These main characters were annoyinggg. I think bc this author usually writes YA, she carried some of that personality into this book, but the characters were in their late 20s so it just came off as very immature and angsty. I did absolutely love the setting, so that saved it (a little bit) for me.

Emma Lord is easily one of my favorite romance writers. Her books have a range of ages and are funny and romantic and heartbreaking all in one. The Break-Up Pact more than fulfilled my expectations with the fake relationship trope and some best friends added in.

June and Levi are the focus of this story and I just love both of them. It takes a lot to make me really like everyone in a story, but these characters were so adorable and likable. June was such a hard worker and had such good ideas, but she was held back a bit. I loved her fierceness for what she wanted and wanting to do everything she could to get it. Lord did a fantastic job with the progression of this story. It didn’t necessarily go exactly how I thought it was going to go and that made it refreshing. A lot of romcoms are very predictable.

My only hesitancy was that there were a few moments when I felt the story lagged. It slowed down a bit too much for my liking and I wish it had kept pushing forward and being engaging. Now this was not too detrimental, as I still love this story and I still would highly recommend it to everyone. It just kept me from a five star review.

With that said, this was another hit from Emma Lord, who maintains her position as one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to her next book and will be throwing this recommendation out like candy at a parade. Pick up your copy and enjoy a weekend of reading.

This book was so fun!! Emma Lord’s books are always delightful and this was no exception. I liked both of the characters backstories as well as how they grew and changed outside of their romance. The romance, of course, was also excellent.

Friendship and romance get a second chance for June and Levi. They were inseparable as teens until a conflict destroyed their friendship. Now, years later, they’ve both recently gone through very public break-ups that are viral on TikTok. When a photo of them together sparks speculation that they’re together, they decide to run with it, hoping to save face. Five dates in public should be easy, right?

I love a good fake dating trope—where does the act end and reality begin? That push and pull is always so fun to watch unfold. I enjoyed how the whole thing kicked off due to viral TikTok drama, making it feel very of-the-moment. That said, this story felt kind of shallow to me even though June and Levi had their own personal struggles to navigate and there was a bit of character development.
If you want a quick read that feels pretty current with how social media can impact real life, this might be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Emma Lord for the ARC.

I was immediately hooked when I found out this was Emma Lord's adult romance debut and it didn't disappoint! June and Levi's relationship was fun but I felt like there was a good balance of seriousness that kept it rooted in reality... as much as fake-dating ever can be.

June and Levi were best friends throughout their teenage years but their lives began to shift and change until one day they were no longer connected at all due to a misunderstanding.

June remained in their hometown of Benson Beach to run the seaside tea shop that her sister opened. Business has been challenging and June wants to make changes but feels both visionless and directionless.

Levi went to NYC where he became a hedge fund manager. Professionally he does not feel connected to his work or passionate about it.

Ironically, both June and Levi experience fairly public breakups in close proximity to each other. June’s breakup makes her insta famous as she becomes deemed “the crying girl” across social media outlets. Levi’s long-term girlfriend ends their relationship to be with a famous celebrity. After their break-up, Jude needs a break from his work, life, and reality. So, he returns to Benson Beach

June and Levi reconnect for the first time in years! They plot and scheme together. They decide to fake date in an attempt to bounce back from their break-ups, Levi pledges to help June increase tea shop revenue, and June is determined to help Levi rediscover his love for art, prose, and creativity.

This book is not the fast-paced summer read with lots of witty banter that I’m used to. It is a great read that I’d suggest to other readers though. It tackles many topics in one’s professional and personal life that can set us back. It also proves how important it is to have the support of a friend or significant other during difficult times.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

I liked the story and thought it offered an interesting take on fake dating. Levi and June’s second chance was sweet, but I didn’t connect with them as much as I hoped. The book started off strong for me, but around a third of the way in, I started losing interest and couldn’t fully get back into it.

The whole revenge exes was weird to me… it seemed like fake dating but with an added layer of drama, and it came out of nowhere. I was willing to overlook it at first because I liked the characters, but as the story went on, I found myself getting frustrated with them. The plot didn’t have enough depth to make up for it. I just wanted to shake the main characters; it felt like they were stuck in a cycle of miscommunication and constant misunderstandings. The third-act conflict felt pointless and lacked enough tension to be engaging.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This is a sweet story about high school friends finding their way back to each other. There are good discussions on loss and self identity. Really enjoyed this one.

Unfortunately I don’t think book was for me, I didn’t really connect with the characters but I can see how others would love it.

Romances are always a palette cleanser for me after reading some heavy books. This was fine - nothing groundbreaking, but just fine.

3.5 stars rounded up
Ok The Break Up Pact was super cute. It had the feel of a Hallmark movie (but with a little bit of spice!). It was incredibly charming with the best friends as teenagers turned "fake" romance later in life romance trope. It's very cheesy, but I found it very enjoyable. Sometimes you need that light hearted, feel good romance, especially after a string of darker books. Is it a literary masterpiece? Not exactly, but it is definitely worth the read. The characters are likeable and I found myself laughing out loud while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Break Up Pact was my first adult romance novel by Emma Lord. I was intrigued by the book’s premise and wanted to enjoy it more than I actually did. The chemistry between the two characters developed rapidly from platonic to steamy after a misunderstanding several years prior. I appreciated that both characters recognized the importance of addressing personal issues before entering into a serious relationship. However, my high expectations for the book may have contributed to my rating. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable read!

This is definitely a romance for contemporary readers; the premise for the book (public, viral breakups on social media) could not have existed ten years ago.
Overall, I really liked the book - a great adult debut for the author. It's a great friends to lovers, shared grieving, new lease on life book. While there is serious subject matter (off page death, grief), there is still a lot of humour.

Would love to have the scone recipes!

Thanks to SMP for an eARC of the book; all opinions are my own.

Lily Menon’s The Breakup Pack is a refreshingly fun, witty, and heartwarming rom-com that you won't be able to put down! With a perfect blend of humor, romance, and a touch of real-life complexity, this book is an absolute gem for fans of feel-good stories with depth.

The premise is clever and relatable—two friends, each dealing with the aftermath of tough breakups, form a pact to help each other navigate the ups and downs of post-relationship life. But as they grow closer, their feelings start to shift in unexpected and heartwarming ways. Menon does an excellent job of creating a connection between the characters that feels both realistic and swoon-worthy.

I have read everything by Emma Lord. She is a fantastic writer who tells amazing stories. I had high hopes for The Break-Up Pact. It is a fake dating, friends to lovers story that was a fun story but left me wanting a bit more.

I’ve been a fan of Emma Lord’s work for a while, so I was excited to dive into The Fake Dating Pact. The premise, featuring two former best friends pretending to date after embarrassing break-ups go viral, sounded like the perfect mix of humor and heart. And while I did enjoy the book, I have to admit, I ended up with a bit of a mixed feeling about it.

Let me start with what I loved: June and Levi's dynamic was incredibly engaging. The chemistry between them, especially as they navigated their awkward history and growing feelings, was really well done. I loved how Lord explored their past friendship and the tension that lingered from years of silence. The banter between them had me smiling, and there were definitely moments that made me swoon a little. As a reader, I couldn’t help but root for them, and I appreciated that they each had their own emotional arcs to work through.

However, there were moments where the plot felt a bit too predictable for my taste. As much as I love a good fake dating trope, this one didn’t really offer many surprises. The story followed a pretty familiar trajectory, and I found myself waiting for the next obvious twist. At times, it felt like the pacing slowed down in places where it could have picked up more steam. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the ride, but I found myself wishing for a bit more tension or originality to push the story to the next level.

That said, the book did bring some emotional depth to the table, especially when it came to June and Levi’s individual growth. Their personal journeys felt real, and there were moments that genuinely tugged at my heart. I think that’s what kept me hooked—while the plot was somewhat predictable, the emotional beats kept me invested in their story.

Overall, I’d give The Fake Dating Pact 3 stars. It’s a fun and sweet read, perfect if you’re looking for a light escape with some heartwarming moments. But for me, it just didn’t quite hit the level of wow that I was hoping for. If you’re a fan of rom-coms, it’s still worth checking out—just don’t go in expecting something totally groundbreaking.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book around 40%. I was super excited for the concept of two jilted lovers getting together, plus a second chance love trope, but thought the book moved too slowly to keep me interested. I came back to it occasionally for months, but just couldn't get into it.

Incredibly sweet, am so delighted Emma Lord is bringing her charm and cozy writing from her young adult reads to adult romance.

DNF@ 33%

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, but I don't think it was well done in this book. The main issue was that the characters had zero chemistry. I've heard nothing but good things about Emma Lords previous books, so I am still interested in reading those.

This was soo cute.

Fast read, bonus that I read it at the beach! Likeable characters, humour, and really cheesy romance. Liked June and Levi were very cute and you could feel the tension… I mean who doesn’t remember their first love?! Typical miscomunication trope but still entertaining!

If you’re looking for a quick romance- be sure to pick this one up!

ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.