⭐⭐⭐ A book about travel and friendship is always fun, but this one also reminded me so much (too much?) of another book (this one, from last summer), and I didn’t like it quite as much. Also, the very beginning of this caught me off guard (SPOILER AHEAD…….. but, honestly, one I wish I’d had) with a pretty brutal suicide on a college campus that set a heavy and sad tone I wasn’t prepared for from Giffin. (I can handle heavy and sad typically, but I think this book would have done well with a trigger warning at the start.)

The Summer Pact is a heartfelt story about friendship, love, and new beginnings. Giffin’s trademark emotional depth shines through, making it an easy and satisfying read.

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin is a story of three college friends who, following a tragedy, make a pact to be there for each other any time, no matter when, where, or why. Ten years after graduation, one friend calls and the other two drop everything to be there for her.

This was my first Emily Giffin novel and I was less than impressed. I know her other books are quite popular at my library and this one looked so light and fun (yes, based soley on the cover). I thought maybe I was reading an entirely different author. I couldn't connect to ANY of the characters. I felt like they were all selfish, annoying, and whiney. It was hard to tell the difference between the characters POVs and I had to keep reminding myself who's section I was reading. The characters dialogue was so full of political correctness that it was over the top. I felt like the three remaining friends undermined Summer and the reason behind the pact they made. The romance felt just thrown in as an afterthought. I just found it all very weird and VERY unlikeable.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Three college friends reunite in the aftermath of a suicide. The years have passed the friends have stayed tight knit as they try to comprehend why their friend would make such a permanent decision. This book was classic Emily Giffin though the topic was a tough one to read about. How the remaining friends rebuild their lives and stick even closer together was heartwarming. I did enjoy this book as I am a fan of all Emily Giffin books. She warms my heart every time.

I spent most of this novel expecting a plot twist or something deeper to make me feel something. It wasn't a bad read, but I felt like it left me wanting something more out of it.

Ended up DNFing at 20%. This book just wasn't for me, but I can see how it would work well for a different audience.

I loved Emily Giffin’s early books and then some of her more recent ones really let me down. This one was somewhat of a recovery. I feel her perspective has evolved and she’s moved past some of the problematic stuff from some of her previous books. But this one felt a bit too contrived for my taste. It was well written and interesting but I could never fully get into the characters.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Beautiful read and perfect book for the summer (if you need an escape in this frigid winter!).Emily Giffin truly never disappoints and this rich cast of characters adds to her robust collection of unputdownable books.

I have loved and followed Emily's books since day one, and this one just missed the mark IMO. The characters felt forced and the story fell flat. Still love her and her style, but I rather read SOMETHING BORROWED for the 20th time.

This wasn't my favorite of Giffin's writing, but it was a nice read. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters.

Another fun beach read by the queen of the sand. This was a lighthearted escape from the demands of life and I lost myself in the characters and flipping pages. Highly recommend.

I love Emily Giffin, but this book didn’t quite work the way her others have in the past. Friends gather together years after a tragic incident, finding themselves figuring out how to keep their friendship alive despite growing into very different people and working through their own struggles.

I like the premise but the characters were a bit over the top and difficult to relate to or root for.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Giffin's writing is sharp and poignant, exploring complex relationships with honesty and depth. The novel balances heartache and hope, capturing the nuances of long-lasting friendships and the challenges of navigating adult life. A must-read for fans of contemporary fiction that delves into personal growth and emotional connections.

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for letting me read the #advancereaderscopy of #thesummerpact. I haven’t read @emilygiffinauthor since #somethingborrowed and #somethingblue and this book was a great reintroduction! Following a group of friends from their first days of college through a tragic incident their senior year, which causes them to for a pact to always be there for each other. Ten years later, the pact is crucial as they all realize they are at turning points in their lives and need the bonds of their friendship to navigate their paths. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to grab from #yourlocallibrary or #localbookstore. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreviewer #my2024readingchallenge #bookrecommendations

Emily Giffin does it again with an amazing book about friendship and supporting each other. I enjoyed reading this book and it had the added benefit of making me think about my friendships far after reading it.

I typically enjoy Emily Giffin’s novels for their relatable characters and emotional depth, but The Summer Pact fell flat for me. The story centers on childhood friends reuniting over a shared secret, but the setup is quickly overshadowed by a love triangle involving a married man. This twist felt out of place and undermined the potential for a more heartfelt exploration of friendship and loyalty.

The pacing was another major issue. Major revelations, like the truth behind their “pact,” were crammed into the final chapters, leaving little room for the characters’ emotional arcs to feel authentic or earned. The rushed ending also left unresolved questions, making it difficult to fully connect with the story.

As a fan of Giffin’s earlier works, this one was a letdown. If you’re new to her books, I’d recommend starting with one of her older books!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I love Emily Giffin's writings and I am typically not disappointed...they are the ultimate beach read for me. However, this story fell flat. The theme was heavy and I did not care for some of the major plot points.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
I started reading The Summer Pact prior to publication, but the heaviness of the first chapter (one friend's suicide during college) made me set it aside for when I was in a different headspace. I returned to the book via audio a few months later. I think the audiobook is very well done, with multiple narrators for the different POVs, including one of my favorites, Karissa Vacker. I think The Summer Pact is a well-written book, but I don't think the light and bright cover does a good job portraying the darkness of this read. I recommend it, but I wish the cover felt a little more aligned with the content so readers could choose appropriately.

This was very average for me. The plot was kind of non-existent. Four strangers meet at the beginning of their college days and become insta-friends. Their college life is probably less than 10 pages so we just take the author's word for it that they are great friends. Then Summer commits suicide and their lives are all shaken up. They make a pact to always be there for each other.

Fast forward a bunch of years (I forgot how many) and Hannah's fiance is cheating on her. She needs her friends so their drop everything going on in their lives and fly to her (really money must not be an object to any of the these people). They decide to take a three week vacation together where they each pick a destination and go there for a week.

This whole premise is so baffling it doesn't even make sense. But you go with it. The story is told in alternating perspectives between the three friends. Hannah is annoying because she keeps claiming she's trying her best but keeps messing up when really she is selfish and not listening to anyone else. She also seems to have completely forgotten about her ex-fiance and is just going on with life (no spoilers but... really? Completely out of the storyline). Lainey is annoying and doesn't listen to anyone. And Tyson is just too stereotypical to feel like an actual character.

It was a light enough read, but not Giffin's best work.