I really enjoyed reading this book! I read this book in one sitting because I could not put the book down, I highly recommend reading this book!

This will be one of the most talked about books of the fall of 2017!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Rhiza Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*  'Unspoken Rules' tells the story of young Natalie and her Syrian Christian Orthodox family as they live out their lives in suburban Melbourne. The novel reads very much like a 'Looking for Alibrandi' for the 21st century. Natalie battles the same issues that Josie Alibrandi did - not being allowed to go to parties, feeling completely different to her classmates and having a heavy weight of cultural expectations on her shoulders. Natalie is a likeable protagonist and teen readers will connect with her everyday struggles to get her homework done, maintain relationships with friends and even a first kiss. 'Unspoken Rules' was an enjoyable read and I look forward to recommending it to my students once it is published. My only slight criticism is that I feel the book was a tad short and the ending felt a little rushed. Perhaps there will be a sequel to tie up any loose ends.

The plot will resonate with any young person, regardless of cultural background, who struggles to think independently and learn to be responsible for her choices.  It also underlines the truth that life is not fair and it's how we respond to challenges that determines our path. The author's choice of a Syrian Catholic Orthodox family living in Australia gives the story a unique flavor and it's refreshing to see a young girl preserving her virginity until marriage.