This book was super cute! I felt like I was watching a rom com movie. Both characters have very valid and real feelings when it comes to heartbreak and breakups, which was very relatable. If you are looking for a fast, fun read I highly recommend! I really enjoyed this book.

I liked this one! I thought the premise was super unique — two childhood friends fake date to get back at their exes and it ends up going viral. I really liked the addition of the small town setting and small business aspect.

Where it fell short for me was the middle of the book and the addition of the deceased sister, Annie. The middle of the book seriously dragged. I wish it would’ve kept the same pacing as the beginning and end of the book. I think it was an editing issue but that could be fixed in the final draft. The other part was Annie. I felt like that was just an extra part thrown in that was trying to add depth to the story and characters but it ended up being a hindrance. That whole plot point just felt misplaced.

Overall this was a summery read with a fun premise that I think many will enjoy!

Read this if you:
🫖 like fun flavored baked goods
🫖 have ever cringed while watching an emotional train wreck on reality TV
🫖 enjoy visiting small towns with lots of nostalgia

Emma Lord's "The Break-Up Pact" is a charming and heartfelt novel that skillfully blends romance, friendship, and self-discovery into an engaging and relatable narrative.

At the heart of the story are best friends Liza and Lake, who devise a plan to navigate their respective heartbreaks by enacting a "break-up pact" — a set of rules and challenges aimed at helping them move on from their exes. What begins as a lighthearted pact soon evolves into a journey of personal growth and unexpected revelations as Liza and Lake navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and their own insecurities.

Lord's writing is fresh and witty, filled with authentic teenage voices and poignant insights into the trials and triumphs of adolescence. The characters are vividly drawn, each grappling with their own vulnerabilities and aspirations. Liza's determination to stick to the pact while grappling with her feelings for Lake adds depth to their evolving relationship, making their friendship both endearing and emotionally resonant.

The novel's pacing is well-balanced, moving seamlessly between humorous escapades and poignant moments of reflection. Lord expertly explores themes of identity, resilience, and the courage to confront one's emotions, creating a narrative that feels both genuine and uplifting.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its portrayal of modern teenage dynamics, including the influence of social media and the pressures of navigating relationships in a digital age. The interactions between Liza, Lake, and their peers are refreshingly authentic, capturing the complexities of teenage friendships and the importance of communication and empathy.

While "The Break-Up Pact" delivers on its promise of a romantic comedy with heart, it also delves deeper into themes of self-discovery and the transformative power of friendship. Emma Lord's ability to blend humor with heartfelt emotion makes this novel a compelling read for fans of contemporary young adult fiction.

In conclusion, "The Break-Up Pact" is a delightful and poignant coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers of all ages. Emma Lord's skillful storytelling, coupled with memorable characters and genuine emotional depth, ensures that this novel stands out as a heartfelt exploration of love, friendship, and the courage to embrace new beginnings.

No one could ever make me hate Emma Lord, but I think I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't read all her young adult books. Her voice or writing style didn't change at all. Her adult book is the exact same as her YAs except where the things these characters do is cute and fun in high school, it came across as kind of ... cringe as adults. And I just didn't get it. I still don't even know what the Break-Up Pact was.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What a great little beach read. I’ve not read Emma Lord’s work before but I was thoroughly entertained and this book had all the things going for it that I seek out in a rom com (tropes, lovable characters, and a fun setting). The beachside tea shop was so cute loved it. And I also loved these characters and their journey. I’ll pick up more from this author.

This is my first book by Emma Lord and definitely won't be my last. This was so enjoyable and I really appreciated the importance of finding your person and having support as you navigate through grief.

Thank you NetGallet, St. Martin's Press, and Emma Lord for the ARC of this title.

THIS WAS SUCHHHHH A CUTE BOOK! Emma Lord is amazing and never disappoints me with her YA RomComs. Another staple book for young teens.

June and Levi have both just gone through extremely public, humiliating internet-viral break-ups. Coincidentally, they also used to be best friends and have ended up back in their hometown. In order to reclaim the narrative, they decide to fake date, a feat made complicated by the fact that a massive falling out and the loss of June's sister has put distance between them.

Emma Lord's The Break-Up Pact was such an enjoyable read. At its heart, this book is about finding yourself and knowing you deserve to be loved even if you haven't got it all figured out yet.

This was a softly beautiful book that touched on grief and coming into one's own. I loved the Revenge Ex plot and the fun that provided. The side characters were all top notch. The unfolding of June and Levi's romance was all heart flutters mixed with heat. All in all no break up from this author for me, another great book.

While I enjoyed reading this book, it was never a nail-biting, can’t wait to see what’s next, book for me. I liked the development of the characters, but after all the build up I wish we got a bit more on some of them.

Specifically, June’s relationship with her brother: He never confronted her about blowing him off so much. We never got to hear about the wedding, although we heard about all the planning and one year after. There was some cute moments with his fiancé and June in the first half of the book, but I wish there was more in the second half. June eventually recognizes the different ways they both mourn their sister, but even that felt a bit lacking in storyline.

Overall a good book and would recommend to others!

his book is a beautiful mix of overcoming grief (and guilt), moving on from pasts and past relationships that held you back, and building a new future with the one you’ve always loved. This book is filled with yearning. Yearning over your long time crush and yearning over the loss of your sister/friend. I really felt for both June and Levi, they had been through it and were finding their way back to themselves and to each other. At times I felt the pacing was slow, particularly in the last 25%. I did enjoy reading this book. It had me craving a beachside scone. I recommend this to fans of You With a View by Jessica Joyce and Beach Read by Emily Henry.

I've adored all of Emma Lord's YA romances and I'm thrilled to say The Break-Up Pact is no different! The perfect summer beach read :)

Overall this is a good beach read! The main characters have interests, and the plot set up was very fun (if not very believable). I enjoyed the extended friendships and family in this book, and love a beach setting, but felt like the central conflict could have been a little more developed. I also felt it was a little too long, and would have adjusted the pacing slightly!

Thanks to the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Uhhgghhh
I honestly don't even know where to start. I'll make it short though.
I found nothing appealing about this book, sorry.
The characters were stagnant and I found the diversity (characters of diverse backgrounds) prop-like and not truly adding relevance to the story itself but put in place rather to tick some imaginary box.
Just not for me.
Thanks

I thoroughly enjoyed the second chances romance in this book. The tension and chemistry between the protagonists kept me hooked from start to finish. Their history added depth to their interactions, making their journey towards reconciliation and love all the more satisfying. The author did a great job of portraying the complexities of their past relationship while also weaving in moments of humor and lightheartedness.

The fake dating trope was executed brilliantly, injecting a delightful dose of fun and intrigue into the storyline. It was entertaining to see how the characters navigated their pretend relationship, especially when unexpected emotions began to surface. Despite some predictable moments, the story remained engaging and kept me eagerly turning the pages.

While the pacing was quick and the read was easy, I found that it didn't detract from the emotional depth of the characters. Their growth throughout the narrative felt natural and well-developed, making their eventual reconciliation feel earned and satisfying. Overall, this book was a delightful blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments, making it a perfect choice for fans of second chances and fake dating tropes alike.

This book is such a delightful adult debut from Emma Lord! I have loved Emma's YA and was so excited for her to write an adult romance. I adored every single character, the fake dating, the Revenge Exes, Tea Tide, and the whole story. This book is the perfect summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for my complimentary e-arc and ALC. All opinions here are my own.

This book was a great quick summer read, the story was cute and while some things bothered me (hello miscommunication trope), it ultimately was an enjoyable read!! The characters definitely grew on me, MCs and side characters included and by the end of the book I was loving all of them! This is a great romance debut for this author!

The Break-Up Pact is a cute romantic comedy. June runs a tea shop that sells scones. She is struggling to keep the business going. Levi is a struggling author and is back in town. He was previously dating June’s deceased sister and hung with June as a teenager. Both June and Levi have just broken up with their significant others. They made a pact to pretend to be dating and in love with each other. June to keep her business going and Levi to win back his ex-girlfriend. In the end, they saved June’s business, Levi became a successful author, and they fell in love with each other becoming engaged. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of The Break-Up Pact.

The Break- Up Pact was more serious than Lord's previous novels, but still enjoyable and heart-warming. This is her first adult romance and I went into it thinking it would be YA so that was a nice surprise. I was expecting more of a light and witty rom-com like in the past, but I think this author transitioned from YA to adult effectively. Adult's tend to have to deal with more serious issues and I think this book reflected that well. Even with the more serious undertones, there is still a mix of fun and rom-com. Perfect for fans of fake dating trope.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for this review. Unfortunately this was a miss for me. It didn’t feel original at all and I’ve felt like I’ve read it all before. Loved the idea of it and the cutesy cover, but the execution was not great