The Rules of Falling for You

By: Mollie Rushmeyer

Narrated by: Emma Faye, Kyle Tait

The perfect match can't be far—certainly not at a Regency-themed singles retreat—or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her own: finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe's podcast producer and best friend's brother, reluctantly agrees to attend the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe's methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her ideal checklist might be holding her back, she must decide if she's willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

With this Regency-infused spin on a contemporary rom-com, Mollie Rushmeyer's witty characters, touch of whimsy, and sweet romance will win hearts.

©2025 Mollie Joy Rushmeyer (P)2025 Tantor Media

Slow pace, but the concept and charm still shine

The perfect match can’t be far… especially not at a Regency-themed singles retreat. That premise alone immediately hooked me, and I really enjoyed the Austenland vibes woven throughout this story. Mollie Rushmeyer delivers a sweet, whimsical rom-com that blends modern dating with those beloved Pride & Prejudice-style rules of romance. As a concept, it’s adorable—and honestly, attending a place where you get to live out your own Regency moment? Sign me up.

That said, this one ended up being an extremely slow burn—and I mean snail-pace slow. I kept waiting for something big to happen, but much of the story stayed focused on internal dialogue rather than actual movement or conflict. While that may appeal to readers who love introspective romances, I found myself wanting a bit more action or emotional progression earlier on.

Zoe and Harrison are charming in their own ways, and I liked the overall setup of the retreat and the “rewrite your rules” message. The world itself is fun and atmospheric, and the Regency-infused setting was definitely my favorite part. I’m also curious if a future book will follow two of the side characters—there’s definitely room for a spin-off.

As for the audiobook, Emma Faye did a lovely job bringing Zoe’s personality to life; she really sounded like the character in my head. Kyle Tait had moments where his performance worked well, but at other times it came across a bit robotic, which pulled me out of the listening experience occasionally.

Overall, this is a cute, whimsical romance perfect for readers who enjoy very slow burns, lots of character introspection, and anything that nods to Pride & Prejudice or Austenland. It may not have the pacing I personally hoped for, but the concept and charm still shine through.