Rules, we all live by them. Some people live to break them and there are others who live their lives by these rules. Jacob Hunt is one of those people who lives his life by those rules, primarily because he’s “hard-wired” to think just that way. Jacob has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of Autism that keeps him on the fringes of “normal” society along with those that care most about him. It keeps him from having the meaningful relationships that most of us take for granted and eventually ends him in a situation where he looks guilty enough to kill for one of those relationships.

House Rules is one of those novels you will either love or completely dislike. Unfortunately, I fall in the latter category for a variety of reasons, but I first want to address the things that I truly loved from my reading.

The great: As is evident in Picoult’s many other novels, she’s a research fiend. This only makes her novels more enjoyable and definitely makes her characters more human. In House Rules Jacob’s character is so well written that it’s hard to believe Picoult doesn’t have some form of autism herself, because how else could she understand how perfectly what his every action and thought mean? It was almost difficult for me to read, because of my own personal experience with autism and my own son. I’d be lying though if I said it wasn’t very true to reality. And the mere fact that she’s brought this overwhelming disorder more into the mainstream conversation is wonderful and should not be overlooked.

The not so great: Unfortunately though, for me, there were a lot more negatives than positives. Beginning with some picky things that personally bother me. If you can’t handle foul language don’t read this book. By page 100 or so I was tempted to give up on it all together because there was so much foul language. I don’t feel like I’m a prude and generally can tolerate my fair share, but I honestly thought this was excessive. Granted, my family doesn’t use foul language, but I don’t know of too many families where use of this language is permitted so heavily. Am I off base? Are there many families out there who use the *F* word in casual conversation on a continual basis? I’d love to know what you think.

Also, Emma’s love interests. There were at least three main options that I noticed in my reading, but they were so overlooked it was almost not worth mentioning. It was as if any eligible bachelor in town (or out) could have been just fine. Yes, in the end there is a bit of a romance, but it’s almost a side note; just something put in for readers of romance looking for it.

Another major problem I had with this book is that by the time the main event in the book had occurred I already knew the entire remaining plot of the book. I didn’t read ahead or look it up elsewhere. It was blatantly obvious to me and from that point on, the book took a drastic downhill turn. All the build up to that point and the character development came to a screeching halt. And although I continued on to finish the book I was terribly disappointed that a book that started off with such great potential fell flat so quickly and easily.

Overall, I can’t say I’d recommend this book, but I’m sure there are others who would disagree with me. I appreciate Picoult’s efforts in bringing the cause of Autism truly out in the open in such a way that so many will read and understand it better. But outside of her research and communication of that research in the story, I can’t say I enjoyed the overall plot of the story. Unfortunately for me, House Rules began with so much potential, but failed to live up to it.

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