The unwritten rule

[Okay, this is my first "review" - and I say "review" and not review because I don't even think this can be considered a regular review- written in English, so I'm sorry if I make some mistakes;)]

I've just finished reading this book –The unwritten rule–, and I personally didn’t find it too good. I read it just to practice my English, as it seemed really simple to me, so I didn’t have many expectations about it, but I think it still disappointed me in some way.

First of all, let me tell you what this book is about.

Title: The unwritten rule

Author: Elisabeth Scott

Publication date: 2010

Synopsis: Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

The main character is Sarah, a seventeen years old teenager. But she’s not considered a girl as itself, just a “best friend”. It’s like her whole existence depends on her BFF, Brianna –who’s the typical super sexy best fried that makes you feel like crap when you compare yourself with her–, and she so says it at the beginning of the book. But the story isn’t about Brianna’s abusive friendship with Sarah. It’s about Sarah being in love with Brianna’s boyfriend, Ryan. This sound awful, like “wow, what a slut Sarah is”, but the real slut in this love triangle is actually Brianna. I’ll explain why.

At first, in eighth grade, Sarah liked Ryan –and he did like her too–, because he was so… like her. Different, sweet, and friendly. But he was also uncool, so Brianna “didn’t let” Sarah date him. That’s when I first became angry with Brianna. But not just with Brianna, also Sarah for not having enough personality to ignore her.

Then, a few years later, Ryan changes from a nerd to a super-hot guy, and Brianna suddenly happens to like him. Initially Ryan still likes Sarah, but then one tragic night, at a party, when Sarah and Ryan are talking –­and there’s some feeling between them– Brianna appears and “chases him”, so in a few days they become a couple –later, at the end of the book, he confesses Sarah that he wanted to keep talking to her, and that letting Brianna take him away from her was the worst decision ever and I am like Really? What kind of excuse is that, idiot?

Anyway. Weeks pass and it seems like Sarah cannot forget that he wants him so desperately –and that’s the “unwritten rule”, loving your best friend’s boyfriend.

Okay, that was the summary. Now the review.

I’m in the need to say I think I haven’t liked any of the main characters in this story. Maybe sometimes, but not all along the book, like you’re supposed to do.

Let’s start with Sarah. She’s seventeen years old, but she behaves like she’s thirteen. Her personality and her opinions are supressed by Brianna’s, and she is always doing things for her. Okay, they’ve been best friends since Kindergarten –where Brianna “rescued” Sarah, so it’s like Sarah thinks she owes her for being her friend–, but a healthy relationship implies that not only one of them does all the hard work. Maybe isn’t like that –I mean Sarah always looking after Brianna–, but that’s the impression I got. And also, Brianna usually behaves like crap with her, always telling her –of course not with this exact words, but almost– that she’s better. It’s almost like “you know, Sarah, I am super-hot and super cool and I get all the boys I want, but you’re just a piece of shit that’s worth nothing, not even my affection. But don’t hate me for saying that, it is for your own good. Remember I am your best friend and you owe me loyalty”.

I think Sarah should have told Brianna she liked Ryan in the first place, so that any of the things that are torturing her throughout the entire book wouldn’t have happened. Because the book is basically based on Sarah’s thoughts and her feeling of guilt because she likes the guy her best friend thought wasn’t cool enough to date her in eight grade– “something perfectly normal”, I tell myself.

Then there’s Brianna. She’s, as I said, the cool girl who is best friends with Sarah. She seems to be extremely attractive and nice –although in my opinion she’s a cruel monster–, and always “caring about Sarah”. Bullshit. She’s always reminding her she isn’t as good and as pretty as she is. Even if she tells Sarah she loves her, that’s not true. Brianna is just like her mother –an awful bitch that doesn’t give a shit about her own daughter and is always criticizing her (knowing this explains A LOT).

Okay, maybe Brianna doesn’t always treat Sarah monstrously, maybe she’s got a lovely side, and supports her when she needs it, but that’s just occasionally. Like VERY occasionally –at least, that’s the impression I got (sorry for repeating myself).

Moreover, she doesn’t love Ryan. She just wants him to be with her, because she doesn’t stand the idea of him leaving her. She’s too gorgeous for that.

But what definitely indignities me the most is her reaction when (ATTENTION, SPOILER) she finds out about Ryan and Sarah –that of course end up together. She freaks out and tells her that he doesn’t like her and he’ll dump her because she’s not good enough for him, and also that he will return to her –Brianna. She couldn’t be more wrong. All right, I get she’s very angry with Sarah, but that doesn’t allow her to be a complete bitch (OKAY, YOU CAN START READING AGAIN)

Ryan’s turn. What can I say about Ryan? Oh yes. He’s an idiot. Not an idiot like those stupid guys that think they’re cool for smoking or something like that. No. In fact, Ryan’s cute and tender, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t complete idiot. Why do I keep calling him like that? I’ll tell you why. First of all: HE LIKED SARAH AND HE STILL DOES, for God’s Sake! Tell her! I beg you! Dump Brianna; you’re not in love with her! Don’t break her fragile and monstrous heart by kissing her best friend (and, please, kiss her… I don’t know, the next day, maybe? Not to months later!).

Secondly: why did you leave with Brianna that night at the party in the first place? And his excuse is that “with Brianna it was all so simple. I didn’t know if you liked me so… I STARTED DATING YOUR SUPER HOT BEST FRIEND EVENTHOUGH I’VE LOVED YOU IN SECRET FOR YEARS –okay, he didn’t say so, but almost”, and it is like Really? That’s your excuse to make Sarah feel so guilt for loving you in secret? Are you kidding me?

However. The book itself is not that bad –even kinda… good? well, let’s say entertaining–, but don’t expect this amazing and intense love story with twists and characters with a complicated psychology. None of that. Just one of this romance books [which I really enjoy reading, not that I complain about them] that make you feel great when they end, because the main character gets the guy and they live happily ever after.

#review #english #theunwrittenrule #Sarah #Brianna #Ryan #lovetriagle