June just got humiliatingly dumped by her boyfriend of 10 years on national television. She's trying to build her life back up but the curious masses are making life at her seaside tea shop impossible. Meanwhile, Levi, one of her high school best friends and crush with whom she hasn't spoken in 10 years, is also in town after his fiance very publicly cheated on him with one of the biggest superstars on the planet. A random snap of them together gets shared on the internet and blows up so they decide to pretend to be dating in order to get June's shop back on track and Levi's fiance to realize what she's missing. Except things aren't that simple and emotions long buried refuse to be ignored any longer.

Emma Lord never disappoints. Her stories are always funny and emotional and focused on the deep connections that friendship and shared experiences create. Her heroines have to face up to the truths of their lives and not only rise to the occasion, they crush it, all while slowly and deliciously falling in love with someone that you just know is perfect for them.

You know June and Levi are going to end up together from the first moment they interact on the page, yet even knowing the ending, the journey to them voicing their feelings and acting on them is a great read. The mandatory drama of will-they, won't-they moments are handled very well by Lord in that it feels serious enough to be a bump but not big enough that you can see June and Levi not ending up together.

It's a very sweet and romantic story that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the sweet romance read!

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

This was a super cute romance! I loved the small town romance aspects of it, especially the fact that it was a beach town with a cute tea business. The setting was probably my favorite part of all of it! Of course I also really enjoyed the fake dating part of the plot. That trope never disappoints :)

The overall plot was very unique. Both of the main characters go viral during their breakups and then fake date to get back at them. It was pretty predictable, but honestly most romance books are and there wasn’t anything bad about this book.

This is the third book I’ve read by Emma Lord, and it matched my expectations. I’d only read her ya novels before this. I still liked it, but it did read a little younger than a usual adult book would, although that makes sense due to her being a ya author.

I’ve really enjoyed Emma Lord’s YA novels (literally purchased Tweet Cute for my niece’s birthday about 6 hours ago) so I don’t know why I was nervous about jumping into her adult debut - I loved it. I loved Levi and June’s history, I loved their friendships with the other characters, I loved the familial bonds that were layered in. I wish Annie had been a little more fleshed out, however I think that also would have slowed down a very well-paced novel…so I’m not mad! Emma Lord was already an insta-buy for me, but this just cemented that no matter the genre I’ll read it and love it.

This one was not the romance for me. I felt like things were both very slow and very undetailed. I stopped reading at 50% and did not post a review anywhere online so I didn't hurt ratings.

I'm honestly surprised my second-hand embarrassment let me get through this book - which starts with both main characters experiencing viral breakups - but I ended up really enjoying The Break-Up Pact!

The estrangement between June and Levi felt very realistic to me, as they both dealt differently with the grief from losing June's sister. It wasn't quite enemies to lovers, but a spin off - estranged childhood best friends to lovers. My heart broke over and over for June and Levi, but it was still a very sweet romance, with great chemistry and scenes that give you butterflies in your stomach.

I'll definitely be reading more from Emma Lord!

I was confused this whole book. Maybe I missed the whole beginning section but I didn’t understand what was going on. I didn’t feel the connection with the two until the last part of the book. But I could go for a scone right now.

I have loved all the previous Emma Lord books I’ve read, and while this was a quick read it did fall a little flat for me. I enjoyed the setting and the side characters (Sana was hilarious). Even the romance premise was good - two former best friends coming back together with fake dating! But there was so much deep rooted conflict between them I had a hard time picturing their HEA. I think the themes of grief were poignant - but it was too much on top of the cheating exes.

I was expecting a light hearted rom-com and was surprised by the depths this storyline reached. Yes childhood friends and fake dating are at the forefront, but the conversation and depiction of grief is what really captured my attention and heart! I was invested in June’s story, from navigating heartbreak to the honest depiction of friendships and how she processed grief weaved throughout it all. Levi was fun and sweet but also complex and confused in his own way, that made the story more messy and real! The tea shop itself felt like it was a main character and I couldn’t help but want a scone and sit by the shoreline! Having said that, Griffin is the worstttt and I’m pretty sure I haven’t disliked a character as much as him, in a very long time! Overall, a really great read!

June and Levi were absolutely adorable!

Both end up going viral for break ups, June on the more unfortunate end as "crying girl". They are both back home and trying to patch up their friendship and their life. They end up starting a fake relationship (one of my favorite tropes) and no surprise, things take off from there. If you are looking for a warm and fuzzy beach read this is the one!

The story has a lot of humor and great banter between the characters. Although I would personally consider it more of a Young Adult read.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the Arc in exchange for an honest review!

The Breakup pack by Emma Lord centered in a New York beach town was so much fun! Also, June’s tea shop, Tea Tide, was the charmiest thing and it would only have been more perfect if it were a tea/book shop. The setting, the characters and the town, were lovely and made me fully want to visit this cute little seaside town in real life.

June and Levi were a fun couple to get to follow through their story. June certainly had her fair share of problems, including trying to live up to her sister’s memory and guard her heart from the guy who broke it 10 years ago. Levi was so sweet, and I felt for him. I have to say that I got so frustrated that he kept trying to make it work with his ex. She clearly wanted him there "just in case" and I felt he was more like "I guess this is what I am supposed to be with" kind of situation. I just wanted him to fall head over heels for June right away, The fake dating trope was fun, as it was a way to make their exes jealous, but also a way for June and Levi to reconnect after a 10 year estrangement.

Lord’s trademark heart-warming family drama, sweet romance, and a good amount of funny moments kept things interesting through the book.

thank you Netgalley and Griffin for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Super cute adult romance debut from Emma Lord! Definitely more contemporary than romcom but I feel like that's the usual vibe of Emma's books and what I expect from her. I loved the plot of it, along with the fake dating trope though as much as there was a bit of a slow burn I feel like I missed the *Slow* slow burn I love to read in Emma's books. I did come away feeling like I wanted a bit more from the book. I think there could've been a bit more depth mostly in the characters but also a bit in the plot. I would've loved to see a bit more in-depth conversations between the two mc's, also honestly between June and her brother. Also Sana (the best friend) honestly stole the show for me, which I didn't have a problem with. Loved her as a character. It was definitely a good quick summer read and I'm curious to see more from Emma in the adult romance category.

Two former best friends reconnect for a fake dating friends to strangers to lovers. I love the depth the characters each had especially their flaws. However there was so many miscommunication issues from high school to present times. I just wish they talked more

this was a really cute book! i really enjoyed the writing style, as well as the pacing for the actual relationship itself. the ending fell a bit flat for me personally, but overall a good read!

thank you to st. martins and netgalley for the advanced copy!

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Good Morning, Cupcake!”
"Oh, absolutely not."
"Stud Muffin?"
"I take back what I said about rules. I draw the line at desert based nicknames"
"Sugar Plum?"
"We'll workshop it."

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC. Emma Lord is an author I've received several eARC's from, and she's never let me down, so any time I see her name pop back up its an instant grab for me.

The books I've read from her prior were both YA, so it was fun to dive into her steamy side, and I like that it wasn't overwhelmingly explicit. Slow burn in a really good way, but I'll be the first to admit that friends to lover isn't my preferred trope. I had hopes that because of how much I love Emma Lord's writing, it would carry me through the story, but sadly I just really miss the tension that comes with rivals/enemies.

I feel like Levi was very clear on his intentions and his feelings, and found that June often jumped to conclusions in a juvenile way. Also, going on the TV show in spite, just because Levi talked to his ex again? I understand he should have reached out sooner to tell her himself, but I also can see that because the ex stopped at the bakery first, he assumed June already knew.

In addition, I think the sabotage subplot with June's ex was a little disappointing. I feel like at times it was trying to much and wished the the main plot focused more on their relationship and healing from the loss of June's sister. It think that is where the climax should have lived but it at times felt like a sub-plot, and the other the moments seemed to be louder even though they weren't as important.

Don't get me wrong the story was beautiful. The characters are well rounded, and a shared grief background added an additional layer to their relationship, and was a theme I haven't found much. But with that, I think that the miscommunication and jealousy that comes with the trope is what just really pushes me away at times.

This story truly thrived with the interactions between June and Levi, when everything else faded away except their support of one another. It gave this sense of "knowing" each other so deeply, they could respond to each others needs.

I think this book will be a beautiful read to add to any contemporary romance fan's shelf, and this will remain at the top of my list for those looking for a Friends to Lovers story regardless of my criticisms, because I think it was so much fun, and Emma Lord is just an author everyone needs in their library.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Hilarious and Heartwarming Rom-Com

Emma Lord's The Break-Up Pact is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that will have you laughing out loud and swooning. The story follows June and Levi, two former friends who reunite under unexpected circumstances. Their plan to fake a relationship to get back at their exes leads to hilarious and heartwarming situations.

Lord's witty banter and relatable characters make for a captivating read. The supporting cast adds depth and humor to the story, creating a vibrant and engaging world. The author skillfully explores themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, delivering a satisfying and emotionally resonant narrative.

The audiobook narration is fantastic, bringing the characters to life and adding to the overall enjoyment of the story. The narrators capture the wit and charm of the characters, making the listening experience even more delightful.

The Break-Up Pact is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. It's a perfect blend of humor, heart, and heartfelt moments.

4 stars

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This was a cute fake dating romance. It was fun and had good banter. However, it moved a little too quick for me. I felt like the background and connection with the characters just hit for me.

I love fake dating!
This was a cute rom com that also dealt with grief.
I really liked both main characters.
I felt that they both grew and learned how to communicate what they wanted and needed.
Levi did annoy me at times with his decisions, but I was glad that June was able to call him out and explain how she felt.
I loved the beach town vibe.
This was a really cute book and I would definitely recommend it!

Teens will love this one. However as an adult reader I found this one fairly predictable but as a teen I don't think I would have.

It's cute, but it's not giving me romance novel. There's a hot scene and some romance-y vibes near the end of the book but throughout the story I dont' buy that these two are madly in love and the faking it portion is torture for either of them. It seems the opposite.