Another interesting thought provoking novel by Emily Giffin. This is the story of 4 friends, a suicide, a pact from the other three to always be there for each other and for this threesome how that pact worked. Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson were best friends at UVA, and when another of their group dies by suicide, it makes the friends feel so guilty they don’t want that to happen to them ever again. Even though they graduate and go on separately with their lives, when the call comes from any one of them, they all agree to drop everything in their life to be there. Ultimately this is a story of friendship and how it worked for them. This book totally caught my attention and I never moved until the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed the depth of each character and their reactions to every circumstance they were in.

3.5 Stars. I was excited to read an Emily Griffin book (this is actually my second) just because it seems like she's a pretty popular author. Also, the idea of four college friends reuniting years after a tragedy that affected them all was intriguing. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me somewhere along the way. It seemed to all boil down to sexuality in the end. I really thought there would be some sort of big revelation involving the tragedy, but there wasn't.

Thanks to Random House Group-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

THE SUMMER PACT by Emily Giffin had me wishing I could pack my bags and travel with them.

Lainey, Tyson, Hannah and Summer had an instant connection when they met as students at the University of Virginia. Inseparable from that day on, they saw each other through break-ups, triumphs, love lives and poor grades. When Summer dies unexpectedly, just before graduation, the others struggle with guilt over not being there for her and vow that it will never happen again.

When Hannah, the ‘Southern Belle’ breaks off her engagement to Grady after she catches him cheating, she puts out the call to her friends for support. They both immediately fly to her aid. Tyson, a lawyer trying to make partner and Lainey, an actress who has a messy family situation, put their lives on hold to maintain the pact they made after Summer’s death, while also putting their careers and relationships in jeopardy. While nursing Hannah through the break-up, the three decide to travel to Europe in salute to Summer who often spoke of wanting to go. Each of the three is hiding something from the others but all will be revealed in the end with secrets uncovered and new possibilities opening.

I really enjoyed this book. The banter between the friends made for a fun romp through Europe. The locales and sunsets made me wish I was there with them. The writing was clear and concise making me feel the ocean breezes and smell the Italian sauces. This is my first Emily Giffin novel, but I will be watching to see where she goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Emily Giffin has always been and will always be an "automatic read" author for me. Her ability to dive deep into relationships (romantic, family, or friendship) is incredible. She provides great insight into why her characters behave they way they do, and this was evident in The Summer Pact. I loved how she built the bond of these college friends who are trying to navigate young adulthood and beyond by leaning on each other in tough times. The Capri setting of the novel was especially enjoyable. While this is a bit darker and more serious than a typical beach read, I do feel as though this will be a popular book for anyone looking for a summer vacation book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley.

AMAZING!!!!
I am literally obsessed with this book, I mean I couldn’t stop reading! This book had everything in it, it had romance, drama, suspense, and everything else. If you are looking for a perfect book for the end of the summer, don’t pass this book up!

This is my first book by Emily Giffin, and I can’t wait to read more.

Four people meet their freshman year of college and become fast friends. After a tragedy during their senior year, they make a pact to always be there for each other. Ten years later, they have each experienced difficult events in adulthood and come together for a big adventure to hopefully provide clarity and a new beginning for each of them.

I had a hard time rating this one. I was invested in the story and read it quickly. I loved the strength of the relationships between the friends, even after so many years. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs and reading about the destinations of their adventures. However, there were some things about this book that weren’t great for me. It’s categorized as a romance, but the romance doesn’t actually come into play until very late in the book and even then, it doesn’t feel like it naturally fits into the story. I found two of the main characters unlikeable, which made it hard to sympathize with them, and I was left wanting more at the end. I enjoyed the concept of this book, but it just didn’t land for me. I do think readers would enjoy this book if they are looking for a story about strong adult friendships, grief, heartbreak, and love.

Note: There are a few trigger warnings for this book, so check them before reading if that is something you like to do.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Emily Giffin, and NetGalley for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I normally love Emily Giffin's books, but it took a while before I could get into this one. I almost stopped after the first few chapters, but I hung in there until the end. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and there was one character in particular in the friend group that I didn't care for at all because her personality and actions were horrible. On a positive note, it's a fast paced book, and I was able to complete it in a couple of days. If you enjoy stories about friendship tested by tragedy, then you'll probably enjoy this one. It's definitely not my favorite of Giffin's, but I would still recommend it.

I absolutely loved this book! Emily Giffin is a go to author for me, and her newest read does not disappoint! There are some trigger warnings in this read, but I loved how Giffin wrote the feelings that come after a tragedy. Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book early! I absolutely loved every moment, cried a little, and laughed even more. I chose not to read the synopsis before starting the book so that I went it completely blind and it made the journey that more enjoyable. Experiencing the ups and downs of a group of best friends navigating their post college life and truly discovering who they are, was like going back in time. We can do the hard things and only we can decide for ourselves what is most important. There were some great lessons in the book that can be useful to everyone.

This book started off very positively for me, but unfortunately, I was a little disappointed by the end.

The way the romances both tied up in a neat bow at the end of book baffled me. One character came out of nowhere with her choice and the other two that ended up together after showing no interest in each other except for friendship until in a trip they took. It just seemed very contrived.

That being said, I did not care for one of the main characters in the friend group . I thought she was a self centered person even though they pointed out several times that she “wasn’t selfish” . It was like the author was trying to make up our minds for us. But actions speak louder than words. Many of her actions were deplorable.

I did like the concept of this book, but it feels like the author threw a lot of mud on the wall to address many different topics.

It is a fast paced read but I just didn’t feel connected to any of the characters.

Long overdue new book by Emily. I read this book in one day it's a very heartwarming yet bittersweet book that shows the true meaning of friendship. Four friends that meet in college and go through a tragedy make a pact because of it and then some more trying times arise and how they make it through together.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, Ballantine Books, and the Author, Emily Giffin for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one about more then half way in . I’m a huge fan of Emily Giffin books and I think have read most of them if not all . Sadly this one seemed to have pacing issues and just was far too slow and never seemed to hook me in .

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I always love Giffin's books especially since she doesn't publish very often. Unfortunately, this one was not my favorite of hers. I'm not sure why; it just didn't grab my attention. I look forward to reading her future works.

I struggled with this one and I think it was the time in my life when reading it. It didn’t grab my attention at the beginning like I was hoping for. The book is written in multiple POV’s which I didn’t mind. It was also heavier than the beach read I thought it was. This was my first Emily Giffin book and I will be reading more of hers.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow this is a beautiful story of love, friends, family, and finding yourself!!!!!!!!!!! I loved these characters & was rooting so hard for them.

They were four freshman at the University of Virginia, and they couldn't be more different, but somehow they became best friends. Lainey was a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson was from Washington, D.C, and had plans to become a lawyer, Summer was a recruited athlete from the Midwest who hoped to go into medicine; and Hannah was a sweet girl from Georgia who was content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. They stay best friends all four years, and then just before graduation something tragic happens, that brings their group of four down to a group of three. Those three make a pact that they will always be there for each other, no matter what. A decade later, Hannah is about to get married when her world implodes. She calls upon her two best friends from college, who drop everything and rush to her side. When you make a pact...you keep it. Because each of them is at a crossroads in their life, they decide to take a trip together, each person getting to choose a destination they would like to travel to.

I always enjoy this author's novels. This one seemed a little darker, maybe, than her usual ones, but it was still really good. It does deal with suicide, and drinking issues, so if either of those are a trigger for you, this may not be the book you should read. I loved all four of the main characters in the book, and the friendship they had. The payback scenes after they rushed to Hannah's side were priceless. I definitely recommend this one!

This was a really great read. You get a little bit of everything from the strong bonds of love and friendship, heartbreak, relational issues, travel and fun. This book covers it all. Emily really did a great job of creating character arcs I didn’t really see coming. I love how she intertwined every storyline. I would actually love to read a sequel to do a deeper dive into more on Tyson, Lainey and Hannah’s stories!

I received an ARC from NetGalley but all opinions expressed are my own.

plot was very engaging and interesting as a twenty something year old going through a lot of shit. being accompanied by my friends on a VACATION while we attempt to get our shit together feels almost magical. the end seemed a bit rushed to me though and i did not totally feel connected to all the characters but i would recommend and i enjoyed it nonetheless

Overall, I enjoyed the journey but not the destination of this one.

Plot Thoughts: Three best friends working through their sh*t while traveling around the world was a perfect setting to keep some lighthearted, optimistic elements in an overall deeper exploration of grief, change, disappointment, and fear.

Character Thoughts: The characters, though messy and not particularly lovable, mirrored the struggles of young adults grappling with self-discovery. Each had their flaws: Mr. Morals with his constant moralizing, the damsel in distress masking her insecurities with destructive habits, and the initially prominent character who faded into the background. While I enjoyed the the multiple POVs, the voices lacked distinctiveness, occasionally resulting in forgetting who’s POV I was actually reading.

TLDR; A stronger focus on individual resolutions, without the last-minute romantic subplot and abrupt ending, could have elevated the book significantly, however, I would still recommend overall! Definitely check trigger warnings first.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

I will always read an Emily Giffin novel! This cover is perfect for summer and the beachy locations described within it, but there were also more somber plotlines that I wasn't expecting. This was not my favorite novel of hers, but the focus on friendship between 4 best friends really drew me in. After reeling from a tragedy, 3 college friends make a pact to always be there for each other. This pact is realized when Hannah is betrayed by her fiance, and her BFFs Lainey and Tyson drop everything to help her recover.

+: This was a quick read with amazing settings! I've always wanted to go to Capri and loved how much of the novel took place there. There was a lot of drama throughout, so it kept me entertained. I could imagine flying through this novel while sitting on a beach chair or next to the pool with an Aperol spritz!

-: Lainey's character bugged me - she seemed very selfish and brazen, and her friends forgave her immediately for her wrongdoings. I wanted a little more tension when her actions negatively affected her friends, career, and even her personal safety. Hannah seemed one-dimensional, and relied upon others' opinions to guide her decisions. I did like Tyson, and he kept surprising me in a good way. The romances in the second half seemed to come out of nowhere and I didn't find them all that believable.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book hits shelves on July 9, 2024.