The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott‘s opening chapter is a mere four lines:
I liked him first, but it doesn’t matter.
I still like him.
That doesn’t matter either.
Or at least, it’s not supposed to.
Those four lines set up the entire book perfectly. Ah . . . to be the third wheel. It’s bad enough to be the third wheel, but it’s even worse when you have a major crush on your best friend’s boyfriend. That’s exactly what it’s like for Sarah as she tries to convince herself that she doesn’t really like Ryan. Her best friend Brianna doesn’t even know that she liked him first, so it’s not like Sarah can even be mad at her either.
And then as if things aren’t awkward enough, Sarah begins to think that perhaps Ryan is beginning to give her more attention. Is it possible that he may like her in return? When something happens (great scene by the way!) that confirms her suspicions, she is torn with guilt. What to do? Is it worth losing her best friend over? But he’s so worth it . . .
While Living Dead Girl will always remain my favorite Elizabeth Scott book, I really liked The Unwritten Rule. It’s a seemingly simple book but full of characters who felt SO real (they all made feel like I was 16 again!), great tension, and one that I’d easily borrow out to all the teen girls in my neighborhood. The more I think about it later, the more I like it.
Links of interest: Elizabeth Scott website, on Twitter, more book blogger reviews. Maw Books reviews of Living Dead Girl and Something, Maybe.
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse. March 10, 2010.
Hardcover, 224 pages. ISBN 1416978917
Source: Review copy
The Unwritten Rule is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Tags: female author, Fiction, published 2010, Publisher: Simon Pulse, Q-T Author, review copy, U-Z Title
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This was a great teaser review! I’ll have to add this to the wish list.
on August 30th, 2010 at 6:39 amI’ll have to put this one on my list for book circles for my Popular Fiction class. I know I’ll have some students who will love it. Thanks for pointing it out!
on August 30th, 2010 at 7:58 amElizabeth Scott is one of my faves. The one thing I recognized in this book that is different from a lot of YA is that Sarah has a fully functional family.
on August 30th, 2010 at 9:46 amThis sounds tense. I love these kind of books, but they are the ones that are the most tempting to read the end just so that I know it turns out okay. It’s so hard not to check.
on August 30th, 2010 at 9:49 amI haven’t read any of Elizabeth Scott’s books (yet). I’ll make sure to put this one – and Living Dead Girl – on my to-read list!
on August 30th, 2010 at 10:12 pmI do so love Elizabeth Scott! I have Living Dead Girl on my pile, glad to hear you think highly of it, and this one’s on my wishlist..
on August 31st, 2010 at 8:56 amI haven’t read Scott yet but I have Grace here in my pile. I want to read Living Dead Girl.
on September 1st, 2010 at 4:12 pm