This was absolutely adorable! The author did a wonderful job of capturing the emotion and beauty in this story without being overly dramatic or wordy. It came out absolutely perfect and I enjoyed this story immensely! Can’t wait to read more from her, she rocked this!

To be honest this book was a slow start for me but picked up about a third of the way through. I loved reading about Levi and June’s past and what they had before while they day dreamed of days long ago. Overall 3/5 cause I did get a little bored toward the end but definitely a light, flirty, and fun read.

With a fake dating trope, The Break-Up Pact offers a second chance at love between two childhood best friends. Throw in the fact that they’ve been thrust into the viral social spotlight after each were brutally dumped from their significant others, their lives are complicated. Adding to the already tense situation, both are still emotionally recovering from the loss of June’s sister, Annie. #emotionaloverload 🤯

While the premise of this book had all the makings of a solid romantic comedy beach read, the banter and tension between the FMC and MMC fell short, which made connecting with the romance a struggle. Also, the humor just wasn’t there for me. It was over descriptive like the author was trying very forcefully to be funny. 🥴 Although a slow start, the book does pick up in the middle and ends up being a quick read. It overall missed the mark for me, but I do think there’s potential with the right audience.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was my first Emma Lord book. I thought it was an overall cute read. I'll admit, at first I was a little turned off by the synopsis because of the mentions of TikTok and social media. The Break-Up Pact turned out to be a lot deeper than I anticipated. The main character, June, is coping with the death of her sister, Annie. She and Levi have a deep relationship from the past, so it almost feels like a second-chance romance. It did get a little cheesy at times, but the ending was very sweet.

I was excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint! This sweet romance included childhood friends, fake dating, and second chances. I enjoyed watching June and Levi's story unfold as their relationship developed. The insecurities and quirks, as well as growth throughout the book, make these characters relatable. The secondary characters provided a great cast with humorous moments and more scheming. The adorable tea shop on the beach makes it a perfect beach read!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book is about two former bffs- Levi and June- who find themselves in similar circumstances following breakups with their significant others. The two enter into a pact to pretend to date to get redemption from their individual public breakups. The pact rekindles an old unspoken flame and their story is heartwarming with a side of humor. I enjoyed the characters in this book and would read other titles from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review..

I enjoyed parts of this book, there were some cute moments and I found the cover stunning. I did struggle a little bit with their chemistry and didn’t love the entire book. I would still recommend to the right person

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Griffin for the eARC. This book included some of my favorite tropes: fake dating, revenge, and childhood friends to lovers. I was so excited to read it with those tropes in mind as I love a good romcom.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the characters, particularly Levi and his behavior and the lack of response from the FMC. He was obsessive about his ex and even basically justified her cheating? What was going on there. I couldn’t get into this after that and even though I finished the book I wasn’t invested. This wasn’t my cup of tea.

Now this was a cute dazzling edible little romance !!

"I tuck the feeling into my heart and step out into the sweet summer air. For the first time in a long time ,I don't dread the mountain of work ahead of me. For the first time in a long time, I see what might be on the other side of it , and love every inch of the view"

The Break-Up Pact is a slow burn romance with such likeable characters that will charm you off your feet.

June has just broken up with Griffin and is trying to keep afloat her sister Annie who had recently passed away cafe the Tea Tide which serves delectable scones !

Meanwhile Levi has just gone through a terrible break-up and he finds himself back in Benson Beach where his long time school friend June resides.

June and Levi get the notion from their friend Sana to stage a "Revenge of the Ex's" exploiting photos all over social media and what transpires next is a delightful little cat and mouse chase romance .

The Break-Up Pact is the perfect palate cleanser which is the ideal read for any summer beach setting or vacation rendezvous !

Fans of Hallmark settings , readers of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren will gobble The Break-Up Pact up!

SO GOOD!!! 4 stars!!

The Break-Up Pact is truly such a fun and cute but real story. The premise of the book that initiates the fake dating was so much fun to read and made me stay invested, while simultaneously the relationship dynamics between Levi and June was so real and deep. The Break-Up Pact is the perfect easy read set in the summer that will put a smile on your face! Emma Lord has a way of writing funny and adorable characters that she puts in real life situations that create intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict, definitely check out her other books!

This book has everything: fake dating, an adorable tea shop, a second chance romance, and a proper appreciation for a man being elbow deep in scone dough. But really, I loved so much about this book. The main characters, June and Levi, are both precious humans who clearly feel so much for each other. From their first interaction there is so much clear longing and angst, but it takes a fake dating ploy (one of my favorite tropes) for them to finally explore their feelings and the breakdown of their friendship in high school. The book also does a phenomenal job of exploring the different ways grief can change a person. June and Levi are both reeling from the loss of June's sister Annie, and they explore those feelings in such messy, realistically human ways. This book was so tender and funny, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves the second chance romance trope. Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Lord, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Break-Up Pact is a sweet romance centered around grief and moving on after loss. Annie's death still deeply effects June and Levi and their everyday decisions. Without ever meeting her on page, you can feel the shape of where Annie should be. Even though this book deals with some heavy subject matter, it is focused on healing.

June and Levi are very cute together. I loved all of the side characters and wish we'd gotten a little more of them, because I was not ready to goodbye to Benson Beach.

I'm looking forward to picking up a physical copy. The Break-Up Pact is definitely going to be a book I reread when I need something emotional but sweet.

I am not so sure that Emma Lord and I are meant to be compatible. Something about the writing style makes me want to love it, but it never winds up working in my favor.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord. This book gave me time to really feel like a part of Benson Beach and to see the characters develop. I wish I could visit Tea Tide in real life!

In Emma Lord's novel, The Break-Up Pact, readers are transported to a charming small town where the boundary between fiction and reality becomes blurred, thanks to her vivid storytelling and well-crafted characters. Lord's ability to capture the essence of small-town life, with its intricate web of rumors and hushed love stories, is simply mesmerizing. As the narrative unfolds, readers are engrossed in a world where characters feel authentic and relatable. One aspect of the book that stands out is Lord's skillful use of imagery during an intimate scene between the two main characters. Without resorting to explicit descriptions, Lord employs imagery that is both evocative and sensual, leaving readers with a feeling of desire and longing. This scene is a testament to Lord's prowess as a writer, as she delicately balances passion and propriety, creating a moment that is both steamy and tender. Furthermore, Lord's exploration of small-town dynamics is insightful and accurate. She delves into the complexities of relationships, social hierarchies, and the impact of gossip on individuals. The characters are not merely pawns in the story; they are fully developed individuals with their own motivations and struggles. Readers will find themselves rooting for the protagonists as they navigate the challenges of love, friendship, and self-discovery. In conclusion, Emma Lord's novel is a well-crafted and engaging read that captures the essence of small-town life with remarkable accuracy. The characters are relatable and fully realized, and the intimate scene is tastefully handled, leaving readers with a lingering sense of desire. Lord's exploration of small-town dynamics is intelligent and insightful, making this a must-read for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a touch of heat.

Although this was in many ways a typical rom com, I appreciated that it included some more serious themes such as loss and grief, and went into detail of the career-focus of the female main character, whereas often the inclusion of a career feels perfunctory. The characters handled emotions like adults, while keeping some elements of a fantasy rom com. I would much rather my students read this than many of the rom coms they prefer, and I will likely buy a copy for our library.

4.5 stars! literally read this book in a day (literally a few hours, i couldn't put it down). in all fairness it is very short, but it was exactly what i was looking for.

for me, both friends to lovers and fake dating can be hit or miss. i think both were done really well here! i enjoyed both levi and june's stories and i think the way they work through their grief is a nice touch to add a little more depth to the book.

only reason why i'm not giving it five stars is because i thought the pacing/timeline was odd at times, like some events should have been switched. however, i truly enjoyed this book. i think anyone who likes emily henry will enjoy emma lord! i'm looking forward to reading some of her other works.

thank you to netgalley and everyone involved for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The characters in this book were really likable. I wish there was a littke more romance or that the relationship progressed more than it did. I feel like thing started picking up around 50% of the way through.

Wish there was less time spent at the tea shop

3.5 stars, rounded up! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The first half or so of the book, it wasn’t feeling like it was for me, BUT, I’m so glad I kept reading! I’m someone who's not a fan of social media or celebrity/viral moments, so I struggled with the more manufactured moments for virality at the beginning, despite their very real chemistry. That said, the book ended up being so much more than that! I loved seeing Levi and June’s journeys, both independently and together as they navigated a rocky time for each of them personally and professionally. Author Emma Lord did an incredible job of exploring the complexity of childhood friendships while getting older, miscommunications, and navigating the different stages of grief. I was so pleased with both Levi and June’s growth and development throughout the story and was more than happy with the ending! Lastly, I loved the small town and the group of long-time friends and community members; they filled out the book and made it even more enjoyable. I’d love to see a spinoff in Benson Beach, maybe even a prequel about Dylan and Mateo! Overall, a great read. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was, at its heart, okay. It was fine. Did I get actively bored in a couple of places? Yes. There were other bits and pieces that caught my attention marginally more, but there was nothing about this romance that really set it apart from anything else at all. Which would have been fine if it had been particularly compelling. It wasn't bad. It wasn't super good. 2.5/5 rounded up.