Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud Book Review

Title: Simone Breaks All the Rules
Author: Debbie Rigaud
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: June 1, 2021
Pages: 320

Simone Thibodeaux's life is sealed in a boy-proof container.

Her strict Haitian immigrant parents enforce no-dating rules and curfews, and send Simone to an all-girls school. 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 humiliation of the set up -- especially since she's crushing on a boy she knows her parents wouldn't approve of. With senior year coming to a close, Simone makes a decision. She and her fellow late-bloomer friends will create a Senior Year Bucket List of all the things they haven't had a chance to do. On the list: kissing a boy, sneaking out of the house, skipping class (gasp!), and, oh yeah -- choosing your own prom date.

But as the list takes on a life of its own, things get more complicated than Simone expected. She'll have to discover which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak. 

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My Thoughts

**Thank you so much to Scholastic Books for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**

Simone Thibodeaux has an overprotective mother who wants to plan out every little thing in her life from the school she goes to and her upcoming prom date. All she wants is a little freedom to try new things she's never done before heading off to college.

I look down at my feet. No matter how many times I change them, I seem to be stuck in the same shoes. It's like I'm programmed to walk the narrow path my parents and other people draw out for me. Even Dorothy had the freedom to veer off the yellow brick road now and then.

After meeting Kira from Simone's friend, Amita, the three decide that they have had enough of their parent's rules. They form a little group called the HomeGirls and decide to make a list of things they want to accomplish before going to college. 

We're your HomeGirls, remember? We know what it's like to feel different from our families. Just let us know however you want to rock the Playlist, and we'll help you make it happen.

Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4) 

I loved how the girls stood together in the book. Even though they faced different challenges, they still stood together at each other's side through the ups and downs of their plans.

Overall, Simone Breaks All the Rules was an exciting book about a Haitian girl finding her freedom amidst her parent's plans for her. I enjoyed reading about her immigrant struggles and I'm looking forward to other books by the author.

About the Author

Debbie Rigaud is the coauthor of Alyssa Milano's Hope series and the author of Truly Madly Royally. She grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and started her career writing for entertainment and teen magazines. She now lives with her husband and children in Columbus, Ohio.