Rules for Fake Girlfriends by Raegan Revord follows Avery, a girl from the USA who moves to Brighton to go to the same school her mum, who recently passed away, once attended. Her mum leaves her a scavenger hunt around Brighton, which Avery works through as she adjusts to her new life. On the train, she meets a girl named Charlie, who asks her to pretend to be her girlfriend to make her ex jealous. But as time goes on, Avery realises she doesn’t actually want the relationship to stay fake.

Rules for Fake Girlfriends was a good book that deals with quite a few mature topics. Because Raegan is young, I was surprised she wrote something that felt this grown-up, especially since the characters are around nineteen. The romance was sweet and sometimes sad, and the book didn’t shy away from discussing grief, depression, disabilities, and more. Raegan did lots of impressive research on numerous topics and UK details, like crisp brands and saying “petrol”, to discussions about accessibility and access lines and much more. Avery was a likeable character, but some characters she came across were fun; others had personalities I wasn’t keen on. Music and films are a big part of this book, and I think that also helped me engage with the story. I enjoyed how the book would describe characters’ actions or what they were wearing, as it helped give the characters more of a personal touch and made you feel more connected with them.

I did think sometimes Avery would overreact, but it was nice to see a lead character with some flaws. Reagan is also really good at doing different voices throughout the book. She can switch her voice a lot, sounding sad and emotional, then expressive and full of feeling. She puts so many emotions into her performance, and she’s great at narrating her book.

Rules For Fake Girlfriend had a few moments throughout the book that I wish were stronger or more developed. The story sometimes brushed over things, like how certain characters even met, and there were parts where I got a little lost because it skipped over some details. The ending also felt a little abrupt, and I didn’t understand the meaning behind the final chapter. I just wish the story hadn’t wrapped up so fast. There were bits of comedy here and there, but I hoped for more since it leaned more towards a drama than a rom-com.

Overall, Rules for Fake Girlfriends was a really enjoyable listen with lots of heart, emotion, and moments that felt real. Avery’s journey through grief, new beginnings, and figuring out what she really wants made Rules for Fake Girlfriends a good book. The story handled tough topics with maturity. Even with a few small parts that confused me or felt rushed, the story as a whole was touching and had a thoughtful approach to tough topics. It left me feeling like Raegan Revord is an author to watch; I’m glad I listened to her audiobook.

3.5 ⭐️