This is a great book, especially for summer reading. Tae might be one of my favorite female leads. She's tough & badass with a soft inside. She loves hard & is fiercely loyal. Riggs is a fantastic counterpart to her. He too is tough (Marine) but has softness under that hard shell. Jake, his brother, & his girlfriend are great side characters as well as April, Tae's mom. April is a great example that it's never too late to try something new in life. All of the characters are interesting & written in a way that you felt like you knew them. Enjoyable book!

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

The Friendship Pact is a story about family, friendship, and forgiveness. The characters in this story are deeply flawed and fighting to rise above their limitations, both physical and mental.

I enjoyed many of the tertiary characters, but the story focuses mainly on Tae Holmes and Riggs Copeland, as well as Tae's relationship with her mother, April, and Riggs' relationship with his brother, Jake. Mistakes were made when April discovered she was pregnant after a one-night stand at a party. Lies were told. But can those lies stay buried?

Tae and Riggs essentially grew up together, both coming from hardships and struggles. Riggs' father was an abusive alcoholic. He and his brother Jake caught the brunt force of his fists too many times. Joining the military was their way out.

Tae's entire world revolves around her mother. They are all each other has. They've always struggled to make ends meet. April sought security and a better way of life for her and her daughter through a continuous flow of men through her door. As a result, Tae became independent and tough, her heart closed to the idea of any deep relationship with a man. After all, she had no father and none of the men April chose came close to her idea of a father.
So, at age 28, Tae is a successful businesswoman, dedicated to protecting her mother, and consumed by her work. She's good at her job and good at protecting her heart. But now Riggs is back in town for the summer to help his disabled brother provide summer activities for wounded veterans and other disabled adults and children.

Sparks fly between Tae and Riggs. She'd lost her virginity to him in high school. But then he'd gone into the military and disappeared from her life. And she isn't ready to let him back in. They have to find a way to work together for the summer, so a friendship pact is formed.


It doesn't take long for that to grow into something bigger. But both are better at running away than staying. Add in the complication of a father Tae thought to be dead, showing up very much alive and this story takes lots of heart-stopping twists and turns. The author did a fabulous job at weaving all the characters together. They are complex, multi-dimensional, and believable with relatable struggles. Tae was my favorite character. She fought hard for independence. She needed no one. Riggs' brother, Jake, is a character I admired. Despite the paralyzed legs, he dared to live life, fall in love, and help others struggling with disabilities. While this is a romance, it is also much more, diving into dysfunctional family struggles and the attempt to forgive and heal. I highly recommend it and give it a solid four stars!

This is written for a younger generation, not for those of us who don't speak in abbreviations. It became too distracting looking up all of them, so I just ignored. It's an adult romance story with some steamy scenes. There are also heartwarming life lessons and easily read as a standalone, didn't read the first and did not feel lost. The setting around LakeTahoe, on the California side, was unfamiliar to me.
April became a mother to Tae at fifteen. She had no guidance to prepare her and no assistance from family. Thus they were all each other had, mistakes and poor choices were made. It was a struggle and their closeness borders on codependency. Now they even live in a duplex, side by side. April is a secretary at Adrenaline HQ, while her passion is photography. Tae is in her late twenties running her own event company. She has several upcoming large events to coordinate for HQ.
Jake runs Adrenaline HQ with his brother, Riggs, mostly a silent partner. Jake started the adventure company for wounded warriors and it's growing. Jake has a good hearted girlfriend, Carolyn, who also works at HQ. Riggs is a soldier transitioning home after several year of service. He's only home for the summer because Jake asked him to come. They still fight like when they were kids. Carolyn is the level headed buffer.
Years ago Riggs and Tae had a consensual one time encounter, with no expectations.
Jake and Tae have an awkward, comical meeting all these years later outside HQ. The old sparks still burn, but each of them have steep walls around trust and feelings. It's a fun read as they navigate their agreement to just be "friends" for the summer.
The inclusion of the Adrenaline HQ adventure concept was a breath of fresh air. There are many things to learn about lies, consequences,  the truth, trust and what it takes to open your heart to live and love.
This would make a great summer beach read and a good book club addition. It wasn't a cheesy romance, there is actual substance, with characters you want to root for. I haven't read this author before but, will in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digit copy of
"The Friendship Pact, Sunset Cove #2" by Jill Shalvis and to HarperCollins Publishers. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I am sure it’s no surprise to see me awarding lots of stars to a Jill Shalvis book, as her books never fail to win me over. After my success with The Family You Make, I was excited to return to Sunrise Cove, and obviously, I was not disappointed.

Second chance romances are my catnip, and per usual, I found myself deeply invested in Riggs and Tae marching off into the sunset together. They had formed a bond as teens, but had not seen each other in many years. The sparks instantly reignited between these two when they were reunited, and so did my excitement. Both Riggs and Tae struggled with forming lasting relationships due to fears from their past. I understood Tae’s concerns, but Riggs made my heart ache. The emotional growth they experienced and their romance were so satisfying for me. And, of course, there were happy tears because I wanted them to get their HEA so badly.

The romantic entanglements weren’t the only ones to take center stage. Shalvis explored the relationship between Tae and her mother, as well as between Riggs and his brother. Their pasts also strained these connections a bit. The progress and growth they made in their romantic lives allowed them to be more honest in their other relationships. Let’s just say that the progress they made on this front left me with a warm and happy heart.

Overall, I enjoyed this wonderful addition to the Sunrise Cove series. It was a beautiful story of family, friendship, and love which was told with Shalvis’ signature humor and warmth. I had no trouble rooting for this couple and was elated with all the happiness they found along the way.

Jill Shalvis is one of my top five favorite authors and she has another success with The Friendship Pact. The story takes place in a lovely setting and of course there's humor, romance, and fun. Once I start a Jill Shalvis book I can't put it down until I finish.

The Friendship Pact is the second book in the Sunrise Cove series and is an angsty, drama-filled enemies-to-lovers type romance.

Both Tae and Riggs have not had the easiest of lives and there is a good amount of family trauma they have had to overcome. Tae was raised by a teen mom, barely older than herself, who is still growing up alongside her daughter, and Riggs comes from a past mired in abuse. The relationship between the two is unlikely, riddled with difficulties and definitely hard-earned, but they share a unique bond of friendship that ties them together. There is also a secondary plot with April, (Tae’s mom) that adds some depth and insight to the overall story.

The Friendship Pact has romance, humor, family drama, and themes of forgiveness and second chances. The characters can definitely be aggravating, but they also grow as the story progresses. Though a bit slow at times, the messages are worthwhile and the conclusion is a satisfying one.

I always enjoy a Jill Shalvis book and this is no different. She has a great way of telling a story and making you care about the characters. Tae and Riggs are so closed off from everyone that it was interesting watching them open up to each other in addition to their families. This is not as steamy of a story compared to some other contemporary romances but it is a great story and worth the read.

I really enjoyed this story. It pulled at my emotions. I loved Tae, she was always taking care and protecting her Mom, April. She stood up to Riggs and she proved that she could take care of herself if she had to and that she did not need a man to do it for her. She didn't want to allow herself to get hurt.

Riggs pretty much was the same, he didn't want to get hurt either but he liked Tae and liked the fact that she didn't want to be anything but Friends so he suggested the Friendship Pact.

Check out the story I think you will enjoy it as much as I did.

This book is about second chance romances and the journey of Tae and Riggs. Riggs came back from the military to help his brother run a foundation for wounded veterans and at-risk kids and Tae runs the events for the foundation. They meet again at the end of one of those events.

I loved that Riggs figured out he’s always loved Tae. There is, of course, some push and pull between the two but I really loved the chemistry between Tae and Riggs.

There’s also the relationship between Riggs and his brother and the semi co-dependent relationship of Tae and her mother that get out through their paces in the novel, along with the other secret in the book.

Overall, it’s a fast and cute read. It’s a part of a series but I think it works fine as a standalone. Jill Shalvis doesn’t disappoint in her HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC in exchange for this honest review.

I recently read The Family You Make (Book 1 in the Sunrise Cove series) and loved it, so I was so excited for the opportunity to read and arly copy of The Friendship Pact (Book 2)! This book is part of a series, but can definitely be read as a standalone.

The Friendship Pact is a heartwarming story about... Yep, you guess it ~ Friendship! But it's also about family, forgiveness and second chances.

"Family isn’t whose blood you carry, it’s who you love."

Shalvis definitely knows how to write a good romance! This one was really good! I love Tae and Riggs story, and I loved the second story about April as well. All of the characters were interesting and had amazing growth throughout the book.

Read if you enjoy:

• second chances
• childhood friends to lovers
• strong female leads
• military men
• mother daughter stories
• family drama

“I have hobbies. They include rage-sighing and marathoning Bridgertons on repeat.” ... same April, same.

Thank you William Morrow, Avon Books and TLC Book Tours for the gifted copy and opportunity to read and review this book. This book is due for publication 6/14/22 and I recommend it.

This review will posted to Amazon on 6/14/22 and to my blogs on 6/16/22 as part of a book tour with TLC Books.

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This book starts off with some hilarious WTF moments that had me laughing and held my attention till the end!!

Riggs and Tae are made for one another! I loved that they had a foundation and that it wasn’t the guy that messed up but Tae who had some doubts! Theirs a lot of growth for both characters but what I truly loved was getting to see Aprils POV in the book! She has a huge part in this story so seeing her perspective and seeing her find herself was so beautiful to this mommas heart!

I did not read the first book in this series but you don’t need too and I can say that I will definitely go back and read the first book because I love this town and group and want all the deets!!

The love story of Tae and Riggs is one that hooked me from the start. Can you say conflict?!? Both Tae and Riggs have had difficult paths in life and are not looking for true love. The two are surrounded by feelings of hurt, betrayal, distrust, and the need to protect themselves. I am so glad I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Enjoyed Tae and Riggs’ journey immensely.

This was great for a beach read! Easy to follow writing with a prickly main character and a meddling mother. I liked their relationship and how they navigated being so close in age. Good romance too!

I received an ARC of The Friendship Pact, all thoughts are my own.
I want to start off by saying I love Jill Shalvis as a writer, she always gets me so involved with every story and this one was no different! I don’t know if she will be able to top the Wildstone series but she sure is trying!
I really enjoyed the setting of this book in Tahoe and imagining the beautiful scenery that the events took place at! It all seemed so magical! I am an avid Shalvis reader and I love the Sunrise Cove series!
This book really focused on family and some of the struggles and growth that come along with family. April and Tae’s relationship was beautiful.

This has a lot of promise as a romance between a tough independent woman and a likewise tough ex-Marine. They are so alike in that they try to protect themselves from showing their true feelings and giving their hearts, afraid of getting hurt. Tae is an event planner who was hired by an adventure experience company. Riggs is half owner of the adventure company and has returned home to help out his brother Jake, also an ex-Marine but now disabled. Both have a history from high school, as they were each other’s first love. But a lot of time has passed and Riggs is not looking to commit to staying. Riggs suggest a “friendship pact”, fearful of losing his heart based on his experience of everyone he loves leaves him. Tae wants more and is deeply attracted to Riggs. Tae grew up with her single mother April, but has questions about her father. Will Tae and Riggs find the answers they want and will they figure out that love can last? Can they learn to trust as well as love?
This is a feel-good fast paced romance. However, I didn’t feel that there was enough substance in Riggs and Tae’s relationship. Something was missing. Additionally, there was a lot of build up about secrets being kept and then upon the resolution, any concerns or conflicts were too easily dismissed. I think many parts could have been more developed and explored. It’s an okay story to read and enjoy, but it doesn’t leave you with any thought-provoking revelations or fodder for discussion.

Many thanks for #netgalley #jillshavis #thefriendshippact for theopportunity to read and review this book.

Welcome back to Sunrise Cove !
This is Tae and Riggs story and I was instantly hooked, as this author always manages to hook me!
Love, family, secrets, and forgiveness all wrapped into a story you will not forget!

First off. . . I am always a fan of Jill Shalvis and this book didn't disappoint. It was a fun easy read and held my interest to the very end. I liked the relationship with April & Tae and marvel at how a young mother raised a child all on her own. I did feel that the ending felt a bit rushed and needed a little more development. It felt like Tae resolved all her issues very quickly. All in all I felt it was a good read.

4.5 stars

Aww, big-time squeeee, but then again, Jill Shalvis always knocks them out of the park. She has a true gift for creating characters that are perfect in their imperfection and who you just can't help cheering for.

Here, we have Tae and Riggs (both great names that are unusual and could have used a little explanation because I'm sure there's a story there). They knew each other in high school, both as friends and, very briefly, biblically, but they went on with their lives afterwards without thinking too much about it. They reunite when Riggs comes back to town to help his brother out for the summer. Tae also works with his brother, so it's no surprise that they run into each other. As the two fumble their way through a grown-up relationship, Tae is also dealing with some revelations about her birth father that shake the foundation of her relationship with her mother, and these revelations drive the story as much as--if not more than--her relationship with Riggs.

Typical of a Shalvis novel, the dialog is snappy and real, and I found myself laughing more than once. That said, for me, a little more background info would have improved the book. For example, I don't understand how Tae's mom, as an underaged mother whose family kicked her out, cared for an infant without someone (wanted or otherwise) stepping in. I mean, I just needed a little more about how that worked. I also wasn't sure how a rebel like Tae ended up as an event planner as typically that field attracts a more people-oriented personality.

Overall though, I loved this story. Definitely worth a read and an eventual reread.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Every character in this book needs to go to therapy. Honestly, that's my main takeaway. This is my least favorite Shalvis book in a while-- a lot of choices just made no sense to me. It's the typical Alpha-no-nonsense-tough-guy, which I'm honestly kind of tired of from her! The fact that Riggs and Jake get in a legitimate physical fight, and not just a joking around one, is not amusing or logical-- it just showed that they have a serious amount of anger issues (therapyyyyy) and no control over their emotions. The whole situation with Tae's father... in what world is that how that would/should play out (please lord, get some therapy)?. It was just overall a big NO from me on this one. Really hoping for more from Shalvis in her next book. I would love some variety!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What I loved: The concept of an adventure company for athletes with disabilities. How amazing does that sound?! I also really liked Tae and Aprils relationship, as well as Tae and Riggs relationship.

What I didn’t like: the ending felt a little rushed, I expected things to play out a little longer. I also felt like Tae finding her father took a back seat and wasn’t as huge as I thought it was going to be. Other than I have no complaints!

This is the second book in Jill’s Sunshine Cove series, but it can be read as a complete standalone! The Friendship Pact is out June 14.