Review: The Casual Rule by AC Netzel

Julia Conti is living the dream in New York City. She has a job she loves in publishing and shares an apartment in the Village with her lifelong best friend, Allie. Following a bad break-up, Julia swears off of men and relationships, until she meets Ben Martin, an up and coming author who is smart, sexy and very easy on the eyes. Fueled by their mutual attraction, close working relationship and fear of relationships, Julia and Ben embark on a purely physical affair, following the Casual Rule. As they bring each other further into their lives, their casual status blurs. Can she keep sex and love separate or will feelings take hold and Julia get her heart broken again?

A little sweet, a little smutty, a little snarky.

4.5 Star Review by Jen Skewes

If you are looking for a fun, witty, sweet story that will make you laugh then The Casual Rule is the book for you.  I loved this story.  It is funny and sexy with a bit of drama all in one.

Julia has sworn off men after finding out her ex cheated on her, several times.  She has no desire to find a man, to fall in love or even have sex for that matter.  Her new boyfriend B.O.B is doing just fine.  He is there for her when she needs him and then goes back in the drawer until next time.  See who needs a real man when you have BOB?

Julia’s best friend Allie is the opposite of Julia when it comes to men and sex.  Looking for a new conquest each weekend.  While Allie has tried numerous times to get her to go out and have some fun, maybe even a one night stand, Julia refuses and would rather stay in and read her gossip magazines and maybe spend the night with BOB.   That is until Ben Martin comes along.  

Ben is a writer, and a very sexy one.  Julia is an assistant editor for a publishing firm. When Julia first meets Ben there is no denying how amazingly hot he is.  Until he opens his mouth and she thinks he is a complete jerk.  But she comes to realize that she may have been wrong about him and maybe they got off to a wrong start.  Ben likes Julia, and there is no doubt that they are attracted to each other.  They definitely have chemistry.  But Ben doesn’t date, and he doesn’t do realtionships. He is more of a casual sex kind of guy.  Seems perfect enough considering that Julia has sworn off men and relationships.  So maybe Ben is exactly what she needs right now.  They agree to a casual relationship.  It is sex only and nothing more.  No clinging, no having to spend every waking hour with each other, no hearts or feelings involved.  Just two adults enjoying spending time together having sex.  Sounds simple enough.  But what happens when someone starts to have feelings for the other and they come to find out that they are no longer on the same page?  Hearts and feelings are now involved which could possiblly ruin everything.  What happens now?  Guess you will have to read to find out.

I was completely hooked from the very start.  I loved Julia and her best friend Allie.  Allie is the friend that you would love to have by your side.  She says what she wants but you still love her because she cares.  She wants what is best for you and will always be there.  I loved the friendship that these two had.

Julia and Ben were just so good together.  They were so sweet and yet so sexy together.  There were moments that will make you smile.  Their relationship may have been just casual but you could see it developing into so much more and I loved it.  I loved the little moments in addition to the amazingly hot sex!  There is one Christmas Eve scene that had me laughing.  It is definitely a scene that I think so many people can relate to.  It was funny and sweet all in one.  Ben is smart, sexy and a bit nerdy but you just love him.  There were a few moments of drama and heartache along the way.  A few times where I got “that” feeling in my stomach.  You know the one that I am talking about.  But overall this was a really fun, light and sexy read, and one that I really loved.  I cannot wait for more.