Love breaks all the rules.
Margo Anderson is sworn off commitment. Alongside her best friend Jo, she runs a viral podcast featuring rules for hooking up without catching feelings. So when Jo surprises her by deciding to get married and takes up a sponsor’s offer to host an all-expenses-paid wedding trip on Catalina Island, they have the whole internet to answer to.
In a scramble for content to appease their disappointed listeners, Margo cooks up a social experiment: break all her own dating rules, just to prove that it’s a bad idea. And she’s found the best man for the job in the groom’s best friend and her old high school nemesis, Declan Walsh. He may be easier on the eyes than Margo remembered, but he’s sure to be as smug and annoying as he was before. There is no chance Margo will ever catch feelings for him…until she does.
The more time they spend together through cake tastings and wedding party activities, Margo can’t ignore their obvious spark, and she may actually be enjoying getting to know Declan. But can she let go of the rules to let him in?
What’s it about (in a nutshell):
Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts by Kristyn J. Miller is an entertaining vacation with an enemies-to-lovers romance, a destination wedding, and many influencer shenanigans.
My Reading Experience:
I thoroughly enjoyed Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts. It has a bit of everything current in it. The main character, Margo, and her best friend, Jo, run a wildly popular podcast that has elevated them to Influencer status. I loved the deep dive into that world and how precarious it is.
The characters are just exceptional. There is an authenticity to them that also carries over to the romance. And the romance gave me all the feels. Margot and Declan are perfect together, and I loved them as a couple as much as I did each separately.
I also enjoyed the self-discovery Margot goes through as her world unravels fully. Jo and Margot initially fell into their podcast and never expected it to be the hit it became. But it’s about being and staying single, and Jo is now getting married. Their viewers feel betrayed, and sponsors abandon the ship. So what can Margot do now? Because she has to figure out what’s next, she deeply digs into what she wants in life and career. I loved watching her figure it out and come out as a fully realized adult on the other side.
Characters:
Margot is the main character and one-half of Go and Jo, podcasters on Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts. She is creative and colorful, full of spunk and spirit. But when it comes to love, Margot wants no part of it. When she lets go of her rules for staying single, as an experiment for the podcast, she learns that they were standing in her way of finding someone special.
Narration & Pacing:
Margot tells this story in first-person narration, which I loved. Seeing the world through her eyes is essential for feeling authenticity and emotional highs and lows. First-person narration also works towards keeping the pace fast, and this story did have a swift pace.
Setting:
The setting is Catalina Island. I’ve never been there, but I love any location on the water, and this is no exception. I had a lot of fun learning more about the island and being able to experience the bookish vacation it offered.
Read if you like:
- Enemies to Lovers romances
- Island settings
- Character-driven stories
Overall Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
| Originality | 9 |
| Writing Quality | 10 |
| Pace | 10 |
| Character Development | 9 |
| ‘Couldn’t Put It Down’-ness | 10 |
| Use of Setting | 10 |
Tessa Talks Books 
I like the sound of this one, great review 💕
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I enjoyed it very much 💕
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This is interesting. I’m already curious to know what Margot sorted everything. Great review!
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It’s a fun read and she’s a great character 💕
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I’ve always wanted to go to Catalina island. Wonderful review!
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I’m so excited for this one! Great review.
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This one isn’t really for me, but I’m a total sucker for any setting on the water. Glad you enjoyed it so much, Tessa!
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You’re not kidding about this having everything in it from a pop culture standpoint. I’m intrigued! Excellent review, Tessa💜
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Sounds like a fun read.
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It was!
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This sounds like another great summer read, Tessa. I like the sound of Margot’s character and I would love to vacation on the Catalina Islands. Great review.
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