Simone Breaks All the Rules - by Debbie Rigaud (Paperback)

About the Book

"At seventeen Simone Thibodeaux is fed up with her over-protective mother's insistence on micro-managing her life, like picking her prom date from a "nice" Haitian immigrant family, and anyway she is determined to attend with Gavin Stackhouse (even if he does not know that yet); so together with her fellow late-bloomer friends Simone comes up with a bucket list of rule-breaking (like cutting classes, and sneaking out of the house)--but soon things get complicated, and Simone has to decide which rules are worth breaking, and which should just be left alone."--

Book Synopsis

Perfect for fans of You Should See Me in a Crown and Never Have I Ever, this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from bestselling author Debbie Rigaud is pure Black girl joy.

Simone Thibodeaux is about to switch things up.

Check her life: It's sealed in a boy-proof container. Her Haitian immigrant parents send Simone to an all-girls high school and enforce strict no-dating rules. As for prom? Simone is allowed to go on one condition: Her parents will select her date (a boy from a nice, Haitian immigrant family, obviously).

Simone is desperate to avoid the setup -- especially since she has a serious crush on another boy. It's time to take action. Simone and her fellow late-bloomer friends make a senior year bucket list of all the wild things they haven't done yet. Like: going out dancing, skipping class (what), and oh yeah -- deciding their own prom destinies.

But as the list takes on a life of its own, things get much messier than Simone expected. Can she figure out which rules are worth breaking and which might save her from heartbreak?

Review Quotes

Praise for Simone Breaks All the Rules:

"Simone is a wonderfully crafted character, and Rigaud uses the awkwardness of the late bloomers' attempts to be cool with perfect comedic timing. This is a great depiction of Haitian American culture that both affirms and informs. Offering a steady mix of romance and humor, this is a home run." -- Kirkus Reviews

"We need more rom-coms like this! Hilarious and relatable, with a romance that will make you swoon, and a twist that I did not see coming." -- Tami Charles, New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter and Muted

"Simone is the friend we wished we had growing up -- to laugh with, cry with, sneak out the house with, and see ourselves in. Simone Breaks All the Rules strolls boldly into your heart and stays there long after the final page." - Maika and Maritza Moulite, authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine and One of the Good Ones

"As specifically Haitian and universally relatable as it gets. Simone is an instant star. Her heartbreaks are as heartwarming and cheer-worthy as her victories." -- Ben Philippe, award-winning author of Charming as a Verb

"Crackles with realism, humor, and affection... Fans of Jenny Han and Brandy Colbert will find much to cheer about in this entertaining and charming novel." -- School Library Journal

"Rigaud infuses a delightfully funny narrative with a diaspora-specific lesson -- Simone learning to value the sacrifices of her immigrant parents -- within a universally relatable tale of seeking oneself and independence amid warm relationships with family, friends, and community." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Truly Madly Royally:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"The Princess Diaries meets Meghan and Harry in this swoony rom-com!" -- In Touch Magazine

"Readers will root for smart, talented Zora as she navigates the world of the rich; her voice is humorous, and her imperfect family is believable. A light and entertaining tale that also addresses serious real-world topics." -- Kirkus Reviews

"If you want a royal romance you can tackle in an afternoon at the pool while rooting for a heroine who may be way out of even a prince's league, pick this one up." -- Booklist

About the Author

DEBBIE RIGAUD is the coauthor of the bestselling novel Best Wishes: The Sister Switch, the coauthor of Alyssa Milano's New York Times bestselling Hope series, and the author of Simone Breaks All the Rules and Truly Madly Royally. She grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and started her career writing for entertainment and teen magazines. Her adult romance debut License to Thrill is coming out in July 2026. She now lives with her husband and children in Columbus, Ohio. Find out more at debbierigaud.com.