felt it would end badly. I did think that the author did a great job of weaving all of these details together to make a great story. Because I feel that if she had just based this book on Margo and Declan, it would have fallen flat.

I didn’t like Margo at first. She seemed immature and needy. Even though high school was ten years behind them, she was still focused on how Declan treated her. There were points when she talked crap about Declan to Jo, and that’s when I wanted to stuff a gag in her mouth and tell her to get over it. Her plan to use him for her damage control plan was pretty low. But then something happened that usually doesn’t happen if I had made up my mind about a character. I started to like her. She was acting the way she was because she wasn’t sure what her future held, which scared her. And when her phone was stolen, and everything leaked, I felt awful for her. I wish that storyline had been closure because I was heated. But the author left it as that person did it and got caught, but nothing happened. Margo, of course, got the short end of the stick there. I won’t say how, but it made me very teary-eyed.

I loved Declan. He was the complete package: gorgeous, intelligent, and built. His confession to Margo about why he acted the way to her in high school was sweet. He also dealt with everything that Jo and Margo did (for the podcast and their sponsors) in stride. There were points in the book where I thought he was a little too laid back, but that didn’t last long. But, when everything was leaked, he jetted. I didn’t blame him; it was just too much. Plus, his feelings were shattered. So, no, I didn’t blame him for what he said to Margo and how he took off.

For a romance, there weren’t a ton of sex scenes. Margo and Declan fooled around a ton, but sex was only a few times. The author did include Margo getting serviced by Declan in a dressing room and Margo returning the favor to Declan in the shower. The sex wasn’t graphic either, and honestly, I could have cared less. For me, it was the chemistry that they had and the build-up. Other people might disagree, but I stand my ground in this case. Declan and Margo had great sexual chemistry.

As for trigger warnings in this book, I can only think of two. They are:

1. Drinking: The drinks flowed freely in this book. Margo and the rest of the wedding party were drunk up to the wedding.
2. Drugs: One of the bridesmaids owns a high-profile cannabis store. During the bachelorette party, she brings cannabis-laced brownies and gummies to help celebrate.

The end of Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts was super sad. I hated seeing Margo acting the way that she was. She was depressed and knew she had mucked it up between her and Declan. Of course, this is a romance, and you know they end up together. That scene stole my breath. And the epilogue was fantastic!!!!

I would recommend Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts to anyone over 21. There is language, mild violence, and sexual situations. Also, see my trigger warning list.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Kristyn J. Miller for allowing me to read and review Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts. All opinions stated in this review are mine.