He clicked “yes” on a dare. She bought a failing candy shop. Now they’re neighbors for the summer—and neither is ready for what comes next.

Renley Gossage has one shot to prove she’s more than Cape Meril’s favorite cautionary tale: restore her favorite candy shop before the town writes her off like they did her father. No help, no shortcuts, and definitely no rich men wielding engagement rings and making things messy.

Theo Williams never planned on ending up in Cape Meril. A drunken game of truth or dare turned into a botched online engagement, and now he’s across the ocean, escaping his father’s control with nothing but designer shoes, misplaced confidence, and a rental next door to Renley.

She’s practical, stubborn, and covered in paint. He’s posh, persistent, and willing to use a sander if it means earning her trust.

Between collapsing drywall, gossiping neighbors, and the chaotic schemes of Renley’s aunt, their forced proximity turns into something dangerously close to real.

My Review

The book begins with Renley and Theo already in a memorable moment. There’s just something about a sophisticated, funny British man on one knee on your front lawn. Renley and Theo’s banter is fabulous from the very beginning. Renley is sassy, independent, and determined. It seems many of their problems stem from an online profile, a match that definitely wasn’t made in heaven, and an ocean between them. Of course, he also ends up being her new neighbor for the summer. The slapstick humor keeps the opening lighthearted and entertaining.

Theo’s family has quite a history. He arrives with Rupert, who is some combination of best friend, assistant, and confidant. I’m honestly not sure if he’s a butler, a friend, or something in between, but they clearly have years of history together. The first chapter jumps back in time to explain how this wonderfully posh man ended up on Renley’s front lawn. Theo’s anger toward his father is obvious as he stands in his father’s office, remembering old wounds while taking part in a truth or dare pact. Some moments definitely induced eye rolls. Theo and Rupert’s conversations are crude, humorous, and explicit, but they’re also surprisingly funny. Their definition of entertainment is a little wild for grown men, but at least it’s entertaining. Right away I was getting Bridget Jones’s Diary vibes. A game of truth or dare, a search for a fiancée, and a title Theo doesn’t want explains a whole lot.

I really enjoyed the dual POV. Theo’s outrageous personality contrasts nicely with Renley, who is trying to save her family’s candy shop after inheriting it. She’s determined to prove she’s more than what her small town thinks of her and that her family name isn’t forever associated with chaos and failure. Aunt Kitty has absolutely no filter, and her sarcastic humor was a highlight. While they’re working together to restore the candy shop, they’re definitely not on the same page financially. It feels like Renley and Aunt Kitty against the local business community trying to take away their family’s legacy.

The biggest misunderstanding is honestly hilarious because it’s all about one word. Theo is given an ultimatum to get engaged by the end of summer. He’s looking for a fiancée, while Renley is looking for a financier. I immediately knew this miscommunication was going to be the heart of the story. I also loved that it’s set in Massachusetts, giving me another state to check off for my USA Reading Challenge.

This story is completely zany, but I enjoyed the comedy, absurdity, and drama. Theo and Renley come to an arrangement that leads to plenty of entertaining situations. The innuendos and overall immaturity of Theo and Rupert made me laugh, although I rolled my eyes more than once. I did enjoy the role reversal, though. Theo is the sunshine while Renley is the grumpy one, which made their dynamic interesting. However, their lack of maturity at times did make me roll my eyes more than I expected.

Renley is mature, stoic, and fiercely protective of herself for most of the story. Theo, on the other hand, is hilarious, although his constant comments about adult topics became a bit much at times. The romance definitely gets steamy. I may have missed part of those scenes because I was doing dishes while listening to the audiobook, but the chemistry is definitely there.

Theo and Rupert provide most of the comedic relief and honestly carry much of the story. Theo’s innocence about everyday life is both amusing and surprisingly endearing. He’s incredibly sheltered despite being worldly in so many other ways. When the romance heats up, readers also get to see a much more dominant and confident side of him.

The bromance between Theo and Rupert is one of the strongest parts of the book. Rupert’s jealousy whenever Theo spends time with Renley is unexpectedly funny. The black cat/golden retriever dynamic and grumpy/sunshine energy continue throughout most of the novel before both men are finally forced to become serious.

The drama really ramps up near the end. Theo’s parents are incredibly pretentious, and suddenly the confident, flirty man we’ve come to know is dealing with anxiety and family pressure. The humor becomes even more over the top. While I know it’s meant to be ridiculous, there were times when the one liners, exaggerated personalities, and emotionally closed off characters made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.

I was surprised by the ending, and I appreciated that the summer romance wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion. Even so, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I’ve really enjoyed other books by this author, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I’m not going to lie…the only thing running through my head for most of this book was “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent. I still have to decide on my final rating. While I loved Theo and Rupert’s comedic friendship, I struggled with how immature many of the characters felt for their ages. I also had a difficult time connecting with Renley. Her guarded personality, emotional walls, and aloof nature made it hard for me to root for her. Theo, on the other hand, was incredibly caring and had some genuinely funny one liners. I liked the contrast between his serious responsibilities and his almost childlike curiosity about everyday life. One subplot that didn’t work for me was the significant age gap relationship between Aunt Kitty and Rupert. It just felt odd.

The epilogue wrapped everything up nicely and gave readers a glimpse into their everyday life together. Honestly, after the way the story started, I half expected it to end with royalty or a move to another country. While the premise hooked me from the beginning, the characters ultimately felt just a little too over-the-top for me to fully connect with.

If you want to read Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Assocaite I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Forced Proximity, Neighbors to Lovers and Summer.