Welcome back to the Rules series, it’s been way too long and I’ve definitely missed these characters. Forgotten Rules is the fourth instalment but the first with the focus shifted from our beloved Waze. This book starts back at the very beginning but with the spotlight shinning firmly on a new pairing, Will and Kass.
So many stories that will never be told. So many words that will never be written. I’m sure, in a way, that’s a good thing. Real stories can be a little too real for readers sometimes. No happy endings, no fairy tales, no promises of everlasting love. And life’s hard enough as it is, right? We don’t want your depressing reality. Give us our happily ever after and babies. But what if… the words we’ll never get to read are the words we need the most?
It’s a big feat to follow on in a series as superb as this one especially with a character focus shift but Greenwood is a wonderful author and she truly delivered with this book. It was riveting with twists and turns and hurdles to climb that often seemed insurmountable. The lives of these two characters are as complicated as they are heartbreaking but their love for each other is endearing and genuine.
We’re here until the last chord. The notes may be flat, the lyrics wrong. But the melody… The melody is lifelong.
Will and Kass were always somewhat on the sidelines in the first three books and as readers we were following the breadcrumbs of their mysterious potential friendship/relationship. I had so many questions and no clarity even three books in and that’s what made them so intriguing. I just needed to know their story.
I’m just wondering how I could be so dumb to think for a single second that we could ever get along. I take it back… William Martins and I are never going to be friends.
On the face of it William Martins and Kassidy Kingston couldn’t be more different, he’s the gorgeous and popular class clown come bad boy and she’s the beautiful and conscientious control freak good girl. He’s also her big brother’s best friend and the one sibling rule they have? You’ve got it – don’t get involved with each other’s friends. Seems simple right? Not really considering Kass has already broken that rule once. What starts off as a flirtatious friendship becomes something more than either of them expected but as to who they really are? They’re so much more than what I thought I knew.
All I can see is red. Red like my heart as it breaks from finding out the first prince in my life is a frog. Red like the blood that spilled out of me when my family drove a knife into my back.
Greenwood writes wonderfully flawed characters – it’s what adds to the believability in her writing. There is no perfection. What we thought we knew about Will and Kass previously was purely surface level. They are so much deeper than I predicted constantly navigating their own insecurities and pain, dysfunctional families and the secrets, lies and drama we expect from the Rules series. One thing’s for sure, they’re not quite as different as they first appeared.
Deep down, I know exactly what the true answer to his question is: I’m not mad at him. I’m mad at myself. No, I’m furious at myself for catching feelings for the guy who has none.
Will has a huge heart; he’s a protector and avenger but what’s more he’s a survivor trying to keep his head above water whilst hiding behind his fun guy cover. I’ve always liked him and his comedic ways but I adore him now and my heart broke for him in this book. Kass is inherently relatable with her neurotic tendencies and need to be accepted and loved. It was so distressing to see her let down by practically everyone she loved and at times I felt like she was somewhat invisible and a little neglected by most of those around her despite the occasions that they had her best interests at heart.
But that’s what we are. What we’ve always been. We’re a terrible, stupid-as-fuck, earth-shattering idea. And here. Now. We’re going to do way more than break the rules. We’re going to completely forget them.
One of my favourite elements of this book was getting to see the characters we’re so fond of facing situations we’re already familiar with through new eyes. I particularly loved when Kass witnessed Waze in the bathroom with the helmet and at the family dinner – her running commentary is adorable. Intriguing too was Will’s depth of understanding of the characters around him particularly his suspicion of Blake early on. Both characters see far more than the others are aware of.
Forgotten Rules had me captivated from start to finish. It’s well written with engaging and deep characters and an extension of a series I truly adore. I think the love story of Will and Kass will be just as epic as Waze. The ending trapped me right in its snare too – Will, what did you do? This book hangover is going to be real but worth it!
*ARC Review
If you haven’t read FORGOTTEN RULES get your copy below and if you have read it let me know your thoughts. Haven’t met Waze yet? Check out THE RULES SERIES (THE COMPLETE TRILOGY) here!
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Check out the blurb for
FORGOTTEN RULES
Rule #1: Don’t fall for your brother’s best friend.
Rule #2: Wait… What was rule number one again?
The summer I grew boobs, my big brother laid down some ground rules. No touching, looking, or breathing near his baby sister. He made it clear I could never get with his friends. His buddies obliged. I did, too.
Until I didn’t.
Blame the sarcastic, damaged blue-eyed boy sneaking in through my bedroom window every night. William Martins: hotter than sin, king of “it wasn’t me who pat your shoulder, I swear”… and my brother’s best friend.
I didn’t mean to get stuck in the bathroom with him at that party. I didn’t mean to end up high as a kite and half-naked in his childhood tree house. But you know what else I didn’t mean to do?
Fall for the guy who won’t catch me.
Will says we can’t happen. He’ll break my heart long before he breaks the bro code. Problem is, stolen moments in the dark give me hope that maybe, just maybe… I could break his heart, too. When gasp-worthy secrets surface and the rules keeping us apart become the very threads drawing us together, we’re left with a dilemma: Follow my brother’s rules…
Or forget them.
FORGOTTEN RULES is interconnected with the Rules series although reading the other books is NOT required to understand and enjoy this book!
About Eliah Greenwood
Eliah Greenwood is a Canadian author, proud Wattpad Star, Fiction Awards 2018 Winner, coffee addict and cliché with a twist lover!
She started her writing journey on a website called Wattpad at the age of fifteen. She wrote the majority of her first book Unwritten Rules on the bus on her way home from school. When her debut gathered 31,000,000 reads on the platform, she decided to publish the trilogy that set so many hearts, including hers, on fire.
When she’s not writing and screaming at her computer screen, you can find her binge watching her favorite TV shows on repeat or reading in a warm blanket.
Don’t forget to check out Eliah’s website and wattpad!
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