Rating: 4/5 StarsGenre: Contemporary
Release Date: 3/16/2010
About the Book: Sarah knows she shouldn't like Ryan. Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. There's an unwritten rule in friendship-no crushes on your best friend's boy. But the attraction is there-and besides, Sarah liked him first. When Ryan and Sarah are thrown together one night something happens. Sarah is torn apart by guilt and wanting to act on her feelings.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Elizabeth Scott is an amazing author-she can write anything and I'm always amazed at her talent. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this one-I hate love triangles and stealing someone's boyfriend-no way! But Ms. Scott pulls it off in a wonderful way that made me feel for the characters.
As much as I liked Sarah and Ryan, Brianna was the stand out character for me. I would like her and hate her at the same time. I would feel sorry for her but I'd also want to yell at her for being so mean. Ms. Scott walks a very fine line with Brianna and it works-she kept me guessing about her the entire time. Was she good or bad? Someone to like or not? And could we make excuses for her? I could have an entire book discussion on just Brianna alone!
But I can't leave Sarah out (and not just because she shares my name)! Your heart aches with her as she is wracked with guilt over wanting her best friend's boyfriend and wanting to remain loyal to Brianna. The story is slowly unraveled and bits and pieces about the past are unveiled and the reader, like Sarah, wants so badly for Sarah and Ryan to be together.
I also love the families that Ms. Scott writes-she has the best supporting characters. I loved that Sarah was close to her parents and she's ok staying at home with them. I've always had a close relationship with my family-even as a teen-and that is a rare thing to find in YA books. Sarah's relationship with her parents was believable and they were a family I would love to visit.
This is an emotional novel and one that will stick with you. It might sound like it'll be a fluffy chick lit romance, and while there is romance, it's certainly not fluff! If you've read anything by Elizabeth Scott, you know she writes great romances and this one is no exception. It's never an easy or light romance-it's heartwrenching and heartbreaking and real. The Unwritten Rule doesn't take the easy all will be perfect route to this story which I think makes the book even more realistic. This book will have you thinking about your friendships and relationships long after you read the last page.
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from ARC sent by author for blog tour