CLP Review: Breaking The Rules by Cat Lavoie

Breaking The Rules
Cat Lavoie
Marching Ink LLC
August 7, 2012
370 pages
Amazon
provided by publisher
RBM’s Disclaimer
4/5 Books

When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.

While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.

Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?

About The Author:
Cat Lavoie was born in the small town of Jonquière in Québec, Canada. At the age of nineteen, she packed up her things (mostly books) and moved to the big city of Montreal where she currently lives with her tempestuous cat Abbie—who is both adorable and quite possibly evil.

An incurable Anglophile since her university days where she studied English Literature, she can often be found daydreaming about her next trip to London. Since she’s an expert at the art of procrastination, Cat is easily distracted by cooking and home improvement shows—even though she’s not particularly good at either.

Cat grew up watching soap operas and legal dramas and—had she not decided to be a claims analyst by day and write chick lit by night—she would have probably become a designer suit-wearing lawyer. Or a character on All My Children (which is what she really wanted to be when she was twelve).
Cat is not sure whether she’s a geek or a nerd—and is afraid she might be both. Breaking the Rules is her first novel.

Connect With The Author:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

My Review:
Cat Lavoie is not an author that would have otherwise caught my eye. And that would have been a bad thing. I say a bad thing, because wow! I really enjoyed this book! I would not have picked up the book by the cover either. But, that doesn’t take away the quality of the book. Once you open the book, and dive in, you’re quickly swept away to fun and chaos of Roxy’s life without her BFF Ollie. I loved the character development and the plot line and was so glad I gave it a chance!

Roxy is a quirky character who will get you laughing almost instantly. Not quite happy in her engagement to her fiance, who doesn’t seem to care that she has friends, she’s shocked when her BFF and roommate Ollie kisses her before he leaves for his new promotion and adventure in London. After all, he’s taking his girlfriend with him. And she’s engaged. And he’s her best friend forever. He’s not supposed to give her a toe curling kiss before he leaves. Is he? And why are here sisters suddenly moving in with her? As if her life’s not complicated enough. Oh my gosh! I loved this plot line! Roxy’s character was perfect for her role and really kept me hanging on.

Ollie is a charming character! I loved him as well! It was obvious he cared about Roxy but never thought he could do more than be friends with her. After kissing her, though, he realizes that there’s more than just BFF emotions going on. But, now he’s in London. And she’s not. I really wish that he would have been Roxy’s fiance instead of her snobby one she’s stuck with.

These two characters, along with Roxy’s sisters, her friends Tali and Adam (oh my gosh! He’s so gay ;-)!),her boss and snobby fiance, really make up a captivating read that will keep you full of laughs and smiles. Each page turn was different and brought new chaotic material (chaotic in a wonderful way!) that leaves the reader wondering “what next?”.

Definitely a 4 Book worthy debut novel from a truly talented author! I am so glad that I gave this book a chance. From laughter to romance, this book has something in it for everyone! Can’t wait to see more characters like this from this new author, and this is a book that I will definitely be reading again and again. Fabulous job on your debut, Ms. Lavoie!