This has been my favorite Emma Lord novel yet! In this romantic comedy, two childhood friends - June and Levi - both end up experiencing very public breakups. With the advice of a friend, they agree to fake date to help their images. In the process, they rekindle their friendship, work through the aftermath of a shared loss, and find themselves and who they were meant to be.

The characters in this novel were likable and their interactions with each other were entertaining. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments (angry carrots) and the sexual tension between Levi and June was palpable. The other characters were also well written and I enjoyed their side stories. And, as usual, the author included descriptions of amazing food - this time, scones.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St.Martin’sPress for an eARC of #TheBreak-UpPact by #EmmaLord in exchange for honest feedback.
-4.5 stars rounded to 5

I read this one, in one day, in one sitting. It was Emma Lord's best one yet. I was IN MY FEELS all day, and still can't stop thinking about the chemistry between Levi and June. Two people left to grieve the loss of their best friend and sister, respectively. We often don't take the time to recognize the people around us working to bring their dreams to life; it's easy to be wrapped up in living our own lives. Always thinking- later, one day, after I, when this... but the truth is as one of my favorite podcasters @kaciaghetmari says "our days are numbered and we don't know the count." When June's sister, Annie dies, June is left to run the beachside tea/scone shop, "Tea Tide," that Annie brought to life. Not only does she lose her sister, but she becomes a viral "Crying Girl Meme," when her boyfriend dumps her on reality tv. Grateful to the boost in business June but sick of the constant requests to do "the face," June knows she has to figure something else out to keep her sister's dream alive. Annie's childhood bestie, and June's high school crush, Levi Shaw also suffers public humiliation when his fiancé cheats on him with one of the sexiest men alive and he returns home to finish his manuscript. June's bestie has the perfect plan and dubs them "the Revenge Exes," staging a fake relationship to boost June's business and to entice Levi's jealous ex to want him back. Their plan is easily executed as the heat between them is undeniable. In the staged moments, yes, but even more in the unstaged moments when they think no one is watching - the way they look at each other, make one another blush, the tender way they touch. This book reminds us that our time here isn't guaranteed and to make sure we are living each moment to the fullest, to not do what we think we should, but to really discover what it is we want and to put it all on the line for that. Grief is something that bonds us, and while grief is something we never get over it's better to weather together. While June and Levi's chemistry radiates off the pages, their plan works.... she's busier than ever with Tea Tide, and his ex is jealous. While their plan goes accordingly, they both have to figure out what it is they really truly want.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book early in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 *s
Fake dating with a side of real emotions and a hilarious best friend? Sign me UP!

After June’s sister passes away, she moves back to Benson Beach to take over the tea shop that her sister started, something she was putting off in order to keep up with her adventurous boyfriend. That was two years ago. Now, she’s on the brink of failure, and that boyfriend of 10 years just admitted he cheated on her and is leaving her on national television. Can’t get much worse right? Then the episode goes viral and now strangers are bombarding her tea shop asking if she can cry for them so they can take a picture. Then her childhood friend, Levi, shows up, also having been recently virally dumped and looking for an escape. When they get caught in a precarious situation, the world now thinks they’re dating… and why should they correct them? It’s the greatest revenge story… as long as they don’t fall for each other before this is all over.

“For a place that sells tea, you’re awfully reluctant to spill any of it.” > The start of my love for Sana
“Levi hasn’t been on Facebook since Obama was in office.” >The more time passes, the funnier this gets.

Right off the bat, I really liked this book. June is at a low point in her life, and yet she is still able to stand up for herself to a rude customer - which anyone who’s worked in the service industry LIVES for. She makes scones based around events in her life, and comes up with wacky flavors that somehow always work (if someone could make me a Redbull and Pringles scone, I’d appreciate that, thanks!) The romance between her and Levi is a slow burn, even with the book being a quick read. It’s sweet, steamy, and romantic. Both of the love interests need to grow and do so throughout the story. The side characters actually have depth, and Lord’s writing at some points made me have to set the book down and process the emotions I had just experienced. It’s self-aware, hilarious and emotional.

Sana is by far my favorite character and has the best lines. Spin off for Sana, please??

(Spoliers may be below)
I have two main criticisms, the first being I would have liked to see more effort from June to reconnect with Dylan earlier in the book. She’s so focused on her past with Annie and Levi, that it feels like she forgets that Dylan was there too, and is still there now. The second is so minor and I’m sure most other people won’t think about it but because my wife is a baker, I know a little thing or two. Poprocks in the scones? And they don’t go off until you bite into it, and not during the baking process? Not likely. It pulled me out of the story, unfortunately, but if you don’t know, or are able to look past that, it’s not an issue.

Content Warnings
Death of a family member, grief, cheating

Annotation Guide
Green - Positive Notes
Red - Critiques
Yellow - General reactions/commentary
Blue - Gramatical/Plot related notes

Cute idea, lovable characters and predictable plot make for an easy, fun read! Nothing too profound, but that is not why we pick up cozy romances.

Without giving spoilers, there was a portion in the middle where the love interest seemed to be acting confusingly out of character in my opinion, which I found frustrating but it was short-lived and I didn’t let it impact my overall enjoyment.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s and Emma Lord for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest reviews

Emotionally charming second chance romance set in a quaint seaside town.

This was much more emotionally involved than I believed it to be based on the blurb. It was hilarious at times and deeply charged the next. The MCs are dealing with some very real tragedies and embarrassments that you can’t help but feel for them. I was rooting for them almost immediately.

The way that our FMC dealt with gaslighting and self0esteem was so relatable. I almost threw my kindle at one point when she was dealing with her ex. He made me so furious I felt like a friend ready to show my loyalty.

I really enjoyed the small town feel of the setting. The author had a wonderful way of describing the scenery that had me believing I was running in the sand, by the beach with the MC’s.

This review lacks in description but this book makes up for it all in feel good emotions and well written work. I will be looking into this authors other work.

Cute story, but a slow build. The characters are likable enough, but the first person narration leaves the character development a bit lacking. It was a bit over-narrated at times, with too much detail on the details that didn’t need the most focus.
Overall, a decent read- but not a favorite of the genre

ARC Review

Cute and quirky romance that you can use as a palate cleanser but, as a whole, it just didn’t do it for me.

Fresh off of 2 very public breakups, June and Levi form a fake-dating pact to basically save face and get the media to move on, along with helping June generate enough business to save her failing business. The kink in this plan is that June and Levi were friends that haven’t spoken in 10 years. You can tell instantly that there’s a ton of, most likely, misunderstanding and lack of communication that caused the rift.

The author tried to make the book angsty, but even the angst wasn’t believable. I just didn’t connect with these characters. It wasn’t a terrible book, it’s one of those that you will read quickly and probably not remember much of. I don’t think it’s ever going to be a 5 star must read for anyone, and not one I’d add to my list of re-reads. But if you’re just wanting quick and quirky read, give this one a try, just keep in mind it’s full of all the typical cliches.

This was my first time reading anything by Emma Lord and while this one didn’t hit all the marks for me, I’d give her writing another chance.

The main character may have an aversion to desserts, but this book is chock-full of sweetness! The premise of the book was cute and the characters were lovely and funny. I prefer a book with a bit more angst in order to get to the happy ending, but anyone who likes light and sweet romances will eat this up!

I picked up 'The Break-Up Pact' by Emma Lord hoping for a fun, easy read, and that's exactly what I got - nothing too groundbreaking, but not disappointing either.

The book revolves around June and Levi, two high school friends whose messy breakups become social media sensations. When a rumor spreads online suggesting they're a couple, they decide to go along with it for their own reasons, leading to a rekindling of old feelings.

I'm a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope, and the setting of a beach town added a cozy touch to the story. However, I found the constant emphasis on the characters' physical attraction and connection to be a bit overdone. It's like, okay, we get it, they're into each other—no need to keep hammering that point home.

My main issue with the book was June. Right from the start, her judgmental attitude grated on me, making it hard to fully get into the story. It's tough to enjoy a book when you can't really connect with the main character, you know?

That said, there were still some sweet moments in the story that I enjoyed, and overall, it was a decent read. If you're in the mood for a light-hearted romance with a beachy setting, "The Break-Up Pact" might be worth checking out.

I am a romance lover at heart. I really enjoyed June and Levi's story. I thought the build up to the love relationship was well written, and engaging. It pulled me in and I was rooting for them. I absolutely loved the dealing with grief and taking time to figure out their "stuff" aspect of the story. I gave it a rating of 4* because, I didn't quite understand the reasoning or believability of Nancy not renewing the lease. Honestly, that whole portion of the story kind of fell flat for me, but overall I'd recommend this book to romance lovers that love a happy ending.

I was looking for a light and easy read when I came across this book, and it was just that—nothing more, nothing less. The book was well-written, and the plot was a pretty standard trope: two childhood best friends (June and Levi) pretend to date to make their exes jealous and you can guess the ending... Although this was mostly a fun read (with a beach setting to lighten up the atmosphere), June obviously needs to do some character development before she can have her happy ending. In this case, she must come to terms with her sister’s death and figure out what makes her happy in life. Both June and Levi appeared to have coasted through life without making any choices for themselves and instead letting others dictate how they live their lives. This flaw led me to like them both a little less-- it allowed them to blame past mistakes on others without holding themselves accountable for their indecision. I think this was somewhat acknowledged at the end and part of their growth journey throughout the book. Hopefully they get it figured out, because two indecisive people in one relationship sounds like a nightmare!
To summarize: a perfectly fine light read that provides a good escape with some nice scenery. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you NetGalley and SMP for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the main character, June and seeing her work through her own grief while also fighting for her own happiness.

It is a light and fun summer read with fun main characters as well as supporting characters (Sana and Mateo were my faves).

However, the premise of the book and why the fake dating is convenient feels very far fetched and i don’t know that I ever fully moved past it.

Still a fun little read, but don’t expect plot perfection.

3.5 ⭐️

Emma Lord's The Break-Up Pact is a lovely second chance romance novel. This story follows childhood friends June, the tea loving crying meme, and Levi, the writer and NYC money guy. While I love a second chance/friends to lovers romance, I couldn't help but be slightly bothered right in the beginning by the fact that Levi was still debating going back with his cheating fiance (and wasn't fully separated) when he started his "relationship" with June.

Overall, this was a cute and quick read, but something in the plot felt like a miss for me (though I can't put my finger on it). I would still recommend this novel as a read for anyone who enjoys a good old friends to lovers romance, and I look forward to checking out more of Emma's books💜

Read this book if you enjoy

💜 Friends to lovers
💜 Second chance romance
💜 Slow burn
💜 Beachy
💜 Small town
💜 Scones

Thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Emma Lord for this ARC!

I absolutely DEVOURED this book! Not only is it a sweet love story, but it also dives into being stuck in grief. This story is cute, funny, heartfelt, and downright beautiful!

The main characters haven’t spoken for ten years and after both dealing with viral and very humiliating breakups due to dating celebrities, they’re both in the limelight.

June’s business is struggling to make ends meet and when the landlord comes in saying she’s not sure she’ll be able to sign another lease, she needs to find a way to keep her late sister’s tea and scone shop open for good. Levi ends up in town, escaping New York for a bit, to try and finish a manuscript he’s been writing. They end up seeing each other and talking and accidentally go viral again for a misunderstood leaked photo someone took of them on the beach and now the internet thinks they’re a couple.

June’s best friend, Sana, (love her and I need more of her 😂) says they should fake date so they can both rebuild their reputations and get what they want: June gets more customers in the door and Levi will make his ex realize her mistake.

They end up going on fake dates and the more time they spend together, the more the feelings from ten years ago come up.

Reading the story was so great and I cannot recommend this enough! Be sure to add this to your tbr! This is the first book I’ve read by Emma Lord and I definitely will be reading more! 🩵

The Break-up Pact was a cute, fun romance! Definitely a nice palate cleanser from all the thrillers I read!

I loved the premise of the story - two close friends that grew up together reconnect and find love. However, the story is written in a way where June, the main character, is monologuing her thoughts throughout the story rather than sucking the reader in and enabling us to "feel" it firsthand. I wish the chapters would have switched between June and Levi's perspectives. Instead, It read more like the June's diary.

I had high hopes for this title having really enjoyed Emma Lord's work before. However, this one did not live up to her previous books, in my opinion. I found the characters a bit too archetypal and the miscommunications really hard to fathom (these are adults! just talk!) which led to some frustrations. But it's a perfectly service romance book that hits all the major beats, so if you generally enjoy the genre, it isn't bad by any means. Just...nothing special.

4.5 stars

Oh how I love you, childhood friends to lovers trope.

Bringing meme culture and tik tok virality into a book is terrifying and has the potential to go so badly but this book did a super good job of it. It didn’t feel at all like someone trying to write about tik tok trends who has never actually experienced a tik tok trend, as I feel like most mentions of social media in books do.

June was frustrating me some, but then she took a moment to herself and figured it out. Levi seems like such a sweetheart. Horrified that he hates desserts because that’s a crime, but I love him just the same.

The way that this book touched on the intense grief that June was feeling but in such a delicate way was beautiful. She was obviously struggling, but it all still felt so hopeful.

As I say with every single pov romance that I read: I think it would’ve been better as dual pov. Levi is a writer, I just know his inner monologue would’ve been great.

Overall, really good, interesting, and different way to hash out the friends to lovers trope. Definitely recommend.

Cheesy and predictable but an absolutely adorable romance! Overall slower paced and could’ve used a little more depth. But again - gobbled it up and it was overall enjoyable.

This is the first book I have read by Emma Lord, but it won't be my last. So many tropes that I love wrapped up in a cozy, warm romance with just a touch of spice. Second chance love, friends to lovers, and fake dating create a recipe for success. The characters you will fall in love with, and can't wait to see their happy ever after, along with a cast of friends and family that are close and supportive. The exes you love to hate, all of this makes a story that I didn't want to end. I would read another book just to experience them live their every day lives! Amazing job.