Classic love story with likeable characters. Two people who knew each other growing up. One living on the wrong side of town. One seeming to have everything. They go separate ways as teens. A chance meeting brings them back together. Neither are looking for a relationship.
The relationships between the characters is beautiful and heartwarming. Just enough humorous moments to make you smile and laugh.
Overcoming hardship and taking second chances is the theme of the story.
The Friendship Pact is part of a series but I had no problem reading it as a standalone.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second book in the Sunrise Cove series, and can be read as a stand alone. This second chance romance is perfect for summer reading. This story is sexy, humorous and filled with some witty banter. Shalvis has incorporated veterans affairs with the male leads nicely into the story. I can't wait to the next installment in this series.

Thank you Avon for the advance reader copy of this novel.

I’ve had Jill Shalvis on my list of authors to try for a while now and finally decided to dive in with her new Sunrise Cove series. I requested The Friendship Pact not realizing it’s actually the second book in the series, so I immediately checked out the first book and binged it in a couple of days. I loved it and jumped right into The Friendship Pact. Let me start off by saying that, aside from the fact that both books are set in the Lake Tahoe area, there’s no crossover between characters so both books work great as standalones. That said, they’re both fabulous so I highly recommend them in whatever order you choose to read them.

Tae Holmes is an event planner in the Lake Tahoe area. When we meet her, she is in the midst of hosting her first big fundraiser for an adventure company for athletes with disabilities and for wounded warriors. Tae is sharp, savvy, and on top of things, although the weather has put a damper on the event’s turnout. Beyond the weather disruption, however, a couple of other things happen that throw Tae off kilter: 1) One of the event’s donors approaches her to chat about seeing her father recently, which is impossible because Tae has never even met her father because he died overseas before she was born, and 2) her old friend and one-night stand from high school, Riggs Copeland, shows up. It turns out he is part owner of the adventure company, along with his brother, Jake. Tae’s brain is already spinning with questions about her dad and seeing Riggs for the first time since high school just adds to her chaotic thoughts, especially when it’s clear that the sparks between them are still very much there.

I love a good second chance romance so I was hooked on this story from the very first scenes between Tae and Riggs. Both characters were so likeable but with complicated pasts that made them very reluctant to become involved with one another. Riggs is especially reluctant to start anything because he has no intentions of staying in Lake Tahoe long-term, which is where the “friendship pact” came into play. I really loved both Tae and Riggs and the scenes between them are so fun and sexy that with each passing page, I hoped the friendship pact would fail.

This story isn’t just about the romance though. There is quite a bit of personal drama as well, revolving around all those questions Tae now has about her father. Was the donor at the event mistaken or is there something more to the story? Has her mom not been honest with her? And if not, why? This aspect of the story kept me just as captivated as the blossoming romance did, especially because Tae and her mom are so close. I adored their relationship and the fear that something might tear them apart had me turning the pages late into the night.

I don’t want to give away anything, so I’m just going to say that, with the first two books in her Sunrise Cove series, Jill Shalvis has made me a fan and I’ll eagerly be checking out everything else she has written.

The Friendship Pact is a heartwarming family story . Tae & her mother,April have been the most important people in each other’s lives and would do anything for each other . April became a mother at a young age and set out to do everything she could to provide for her and her daughter.
Tae & April work for a company they both enjoy . Tae ends up reconnecting with an old friend from high school, Riggs. Riggs is temporarily back in town to help his brother’s company while he has some down time. After reconnecting with Tae he realizes how much he still cares about her . Their friendship pact is made to help keep things light but they both realize that is not possible.
Jill Shalvis created an amazing story as always . Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy for my honest opinion.

This is a second book in a series but can definitely be a stand alone.Tae is a young woman who reunites with a high school crush and also finds out her father she thought dead is actually alive. This book follows her trials as she fights her attraction to her past boyfriend and struggles with her mothers lies about her Dad. I liked this book but was not one of my favorites by this author

Good book about two people who have put up walls around their hearts to keep them safe. For Tae, it's been her and her mom against the world her entire life. April was only fifteen when she had Tae, so they sometimes seem more like sisters than mother and daughter. Life has been challenging, but things are finally looking up. April has a good job as a receptionist with Adrenaline HQ, which provides activities/adventures for disabled kids and adults and wounded warriors. Tae has her own event planning company, which is finally taking off thanks to a contract with that company.

Tae worries about that contract when she feels her first fundraiser for them is a failure, even though Jake, the owner, is satisfied with the results. Tae is a worrier, and I loved how Jake tried to ease her fears. He tells her to go ahead and leave, and she mistakes another car for her Uber in her rush. To her dismay, the car's driver is Riggs, Jake's brother, and her high school one-night fling. She hasn't seen him since he left for the Marines shortly after that.

Riggs has left the Marines and come home for the summer before starting his new job. He's part-owner of the business but leaves it to Jake to run. But Riggs worries about Jake, one of those wounded warriors he tries to help. He's always adored his older brother, who stood between Riggs and his abusive father, and he fears that Jake is putting himself at risk. He promises to stay around for the summer and help expand the company.

I loved watching the rekindling of the relationship between Riggs and Tae. The sparks between them are instantaneous, but neither wants anything to do with them. Riggs is leaving at the end of the summer, and after everything she witnessed with her mother, Tae refuses to give a man any power over her life. So they make a pact to ignore the sparks and keep to friendship only. By keeping the physical out of the mix, they've allowed themselves to get to know each other as adults. I loved the time they spent together helping with the activities and the quieter times when they just talked. It was amazing to see how well they understood each other as both recognized kindred spirits in the self-protection game.

The sparks of attraction didn't take too long to overcome the friendship pact. Though they say it's just a fling, neither one wants to admit their hearts are involved. Tae knows she's falling for Riggs and will end up hurt, but she doesn't want to give up a minute of their time together. Riggs is a harder nut to crack. His walls are thick, and his head even thicker. I loved the conversations between him and Jake, who tries to break through Rigg's walls while Riggs fights him (sometimes literally) every step of the way.

At the same time all of this is going on, Tae is going through a bit of an identity crisis. For her entire life, April has told her that her father died in the war. But Tae recently encountered someone who claimed to know her father and that he was alive. Tae is hunting for the truth without involving her mother, whom she protects. I ached for Tae and the confusion she felt. Though she's determined to investigate on her own, Riggs involves himself in the search behind her back. While his intentions were good, his execution created the potential for disaster. Tae's feelings of betrayal by everyone were understandable, and I didn't blame her for her anger. There's a lot that goes on surrounding the truth that is revealed. In the long run, relationships change but grow stronger. Tae's anger at Riggs is especially strong as she pushes him away. I liked that he admitted he was wrong. He also finally realized the truth of his feelings for her. I loved the conversation between Riggs and Jake, as Jake tries to make him see what he'll have to do to win Tae back. "Use your words, idiot!" The light bulb moment was satisfying; I liked seeing them finally come together. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up.

I don't even know where to begin with this. There is so much more to this book than the title implies.

The history between Tae & Riggs is still right there in their relationship today.

So many things in this book; secrets, lies, struggles, trust issues.

So very well written. I was definitely in tears at the end.

Ms. Shalvis has written yet another story with strong characters facing personal challenges both past and present and learning to break down barriers to find love and acceptance. We get all the feels with this one and in true Shalvis style we also get some laughs along the way as she keeps it real with the interactions between the characters. This is the 2nd book in the series but easily read as a standalone. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Tae Holmes grew up with her single mother April but always felt like the adult. The two have always been close and even live next door to one another. Tae might have much right now but she is giving it her all and can't believe it when she lands a contract for an adventure company. The business is much needed and she hopes it will be a jumping off point for more business. The first big event she throws doesn't exactly go as planned but didn't turn out as badly as she thought it would. Things definitely take a turn when she runs into Riggs Copeland, someone from her past she would happily love to forget. The two agree on being friends because Tae doesn't think she can handle s repeat of the past. As the two spend more time together though feelings start t grow. Follow these two and see if they remain just friends or if their true feelings for one another will come to light.

This second-chance romance is a gritty, heartfelt read. Tae and Riggs both grew up in fractured homes. Now that Riggs has retired from active duty, they have a chance to be together again. But given their background, neither trusts love. Yet what they don't think they want may be exactly what they need.

The narration by Andi Arndt added to the enjoyment of the story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

There is nothing quite like a Jill Shalvis book. I have been reading them as long as she has been writing. They each have that quality that I look for in a story, and each is a relationship book. This time it is Tae and Riggs. Both start out so emotionally damaged that one wonders if they will ever get their HEA. Strong secondary characters make up a good portion of helping Tae and Riggs get to that place and the story line is so strong that I tried to reading it in one sitting. I couldn’t exactly do that but almost! Love the romance, love the storyline and most of all, loved Tae and Riggs

Whew! This story is emotional and fun and lovely all at the same time. Tae and Riggs are fire together and their first time seeing one another since they were teens starts off as a sort of meet (again) cute and winds up going off the rails. In an intense and scary way, but it all ends up good.

Even when Tae get frustrating with her very linear thinking, she always remains a sympathetic character. It’s easy for the reader to see where Tae is coming from and why she reacts to things the way she does. Tae has been an adult since before she was a teenager. Her mom, April, is wonderful and loving. But she was a baby raising a baby and made some missteps along the way. For her part, April is now trying to set Tae free. In hindsight she is able to see the things how she should have done thing differently and wants Tae to live the life she wants instead of the life she feels she needs to live in order to keep control.

Riggs has his own issues. A lot of his own issues. He’s only back in his hometown because of a promise he made to his brother, and he’s only there for the summer. Running into Tae and then finding out she works hand in hand with the company he owns with his brother is a shock. Tae is the one Riggs let get away. He hurt her but has never forgotten her, and vice versa. These two have a lot to work out. Not only for their second-chance romance, but also as adults that have to figure out what they really want to do with the rest of their lives.

In all this is Tae’s search for her birth father, who she thought had died before she was born. It adds a whole other element to this story that really deepens the readers connection to the characters. It hurt my heart when Tae would run into people in town who didn’t have great memories of her teen years. The way they acted as though a person cannot change and weren’t willing to help her or give her the benefit of the doubt was infuriating. I love that Riggs stood by her back in the day and continues to stand by her now.

I love this story. I love the romance. I love the familial relationships and the growth in those areas. I love the representation of athletes with disabilities. I love the outreach to the community children who are less privileged. This is a wonderful story all around.

Jill Shalvis never disappoints. She knows how to bring us characters with depth and intensity. I love Tae and Riggs story - they share a history, but both realize they could never have made it long term back then. And they have so much to work through individually and together, they may even make it now. I love Tae’s independence and fierce protectiveness of her mom. I love Riggs’ devotion to his brother, even when he can’t communicate those feelings at all. Most of all, I love how Tae and Riggs took time to get to know each other and become friends again. There is so much to this book with family and backstories - I don’t want to give away any spoilers! But I will say I was surprised and delighted from beginning to end. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the earc to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this sweet story of friendship, love, family, trust, betrayal and so much more. I felt a range of emotions with these characters, from heartache to giggles. Great beach read!

Tae Homes has only had her mom, April in her life since her mom had her at fifteen years old. Now at twenty-eight years old Tae is starting to question some things in her life. At least her event company seems to doing well. When Tae holds an event for Adrenaline HQ, a company that helps wounded warriors and disabled athletes to experience outdoor adventures again, the last person she expects to run into is Riggs Copeland. Talk about a blast from her past. Riggs and Tae are still very drawn to each other but since Riggs is only in town for the summer, they agree to a "friendship pact". Of course the more time these two spend together, the more the sparks to start to fly. When Riggs offers to help Tae with some questions from her past, emotions start getting involved until they finally give in to their feelings. Tae and Riggs will both need to face some demons from their past in order to find their happy ever after and when they finally do it is just perfect!

I really enjoyed this second chance, sweet romance. Tae had such a rough upbringing but she still managed to perserve and was such a tough woman. Riggs had a rough upbringing too but he was still chasing his demons. Together they were able to have something wonderful.

I will say that the blurb doesn’t really do the book justice so I expected a different kind of story. (I think others did too based on some of the reviews.) It’s a slow build, as Tae works to decide what to do with the questions of her past as well as her growing feelings for Riggs. Riggs also struggles with his emotions, his relationships with Tae & his brother, and what he should do with his life now.

As always, Shalvis is wonderful at delivering quirky characters, heartfelt journeys, and satisfying HEAs. Tea and Riggs (and April as well) have a lot to work through – it’s messy, full of feels, with plenty of moments of heat and humor. The Friendship Pact is a feel-good read perfect for those warm, lazy days of summer.

(Part of a series but only because it is set in the same town.)

**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This is such a feel-good book! I loved the setting, characters, and character development. This was a wonderful story about family and friendship. I like all the different relationships we learn about in this may be between brothers, mother and daughter, or a romance. This is one you'll want to pack in your beach bag!

🏔 The Friendship Pact 🏔

Thank you @williammorrowbooks and @jillshalvis for this ARC! (Sorry I’m late for pub day but I wanted to finish before I posed!)

This is a super cute story- a little predictable, but in a good way!

As a ‘Girl Mom’, I appreciated the dynamic between April and Tae. April loved her daughter fiercely and loved to have fun with her. When Tae complained about April embarrassing her, I laughed out loud because we just had our oldest tell us this past weekend that we were embarrassing for the first time 🤣

Some thoughts-

💗 Carolyn and Jake are relationship GOALS 💗

Tae, Riggs, Carolyn and Jake are doing beautiful, life changing work and having their lives changed in the process.I don’t think they all realized how much of a good impact they made on each other.

This story is charming with out being cheesy. Tae is very funny and relatable. I laughed out loud and a few of her smart remarks. If you need a feel good story with some substance to it, this is it!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Seriously. Amazing. Book. Riggs and Tae had great chemistry, but they also had serious baggage. April was wonderful and sweet, but had a fun edge to her that allowed her to plow through whatever life threw at her. I loved all the characters. Shalvis always adds snark to the conversations and writes superbly flawed but lovable heroes and heroines.

This was another one of author Jill Shalvis's must read books for summer! This says that it is book 2 in the series, but I did not read book 1 and I was able to jump right in with no problems! The reader is immediately immersed in the author's world and doesn't want to leave! They become invested in the characters, the location and the lives of Tae, April, Riggs and company.

This book has missing father's, disabled vets, love, romance, and an occasional fight that results in black eyes. It really has everything that the reader could be looking for! The book centers on an unlikely love that has spanned for years without either of the characters realizing it and brings it front and center in a way that the reader can't help but to root for everyone to get a happily ever after!
The reader zooms through the pages of this one and immediately wants to re-start it once they have finished to see what they may have missed the first time around.

Do yourself a favor and add this one to your TBR list - you won't be sorry!! This is a must read and a must read now book! Move this to the top of your list and be prepared to want to do nothing else once you start to read it!