This book had the potential to have everything I love in a book. A childhood best friends to strangers to take dating to lovers/second chance.
And it was cute, I did enjoy it. However a bit of the plot was confusing, like why was every one of their "dates" planning someone else's wedding? I found myself hung up on this a little bit. They spend so much time planning for June's brother's wedding while the brother is nowhere to be seen and call these dates? Why isn't the brother involved in his own wedding planning?
The lack of communication from the main characters also got me frustrated.
The entire time so much could've been different if they just talked.
Other than that, it was a cute story though.

**thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

I am a big fan of friends-to-lovers/enemies-to-lovers, and basically all of the romance tropes you can get, but this book fell flat for me. I didn’t connect with the characters and the back stories were somehow both overly mentioned and not explained enough, and overall it just didn’t click for me. June and Levi have had a massive friendship breakup rooted in a terrible tragedy, but it feels like their connection comes back a little too quickly and easily for them to pull off the fake relationship facade. I struggled with both stories of the breakups and the “revenge” aspect, that felt kind of unresolved. The connection between the two main characters was not that exciting for me and I found myself not caring about them or their fake relationship. There were also so many side stories I felt like were just filler that I was not invested in. Overall, this was just not the book for me.

I'll preface this by saying that I haven't read any of Lord's YA romances yet, but I felt that this was a quite strong adult debut. It does such a great job of capturing a very specific stage of life, where you feel almost adrift solely because you've been trapped by the very circumstances you think you're expected to be in. June and Levi's dynamic was what had me returning to this book time and time again, even above her relatable struggles. The one aspect of this book that made it a bit less diverting at times was the single POV; it felt as though issues were only persisting solely because June wasn't privy to what was really going on from Levi's perspective, and without that withholding of information, some of the tension would have been resolved a lot more quickly otherwise. But the emotional center of this book was strong enough to counteract any plot contrivances, and I'll be looking to read more from Lord again in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to see Emma Lord dive into an adult contemporary romance after loving her YA novels! You will feel connected to these characters thanks to the depth and feeling Lord puts behind her writing. There’s definitely some spice here but I love it! It all ties up in a way that is ultimately pleasing and this book is bound to be one talked about a lot this Summer!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

I love Emma Lords YA books so I was excited for her to put out an adult contemporary romance book. Lords books always feel a little deeper than your average romance and this book was no different. There is depth, complexity, romance and one hell of a love scene. Overall, I was happy with this book. It did start to feel a tad bit long towards the end but it wraps up really nicely. A great summer romance that you won’t be disappointed in.

Old friends to lovers, fake dating tropes. Very good chemistry between the main characters. I wish we had a bit more time with the secondary characters. They were so funny. There was one aspect that didn’t get tied up that feels slightly unsatisfied. Enjoyable read overall.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

This book was okay for me. The ending dragged out a little longer than I wanted it to, and among the sea of romcom novels right now, this one didn’t especially grab me. It did make me want to bake scones though!!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy.

What was most appealing about this book was the town of Benson Beach and the minor characters that filled out the story. There was also a touching backstory of the main character losing her older sister unexpectedly. Otherwise this was a solid romance that could've used a little more messyness in the middle.

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers, for letting me read this arc for an honest review.

If you're looking for a quick, easy, fun read then this book is for you. It was funny and cute, and I read it in two days. The first half of the book I had a hard time liking. The story went way too fast, as in the main characters haven't seen or talked to each other in ten years, they run into each other, and bam! let's fake date to solve all our problems. They had so many communication problems and were both suffering very public and social breakups.

But I guess that's what made me like the second half. They actually worked out their problems and voiced all their fears. They talked it out so there was no miscommunication. They worked together going from friends to strangers back to friends to end up as lovers. Both of their exes are jerks, the guy more so than the female. But the main characters knew they should've ended things way before the other broke up with them.

I loved how this book was more than just a romance book. It was about all of the friends and family's hardships and problems. Everything that makes a community a community. Both the main characters lost the same person, his best friend and her sister. She was their glue and it was sweet how they both worked through that loss and moved forward with their own lives. Overall it was a very sweet and fun read with just a few annoying moments.

A great quick read, perfect for an evening reading in the sunshine. It definitely gave hallmark movie vibes which is just perfect for a beach read or cozy Sunday. I really enjoyed it, the second chance trope was 👌

Thank you for the arc Net Galley and St Martins Press.

I had so much hope for this one after reading the author's other books but I was a bit disappointed. The premise was cute but I could not relate well to the main female character. She annoyed me and I couldn’t feel the chemistry. If you do like slow burn rom coms this book could be for you.

It was cute, but kinda disappointing. The sparks were missing and I didn't really connect with either main characters. The drama felt childish at some points. The ending was great!

Review to come.

Love the cover✔️
Interesting description ✔️
Love this Author✔️

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC ❤️

Loved this fake-dating story line! It had me laughing and loving both of the main characters. Social media can take over our lives, so it was fun to read a story about how to take back control of your life from the social media aspect! Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC read.

This book was really enjoyable. I love that despite being a romance novel, they still touched on heavier subjects such as grief. It gave such a human, real perspective instead of a “romance in an imaginary world where everything is wonderful” feel.

Although predictable, the plot was still enjoyable and well-written for a rom-com. The characters internal monologues and quick wit was great. Although, this book did feel very YA for a book that isn’t marketed as such.

As someone who’s not a huge friends-to-lovers fan, I still really enjoyed this and think it’s a great summer read!

I have been a fan of Emma Lord and her YA books for the last several years. I was excited to receive this early eARC copy from St Martin’s Griffin.

The Break-Up Pact was a cute story line. After terrible public breakups, longtime friends June and Levi, are together again in their hometown and decide to ban together and revenge date to get back at their ex’s. The problem is, beneath the lie there are some real true feelings they both must wade through.

Although this book is listed as a romance, and definitely leans that way with the second chance, fake dating, and semi enemies to loves (since they were not speaking before) story lines. There is also a lot about grief, and loss and trying to move forward without the person you thought would be by your side. June’s sister was just as much a main character as June or Levi, even if it is just the memory of her.

Overall The Break-Up Pact still felt a little juvenile just with a little bit of added spice. The pacing felt a little slow, then rushed all at once. It was good, I wanted to know what would happened, but I think I was expecting more.

Cute book, some part are way too long but overall it’s a entertaining. The main characters need to be developed more.

THE BREAK-UP PACT
Emma Lord

Cute and quick, like a fleeting spring morning, I had a fun time reading THE BREAK-UP PACT by Emma Lord earlier this year.

THE BREAK_UP PACT stars June and Levi. He is a failed novelist, and she owns a flailing local tea shop. He has been seen from time to time writing the next great American novel in her corner booth.

They were friends a long time ago. They haven’t spoken in some time but with hilarity, they both go through very public break-ups at the same time. On the rebound and hoping to get his girl back he convinces June to play along with a “get her back” scheme that involves a little fake dating, a few well-timed photo opportunities, and

June agrees to the pact but that’s about it. They can’t seem to agree on anything except that they will break up in the end. She doesn’t know that her feelings will change, and he doesn’t know how to write the ending to his own love story.

Will they figure it out before their respective exes realize what they’ve lost? Or will their status stay stuck on “FRIENDS FOREVER?”

This is my first time reading Emma Lord and I’m glad I started with this one. THE BREAK-UP PACT had just the right amount of lightness and tenderness and I had a lot of fun reading it. The characters were personable, and I enjoyed reading as their platonic relationship blossomed into something closer to love.

Good characters, good times, what’s not to love about Emma Lord's latest romantic comedy, THE BREAK-UP PACT.

Thanks to Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy!

THE BREAK-UP PACT…⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this ARC!

The Break-Up Pact was a cute summer read, but I did not enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. The plot was incredibly predictable and threw every single rom-com trope at the wall hoping it would stick.

Solid 3 stars.

The characters didn’t feel very charismatic or charming. They fell very flat, and the various underlying tensions and issues were muted and not built up enough to justify what I felt were the pains our characters felt (such as Annie’s impact).

It felt rushed but also felt like it dragged. Maybe it just wasn’t for me.