My Rules: Kingston Lane Book 2

We fans waited what felt like a long time for this Kingston Lane installment, but it was well worth the wait!!! There were scenes in the book that had me laughing long and out loud, whether rereading them or even days later when I thought of them (even in the grocery store!). Henley, Blake and Ant’s conversations and shenanigans usually have me in hysterics! Great story that included some very poignant, heart-wrenching moments as well. You come to care for all the characters who live on Kingston Lane. I’ll be reading this book over and over, just like I do My Temptation. Enjoy!

This phrase appears frequently in the book and is clearly foreshadowing what’s to come. However, I never felt that either of the main characters truly healed from their situation. As expected, there’s a third-act breakup—typical for the trope—but the resolution left me unsatisfied. By the end of the book, I didn’t believe the characters were emotionally ready to reconcile.

Up until about 80% of the way through, I really enjoyed the story. The character development is excellent, and I loved the dynamics between them. But the third-act breakup and the scenes that followed were disappointing. I felt genuine sadness for the unfortunate circumstances of their lives. What hurt most was the response from the friends, particularly Henley and Antony, who knew what the protagonist was going through yet failed to support her. These two will have to do a lot to redeem themselves as friends.

The reconciliation between the main characters also felt rushed and lacked depth. I would have appreciated a scene from Blake’s point of view, showing what he experienced with his new girlfriend and the journey that led to his understanding and forgiveness. Without that, it was hard for me to forgive him as a reader. Overall, while I liked the story, the rushed forgiveness and abrupt wedding left me wanting more.

As a long-time fan of T.L. Swan, I typically enjoy her work, but this book wasn’t one of my favorites. That said, I think the story can still be salvaged, especially if future books include additional scenes that delve deeper into Blake’s journey. I look forward to continuing the series!

I decided to sit with my thoughts for a while after reading this book. I mean it’s been a few weeks and now I am ready to write a review.

***Potential spoilers ahead***

Blake Grayson is charming and lovable despite his faults. The same can be said about Rebecca, she is rightfully traumatized and absolutely lovable nonetheless. Then, their story makes you love them together so much and love their love for each other and solid foundation of friendship. You love it so much that you just want it to be perfect. At least I did, when I first read it. That’s why, like others, when I finished it I felt a little deflated.. disappointed even. I found myself asking myself similar questions as other readers, “why oh why was there such a huge gap of distance and time between them? And at the end to make matters worse!?” However, I am a huge T L Swan fan I have read almost every single one of her books. That’s what made me decide to wait then re-read it with a fresh perspective later. My thoughts now:

This book truly opened up a new way of seeing love—one that values patience, trust, and growth over time. There’s something powerful in accepting that love might not fit into perfect timing, and My Rules captures that. The relationship goes through cycles of transformation shaped by growth and healing.

It’s shifted my perspective on love, truly. I now see relationships as evolving rather than needing to happen “just right” or all at once. I am embracing that love, when it’s real, finds ways to endure and adapt. It’s almost like a gentle reminder to trust in timing and to be open to love that supports change and maturity over time. I have this newfound appreciation for this book and if you got this far into my review I urge you to keep a little bit of this perspective in mind, it truly changes the entire story.

Wasn’t sure about this book, because I’ve never read this author and the blurb didn’t grab me. However, the book turned out to be great. A slow burn romance with fully fleshed out characters you could root for and a great plot. Kept my attention to the end. Thanks for sharing the folks on Kingston Lane.

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫s
𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲
𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐲

𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
CJ Bloom; Marcio Catalano

✨Thoughts✨
Returning to Kingston Lane was so much fun. We finally get Rebecca and Blake’s story. They had been neighbors and close friends for quite some time. When Rebecca’s marriage came to an end, their mutual friends thought that Blake would finally confess his feelings. However, both Rebecca and Blake were hesitant to make a move, fearing that their attraction for each other might jeopardize their friendship.

♥︎ Blake and Rebecca were in this constant dance of “will they or won’t they.” They circled around each other, hesitant to take the plunge. It was both frustrating and amusing to watch them navigate their feelings. Blake’s playful nature added a touch of fun to the mix. The build-up was gradual, but once Blake and Rebecca finally let their guard down, the sparks flew.

🎧The dual narration by CJ Bloom and Marcio Catalano was excellent. They did a fantastic job bringing all our favorite characters to life. Their narration added depth to the story.

♥︎ If you enjoy friends-to-lovers with hints of fun neighborhood drama, then this is an audiobook you need to listen to.