This book was so good. I didn’t stop reading until I was done! It was a relatable heart warming story that had be tearing up at some scenes and laughing out at others. This is the first book I have read by this author but I can’t wait to read more!

So, this didn't work for me at all. I never felt any kind of connection between the two main characters and the third-act break up almost made me throw somthing.

So, we have two friends from high school who haven't seen each other in about ten years. They've both gone through public break-ups, where they have both been on the 'dumped' side of the equation. I still don't really understand or care how either of these break-ups went 'viral' but that's not the problem.

The problem is the two leads (I literally don't remember their names) are both stupid.

June is running a tea shop and Levi is pretending to write a book.

Levi is back in their hometown and is sitting out side June's tea shop. She says some dumb things without knowing he's there and it's all really overly dramatic. I'd been thinking they were both in their mid-twenties at best, I honestly assumed they were both fresh out of college or something for how childish June acted for most of the book. Anyway. It's clear there's 'something' between them and their little reunion is filled with tension and a bit of awkwardness.

But then in the very next chapter they're acting like nothing happened and they're BFFs again. It's so strange. Anyway. They have this brilliant idea to fake date so that June will get more business at the tea shop and Levi can win his ex back. Yeah. That's. That's the whole plan. We all know what's going to happen. Anyway.

So, decide to stage fake dates, and June's friend documents them and 'leaks' the pictures on social media. I'm too old for this kind of thing. Honestly, they were too old for this kind of thing. They're 28 and 29. What?

Levi and June now have to plan her brother's gay wedding. Why? Who knows. The plot knows. The plot had to make up stupid reasons for these two idiots to spend time together. So, they go cake taste testing. And they go to a club to see if the DJs good. Because everyone knows, that a club and a wedding reception are the same thing. Oh, and they KNOW this is a good DJ because he knows the exact moment the crowd is hyped up enough to play Uptown Funk. *eye roll* You're a bunch of twenty-something white people. You can play Uptown Funk at anytime and you'll probably go crazy. Give me a break.

Can we also discuss the wedding cake? I hope I read something wrong, and I'm definitely not here to critique anyone's wedding vision. I really don't care what you do, as long as the couple loves it, but I want to know in what world a cake, frosted in blue and yellow looks good paired with red roses? I'm trying not to judge, but I'm utterly baffled.

There were supposed to be five dates. I remember 3... I think. None of them were necesssary. None of them were fun. I'm so confused by what this book wanted to be. So many people have it tagged as slow-burn but June was lusting after him from their second encounter and Levi was more than flirty with her the whole time. There was no slow burning. There was no longing, no lingering glances, no almost touches. It was 100% toucjy-feeling fake dating from the moment they both agreed to the idea.

I can't talk much about the second half of the book without spoiling it. But, like Tweet Cute (which I really didn't enjoy either) it felt like the book didn't know when to end. And the third act conflict/break up was so childish. I understand that June was hurt, but the way she handled was so stupid. I honestly was going to give the book two stars until that plot point. It honestly just showed that June hadn't grown at all through the book.

Overall, the book was okay. Some of the banter between June and Levi was okay. Most of the book I struggled with. I never really understood the motivations the main characters had, or what they really wanted. Even the ending left me disappointed.

I'm sure TONS of people are going to love this, but I was not one of those people.

(This review is also posted at Goodreads)

This is your classic romance- friends to lovers, second chance romance trope. I loved the beach setting and the locally owned tea shop. The TikTok and current social media references in the story were a bit cringe.

The story lacked a bit of depth, and I personally didn’t feel the chemistry between June and Levi. Things moved too quickly

This would be the perfect summer beach read

I always love Emma lord's books. But this one... I just couldn't get in to the characters! The beginning was sooo slow and nothing felt very original... This one just wasn't for me.

It is always fun to read an Emma Lord book. They are just feel good books. I loved this story of two old friends coming back together in this fun fakeship. It is a fun read for sure.

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