The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

It doesn’t matter that Sarah liked Ryan first. It doesn’t matter that she still does, because Ryan is Brianna’s girlfriend and Brianna is Sarah’s best friend. Sarah is not the type of girl to break the unspoken rule of not liking your best friend’s boyfriend. Instead, she pushes her feeling down deep and concentrates on avoiding Ryan and being a supportive friend to Brianna. But Sarah can’t suppress her emotions forever, especially when she finds herself together with Ryan—alone. What happens between them is all Sarah’s ever dreamed of, but she knows it can’t ever happen again and that Brianna can never find out. That won’t stop Sarah from wanting more, though, and it’s only a matter of time before everything falls apart.

The Unwritten Rule explores the complications of a relationship between the best friend and the boyfriend. I have to admit, I was a little surprised that the circumstances in this novel were so, well, ordinary since Scott usually makes them rather unique. It was a little disappointing since I’ve reader other books on this topic before, and there isn’t really anything in The Unwritten Rule that makes it stand out from that group. Aside from that, I found this novel about equal to Scott’s other teen romance novels. The story as a whole is thoughtful and sweet; it is both romantically satisfying and meaningful, especially in the questions about friendship it raises. Protagonist Sarah is likable and realistic, and readers will sympathize with her. Scott doesn’t fail to deliver an enjoyable read in The Unwritten Rule; I only wish the story had been more original.

Fans of Scott’s teen romances including Bloom, Something, Maybe, and Stealing Heaven will want to check Scott’s latest out, as will those who enjoyed One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from author Elizabeth Scott