While I did enjoy this book, I feel like the climax came at about 80% through, and the last 20% was all fluff. Meaning - the author could have wrapped up the ending more succinctly and I probably would have rated at least 4, if not 5 stars. I did enjoy the social commentary on what affect social media is capable of producing in our lives, and how misguided the internet mob can be, ultimately being able to make or break someone’s business and life. The author may not have intended it to be that deep, but it definitely made me think about those people who don’t choose to be famous, but have one moment of their lives go viral and are forever changed.

Finally, I read a full book by Emma Lord, and it’s not like I don’t like her work it’s just that they don’t get me fully invested, which I have to say it’s kind of what happened with this one too.
Lord’s writing style is flawless, nothing wrong with it, with a good pace, entertaining to read. But I realized that my problem with her stories is the characters. There is no connection between them or with them and the reader.
Now, with this story, I wasn’t fully happy with both main characters. They were a little too annoyed and honestly, they made it difficult to root for them. It was painful to read about them and many times just I rolled my eyes. Also, what gets on my nerves: Cheating is not okay, ever! And I guess in this case humiliation neither.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. And I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had to sit and process this book for a bit after I finished reading it. I was used to Lord's Tweet Cute and the YA, quick feel to it, and while The Break-Up Pact also had a fast pace, the romance was anything but YA. I'm not even referring to the spicy scene, either, but the emotional connection and the depth of their love story was so much more than that teenage love.

The thing is, I don't feel like I've read a lot of romances with this type of connection. Yes, the authors always make it clear their characters are in love. But I don't see too many that go so in-detail with how much their characters are connected, especially when comparing this one. There was so much love they had for each other and the descriptive ways Lord wrote it was beautiful. I mean, June mentions the specific type of trust they have in each other, you can see their bond in everything they do/think, and it feels so different to the things I've been reading recently. I don't even know how to properly explain it without direct quoting from the book.

I could have gone without the several mentions of TikTok and how fast the two suddenly reconnected and were fake dating - we could definitely use a bit slower of a pace right there - but the rest of it was gorgeous.

thank you Netgalley for the arc

Reading this book made me want to be on the beach!

I thought this book was a lovely story about two best friends coming together and helping each other out. I was rooting for June and Levi to be a real couple the whole time! The author does a great job showcasing their chemistry. Honestly, thank god for their break ups, it brought them close again!

There’s little to no spice in the book but it was a good story.

I absolutely loved this book! I was so invested in the relationship between June and Levi. I’m a sucker for the fake dating/second chance romance trope, and this book did not disappoint!

This fake dating / friends to lovers book missed the mark. The reasons for fake dating were odd and the friends to lover trope didn’t give fuzzy feelings of second chance love. It was filled with wrong intentions, making me not care for either the main characters. Be prepared for a slow burn and a quick conclusion.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for the advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.
Releases on Aug 13, 2024.

- Emma Lord knows how to write things that will cradle you in their hands, break you open, dip you in the sea, and then very gently patch you up and set you on your feet. I’ve read all of her YA books (also phenomenal), and this was exactly what I expected from her adult debut. She is so good at writing characters finding themselves and finding each other. Highly recommend if you like Kate Clayborn (and you should, so go read both).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am a huge rom com fan - movies, books, you name it, I’m there. I’m also a huge fan of second chance romance/friends to lovers. Because of these things, I had a LOT of fun reading this book. It was light and fun, serving as an escape from my everyday life. I know a lot of people were bothered by the modern setting (inclusion of TikTok, etc), but I found that it made the story more relatable to everyday life. Levi and June have a beautiful connection that progresses throughout the story and the backstory with June’s sister brought a sense of deepness to the characters and raised the stakes of the story as a whole. All in all, if you’re looking for a good romance with summer vibes, this book is for you.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This is the first book I’ve read by Emma Lord and I had a hard time getting into it. Others seemed to really enjoy this book though!

It took me longer to read this than I would have liked but it was more due to me and my busy life than the book and its quality.

This was a really great read featuring fake dating and friends to lovers. Lots of depth around the mutual loss the two main characters have suffered and themes of living for others and putting ourselves on hold. Really enjoyed the interaction between not only the two MCs but also the development around the side characters that made the story so much richer.

I loved getting to dive into the lives of June and Levi in this friends-to-lovers novel. Emma Lord made June such an easy character to connect to, and I felt like I could truly understand the reasons she did the things she did and the decisions that she made throughout the story. June and Levi really made me love love and want to experience a love like their that made them reconnect so easily after all these years apart.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. What a fun, fast read! This childhood friends to enemies to lovers story had me laughing out loud. I was so deeply invested in June & Levi’s story from learning things about their past to watching them encourage each other for the future. Definitely add this to your summer TBR. Comes out August 13!

The Break-Up Pact: A Sweet, Predictable Rom-Com
The Break-Up Pact is a charming read that delivers a lighthearted escape with a touch of emotional depth. While it doesn't break new ground in the world of romance novels, it does offer a predictable plot executed with humor and relatable characters.

The story follows two estranged best friends who reunite under unusual circumstances. Both recently heartbroken, they strike a pact to pretend to date each other for personal gain. This "fake dating" trope is used effectively, leading to some genuinely funny and heartwarming moments.

While the characters are likable enough, I found them a bit one-dimensional at times. Their development feels somewhat predictable, and the overall conflict lacks the complexity that could elevate the story.

Overall, The Break-Up Pact is a solid choice for readers looking for a feel-good, low-angst read. It's a good option for fans of lighthearted contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy predictable storylines with a dash of humor and heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC *spoilers ahead*

The breakup pact follows Levi and June, childhood friends who decide to start fake dating after their respective breakups go viral. While I felt initially the whole fake dating plot started very quickly, I felt it was explained better as you learn their backstory. This book had all the tropes: fake dating, second chances, (childhood) friends to lovers and unfortunately, the third act breakup due to miscommunication. Womp womp. While this is not my favorite I did feel like the relationship/storyline needed to slow down a bit before the HEA.

“You know you’ve always got me, right”

There is nothing I love more than a beautifully written second chance romance -- add in some fake dating and you’ve totally got me! The Break Up Pact is flawless! I highly recommend checking this one out.

Levi and June are two childhood friends who have each recently undergone humiliating public breakups. They decide to lean into the moment and each other to capitalize on the publicity -- and there’s no better way to show their exes that they’ve moved on than to pretend to date each other!

I thought this book was so lovely! Levi and June’s story may have begun with a lot of missed timing and teenage angst but it evolved into one of true love and second chances. I have read many of Emma Lord’s YA stories and loved them all but this one is my favorite. I thought that it had such depth while still being lighthearted and full of romance. June and Levi’s characters grew both individually and together throughout the story and the death of June’s sister, Levi’s best friend, (which happens off page) was beautifully written. While tremendously sad, the love and grief was captured so perfectly.

The Break Up Pact is fantastic! 5 stars! If you are looking for a sweet and loving second chance romance, then this story is for you!

The Break Up Pact is available August 13th

More than a romance book!

This book is cute and charming, but also healing and thoughtful. June and Levi were best friends all through high school until one morning when everything comes to a halt and they begin a 10 year split. After two public breaks, the “Revenge Exes” takes shape in what could end in heartbreak or happily ever after.

I thought this book was so well written not just from a romance standpoint, but from a thoughtful and carefully executed point of mind. Emma has done a brilliant job crafting a story that digs deeper into relationships and how emotions can take root in us all that lead us down paths we may have never taken. She also delves into loss and grief and how things may be perceived from one person to the next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy once it is released!

This book was such an easy 5 stars! It was sweet, charming, emotional, FUNNY… I loved every minute of it.

It’s a true second chance at love story with fake dating… two of my favorites. Levi and June have so much growth in this story, together and separately, that it just has you cheering them on from the very start. The family dynamic here is so beautiful- the found family, guilt, loss, support, unwavering love. It’s really just the type of family you get lost in- in a good way.

Outside of how sentimental it felt, it was also so funny! I was laughing out loud. Emma Lord’s quippy dialogue is strong and the wit is so quick. It’s just fun to read and I was laughing out loud, genuinely.

The romance was slow burn and the buildup to some spice was worth it! I really do love Levi… he reminds me of Henry from Book Lovers and our Ali Hazelwood favorites… he’s that kind of book boyfriend.

Y’all will love Levi. You’ll LOVE June. You laugh, you’ll sigh, you’ll kick your feet, you’ll hold your heart…. You’ll get hungry for a scone and start thinking about how long it’s been since you’ve had pop rocks… you’ll love this read. The perfect summer book!

This one comes out on August 13th- I am so excited for people to read it and love it!!

Read if you enjoy:
🌊 childhood friends
🏃‍♀️ fake dating
🧁 small towns
🫖 second chances

Pub Date: August 13, 2024

Thanks to @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced readers copy of The Break Up Pact!

“Neither of you wants to change the other one or tell the other one what to do. You just want each other to be happy. And that’s what love is supposed to look like”

June and Levi have been best friends since childhood. Until a miscommunication prevents them from talking in recent years. But, after June and Levi experience breakups that go viral on the internet, they both find themselves in their hometown. When they’re spotted together, they go viral once again- as a couple. They decide on a pact to fake- date. They want to make Levi’s ex-girlfriend jealous and want him back and use the publicity to help June’s beachside tea shop make enough money for rent to continue her lease. Will their plan work?

Usually I’m weary of the fake-dating trope but I actually enjoyed it this book more than I thought I would! I liked how each character grew throughout the book. It was refreshing to read characters talking about their issues at this point in their lives instead of the miscommunication that unfolded in their younger years. I thought some parts were a little unnecessary to the story- going back on the ex-boyfriend’s show, the girlfriend showing up at tea tide, some parts about Annie, etc. but I thought it was a believable new-age Hallmark type love story that would make a cute romcom movie!

#TheBreakUpPact #EmmaLord #NetGalley

This was very cute!! Having read all of Emma Lord’s YA novels, I was excited to see what she would bring to an adult romcom and I was not disappointed. The only issue I had was that at times it felt like the relationship between June and Levi was developing too fast for the amount of emotional intimacy we saw on-page. I assume that’s because they’re falling back into the relationship they used to have, but I think it would’ve been helpful to have some more flashbacks/exposition specific to their relationship to let us see why they initially liked each other and make the story slightly more believable.

Thank for the ARC NetGalley. This was an ok read but it took me a while to get into it and never really felt invested in the June and ale I or their relationship. I have loved all of Lord’s YA, but this was was missing something for me.