Though it didn't feel quite the same as Emily Giffin's earlier novels, this was still a quick and enjoyable read. It told the story of a group of college buddies who get together one summer to travel and support one another throughout difficult times. The story was full of self-discovery moments and even unexpected romance which I appreciated but it would have been better if the development had been spread out over more time. 

I liked how the friends' relationships changed as they matured and how their characters changed. I thought several of the storylines were just rushed too much. There was a little more development I would have hoped to see in those relationships.

I thought it was interesting to hear this story from multiple points of view; it helped me get a deeper understanding of the characters. But in the end, I thought this book's drama was a little too forced.

Still, it was a fun summer book that I would recommend to others, especially if you enjoy stories about friendship and self-discovery.

First let me say that Emily Giffin cannot write a bad book, she just is a natural story teller. I loved this book and I can’t wait for it to be released and for everyone to get to enjoy it. It is spot on Emily Giffin at her best!

The Summer Pact deals with a very tragic and timely subject, suicide. This story follows four best friends who meet in their early days of college, and whose lives will be irrevocably changed going forward. When one of the tight knit group commits suicide, the remaining three friends make a pact that they will be there for one another when things get tough, no matter what. They will not lose another friend. As the years go on, each of them find themselves needing the others more than they could ever know. Throw in some romance and lots of drama, and this is a great summer beach read you do not want to miss!

I loved the premise of the book however I feel like the story largely missed the mark. I felt like the storyline and character development could have been deeper given the ties that bind the threesome, or foursome in the end. The Olivia/Hannah story line felt rushed and out of left field. One take away that I loved was the strong connection and concept of friendship that carried through to the end.

2.5-3 stars! Once upon a time Emily Giffin was once an auto buy author for me I’m not sure if it’s her style that’s changed over the years or my taste. For a highly anticipated release for 2024 I felt as if The Summer Pact fell flat. Again, I’m not sure if it’s Giffins style or my taste. If there is anything I’ve learned through my reading adventures books are subjective whereas, I was underwhelmed does not me that you will. Overall I would say The Summer Pact is a maybe.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of the book had good promise, but I felt like it missed the mark and lacked depth. The voices from the characters all sounded the same. It was too messy and I did not buy the love stories. It seemed rushed and forced with the addition of Olivia.

(3.5 stars) extremely fast read! this will hook you and keep you entertained the entire time. ver dialog heavy, which i love! by the time i was finished, i was waiting for more, tbh and i do think this book would’ve benefited from being longer and spent more fleshing out the last third. with that being said, it was incredibly enjoyable. a perfect SUMMER read, & the ensemble of characters was great! the power of friendship shines in this book.

Good for the summer, a quick easy read. Nice story about friendships, but a bit too predictable for me.

I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I knew about halfway through how things would end up, but the storyline was well thought out. The book is just lacking some kind of spark or “it factor” for me, and maybe it was because all of the characters had too many issues?

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

This was a good read - perfect for the beach or a lazy summer afternoon. The crux of the book centers around 4 young adults who bonded together during the first week of college - we get some backstory in bits and pieces as you read through the book and learn one of the 4 is no longer with them come graduation time - Each go their own way until a crisis in ones friends life reunites them and they wind up on an adventure while trying to figure out what it is they really want out of life.

I was captured by the story from the beginning. I loved stories that have the found family trope. A story about friends promising to always be together when tragedy strikes. After an unfortunate event happens then find themselves spending the summer together looking for answers in life. This was an ok read. I wasn’t expecting such heavy topics for a summer read. However it was a captivating story about friendship.

This book was fine. I thought it might’ve been a summer book but that wasn’t the case. I liked the premise. I’m not sure of the ending.

This is a nice story about friendship and life struggles. It’s like a coming of age story for young adults trying to figure out life. I like that it is told from different perspectives, from the group of friends that get together years later when things get derailed in their lives.

This book was okay. I would not really classify it as a romance as that isn't the main focus. It's more about friendship and the ties that bound us. The characters were interesting, but there didn't seem to be a lot of depth to their stories. It can be a bit heavy at times. Overall just okay for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I went in blind thinking this was going to be a great beach read but it's a little heavier than that. It's about grief, friendship and dealing with struggles in life. I loved the friendship that Hannah, Lainey, Tyson and Summer have. It's so special to find those friends that become family. There were times that I thought Hannah and Lainey each acted like brats; I was getting annoyed with them. I enjoyed the ending and the overall message in the book.

While this book was not entirely what I was expecting, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters are likable and relatable, the story has true Emily Giffin heart, and the plot was touching. I didn’t like how one of the plot points wrapped up - too quick & predictable - but still a wonderful book!

Four freshmen become inseparable friends at the beginning of their college careers even though they come from different worlds: Lainey is a California party girl, Tyson is from D.C. and hopes to become a lawyer one day, Hannah is a Southern belle and Summer is a recruited athlete from the Midwest. Tragedy strikes their small group, however, and their lives are forever changed. Now, years later, the friends reunite to help Hannah through a horrific break-up just before her wedding, and she knows she can rely on her friends in her time of need. This book was both heartbreaking and uplifting, and I give it all the stars!

A heart warming story of friendship in the midst of an adventure but don't mistake the cover for being light-hearted. Poignant and tough to read at times, novel tackles some deep issues in a realistic manner. I so appreciate the author's trigger warning from the beginning as suicide, depression, and mental illness are all addressed within the pages. The adventure the characters go on is described so beautifully, it made me want to visit Capri and experience the sights, sounds, and food too!
Novel packs a punch but at its core is a beautiful story of friendship and finding yourself perhaps when least expected.

Perfect story to get lost in. Didn't want to put down but didn't want it to end. The friendships felt genuine. It explored the real meaning of friendship and the layers of inclusion. Sometimes you think you are exclusive with a friend but will have different levels of friendship between eachother. Recommend.

A well-written book about friendship. The story begins when 4 very different college students form a strong bond. When a tragedy happens to one member of the group, the remaining 3 promise to always be there for each other. Years later, one of the women brings the group together after reminding them of their promise. The story is told from the points of view of the 3 women. I enjoyed reading about the issues the women were now having and how they worked to resolve them.