This might be my new favorite Emily Giffin book. The characters, the storyline, I loved it all. I admit it started out deep and I thought oh no can I do this, but it really is a fabulous book. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an ARC. Everyone should have this on their summer read list!!!

I was immediately struck by a somber trigger warning at the beginning of the story, urging readers to approach the narrative with sensitivity due to its portrayal of suicide. With this solemn reminder in mind, I delved into the pages of the book, bracing myself for the emotional journey that lay ahead.

What unfolded was a poignant tale of life amidst the shadow of death—a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit. Set against the backdrop of college life, "The Summer Pact" captured the essence of a formative period in my own life, evoking nostalgia and a deep sense of connection to the characters and their experiences. Throughout the story, I found myself drawn to the richly developed cast of characters, each grappling with their own struggles and insecurities in the wake of a devastating loss. From the steadfast bonds of friendship to the intricacies of romantic relationships, the characters navigated the complexities of life with honesty, vulnerability, and unwavering support for one another.

What truly resonated with me was the authenticity of the characters' emotions and experiences. As they navigated grief, guilt, and the uncertainty of the future, I found myself empathizing with their struggles and cheering for their triumphs. It is a testament to the skill of the author that these characters felt like old friends, their joys and sorrows becoming intertwined with my own.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a fan of Emily Giffin from Something Borrowed, which I loved. I've been a big fan of hers and was excited to see she had a new book out. Unfortunately, this book did not work for me in the way her past books have. In fact, I ended up not finishing it. The story follows Tyson, Lainey, Hannah, and Summer, a group of friends graduating from UVA. After a tragedy, they form a support group for Hannah, and then plan a trip to to bond and heal. But it fell off once they got to the trip. It was full of plot holes, unnecessary twists and cliched issues. The romances even felt rushed. The characters were not developed enough and I didn't really want to root for any of them. There were three POVs which is one too many, in my opinion. However, even though this did not work for me, I will be trying the next book on offer from Emily Griffin. I still think she's a gifted writer.

Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Giffin, and Random House Publishing for sending me this advance copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you Random House for the ARC via NetGalley. The Summer Pact is the story of a tight knit group of college friends and the impact that tragedy has on their group. The college friends make a pact to forever be there for each other in times of trouble. The story is told from three points of view, often rehashing events through others perspectives. The main setting on the island of Capri was wonderful. You could smell the salt, seafood and wine. I enjoyed the characters but the eventual romantic relationships felt a bit rushed and I would have enjoyed hearing more about them. Overall I enjoyed the book.

I love Emily Giffin, and will request every book she writes. However, this book made no sense to me. I don't honestly understand the point of it. I finished it, but didn't want to...I wanted to understand more of the insight of Summer but I never got to find out all of it. All I got were a bunch of people blaming themselves. I am sad to say I found it to be a weak and disappointing read . The story follows Tyson, Lainey, Hannah, and Summer, a group of friends preparing to graduate from UVA. After a tragic event, they form a group to support Hannah, plan a trip to seek forgiveness and healing. However, the last 25% of the book is filled with cliches and plot twists, leaving readers disappointed and feeling meh, in my opinion. The characters are very two-dimensional. Maybe there are too many perspectives and too much of an effort to end on an HEA.

Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Giffin, and Random House Publishing for this ARC for an honest review.

Decent friendship journey; characters all read similarly even though they were of different genders/races. The character change seemed a little forced.

Four people who met in college and became best friends until something tragic happens in thier group. From that point on they make a pact to always come together when someone hits their lowest point. When Hannah walks into her fiances house and catches him cheating on her she consieres it her lowest point and calls up her firends to come help her back up. From that point on they each find something about themelves they didn't know they needed.

A classic Emily Giffin... this story was so heartwarming. Trigger warning: there is heavy mention and discussion of suicide, strained parental relationships, cheating, and alcohol abuse. The friendship described in this beautifully written novel is one that any human would give their right kidney for - unrelenting, supportive, and everlasting. And the travel destinations don't suck either!

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!*

Great summer read! I read through this book in just a couple days because once I got started, I had to find out what happens! Emily Giffin does a great job getting you invested in these characters early on and writes the issues they are facing so realistically. This is a perfect quick summer beach read!

Emily Giffin did it again with another spectacular summer read in "The Summer Pact." Engaging characters, and a gripping plot line; I also loved the play on words with the title! This is a must-read for the summer of 2024.

Four college friends, one tragic accident, and a bond that leaves them inseparable; this book has it all! When Hannah's life bottoms out, she knows there are only two people to call, Lainey and Tyson. The three find themselves all in the middle of a life change. What do they do next? Where do they go from here? Their decisions lead to love, heartbreak, and finding themselves in the midst of the new normal. What they leave in the past will stay as the three open themselves up to a new and vibrant life.

Way to go, Emily, this one rocked!

In Emily Griffin’s latest novel, The Summer Pact, Hannah, Lainey, Summer, and Tyson meet at the beginning of their freshman year in college. They have little in common, coming from different walks of life and majoring in different fields. However, the bond they share is strong, and it continues throughout their four years at school. As graduation nears, the close-knit group experiences a devastating loss. In response, they form “The Summer Pact,” an agreement to drop everything, no matter what, and go to the others when needed, no questions asked. Ten years later, Hannah is the one in need after a heartbreaking blow brings her lower than she has ever been. To help her through, the group embarks on an epic journey of discovery that will change all their lives.

This was the first Emily Griffin novel that I have read, and I found it to be quite enjoyable! Reading about how Lainey, Tyson, Summer, and Hannah met brought me back to my freshman year in college, when I was anxiously trying to find my place and my tribe. The bonds formed during those years are unique and pivotal to one’s growth and development. This is even more true when those bonds are formed in trauma and tragedy. The first part of the book was well-paced. However, once “The Summer Pact” is activated, it began to feel a little rushed. The book ended abruptly after Chapter 33, and then it jumped to a year later in the epilogue. I think it would have benefited from an additional 2-3 chapters where we could have seen what happened with each character in that year. Instead, all that information was crammed into the epilogue, which felt overloaded with important details that needed to be elaborated on. Overall, The Summer Pact is a fun beach read about a group of friends that epitomize the word loyalty. However, Griffin wrapped things up too fast and did not give the characters the words needed to fully tell their story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

This was not Emily’s best work. Too many conflicts, not enough resolution. Her character development was lacking. The ending was super rushed. It’s definitely a summer beach read but not much else there.

The Summer Pact is a novel that highlights not only social norms but also mental health and substance abuse issues. The thought that the friends you make in college are the friends you have for life comes true for Hannah, Tyson, Lainey and Summer. This group has vowed to be there when things feel like too much and those troubles come in spades. Through a series of events this group learns not only the true meaning of friendship but they understand how love develops even under the most unforeseen circumstances.

One of the best books I read this year!

Griffin is taking a leap out of her usual genre writing and has deep dived into more serious matters. Racism, mental health and suicide were the major themes in the book and was handled with care and grace.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Was so excited when I saw that Emily Giffin was releasing a new novel! I have loved so many of her previous novels and this one was just as good. This time we follow three friends each going through their own struggles and bound by a pact that arose after a life changing event. Each character is growing up, find their place in the adult real world all while navigating careers and relationships. Loved reading about their stories, how they support each other and how their feelings start to bubble. Great Read!

I love Emily griffin and this is another masterpiece! I love the way you feel invested in her characters stories and root for them to get their lives together. 5 stars!

I was so lucky to receive this book as an ARC and it was one of my favorites for summer!! You will fall in love with the characters Emily Griffin has done it again!! I just reviewed The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin. #TheSummerPact #NetGalley
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While the title of The Summer Pact makes it seems like a light, sunny story, there is a lot going on here that delves deeper. While the premise is sad, a key element of the novel is moving forward after dealing with grief. I loved the different perspectives of the story, and seeing the same situation from the filter each friend puts on it. I think it's a huge compliment to say one of the biggest downsides to the book is that I wished there was more, but I also appreciated the novel's length. In summary, I thought this was a great, sweet, thoughtful novel that I will totally recommend to friends.

This is most definitely a quick read, which may make for good poolside reading. The points of view rotate between the friend group, which does move the along. However, it moves so quick that it feels underdeveloped. Each character has his/her own conflicts but so little time to thoroughly develop them before plot twists come along. Simply put, there's a bit too much to focus on and perhaps not the author's best writing. Additionally, if you take away the character names at the start of each chapter, I wouldn't be able to tell who is whom. The characters aren't fleshed out enough to feel each is her/her own person, which was disappointing.

There's a time and place for everything though. I would recommend this book as a "palate cleanser" between genres or when you want something that has a little more depth without the deep exploration.

#NetGalleyARC For me, this author is often hit or miss but this one was a for sure hit. The switching between different characters POV was a bit tricky at first but it for sure made the story. The beginning really got to me, but overall really liked this book. I enjoyed the character development and the changing of relationships as the friends grew up. There’s something to be said about friendships that grow and last and this book is a testament to those relationships.