Review: “The Off Limits Rule” by Sarah Adams

Series: It Happened in Nashville, #1

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐

Steam: 🔥

Release Date: January 4th, 2021

Add to Goodreads | Amazon.in (Available on KU)

“Being a mom doesn’t make you less appealing. It makes you the whole package.”

I don’t know how she does it, but Sarah Adams had me in splits through a second book. I had so much fun reading The Enemy, but I did not expect to snort up water while reading The Off Limits Rule, but maybe it should be understood that Sarah is going to deliver a hilarious book no matter what.

The first in a new series – we’re now in Nashville after we had our fill of Charleston – The Off Limits Rule is a brother’s best friend, single parent, slow burn, closed door romance that will have you giggling, swooning and just generally falling head over heels in love. It’s such a fun read and as always, there’s just so many fun characters to add to the mix, making the book an all round awesome read. And if you’re going to start your year off with any book, make it this one.

“I’m a human circuit board now. Electrical currents zing through me, and I’m pretty sure if his index finger touched the tip of my nose, my entire body would light up like a rainbow strobe light.”

Long story short, Lucy is a single mom who is forced to move back to her hometown and because she has nowhere else to live, moves in with her brother. And then she meets her brother’s best friend, Cooper, who just so happens to be god’s gift to womankind and all her promises to focus on herself and stay away from men suddenly becomes too hard and complicated. And as you can imagine, there are shenanigans and so much sexual tension, it’s brilliant.

Sarah has a knack for creating the most relatable and wholesome characters on the planet. Lucy and Cooper are beautiful people, no doubt, but they’re also so awkward and funny and so hilariously entertaining. Lucy has the best inner (and outer) monologues and right away you know that she is who you are and you are who she is. Cooper is all kinds of charming and sexy, but he’s also so grounded and normal. He’s the epitome of a handsome good guy, and Lucy’s constant desire to be around him, but also avoid him is totally understandable.

“I don’t think the pull I’m feeling toward Lucy has anything to do with the red-button principle and, instead, has everything to do with the way I genuinely enjoy talking to her, feeling like I have no idea what she’ll say next and loving that nothing comes out of her mouth unless it is absolutely true.”

Because Cooper is Lucy’s brother’s best friend, they both know that nothing can happen. But they keep finding ways to be around each other and it’s all kinds of cute. Literally everyone knows that they want each other, but for Drew’s sake, they’re holding it together. And thus the slow burn. But good gosh, they are so cute together! Cooper is a romantic and Lucy is an awkward turtle and together they are just absolutely fantastic.

It’s been a while since I read a book where I was smiling while reading, so note to other readers – don’t read this in public or be at the risk of looking insane as you stare at your Kindle with hearts in your eyes. It’s the kind of book that once you start, you won’t be able to put down. It’s also the kind of book that fills you with so much love and affection for the little things, for your friends and for the simple things in life. And Lucy and Cooper make you so hopeful for your own happy ending, because they are most definitely that kind of couple.

I cannot wait for Jessie and Drew, because if the lead up is anything to go by, I am going to love them wholly.

Thanks to Sarah Adams for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.