The Rules for Hearts - by Sara Ryan (Paperback)

About the Book

In this follow-up to Ryan's award-winning "Empress of the World," Battle Hall Davies is spending her summer in Portland, where she's quickly swept into a community Shakespeare production, its all-night card games, and into the arms of her new roommate.

Book Synopsis

In this companion novel to Empress of the World, a vibrant summer unfolds as Battle Hall Davies finds herself immersed in the quirky found family dynamics of Forest House.

"The Rules for Hearts makes its own rules. That's what I love about it."--Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of TTYL and TTFN

"Sara Ryan puts the world of downtown theater in all its brilliance and insanity on the page."--Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Feathers and Show Way

Battle Hall Davies is sure of some things: she's going to Reed this fall; she loves girls; and her older brother, Nick, is cooler and more together than she'll ever be. Nick ran away from home when Battle was thirteen. Now, four and a half years later, he's tracked her down, and she's spending the summer between high school and college in Forest House, the group house where he lives in Portland.

It is a summer of surprises. Battle is swept into Forest House's community Shakespeare production and its all-night card games and into the arms of her new housemate, Meryl. It turns out that Nick is not who Battle thought he was--and Battle's not who she thought she was either.

Review Quotes

"The Rules for Hearts makes its own rules. That's what I love about it."--Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of TTYL and TTFN

"Sara Ryan puts the world of downtown theater in all its brilliance and insanity on the page."--Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor winning author of Feathers and Show Way

"Ryan does a wonderful job of portraying a group of creative young people with limited finances, fluid sexuality, and complicated relationships. This novel celebrates the process of becoming an adult without providing any easy answers."--School Library Journal

"Ryan memorably captures an older teen's tumultuous first summer of independence. . . . The artsy, ensemble cast is memorable, and both gay and straight relationships are described with refreshing honesty."--Booklist

"Sara Ryan's writing is hilarious and true. Everything Battle thought, I was right there with her."--Ariel Schrag, author of the comic book series Awkward, Definition, Potential, and Likewise

About the Author

Sara Ryan lives in Portland, Oregon. This is her first novel.