this was a really cute book! i really enjoyed the writing style, as well as the pacing for the actual relationship itself. the ending fell a bit flat for me personally, but overall a good read!

thank you to st. martins and netgalley for the advanced copy!

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Good Morning, Cupcake!”
"Oh, absolutely not."
"Stud Muffin?"
"I take back what I said about rules. I draw the line at desert based nicknames"
"Sugar Plum?"
"We'll workshop it."

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC. Emma Lord is an author I've received several eARC's from, and she's never let me down, so any time I see her name pop back up its an instant grab for me.

The books I've read from her prior were both YA, so it was fun to dive into her steamy side, and I like that it wasn't overwhelmingly explicit. Slow burn in a really good way, but I'll be the first to admit that friends to lover isn't my preferred trope. I had hopes that because of how much I love Emma Lord's writing, it would carry me through the story, but sadly I just really miss the tension that comes with rivals/enemies.

I feel like Levi was very clear on his intentions and his feelings, and found that June often jumped to conclusions in a juvenile way. Also, going on the TV show in spite, just because Levi talked to his ex again? I understand he should have reached out sooner to tell her himself, but I also can see that because the ex stopped at the bakery first, he assumed June already knew.

In addition, I think the sabotage subplot with June's ex was a little disappointing. I feel like at times it was trying to much and wished the the main plot focused more on their relationship and healing from the loss of June's sister. It think that is where the climax should have lived but it at times felt like a sub-plot, and the other the moments seemed to be louder even though they weren't as important.

Don't get me wrong the story was beautiful. The characters are well rounded, and a shared grief background added an additional layer to their relationship, and was a theme I haven't found much. But with that, I think that the miscommunication and jealousy that comes with the trope is what just really pushes me away at times.

This story truly thrived with the interactions between June and Levi, when everything else faded away except their support of one another. It gave this sense of "knowing" each other so deeply, they could respond to each others needs.

I think this book will be a beautiful read to add to any contemporary romance fan's shelf, and this will remain at the top of my list for those looking for a Friends to Lovers story regardless of my criticisms, because I think it was so much fun, and Emma Lord is just an author everyone needs in their library.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Hilarious and Heartwarming Rom-Com

Emma Lord's The Break-Up Pact is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that will have you laughing out loud and swooning. The story follows June and Levi, two former friends who reunite under unexpected circumstances. Their plan to fake a relationship to get back at their exes leads to hilarious and heartwarming situations.

Lord's witty banter and relatable characters make for a captivating read. The supporting cast adds depth and humor to the story, creating a vibrant and engaging world. The author skillfully explores themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, delivering a satisfying and emotionally resonant narrative.

The audiobook narration is fantastic, bringing the characters to life and adding to the overall enjoyment of the story. The narrators capture the wit and charm of the characters, making the listening experience even more delightful.

The Break-Up Pact is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. It's a perfect blend of humor, heart, and heartfelt moments.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #thebreakuppact #emmalord #smpinfluencers

This was a cute fake dating romance. It was fun and had good banter. However, it moved a little too quick for me. I felt like the background and connection with the characters just hit for me.

I love fake dating!
This was a cute rom com that also dealt with grief.
I really liked both main characters.
I felt that they both grew and learned how to communicate what they wanted and needed.
Levi did annoy me at times with his decisions, but I was glad that June was able to call him out and explain how she felt.
I loved the beach town vibe.
This was a really cute book and I would definitely recommend it!

Teens will love this one. However as an adult reader I found this one fairly predictable but as a teen I don't think I would have.

It's cute, but it's not giving me romance novel. There's a hot scene and some romance-y vibes near the end of the book but throughout the story I dont' buy that these two are madly in love and the faking it portion is torture for either of them. It seems the opposite.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a witty and heartfelt story that perfectly captures the complexities of friendships, relationships, and self-discovery during pivotal moments in life. The novel follows two best friends who make a pact to avoid messy breakups by not dating anyone serious before heading off to college. But as feelings begin to blur the lines of their agreement, the story dives into the emotional rollercoaster of growing up and the risks of letting your heart lead the way.

Emma Lord’s signature humor and relatable characters shine throughout the book. The dialogue is sharp, and the chemistry between the protagonists is electric, making their journey feel authentic and deeply engaging. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and taking chances on love are explored with sensitivity and charm.

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves contemporary romances with a dash of humor and a lot of heart. It’s a reminder that sometimes the scariest risks are the ones worth taking.

If it's drama and intrigue the people want, it's drama and intrigue they shall get. The bonus being extra business for June's shop and both of their ex's getting jealous.



Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I read one of Emma Lord's young adult novels a while back and have been meaning to check out her others. But then she wrote an adult rom-com and I knew I had to prioritize that one instead. I really enjoyed The Break-Up Pact. It's light and sweet, as well as really steamy.

The story has a lot of humor and great banter throughout. It's amusing how everyone is so focused on Levi and June being together just because they were both broken up with in viral ways. Their fake dates seemed like a lot of fun and I enjoyed seeing how each one brought out more chemistry between them. Especially since there was a nice build-up to the hot bedroom scene. The supporting characters were a lot of fun and enhanced the story even more.

Some parts felt a bit slower as there was a lot of back-and-forth over what to do and June kept rehashing why she thought Levi might not want to be with her. However, the rest of the story made up for this and there were plenty of surprises in store!

I really hope Emma will write more adult rom coms, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

(Trigger warning below.)

Movie casting suggestions:
June: Mary Mouser
Levi: Zach Tinker
Dylan: Jordan Doww
Sana: Reina Hardesty
Griffin: Austin North
Kelly: Victoria Justice
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TW: death of sibling at a young age (off page but mentioned a lot)

TikTok…I don't know anything about it but I decide to just skip over it when it was mentioned and it was alot!
I'm gonna say this read more like a young adult then a adult romance. It was fine. I don't have anything bad to say about it. I'll still be looking for her next book.

Thanks for inviting me to read this.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved all of the YA books Emma Lord has written, and was excited to see her writing romance. This book did not disappoint, it had all the charm that her ya books normally have and the writing that I enjoy and as a bonus the characters were well written and lovable, and the story was so fun! Super recommend to fans of the authors books as well as people who might want to dive into her works but don’t know where to

This was a charming adult contemporary romance that follows June and Levi, two former best friends who reunite under unexpected circumstances.

After a decade of estrangement, a viral social media mishap forces them to pretend to be a couple. As they navigate the complexities of their fake relationship, they rediscover their connection and confront unresolved feelings from the past.

It was filled with witty dialogue and themes of friendship, love and loss. I loved the character development of both June and Levi and following their journey of becoming a couple. If you enjoy the fake dating trope, give this one a try!

I've been a fan of Emma Lord since her debut novel, Tweet Cute, and this did not disappoint! Lord is known for her banter and for how she brings her characters to life, so I wasn't surprised that June and Levi captured my heart from the get-go. Recommend this to anyone in search of a cute, flirty read full of three-dimensional characters, cheeky banter, and a swooning romance!

I also got the stunning Illumicrate edition so even more stoked :)

This was adorable. I fun second chance fake date revenge romance. Minimal spice. Definitely recommend!

This really didn’t work for me. Fake dating is my favorite trope but man, there was absolutely no chemistry between these characters who apparently have known each other forever. The last 100 pages felt so long and drawn out for absolutely nothing. Not a fan.

Emma Lord has become one of my favorite YA authors, so I was eager to see how her signature brand of sparkly, glittery, sweet romance would translate to an adult story and boy did she pull it off!

The Break-Up Pact follows June and Levi, two ex-best friends who agree to fake a relationship to help June save her struggling business and to help Levi help win his ex back. Of course you can guess how that turns out…👀

This book was such a delight! It’s full of pop culture references and warmth, and incorporates multiple romance tropes without ever making the story feel overstuffed or too thin. One thing that I’ve always loved about Lord’s writing is how she gives equal time to both lead characters. June and Levi feel so real and authentic that they could almost walk off the page, which really makes their intense chemistry believable. I’d happily read 10 more books about them.

The Break-Up Pact is a perfect novel in my mind, but I think it’s important to let other readers know that this isn’t your typical fluffy romance. While there are sweet moments of levity, the book does explore some heavier themes around grief and loss, similar to Emily Henry’s Book Lovers. Those parts didn’t detract from the story in my mind, but I can understand how others might want to avoid those topics in romance.

If you’re looking for a romance with a bit of realism and a lot of heart, you need to add The Break-Up Pact to your TBR now.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute closed door romance set in a beachy small town outside of NYC. I appreciated the cast of characters, some of which has some decent growth over time. The only part I did not like was the reliance of several different events continuously going viral for them all being “normal” people. I found I didn’t have the suspense of disbelief for that.

BOOK REVIEW: The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
2024 Publication Date: August 13

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Contemporary Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

Pages: 314
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Friends To Lovers Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy)
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Benson Beach
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

All the great tropes but just didn’t hit it for me.

✔️ fake dating
✔️ friends to lovers
✔️ struggling business
✔️ miscommunication
✔️ second chance romance
✔️ sisters best friend

There were quite a few things that made me not really care for the book. For one how both main characters acted toward their exes, umm no. They were both publicly humiliated and yet they both make excuses for them, one ACTUALLY wants to try and make it work with the ex, and don’t get me started about the show. Maybe I’m just crazy but no way in 🔥 would I be that way. Like I believe in payback, but that’s just me. Also it’s very hard to believe after 10 years apart they just step right in sync just like that. <insert a roll of the eyes>


I have seen it mentioned several times that Emma Lord’s ya novels are where it’s at (this is my first by her) so I plan on trying one of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.