Rulebook Series by Cara Malone

Maxine Saddler has never been in love. She knows exactly what it looks like – she’s spent years studying the phenomenon in other people, but her Asperger syndrome makes it far too anxiety-provoking to attempt such a thing in her own life. Instead, she focuses exclusively on academics. She’s 23 years old, starting grad school, and perfectly content to ignore the world beyond her textbooks. That is, until she meets Ruby Satterwhite, who makes Max want to give love one more shot... moreMaxine Saddler has never been in love. She knows exactly what it looks like – she’s spent years studying the phenomenon in other people, but her Asperger syndrome makes it far too anxiety-provoking to attempt such a thing in her own life. Instead, she focuses exclusively on academics. She’s 23 years old, starting grad school, and perfectly content to ignore the world beyond her textbooks. That is, until she meets Ruby Satterwhite, who makes Max want to give love one more shot. Ruby is the consummate social butterfly – sorority president, extracurricular list a mile long, and stunning to boot. In short, she’s way out of Max’s league, and on top of it all, she kind of hates Max for how she blurts out whatever’s on her mind, no matter how blunt. But when they’re thrown grudgingly together for a group project in their first class, the heavens open up and the sparks begin to fly. There are only two problems – Ruby’s still pining for her perfect ex-girlfriend. It’s time to turn on the charm like never before, but can Max master the rules of love? less

Max and Ruby have fallen hard for each other after a bitter grad school rivalry turned first into lust, and then into love. When the school year comes to an end, they’re faced with a new challenge: a summer apart. They make plans to visit each other, but when Max comes to Chicago to meet Ruby’s family, she brings with her a secret in a small package – an engagement ring that she hopes will prove her devotion... moreMax and Ruby have fallen hard for each other after a bitter grad school rivalry turned first into lust, and then into love. When the school year comes to an end, they’re faced with a new challenge: a summer apart. They make plans to visit each other, but when Max comes to Chicago to meet Ruby’s family, she brings with her a secret in a small package – an engagement ring that she hopes will prove her devotion. There’s only one problem… Max has never been good at first impressions, and she fits into Ruby’s family like a square peg in a round hole. Everything she says is wrong, Ruby’s perfect ex-girlfriend keeps coming around, and the city is exhausting. It even seems like Ruby is beginning to question whether she has what it takes to navigate life with a partner on the autism spectrum. Is love enough to get them through the summer? The Rules of Engagement is Book 2 in the Rulebook series. It's recommended to read these in order. less

The Rules of Parenthood is Book 3 in the Rulebook series. It's recommended to read these in order. Max and Ruby Saddlerwhite are newlyweds who seem to have it all. They have mastered the rules of love and navigated the challenges of a long-term relationship, and now they are settling happily into married life and beginning their careers. There’s just one thing Ruby wants – to start a family. And that’s something Max isn’t sure she can give her... moreThe Rules of Parenthood is Book 3 in the Rulebook series. It's recommended to read these in order. Max and Ruby Saddlerwhite are newlyweds who seem to have it all. They have mastered the rules of love and navigated the challenges of a long-term relationship, and now they are settling happily into married life and beginning their careers. There’s just one thing Ruby wants – to start a family. And that’s something Max isn’t sure she can give her. She has learned to work through the challenges of life and love on the autism spectrum by researching her way through major obstacles, but a baby is a challenge Max might not be up for. Ruby pushes aside dreams of starting her own family when Max’s cousin Stacy gets called to active duty, leaving behind her seven-year-old son, Aiden. She needs Max and Ruby to take care of him while she’s deployed and they rise to the occasion. It’s not all play time and games, though, as Aiden struggles with separation anxiety and the rulebooks fly right out the window as Max and Ruby discover just how difficult raising a child can be. Can Max and Ruby master the rules of parenthood, or will Ruby’s dream go unfulfilled? less