Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE BREAK-UP PACT was the absolute best way to end my reading year. It is filled with everything I’ve come to expect from Emma Lord—banter and jokes, beautiful writing, growth of characters, and a love story to swoon over while also exploring other topics like grief or family dynamics—but with more adult romance spice that only adds to the story.

June and Levi, coincidentally, have both gone viral for their breakups. And, even though an incident when they were teenagers led to them barely communicating, both have found themselves back in their small hometown and suddenly thrust into a mutually beneficial fake relationship where they’re now known as the Revenge Exes. June is hoping the attention will allow her to save her deceased sister’s beloved tea shop while Levi is hoping to win back his cheating ex.

I loved the different fake dates June and Levi found themselves in and could vividly picture, through Emma Lord’s words, the social media posts described and the excitement around these two scorned lovers finding love with one another. And though the concept seems like a basic friends pretending to be lovers turning their fake relationship into something real, I was so impressed by how much deeper the novel gets. There is some amazing exploration of grief, friendship, family, and I never once found myself feeling frustrated by the characters for a lack of communication (something I’ve found that often happens in the fake dating trope). Every single character was likeable (except the ones that weren’t meant to be!) and all these elements combined made THE BREAK-UP PACT an incredibly enjoyable read that I’ll be thinking about in the days to come.

Thank you, NetGalley and Saint Martins Press for another Emma Lord ARC! I do enjoy Emma Lord’s books and this one is no exception but something fell flat for me on this one. June and Levi had some really fun, cute moments but Emma Lord seems to be stuck in three star territory for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was my first Emma Lord book. I went into the book believing it was going to be a more lighthearted romance about two former friends who agree to fake date after both of their break-ups go viral. Although there were lighthearted moments in the book, the majority of the story focused on how June and Levi’s grief after the sudden death of June’s sister (and Levi’s best friend). Had that aspect of the story been added to the synopsis, I would have gone in with different expectations. I didn’t love June and Levi as a couple - the miscommunication trope is one of my least favorite and their high school relationship deteriorated due to miscommunication about their feelings for each other. Then all of their interactions after that event are based on that pivotal moment from high school. I am also not a fan of a wishy washy love interest who can’t seem to make up their mind about what they want while professing their feelings despite their actions.

The Break-Up Pact is the perfect comfort read for a rainy Saturday or a quiet night in. Yes, this hits a lot of rom-com tropes, but for the most part, does them well. Yes, it's predictable, but that's part of what makes it such a solid comfort read. I wish the main characters would have communicated better and that, as a result, the plot would have been a little more nuanced. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book — especially Sana's character!

The Break-Up Pact was my first Emma Lord's book.

I found the story to be a little slow, which made me not overly excited to pick it up and read. I didn't DNF it, but it took me a while to finish it.
There were some lighthearted and fun moments such as the screaming poetry and the epilogue. But it was overshadowed by the problems I had with the book.

This was SUCH a good adult romance from Emma Lord, and her first foray into adult!! I loved our main characters June and Levi who start fake dating after both going viral for getting broken up with. Of course, they fall in love. There are great side characters and a community storyline as well that I loved.

Oh I LOVED this! This book is such a delight. It’s light and fluffy — the perfect summer read.

Emma Lord’s writing is sweet and funny as always!

June and Levi are childhood best friends that had a falling out ten years ago. They also both just had verrrry public breakups from their respective exes. Like viral.

In an effort to save her tea shop AND make Levi’s ex jealous, the two team up for a fake dating scheme. They go on dates and June’s bff Sana will post photos online. The media swirl gets more foot traffic into the tea shop and will get the attention of Levi’s ex.

Her bff Sana is iconic! Also, the raccoon in the acknowledgments section was hilarious.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my advanced digital copy!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This is not the Emma Lord I'm used to reading. The explicit sex in this novel was a big shock as none of the others I've read are like this. The premise of the book was good but characters were a bit hung up on Annie. Levi and June were cute and a slow burn.,just no sex the next time please.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review

I do not understand what compels Emily Henry and now Emma Lord to choose happy-go-lucky rom com covers for their romantic dramas overflowing with heartache and emotional complexity. It's an odd choice.

✦ 3.5 stars of clever banter, scenes crammed with delicious tension, and beautiful, romantic prose.

This actually pains me, but I subtracted what I did from my rating because these characters do not know how to communicate like adults, and there was far too much OW drama that hit a little too close to home for me. Simply begging Emma Lord to write more adult contemporary romance, sans those things.

In "The Breakup Pact," Emma Lord crafts a tale that goes beyond the surface of internet memes and struggling businesses, revealing the depth of her characters. June Hart, initially introduced as an internet meme and owner of the beachside cafe Tea Tide, undergoes a journey of self-discovery throughout the book. It takes time for her to unravel her true identity, culminating in a satisfying revelation that matches the creative descriptions of her cafe's scones.

June and her childhood friend Levi embark on a fake dating scheme to boost her business and help Levi win back his cheating fiancée. While their staged relationship practically breaks the internet, the narrative takes readers on a delightful ride through fun dates at the museum, trivia nights, and cake tastings. However, the romantic aspect of their relationship may come across as somewhat immature, laden with the overused misunderstanding trope that echoes a middle school rom-com rather than a story about mature adults.

The character arcs of June and Levi, though resolved, could have been more finely executed, as their growth seems hindered by the miscommunication trope that lingers from their high school days. The narrative unfolds with unnecessary length and occasional dragging moments, contributing to a feeling of immaturity in the characters. Despite the humorous elements and the beachy setting of Benson Beach, the book falls short of the expectations set by Lord's previous works in the YA genre.

The friends-to-lovers trope, while present, seems drawn out and needlessly complicated at times, making it challenging to fully connect with the characters' indecision. While the book didn't evoke strong dislike, it also didn't achieve the level of love expected. The friends' waffling, considering their single status and the faux relationship, creates moments of confusion and impedes the progression of the narrative. While "The Breakup Pact" offers humor and entertainment, its prolonged storyline may leave readers seeking a more succinct and impactful resolution.

For the first time, I'm awarding an Emma Lord book less than five stars, settling for three solid stars. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book; it was a decent read. However, considering Emma Lord is one of my favorite romance authors, I had higher expectations. I'm optimistic that I'll find more satisfaction in her next release.

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

June, Levi and June’s sister Annie were always together growing up. Annie and Levi were going to write books together and June had a crush on Levi. When Annie died June took over the Tea Tide trying to bring back their dreams of serving tea and providing interesting scones. June had not talked to Levi in years. June was with Griffin taking on adventures that would scare most people and when he dumps her on national television she is devastated. Levi was with his fiancé for 4 years until she cheated on him. When he comes back to his hometown, June and Levi decide to fake date to make both look better. I loved the way Sana, June’s best friend, captured June and Levi and their true feelings for each other. June is so caught up in missing Annie, trying to make the tea shop what Annie would want that she struggles with the present and the future. I loved seeing her work through the guilt of not being with Annie and the feelings she had for Levi years ago. Great book about trusting yourself and allowing yourself to let go. Wonderful characters and story.

2.5 rounded to 3. I found this very boring and predictable. If you are looking for something mindless and fun to read and just looking for a happy ending of a beach read, this one is fine, but I didn't find anything new or unexpected. That said, it wasn't a bad read. It was just easily forgettable.

Thank you so much to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this arc for honest review.

I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord from NetGalley. Opinions in this review are completely my own.

Possible Spoilers:
This is one of my favourite tropes, friends to lovers. I have enjoyed all of Emma Lord's books so far. The characters she writes are engaging and I want to be friends with them. I love the growth that Levi and June were able to go through and still find each other on the other side of it. I like how they were able to encourage each other rather push too hard like their exes had done to them.

The plot of this story was excellent. I went through a variety of emotions reading it. From June's unresolved feelings tied up in her sister's death, to her friendship that spanned over a decade with Levi; I felt it. I could relate to how they said that they would think of each other over the years; I have lost people and wondered about them too. It is always a bittersweet feeling. I love that Levi and June were able to find their way back into each others' lives.

I recommend this novel to anyone needing a perfect feel good novel.

it was cute but ultimately i was bored with it. which is disappointing because i wanted to like it </3

thanks to NetGalley and publishers for this arc.

The Breakup Pact
Author: Emma Lord
Publisher: St Martin’s Griffen
Publication: August 13, 2024
Recommend: Yes!
Especially if you love: Fake dating, pop culture references, second chance romance, running, tea, and scones!

When you meet June Hart at the beginning of The Breakup Pact, you come to know her as an internet meme and struggling owner of Tea Tide- a quaint beachside cafe, but she is so much more than just this. It takes almost the entirety of the book for her to discover who she is, but when she gets there, the end result is satisfying, almost as much as the creative descriptions of her cafe’s scones. June and her childhood best friend Levi turn to a fake dating scheme to boast her business and to help him win his cheating fiancée back (whyyyyy?!). While practically breaking the internet, June and Levi enjoy fun dates at the museum, trivia night, and cake tasting, fooling the world and themselves about their little plan. Business is booming for June at Tea Tide as everyone wants a taste of the “revenge exes”, so much that she creates scone in their honor, not initially realizing she is chasing her local clientele far away. Levi realizes he’s been happy for the first time in years, reconciling a friendship and not pretending in the least to be in love with June, he’s ready to move from NY, change careers, and live life in his own terms. Both Levi and June realize they have been living their lives with the influence of others, but will they be able to put away the 10+years of hurt since high school and move forward together? What do they actually want out of life?

This is my first book by Emma Lord and I found her writing style captivating! Benson Beach sounds so charming and what I wouldn’t give to cozy up in Tea Tide for a few hours. As a former cross country runner , I also appreciated the former cross country teammates aspect and the frequent running references in the book- Levi and June went on beach runs together- how cute and steamy.

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Break-Up Pact. I've read two of Emma Lord's YA novels and enjoyed them, but I loved this one (her adult debut). June and Levi (and the rest of the supporting cast) were such amazing, fun characters. I loved following along on June's character development, and the romance is swoon-worthy. This is definitely one to add to your TBR when it publishes in August of 2024!

This was my first book by Emma Lord and I was hooked on The Break Up Pact from the beginning. I really enjoyed June’s character development. I could relate to her a lot as someone who has been in a relationship that had run its course but you stick around because of the time you’ve invested it. Her unconventional reconnection with Levi was a fun journey. I was also a fan of the interconnection of the supporting characters. The connections between the supporting characters was something I found very relatable despite not being from a small town like June and Levi. I am excited to explore more of Emma Lord’s novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I loved one of Emma's YA novels but as her adult debut, this was great. I am always down for a "its always been you" type of read and this definitely has those vibes. I am also so smitten with the growth that both June and Levi had individually to make themselves ready for each other. The epilogue tied up so nicely and I was so happy with the ending.

This was a fun summery read. It had all the beach, sunny, small town vibes. Loved the revenge breakup pact and that June & Levi took back their lives. It was a cute second chance that had a nice balance of drama and resolution. It even had a little dash of spice, which I loved. The tension was a good as Junes scones.

That said, I didn't enjoy one of the side characters, Junes sister. I won't get into details to avoid spoilers but it was hard to wrap my head around her actions. There was resolution and growth so it did end nicely. Overall, enjoyed this book very much and would recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC. As always, our opinion is our own.

Breakups that went viral, a fake relationship and a history that has June and Levi bound together for the rest of their lives. This is not my typical rainy day story, but I picked it up because of the seemingly second-chance romance nature of the plot.

At first glance, June and Levi seem like star-crossed lovers, and they act more like exes than old friends. We find out pretty quickly that they've had feelings for each other since they were children, but never told the other because of middle-school-esque "hurdles" and misunderstandings. As children, they're tied together by June's sister (a.k.a. Levi's best friend). As adults, it happens to be because of their public breakups with their former love interests.

I will attest to the fact that the characters are well-written, but the romance itself seemed so immature because of the overuse of the misunderstanding trope. Honestly, there were so many instances where it felt like I was reading a middle school rom-com as opposed to a story about two grown adults.

Both June's and Levi's character arcs, although resolved, could've been executed better. But, we come to the conclusion, that their support of the other is what motivates them to move forward and live to their fullest capacity.

This is such a cute summer read!!! I enjoyed this book so much and I will definitely be buying the psychical copy when it comes out.