Cover Image: The Friendship Pact

The Friendship Pact

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Member Reviews

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, William Morrow and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A story of family, mystery and trying to figure out the past.

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I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book after the first few pages because the mom was going to go on a date with the heroine’s on-line meet. Hmm… Then I discovered the mom was only 15 years older than the daughter and I was hooked.

Tae Holmes is the heroine in this story – and she’s a typical Jill Shalvis gal. Strong, self-sufficient, steeped in foils and angst. Perfect. But it’s her mom, April, teenaged, unwed mom, who stole my heart.

Tae and her mom have a close relationship but in reality, Tae has always been the adult in the room. To this end, she’s had a lot of anxiety and issues in her life. One of those issues, Riff Copeland, has just walked back into her life at the beginning of the book and this sets up the plot for this friends to lovers to HEA story that is quintessentially Shalvis.

Written in her usual witty and dry style, this is the second book in the Sunshine Cove series and I can’t wait to read who comes next!

There are a great deal of twists and pain until these two get to their HEA and it is worth the trip!

Thanks to Netgalley for a sneak peek. 5 well-deserved stars for another hit from one of my fave authors and people!

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Such a good book, I think people are gonna really love this one. Keep me wanting more the whole way through. Thank you!

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I always enjoy this author and this book is right up there with her others. Definitely a beach read and such a fun one! The story centers around Tae, her mother and Riggs, a boy from the past. Easy to read and follow. A book not to be missed.

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Tae has started her own business and her Mothers life is on track. For the first time they can breathe easy because they don’t have to worry where their next meal is coming from. Riggs has come back to town, he and Tae have a history. This is a story about family and forgiveness. I loved Tae and Riggs as a couple. If you are looking for a feel good romance this is it. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

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A fantastic Jill shalvis read as usual! Best characters, storyline and I couldn’t put it down! Will be recommending it to friends

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I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."


The Friendship Pact is a feel good read. It makes you feel what they are feeling and growing through. So far I enjoyed most of Jill Shavis books. 4 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟


Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review

Happy Reading Lisa 📚

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I like a lot of Jill Shalvis novels but this one just didn't do it for me. There were too many people, too much going on. The twist seemed so obvious very early in the novel. Unfortunately I was more disappointed than pleased.

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Fun read! Reading a JS book never disappoints. It’s a great way to get out of a book funk. You are guaranteed fun, fast read with excellent dialogue. This author may be the queen of witty banter.

This was just what I needed! I love a good HEA! And no one does it quite like this author.

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I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read this ARC. Can’t wait for more by author!

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Being a Jill Shalvis fan, I was pleased when Netgalley gave me the opportunity to read and review The Friendship Pact. But it was a letdown for me.
After reading a few chapters, I found it difficult to stay interested. I did not have a connection to any of the characters. Tae was too snarky and the chip on her shoulder was overdone. Riggs was just blah. And April's story of being a 15-year-old mom on her own was mentioned over and over and over. The story was too predictable. It was apparent after the first few chapters how it would end. I never felt the romance between Tae and Riggs. There was no real passion.
The only pleasant surprise was getting a glimpse of Jake's life.
The Friendship Pact just did not do it for me.

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This is the second book in the series. After reading the first book I had high expectations. Unfortunately this book did not meet them. He's a marine who came home to check on his brother and ends up interested in the woman he had a one night stand with from high school. She grew up in a single parent home where her mother was a teen mom. They both have trust issues and it comes across well. My issue is with the book moving to quickly through their problems. I did enjoy the unicorn onesie! 2.75 stars

******************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.********************

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Jill Shavlis is an auto buy for me and I always enjoy her books. Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed it. This is the second in her new series although it can be read as a stand-alone. Tae and Riggs were a very cute couple!

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Tae feels like her life is finally turning around. She's started her a own business, her mother who she's always protected has a job and is happy. What could be better? Riggs is back in town for the summer to help his brother Jake with his business. Tae and Riggs meet again when she mistakes him for an Uber driver. They were lab partners in high school and have some history. Riggs feels a connection but he's going to leave at the end of summer so he tells Tae that they can only be friends. That doesn't last long. A secret that Tae's mother has been keeping threatens to drive everybody apart. Tae and Riggs have a second chance at love but will they take it? I truly enjoyed their story. Another excellent book by Jill Shalvis.

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Tae and April were pretty easy to read. I really liked Riggs and his brother. The story about helping people with disabilaties was very timely. You don't have to read the whole book to figure out what is going to happen but it did take you on a good journey to see how it ended. I really like Jill Shalvis' books and will continue to look for new ones.

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Jill Shalvis is an auto buy author for me. I love how she writes relationships. This book had a little bit of everything: emotion, romance, humor, and mystery.

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Thank you NetGalley for my free Ebook, The Friendship Pact by Jill Shalvis. I LOVED this story. It’s a fun beach read with a happy ending! Jill Shalvis never disappoints! The mother daughter relationship between Tae and April is so sweet and special. Riggs is a dream and I enjoyed the dynamics between Riggs and his brother, Jake. Everyone in this book has over came major obstacles and struggles, but managed to come out ahead. I will be recommending this book and continuing to read other stories by Jill Shalvis.

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Thank you to William Morrow Avon, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I’ve willingly read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

At this point in my reading career, I can confidently say I am a Jill Shalvis connoisseur. I’ve read almost all her books and the commonality between all of them is that they’re enjoyable. You’re never going to get a Shalvis-authored book where you’re rolling your eyes at the cliches or annoyed by the characters.

However, THE FRIENDSHIP PACT, though just as enjoyable as all Shavis’s other books, had something extra special. I loved the main characters: Tae and her mother April (an even closer GILMORE GIRLS-like relationship, if you can imagine) who practically grew up together and have overcome numerous obstacles together, and Riggs, one of Tae’s only friends from her miserable high school days and maybe one of my favorite Shalvis heroes ever.

THE FRIENDSHIP PACT follows Tae as she reconnects with Riggs when he comes into town for the summer to help out his brother with their company that offers support and fun activities for wounded warriors and the disadvantaged. Immediately they recognize that the spark that ignited when they were teens never dimmed and, if they have any chance of going their separate ways when Riggs has to leave for a big job in Washington, D.C. at the end of the summer, they need to make a pact to remain just friends to avoid getting hurt when their time together ends.

Both Tae and Riggs have similar issues that have kept them from really getting into lasting and meaningful relationships, but unlike a lot of other novels where these issues are explored, both characters work on their insecurities and they don’t become the reason behind the dreaded 80-90% breakdown of the main relationship. I loved that Tae and Riggs were each able to eventually recognize their previous patterns and thus came to conclusions about their relationship without it being the main conflict.

There were so many aspects of THE FRIENDSHIP PACT to love, and to write about them would have this review going on longer than necessary. Bottom line: I loved it and I’m already looking forward to the next in the series and anything else Jill Shalvis writes.

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The Friendship Pact by Jill Shalvis is her second book in her Sunrise Cove series set in Tahoe, which all stand alone. The book is well written and so very enjoyable. I love the characters, their personalities, and their connections with other characters.


Thanks NetGalley, Jill, and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read!

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In “The Friendship Pact” (Sunrise Cove #2) by Jill Shalvis we meet Tae Holmes and her mother April. It has been the two of them against the world for as long as Tae can remember. But as Tae tries to figure her life out one unexpected surprise after another starts to bubble to the surface. One of them being Riggs Copeland, a brief high school fling who now suggests they be friends. But as Tae unravels her past, she might just need to finally do something simply for herself.

A fun read with great secondary characters. I received an advance copy of this book, and this is my honest review.

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