The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

The Rules for Disappearing (Rules, #1)

by Ashley Elston

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do—or see—that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all of the Suits’ rules—and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters—survival.

Reviewed by Angie on

3 of 5 stars

Share
I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I picked up The Rules for Disappearing because I could not resist its unique premise: the Witness Protection Program. I had only ever seen it spoofed in movies and TV shows, never a serious account of the program. Meg–not her real name– and her family are on their sixth placement in about a year. Meg has no idea what her father did to get them in this mess, but she’s had enough. This time she’s decided not to make any attachments in case they’re relocated again, and she wants some answers. Easier said than done on both accounts. Soon enough, a cute boy has taken an interest in Meg and knows something isn’t quite right about her story, and her mother let’s something slip about their situation which she shouldn’t have. Now Meg has to decide what to do with that information and whether or not she can let Ethan in to help her.

The Rules for Disappearing started out strong, but it kind of started to lose me in the last third or so. I found the specifics of the Witness Protection Program to be really interesting. Even though she’s been through the process several times before, Meg still explains to us what’s going on. Of course, I can’t be sure how accurate everything is, but it did seem legit, or at least believable. I can’t even imagine having to go through this. The family has been literally snatched from their beds in the middle of the night with only the clothes on their backs to get to a new location. Now Meg carries about a fat backpack full of basics and a few luxuries for her and her younger sister. Of course, this backpack is a source of torment for Meg in her new high school.

There is a twist, but I saw it coming at the first moment of foreshadowing. I think the author made this too obvious. I didn’t figure out the specifics, but the basic idea of why Meg and her family are really in the Witness Protection Program was something that was too easy to guess. I felt like I was just waiting for Meg to finally get it, and that dragged out a bit too long. If there had been less foreshadowing, I don’t think it would have bothered me so much, but then again, the twist probably wouldn’t work without it either.

The ending of The Rules for Disappearing was a bit sudden. I was expecting something grander, maybe a shoot out or run in with the Mafia or something. Alas, that was not to be. It’s pretty anticlimactic, but I did like how is wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s not 100% wrapped up either. There’s some loose ends, but that’s how Meg’s life is going to be for the rest of her life, so I feel like it worked in that way.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 23 May, 2013: Finished reading
  • 23 May, 2013: Reviewed