The First Rule of Hook-Ups

Someone once told me that there are worst things than being left at the altar. Well, not many, in my experience. That was six months ago, though, and my life has moved on. Heck, I have a new job lined up and I'm leaving town.
But, I can't deny that my love life kind of sucks.
That's why I let my friends convince me to join them for Club Escapade's Breakup Bash. And we might just be disillusioned enough to actually enjoy it. Last time we were here, it was for my bachelorette party. That night, I met one of the dancers - Raphael - and when he flirted with me, I almost forgot I was engaged. And there's a part of me that never forgot him.
Now, it seems my friends have wandered off and I'm thinking about calling it a night. Until the music begins and I see Raphael, my secret fantasy, on stage. And this time, I'm definitely not engaged...

I found myself almost in a reading slump, and I wanted something different to read, and found myself reading Nina Crespo’s The First Rule of Hook-Ups. This book had everything I was looking for and more, and now I need to check out Nina’s other books she’s written. 

I loved both Alexa and Rafe in the book and felt these two definitely were meant to meet with one another after dating others who didn’t appreciate them enough. (Their previous lovers didn’t deserve Rafe and Alexa.) They both work professional jobs that they work very hard in, and they deserve to find happiness, even if, at first, they only want to keep it casual because they are not looking for a serious relationship. The more they keep it casual, the more one or both are bound to have feelings, and I was all for watching these two characters fall in love. It does take time for it to happen, especially if one or two are being stubborn and not communicating. 

This book is a short read (for me, especially when I listened to the audiobook at 2.5x speed) and has a great storyline to it, with delicious spicy times between the two MCs. It’s also an emotional one where you listen to the struggles both characters are dealing with in their past relationships and trying to come to terms with how much these two care for one another, especially since they had an instant connection. 

If you are looking for a book that is a fast-paced read with characters that have instant chemistry and an emotional and spicy storyline, then add this book to your TBR. Also, if you enjoy listening to your books, I highly recommend the audiobook, which Amber O’Rouarke narrates.

I definitely plan on reading more books from Nina Crespo after this book. 

Story Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Steam/Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Breakup Bash series, but each could potentially be read as standalone.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this book to readers who love MCs that find love when they are trying not to find love. =)

Genre/SubGenre(s): Romance | Contemporary/Erotic Romance | Multicultural & Interracial Romance

Trope(s)/Element(s): Instant Lust/Love Connection | Friends with Benefits/Casual Relationship that turns into more | Spicy Romance

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. It will help sponsor future giveaways but costs you nothing extra. You can read the full disclosure underneath the Privacy Policy.

About Nina Crespo

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions -- the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a "borrowing spree" in her older sister's bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Let Nina's sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales satisfy your own craving for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | Bookbub | Newsletter

• Author
• Recent Posts

FranJessca

Owner/Reviewer at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

I guess I should type a bio here. I'm FranJessca, or Fran for short. I'm the owner/reviewer behind A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog. I've been reading and reviewing books on my blog since leaving the Navy in 2011, and I will keep doing it as long as possible. My favorite genres will always be Romance & Fantasy, and I read every subgenre underneath those two genres. (Sorry, not a fan of nonfiction, so don't try to convince me to read it.)
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)

Latest posts by FranJessca (see all)

• Book Blitz + Giveaway: ‘Intimate Secret’ by D.C. Stone - May 8, 2025
• ARC Review: ‘Shield of Sparrows’ by Devney Perry - May 7, 2025
• ARC Review: ‘Archangel’s Ascension’ by Nalini Singh - May 6, 2025