The Unwritten Rule [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Scott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2010

Another sweet and funny coming-of-age novel by the author of bloom; Perfect You; Something, Maybe; and Living Dead Girl.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—The unwritten rule is plain: "You don't like your best friend's boyfriend." But Sarah does. She likes Ryan a lot, and she has for a very long time. They share a moment at a party, but the next thing she knows, he belongs to Brianna. Then one night, something happens that Sarah can't take back and doesn't want to. She feels guilty, she doesn't want to hurt her friend, but she can't stop thinking about Ryan, either. Character development drives this novel. There isn't much plot, and the opening chapters are a little hard to follow, but the characters are fully realized and their motivation is clear. However, the tone of the writing is more suited to an adult novella than to YA fiction. A slow read that is all too easy to put down and forget about.—Julianna M. Helt, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Scott’s fresh and thoughtful treatment of a familiar theme belies the somewhat sappy cover (two barefoot, blue-jeaned teens playing footsie). Gorgeous Brianna and less-stunning Sarah have been best friends since kindergarten, but now Sarah’s got a wicked crush on Brianna’s new boyfriend, Ryan—and it’s reciprocal. As in Love You Hate You Miss You (2009), what drives this quick read is the complex interaction of the two girls. Sarah and Ryan’s relationship, with the visceral thrill of physical attraction, is beautifully captured, but it’s the delicate balance between insecure Brianna’s need to put Sarah down and Sarah’s loyalty to her needy and lonely friend that will stay with the reader. The painfully abrupt ending fits the characters and story, and will leave readers wanting more. Scott’s realistic dialogue and empathetic view of symbiotic relationships will have teens thinking she has been eavesdropping on their conversations. Romance readers will pick up this novel and discover fine, accessible writing many notches above the standard love story. Grades 9-12. --Debbie Carton

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416978917
• ISBN-13: 978-1416978916
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hey there, I'm Elizabeth. I write young adult novels. I've had a bunch of jobs over the years--I've sold pantyhose, hardware, and once spent three days burning cds during the dot.com boom (worst. job. ever.)--but hands down, writing is the best! You can read lots more about my books at my website, http://www.elizabethwrites.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Breaking the friendship code..., May 8, 2010

By 

Denise Crawford "DC" (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unwritten Rule (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Before you read further, go buy Scott's novel Living Dead Girl -- now there's a novel that will appeal to YA readers everywhere.

I'm not sure why most of the reviewers think this book was so great. To me, it seemed such a cliche of bad friendship, high school, and the mean person getting her comeuppance. Frankly, I can only imagine that the positive reviews from the book are either from women who have "stolen" their best friend's boyfriend or from those who wish they could. The justification for Sarah and Ryan getting together seems to be that Brianna was the "bad friend" who put Sarah down. I am not buying into that whole cliche that Brianna got what she deserved. Sarah was not a good, honest friend to her. Sure Brianna had lots of issues -- and her parents were also portrayed as very one-dimensional as were all the characters in this novel -- but was she deserving of her boyfriend and her so called best friend going behind her back? What prevented them from being upfront and honest from the beginning? Immaturity. I had no respect for either.

There's a reason for this "unwritten rule" among girlfriends, and a code that exists because of the potential for ruining friendships and destroying long held trust between girls who've been together long before any boy came on the scene. I'm staunchly on the side of "if your best friend dated him, he's off limits forever" position.

In this novel, Scott makes Brianna so bad that it sort of ends up justifying Sarah's cheating on her friend and taking her boyfriend. And why, if Ryan did like Sarah so much, did he go out with Brianna in the first place AND why didn't he break up with her long before the 2 month anniversary. His total passivity and weakness make him a totally unappealing male character -- what? he can't help himself when enveloped into Brianna's life? Please. It's insulting to teenage boys everywhere -- they can't choose who they go out with and they go out with a girl when they like another?

I think the author took liberties with an old tired plot line -- and I was sorely disappointed in this totally predictable teen romance novel that rationalizes and excuses dishonest behavior. I think that the discriminating young adult novel reader will see through this thin device and the "happy ending" that has broken an "unwritten rule"...I would still advise girls to stay away from their best friend's boyfriend.

I won't be recommending this one.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An open and excellent look at the heartache of love and friendship, March 16, 2010

By 

The Compulsive Reader (Big Rapids, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Unwritten Rule (Hardcover)

Sarah liked Ryan first, but that doesn't matter because he is now her best friend Brianna's boyfriend. And even though Sarah is well aware of the unwritten rule of friendship--you aren't supposed to like your best friend's boyfriend--it still hurts to see Ryan with Brianna. But then one night, at a party, things change for the three of them, and even as Sarah desperately attempts to be a good friend and do the right thing, she can't stop imagining what it would be like if Ryan were dating her.

The Unwritten Rule is one of Elizabeth Scott's most simple yet achingly realistic books. Though the issue at the heart of the book, liking your best friend's boyfriend, isn't exactly special or unique, Scott works her magic, making this book about so much more than messy love, but about friendship, how far loyalty extends, and familial relationships and their own set of complexities. Though for the most part The Unwritten Rule has the feel of a light, romantic book with its occasional predictability, Scott packs in plenty of emotion, and the reader can't help but feel more conflicted and empathetic with Sarah as she is drawn farther into Brianna's drama and a few things about herself and that friendship, true friendship, goes both ways. As always, Scott's magnetism will enthrall many, and her style is simple and convincing. This book is an open and excellent look at the drama and heartache involved in love and friendship.

Cover Comments: I always like how cute and bright Elizabeth's covers are, and this one is no exception! I do wonder though, if feet are becoming a bit of a trend in her covers...this is the fourth book by her with feet on the cover. Otherwise, very nice, simple, clean. I like it a lot.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 11, 2010

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unwritten Rule (Hardcover)

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.

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, as 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 okay 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 heart-wrenching 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 one will have you thinking about your friendships and relationships long after you read the last page.

Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen