June has returned to take over her late sister’s beachside tea shop, where she is struggling to make ends meet. Her former best friend, Levi, who she hasn’t spoken to in years, is living a completely stereotypical life in the city as a hedge fund manager and unsuccessful author. They simultaneously go through embarrassing public breakups, and before long, they find themselves in a break up pact. They’ll fake date their way into publicity, bringing customers to June’s tea shop and helping Levi get his ex girlfriend back.

I really wanted to love this, because I usually enjoy a fake dating, ex friends to lovers situation, but it really left me wanting more. I never truly connected with the characters and therefore had a hard time escaping into the story and believing there was any true chemistry between June and Levi. There were a few too many tropes thrown in, so they all felt underdeveloped to me. I did enjoy the setting of June’s tea shop and the time spent addressing the grief of losing her sister. Overall, this story just wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

really sad about not liking this book! things happened, but there was zero tension somehow? the characters lacked the chemistry emma's previous books had, and after like 5 chapters of exposition, i was ready to see some, or literally ANY action.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a heartwarming and relatable story that perfectly captures the rollercoaster of high school friendships, budding romance, and the messiness of growing up. The book centers around two best friends who make a “break-up pact” — a funny twist on the usual romantic pact — and then face the reality of what happens when feelings begin to get complicated.

Emma Lord’s writing is witty and fast-paced, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their journeys. The main characters are well-developed and endearing, with their unique personalities and quirks adding depth to the story. The dialogue feels authentic, with lots of funny and heartfelt moments that keep you engaged.

While the plot is somewhat predictable at times, the charm and humor make up for it, as do the meaningful messages about friendship, self-discovery, and learning to communicate. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and you can’t help but root for them.

Overall, The Break-Up Pact is a fun, lighthearted read that delivers plenty of laughs and tender moments. It’s perfect for fans of young adult romance who want a sweet, feel-good story.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am always going to love a book by Emma Lord, and The Break-Up Pact is no exception. I loved the will they/won't they dynamic of this one, and the way the characters were able to come together.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was an alright one for me. Not gonna lie, there wasn’t what I wanted in this. The romance was so quick for me and don’t get me wrong, I can get down with some instalove but LORD when I tell you the main character pissed me off don’t even get me started. I will be honest, I’m hoping she comes out with a second book about her best friend because I loved that lady and I wanna read all about her.

This was my first read from this author and I was super excited going into it based on the tropes. Unfortunately it just didn't hit right for me. The book isn't bad by any means, it was a quick read and I don't regret my time spent reading it... but I think its just one of those that I will forget about pretty quickly.

This was a good fun read. Perfect for people looking to escape reality for a bit, but not invest too much in what they’re reading.

Emma lord is one of my favorite young adult authors. Her stories are always feel good reads that are so uplifting. I loved this one.

A Familiar Formula with a Few Twists

Emma Lord’s The Break-Up Pact is a light, breezy read that carries her signature charm and wit, but it ultimately falls short of the emotional depth and narrative satisfaction that makes her best work stand out. While the book has its strengths in humor and relatable character dynamics, it suffers from predictable plotting and underdeveloped themes.

Lord excels at creating relatable, flawed protagonists, and The Break-Up Pact is no exception. The central character’s voice is engaging, full of humor and heartfelt introspection. The banter between the two leads sparkles with chemistry, bringing some much-needed energy to the story. Fans of contemporary rom-coms will appreciate the quirky, situational humor that Lord weaves into the plot, as well as the charmingly chaotic side characters that populate the world.

The novel explores themes of self-discovery and friendship, and while it doesn’t break new ground, these themes are conveyed with sincerity. Readers looking for an easy, feel-good escape will find plenty to enjoy here, especially with the novel’s cozy, small-town setting.

However, The Break-Up Pact struggles to rise above its formulaic premise. The plot’s predictability makes the book feel overly safe, with few twists or surprises to keep the reader fully engaged. The “pact” itself—a classic rom-com trope—is treated too superficially, leaving it as little more than a setup for predictable misunderstandings and conflicts.

The emotional stakes, which are hinted at early on, never quite land with the weight they should. Some key relationships and character arcs feel rushed, especially toward the resolution, where the story sacrifices depth for a tidy, happy ending. Readers who crave deeper explorations of romance, heartbreak, and growth may find the narrative a bit shallow.

This is my first book by Emma Lord, and while it wasn’t entirely what I hoped for, I’d be willing to try another of her works. Despite its shortcomings, the book was an enjoyable, lighthearted read that offered moments of humor and charm. Fans of contemporary rom-coms may find it worth picking up. Three solid stars.

I have heard good things about her YA novels so thought I would give this one a try. I personally prefer less steam but I know that is not the case for everyone. Fun plot!

I’m sorry but this book was bad.

What actually is this book supposed to be? There’s not really chemistry between the characters. And it’s so formulaic.
It was so basic. This book would think pepper is spicy

Though I thought I'd like this book, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and couldn't buy into the premise as quickly as it came together. Unfortunately, this book isn't for me and I ultimately DNF at 22%. I may circle back to it in the future.

In 2020, Emma Lord burst her way onto the literary scene with one of my personal favorite YA books, Tweet Cute. Since then, she has become a staple young adult author, publishing books about messy young women finding themselves and falling in love, always with a backdrop of sweet treats. The Break Up-Pact is Lord's adult debut, and she successfully blends all the staples of her books that readers have come to expect with a more mature voice.

After her older sister Annie died a few years ago, June ended her years of world-traveling and death-defying stunts with her boyfriend to move back home. She took over Tea Tide, the cozy tea shop that was her and Annie's childhood dream to open. Keeping a small-town tea shop running profitably is no small feat, but June has been doing her best to do everything exactly how Annie would have wanted. Unfortunately, that just isn't sustainable, and June is going to find a solution to keep Tea Tide afloat.

Unfortunately, June is dealing with this while she is still reeling from her humiliatingly public break-up, where her ex dumped her on reality television. A potential bright side is that her best friend from childhood, Levi, has moved back to town after an even more humiliating and even more public break-up with his ex. He presents June with a solution to all her problems: if they stage fake dates, they can boost the profile of Tea Tide, and make their exes fume.

Despite having had an ARC of The Break Up-Pact for ages, I definitely procrastinated picking it up. This is partially due to the fact that I was disappointed by Lord's most recent YA release, and I was not sure how I was going to find this one. However, having finally set aside the time to read it, I absolutely flew through it.

As you would hope, the best part of this romance novel was the romance. Levi and June had real chemistry, and the tension that came from all of their shared history only added to that. You could really see the friendship at the basis of their relationship, and just how well they knew each other and how well they fit together was really exemplified in all of the fake dates they went on. There was so much page time with June and Levi together, we really got to get to know them and their relationship, which I appreciated. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Poppy and Alex from People We Meet on Vacation, and I think if you loved that book, then The Break-Up Pact will scratch a similar friends-to-enemies-to-lovers itch for you.

I was impressed with the balance this book had to offer. As I said, we got a lot of page time with June and Levi spending time together, but there was also plenty of coverage of the other events and people in their lives. This is partially because a lot of things play double duty. Both are helping prepare the wedding of June's brother, so they spend time with him and his fiance, and spend time doing wedding prep. While June is working all day at Tea Tide, Levi sits in the back and writes his novel. And of course, Levi was Annie's friend to, so we get to see June and Levi's shared grief over her loss, and many discussions about how to best honor her memory.

I really related to a lot of the personal and relationship struggles that June and Levi faced, and I enjoyed getting to see them work it out together. Lord does an excellent job weighing the heavy and the lighthearted, and blends them together expertly. I have so much fun reading about the fun they have on fake dates, but also really feel for the realistic obstacles they encounter. And while the initial premise seemed like an unrealistic set-up, the book is so grounded in emotional reality that I can't fault it too much.

All in all, The Break-Up Pact is a strong adult debut from Lord, and I am certainly excited to see what she does with her next one. If you are a fan of her other books, or, as I already mentioned, Emily Henry's People We Meet On Vacation, I think that this would be a perfect adult romance for you to pick up next time you are craving one. Just watch out, because it might have you craving a cookie-filled scone next.

First I would like to thank St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Two best friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date after break-ups with their respective exes go viral. Two viral break-ups. One fake relationship. Five sparkling, heart-pounding dates. June and Levi can definitely pull this off without their hearts getting involved. Because everyone knows fake dating doesn’t come with real feelings. Right?

What I Loved:
- Tea shop, I would love to visit the shop especially when June creates unique themed treats
- Friends to lovers, I'm a sucker for a friends to lovers story especially when they are so OBVIOUSLY in love
- Growth, both June and Levi start the story at pretty low points (outside of the viral breakups) and I loved seeing their growth throughout the story individually and as friends
- Dates, they agreed to fake 5 dates and each date is such an event to read about and so fun

This was one of my favorite friends to lover reads of the year. June and Levi were so close and went no contact so suddenly it was clear how much they really missed and needed each other and I was just living for the angst to start their story. This was then helped by an amazing case of characters including June's brother and friend who was always helping Levi needle into June's life.

Emma Lord’s The Break-Up Pact was a cute story, but I feel like the author could have ended it a lot sooner than she did.
In the story, June and Levi each experience embarrassingly hellish breakups and decide to make a pact for a fake relationship. A tale as old as time, they fall for each other and everyone lives happily every after.
This was an entertaining read, but it’s not my top pick for summer reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy of this novel.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord missed the mark for me. While the premise of two friends agreeing to break up to move forward felt intriguing, the execution felt forced and predictable. The characters lacked depth, and the romance didn’t capture the emotional depth I was hoping for.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. This was a cute beach read with second chance romance/friends to lovers tropes. June and Levi were friends as teens but had a falling out. Now as adults they both had serious breakups that went viral on social media. To save face, June and Levi end up fake dating to salvage their reputation from the public eye. I had a hard time relating to June and felt like her character needed to love herself and stop the negative self-talk before she could love someone else.

love love love, Emma lord is such a great writer and this book was my favorite so far. thank you for my copy in exchange for a fair review.

Emma Lord is one of my favorite authors, so I was incredibly excited to discover she was diving into the world of adult rom coms. The Break Up Pact was so fun and swoony! I had the best time reading this one, and I cannot wait for more stories from Emma Lord. An auto-buy author for sure!

June is trying her best to keep her late sister’s tea shop afloat after a meme-inspiring breakup in the media. At the same time her childhood friend and old flame Levi is back in town as the other wronged partner. The two decide to revenge their exes by pretending to date each other and help garner media attention for the tea shop. Old feelings resurface and a new relationship forms between June and Levi as they go on with their scheme. But how will their exes react and what happens when the charade ends?

I enjoyed the premise of the story and respected the journey that June and Levi take both together and individually. The romance fell a bit flat for me though.