I loved The Break-Up Pact!

This is my first Emma Lord novel and she did not disappoint. I picked this up in between the books I was reading for my degree program to make things a little lighter. It was exactly what I needed it to be. I pick up faking date trope novels because it's the least realistic trope ever (yes, there are other unrealistic tropes e.g. amnesia, marriage of convenience, etc.) and if I wanted something realistic I would watch a nature documentary or read a nonfiction book. I want the stuff that takes me to another dimension.

The WAYYY Emma brought this trope to life was brilliant. The chemistry that June and Levi had was perfect. The banter was even better *chef's kiss*. And then the added layer of the foundation of friendship they cultivated from their childhood made me feel nostalgic about something I didn't even experience firsthand. It reminded me of summers of skinned-knees, crushes on the boy next door, and staying up too late with your neighborhood friends.

The scones, the cute seaside cafe/bakery, the aesthetic of living in a beach town... I could imagine spending my summers there, going to June's cafe, and comfortably reading a book. I loved the references to memes and TikToks of our day because they genuinely made me laugh. I couldn't put this one down which mmade it a quick read but one that I would certainly read again.

This was an entertaining read! The storyline is interesting. However, the plot and pacing have some problems, mainly due to the fact that everything happens so quickly (the main characters don’t talk for years but then within the same day are all of a sudden fake dating) while not much really happens. The characters are pleasant but unremarkable as they don’t have much depth to them, things happen to them and they react. The setting was great though, I found myself clearly imagining the small beach town and its quirky shops and people.
Thank you for the opportunity to read prior to publishing !

This was a sweet romance that filled many different tropes: Friends to lovers, fake dating, miscommunication, and still in some respects almost insta-love, but in other ways was a slow burn. The main characters are June and Levi, who used to be best friends, but haven’t spoken (basically) in 10 years. Then they’re bonded over internet-famous breakups, and plan a “revenge pact” to use the publicity to help June’s business and Levi’s relationship with his ex. The first half of the story was super enjoyable. There was lots of backstory and buildup, but the June/Levi shenanigans and sweet moments were adorable. The plot took a more serious turn towards the second half, and there was a lot of miscommunication, but it ended in a lot of growth. Although it’s nice reading about a more realistic relationship that actually takes time to rebuild, the last fourth of the book still felt like it didn’t flow as well, I think it was the focus on June’s business. I know she needed a growth arc for her character, but it just wasn’t enjoyable to read about the business aspect in such detail. Overall, I’d still give this book 4 stars though. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There were a few things I really enjoyed about this book and a couple that I didn't.

What I loved: how the communication within the relationship grew, the ways that the relationship. brought out the best in June and Levi, how they got to the root of their issues and struggles rather than focusing only the surface-level issues, the cute little moments that showed how well they understood each other, and the emotional growth in June. Also, this was the first time I've encountered an open-door scene that actually added to the plot instead of just being there for the sake of having an open-door scene. Thank you, Emma Lord!

What I struggled with: the plot felt like it wandered too much, which meant it didn't feel like there was an overall build or fall and it instead felt like we were experiencing the same rises and falls within each scene. Also, there was way too much focus on the scone side of June's business. It had me questioning if she ever served tea (or literally anything else) at a cafe that's called Tea Tide.

Overall, I thought this book was super cute. I was happy to read it and will definitely be looking at other books by Emma Lord!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ugh this was so fun. I had a few things that stopped it from being a 5 star, but overall the vibes were amazing and I really loved reading each of these characters.

I did find the pop culture references a bit CONSTANT. The main character is my age, so they were all relevant references, but even I cringed a bit.
I also felt like the start of the fake dating was incredibly abrupt, we were intro-ed to this guy who she apparently has a long history with, and all of a sudden they are fake dating?
Finally, she kept talking about her past of travelling all over the world and I just wanted to hear more about that LOL even if it was with her shitty ex! I would have liked to get some flashbacks.

However, overall - I couldn't put this down!

Super fun and cute! I’ve read all of Emma Lord’s books so far and they always deliver. A perfect summer beach read!

Emma Lord has carved out a niche in the cute romance category! I have loved all of her books and this one was just as adorable as the rest. I always look forward to her titles!

There is something special about The Break-Up Pact. The Break-Up Pact follows June and Levi, who have just gone through some very public but humiliating breakups. While the two were childhood best friends, they no longer speak to one another, though the reason why at the beginning is murky. After being spotted together, the two decide to fake-date as a way to not only get back at their respective exes but also to accomplish their goals. As time passes and their fake relationship gains traction, the waters blur for the two.

What I loved about this book was the journey that June and Levi must take before they can be together. The tension is there from the start, but that does not mean their journey was instant-love. The Break-Up pact is a story of self-growth and of finding yourself again. June and Levi are both stuck in their ways, and that is what makes the story so special. They both have their own issues which makes it feel believable. There is that "third-act breakup" but it is not really a breakup. Rather, it is a situation that is handled well and in a way that I can see many other couples handling difficult times. I highly recommend this book to all, it is a great read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffins, Emma Lord, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Break-Up Pact in exchange for my honest review.

quite a ride with this one and such fun characters!

Romance is so much fun because it’s the usual tropes that we always come back for. This one? June + Levi pretend to date — June is trying to save her shop and Levi wants his ex back.

Sometimes I struggled with all the telling and not showing portion of the book, which unfortunately was most of the first half. The second half started picking up and I really enjoyed how June grew as a character.

In the end, it did feel like it dragged a lot and I wish we got more romance than… conflict? And some of these characters felt 1-dimensional. All in all, 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Super fun and cute — a perfect summer beach read!

I love a fake dating romance, and this one didn’t disappoint. I immediately fell in love with June, Levi and the boardwalk of Benson Beach.

As sweet as one of June’s scones 🩷 Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the arc!

Emma Lord is a true queen. I was so thankful to be able to read her adult romance early - and so enjoyed it while laying by the pool! We get childhood friends with some fake dating, all after a missed connection! First, I think the premise is hilarious - two breakups go completely viral for different reasons and the two scorned lovers just happen to be childhood friends? So, in an effort to get back at their exes, they decided to fake date. Only to discover there were feelings there all along? I love it.

Romantically, this book was very quickly paced; while it can feel like a slow-burn with the character's histories, it moves along quite comfortably (and obviously encouraged by the fake dating/feelings they are putting on for the cameras). I did want to feel a bit more tension between the two - and not romantically or sexually - but in the third act breakup; it just felt a bit weak with him continuing to live with his ex and the slow unravel of his original relationship.

Personally, I appreciate the storyline around the tea shop more than his writing; it did feel a bit overkill to have both of them struggling professionally (and also romantically). But I overall did enjoy this romance and can't wait to see where Emma Lord goes with more adult romance!

Thank you to Net Galley for an early copy of The Break Up Pact by Emma Lord. I have absolutely loved Emma Lord’s past books and it was the biggest treat to have a delicious book about the beach and summer during dreary and gray winter days! This storyline follows the long term friendship of Levi and June which weathered some rifts, especially after the death of June’s older sister, Alice. June is trying to keep Tea Tide, a coastal bakery, scone shop and café afloat after her sister’s passing. When the bakery is at risk of losing its lease, June and Levi are also both in the midst of messy public break ups from famous exes. The two plot a pact to fake a public revenge on their exes and stage a relationship, also ending their long term silence. I loved the tender memories shared between old friends and the supporting role characters. The setting was palpable and so fun and perfect for the storyline too. Emma Lord crafts feel good, creative books filled with surprising and sweet (literally and figuratively!) details. I hope Emma Lord fans will preorder this gem to enjoy!

Levi and June were best friends but haven’t been close in the last ten years. They’re brought back together in a fake-dating relationship to show their recent exes, Griffin & Kelly, that they are doing fine without them after they both were publicly humiliated with the breakups that went viral.

The “revenge exes” pact is helping June keep her tea shop, Tea Tide, open with all the media attention and it’s also bringing she and Levi close again, the friendship that they have both been missing.

Will their pact work to show their exes the mistake they made or will June and Levi realize what they’ve been missing out on for the last ten years?

This was a great read. It was the perfect amount of spice, romance, fun and emotions. I would absolutely make sure this is on your TBR asap!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

This is my first time reading anything by this author, and while I enjoyed the story in this fake-dating / estranged friends to lovers / second chance romance, I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. I never felt like I fully understood what made the main characters tick, and I wanted to get to know some of the secondary characters more, but they were just kind of “there” and didn’t add much to the story. That being said, I will try another book from this author as there were some really well-written scenes as well as humor throughout that I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me the opportunity to read The Break-Up pact!

I’ve enjoyed Emma Lord’s work in the past, but this one unfortunately did not work for me. The romance felt clogged and wrung out with overdone tropes like. The characters weren’t all that compelling. Particularly, I was disappointed with the MC’s portrayal as someone with no confidence, who is not sure of herself, who undervalues herself, and who settled on dating a man for 10 years who never told her he loved her. WHAT!? It is 2024. If there is any avenue where women should be consistently portrayed as strong and full of courage even when they have room to grow into this areas, it is romance books!

The syntax and plot as a whole felt burdened by too many unnecessary details, which ultimately displaced the important ones to strange places within the plot. The ‘revelation’ section at the end after everything is sorted out felt way too long for how long the rest of the story was.

While I wanted to Emily this romance set in a sunny, adorable beach town, I was ultimately disappointed by the structure and characters. If you want something quick and easy to read, this might be for you. It wasn’t for me.

Two stars: ⭐️⭐️

I gotta stop finishing books at 3 am, and then falling asleep because I always forget.

The idea of this was really cute but not really excused well? I think a lot of it comes down to the mmc not being fully in love with her the whole time. Like if the man isn't secertly pinning the whole time it's not worth it, he literally just wanted to be a revenge ex to get back with his ex and it wasn't working.

I also don't like the ending, it's still a happy ending, but in a way, it feels too compromised. Not the relationship but their lives outside of it. I just left me unfulfilled and upset for them.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for honest review.

The Break Up Pact is a fake dating, second chance, beachy romance between two childhood friends who have always lived by everyone else’s expectations. June lives on the beach and runs the tea shop that her late sister opened. It’s failing, just like her last relationship.

Levi had a ten year plan that was derailed when his fiancé cheated on him. Wanting to find himself again, he moves back to his hometown for a few weeks to try to get back on track.

I loved the start of the book and the ruse of the Revenge Exs. I felt like the relationship was really growing until Levi’s ex showed up and the miscommunication began. June literally ran. Literally. Numerous times. The way that she was so stuck in her head felt immature and frustrating. Everyone around her could see what was happening, but she was so lost in her thoughts.

I did love how the book ended. It was a slightly convoluted professional ending, but strong relationally.

Thank you NetGalley for the early read of this summery beach read.

I've read and loved everything I've read by Emma Lord and this book was no exception! It was a delightful book that hit a so many different emotions. From tears of grief to the joys of new love to the "Yes girl!" of rediscovering who you are, this book was it! Highly recommend!

I didn’t care for this story. It started slow and was extremely long when it didn’t need to be. It had cute swoony moments, but overall it felt all over the place. There were many storylines and it started to get disconnected. The characters had their moments, but overall I was ready for the book to be finished.

Didn't finish. Wasn't bad, just felt very YA and didn't connect with the characters or plot. Like we are supposed to believe 2 exes both had public break ups go viral within weeks of each other. Just wasn't for me.