Rules for Fake Girlfriends

By Raegan Revord

Book Overview

A charming and swoony YA rom-com debut from Raegan Revord, star of the CBS hit series Young Sheldon--about a young college student as she navigates her first year abroad, first love, first loss, and finding her place in the world.

Rom-com obsessed but perpetually single Avery Blackwell abandons her plans to attend Columbia in favor of spending her freshman year at her recently deceased mother's alma mater in a seaside town in England. On the train, Avery makes a deal straight out of one of her beloved romance books with a charming local girl named Charlie: if Avery will pretend to be her girlfriend to make her ex jealous, Charlie will help Avery solve the scavenger hunt her artistic, free-spirited mother left behind on campus decades ago.

As their quest takes them all over Brighton, Avery finally starts to connect with the mother she always loved but never really understood. Before long, pretending to be Charlie's girlfriend starts to feel like more than just an illusion. But when long-hidden secrets come to light, Avery grapples with an uncertain future and whether or not love is worth the risk.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250356342
• ISBN13: 9781250356345
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Wednesday Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.7" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Great for a debut novel!

My husband and I were big fans of Young Sheldon, so when I saw the young actor who played Sheldon's sister had written a book, I jumped on the wait-list at the library. Normally, when books tug at my heartstrings I give it a solid 5 stars. But there were some parts of this story that were a bit confusing, small details that were overlooked. At times, it felt like I was reading 2 different stories; a coming of age, YA, romance and a grief ladden scavenger hunt. There were large chunks of the story that went without mentioning the scavenger hunt and I almost forgot about it. There was a character added more then half way through that became a close friend to the group but vanished, with no mention of her. It felt like a loose end. I have a note but want to mention it lightly in case I'm getting it wrong. One character was given they/them pronouns throughout >3/4 of the book. I could have sworn they used 'she' when speaking about them but couldn't find it back in the text. I shrugged and let it go thinking I must have misunderstood. But then in the last 50 pages, "I nodded at (her) arms-"I'm here." I squeezed (their) knee comfortingly." And then again, "... Colin standing beside (her) and leaning against (her) knee." Referring to them as Colin's girlfriend. Back to using they/them for the ending. It's not integral to the story but I did find it a bit confusing at times. Overall, considering this was their first book, I loved it. It was touching, original and made tear up a few dozen times.