I love Emma Lord’s YA novels so when I heard she was writing her first adult rom-com I was super excited, and The Breakup Pact delivered.

The story of June and Levi and the ups and downs of their relationship, especially since the death of June’s sister, was really lovely. Between the second chance romance/ friends to lovers plot line, and the Atlantic beach small town setting, this was a delightful read.

I could’ve done without the TikTok-viral-meme aspect, but it didn’t take away too much for me. Emma Lord seamlessly weaves together heavier themes of grief and loss with humor, warmth, and a bit of spice. Definitely a great summer beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

After they both undergo viral break-ups, June and Levi team up and enter a fake relationship to capitalize on their newfound fame and get back at their exes.

Pros:
- The book definitely had its cute moments between the two main characters. It was fun to see June and Levi's romance unfold as they rekindled their relationship

Cons:
- I felt that the book was really missing the emotional impact. I didn't feel very invested or connected to the characters. Some of the internal monologue just got repetitive and dull.
- I wish the book had fleshed out more moments from their past, especially around Annie. We read a lot about their grief over Annie's death, but we never really get to 'meet' Annie via flashbacks so it was hard to care about her character.

Overall, this was an okay read. It had its moments but was not a very memorable book for me.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC. I really adored this book. Modern with all the social media and scream poetry and heartfelt. I did really like the two main characters and what a cute HEA!

Thank you to NetGalley and Saint Martin's Press for the ARC
3/5 stars

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord has an intriguing premise, and Lord's writing style is engaging, but I was ultimately left with mixed feelings. The story revolves around two high school friends, Oliver and June, who decide to fake a romantic relationship to mend their broken hearts after their respective breakups. Lord's narrative keeps the pace steady, and the dialogue is witty. However, I found the characters to be very formulaic and predictable. Oliver and June, though likable, fit into the typical mold of rom-com protagonists, and their development felt somewhat lacking. The supporting characters also often played into stereotypes, making them less memorable than they could have been. This might appeal to people who enjoy a more lighthearted contemporary romance with a touch of humor, but those seeking a more nuanced and original storyline may find themselves wanting more.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!
*Note: this is an HONEST SPOILER FREE REVIEW*
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“I know you think I didn’t put you in the story…but that’s just it. You are the story. I started it for you. Before I wanted to be a writer. Before I wanted anything much at all. I just wanted to watch that look on your face whenever I told them.”

My rating: 3.5 stars

There’s just something about childhood best friends to strangers/‘i hate your guts’ to lovers, while they long for each other secretly, that gets me every time. Like what do you mean they grew up alongside each other and developed feelings but never told each other?? If you eat that up like me, I’ve got good news…"The Break-Up Pact" by Emma Lord might be the book for you *wink*.

This book is for my book girlies who struggle with loss, change, moving on, and feeling stuck in life. There’s something inspiring about the journey that both June and Levi go through to move through that stuck feeling. It’s also for those who want to live next to a beach and run a coffee shop. And if you eat ‘fake dating between two people who have a long history but are kinda strangers now but are also like really familiar with each other’ up, add this book to your tbr. You’re going to have a giggle fest with June and Levi.

I will admit that I’m not the biggest fan of modern social media references in books–like references to TikTok will give me the ick. With that being said, I really loved the idea and plot of the social media aspect in this book, but the TikTok references threw me off (which seems like such a minor detail, and I suppose it is, but those who get it, get it). I’ll also admit that I felt like something was slightly missing from the story, but I don’t know how to explain it. I think there needed to be a little more development or time between the characters. There’s a lot of talk about June and Levi no longer fully knowing each other, because they’ve grown over the past ten years, but I feel like they don’t really get to know their present day selves. Overall, I loved the relationship between the two (I want a Levi *cries*).

So, with all that being said, I can’t talk about much more without spilling the beans, but I definitely encourage everyone to give this book a try. I hope all of you find something inspiring from this story!!

I was asked to review this book and though I loved the idea of the book and there were points here and there that I had fun with, this book did not hit the mark for me. At times I felt the book was slow, and the main characters, June and Levi, seemed perpetually stuck in miscommunicating. It just became a little old and formulaic after awhile. I could not fully get onboard with this couple, and since I felt there was no chemistry, it was difficult to maintain my attention. I also felt Levi was callous, and if someone ghosted me like he did it would be over in an instant. But, for an overall fluff and not-thinking-too-hard read, this would be a good pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a slump breaker for me, the plot was enjoyable and unlike a lot of romances of this kind I did not find the story overly predictable. The characters were relatable and I appreciate how grounded in reality and earned their romance felt. Would 100% recommend giving this book a shot!

Unfortunately I made the decision to DNF this book at 65%. While I am fine with a little bit of miscommunication in a romance book, every time their communication issues were resolved they did the same thing over again and they just kept fighting. I found myself getting incredibly frustrated without enough investment in the characters to get myself to continue. For others who can better tolerate miscommunication, this may be a great read, but it wasn’t for me.

Fake dating for revenge between best friends that fell out of touch after their separate public break ups go viral. TW: Sibling loss.

Two relationships fall apart a few years after an unexpected loss and unfulfilling career choices. A sister trying to pick up the pieces of her sister's failing tea shop finds herself going viral for a very public and embarrassing break up. An estranged best friend comes back to their home town to write after his own public break up and big career shift. What better way to get revenge than to find your own happiness?

This story had it all. It wasn't just about getting revenge or falling in love with your best friend, but trying to find a new normal after losing a loved ones whose life was intrinsically twisted up in all of their life choices. The story was about trying to figure out how to put it all back together once life breaks into a million pieces. It was about finding out who you are now that part of you is gone. What I liked most about the story was that they didn't find the answers to their grief and problems within the relationship. They didn't force a HEA. They chose to grow and heal in their own ways without forcing it. The main characters decided allow each other to make their own choices and come together to support each other's goals. They really dug deep and figured out that they needed to sort themselves first. They processed their grief but didn't use each other to fill that hole.

4 ⭐️'s

ARC received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This was so fun! I have read all of Emma's books so far and will continue to do so. It is such a good time. I love the banter and the pop culture references.

If you are a fan of fake dating, the Break-Up pact is for you! A super cute and fun read that I finished in a little less than 2 days.

This was a fast read about second chances when our characters June and Levi are both broken up with. A chance photo is taken of the two of them together and so ensues a pact to fake date and make their exes jealous. I was rooting for these two as they begin falling for each other through miscommunications, a bit of spice and a lot of humor.

I enjoyed the characters and the vibes of seaside boardwalk as the plot, This book would make for a great beach read. The enemies to lovers storyline was cute, but I really enjoyed how the author intertwines how June and Levi have both been affected by the death of June’s sister. I thought that storyline really built up the back tone of this heartwarming book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a sweet book. I think the two main characters were written very realistic with regard to their struggles with grief and loss and the effect it’s had on their lives. In fact, I think it would’ve been interesting to see this explored even further. The book uses the fake dating trope, but the characters romance felt inevitable and real from the first moment given they were childhood friends. The only thing that bummed me out was the miscommunication from when they were teenagers that impacted their friendship for decades and had them not be part of each other’s lives. Overall, I’d rate it 3.5 stars.

Honestly an entertaining read, despite noticing that nearly every trope in this story I have seen in many other modern rom coms. My biggest issue as of late is that I'm constantly rolling my eyes at how silly, ridiculous, or dumb the characters personalities or actions are, but did not really feel that in this book. Main characters were relatively level-headed normal people and I really felt like they communicated or tried to communicate their insecurities well. minus the seeing the guy in the park with his ex and assuming they didn't break it off part. I thought involving Tiktok was hilarious and very realistic. Cute read!

This novel was super cute and the characters not only had tons of chemistry, but also a fully fleshed out backstory, which sometimes can land wrong. In The Break-Up Pact, however, it doesn’t.

While I didn’t always connect with June’s character, I felt compelled to continue reading at every single turning point, which is occurring less often than I’d like lately. For me, this was because I couldn’t quite see the end— I figured that based on the fake dating trope, that Levi and June would end up together, but because of her conflicted feelings and the external factors, their relationship wasn’t as clear cut as many other books I have read.

This novel is definitely suited for a lighthearted, beach read (given it’s set in a beach town). Yet, given the weight of Annie’s presence and her connection with multiple characters (we never truly understood her and Dylan’s relationship, which would have been nice to read about), it still is grounded enough for readers who don’t like plots that seem more utopian than realistic.

Ugh, this book was so cute. A perfect amount of drama, romance, and reality to keep my attention. I sat down and read this book in a day. I was gasping along with the characters, crying, and catching myself blushing too. I recommend this book for people who like the fake dating trope (I know I do), light beach reads, and a modern romance. I am looking forward to reading more of her books!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when childhood friends simultaneously go viral for two very different break-up reasons? You get June and Levi. June and Levi are childhood best friends with a very complicated past. June ceremoniously gets dumped on live television whilst Levi gets dumped when photos of his girlfriend and a famous movie star get leaked. Both get simultaneously end up back in Benson Beach for two different yet similar reasons.

This book was such a feel-good rom-com from start to finish. I loved Levi and June and the exploration of their experiences while also navigating grief. This was a wonderful second chance romance.

I was very excited to pick up Emma Lord’s adult romance after enjoying a couple of her YA contemporaries, but unfortunately this was not for me. This book tried to grapple with lots of real life issues like grief but none felt fully explored. The romance was fine, but was not developed on the page. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Just finished this book and I’m still laughing about the first paragraph in Emma Lord’s acknowledgements….

This book was cute, sweet and funny. Definitely my kinda story:

June Hart just suffered a horrible, public break-up and is back in her hometown running her late sister’s tea and scone shop. Her childhood friend (and old crush) Levi has ALSO suffered a horrible public break-up….so what do they do? Fake date to get revenge of course!

Aside from the jumbled character intros thrown at you in the beginning of the book (confusing why June’s best friend, Sana, didn’t know June and Levi knew each other and why there were 7 main-ish characters introduced to me super rapidly), I thought this was well-written and explored some deeper issues in the relationships involved. It got messy, but June and Levi came out way stronger for having gone through the mess.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good rom-com and appreciates those dreamy leading guy characters. I enjoyed it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with this early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

* Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

The latest in the fake dating trope is a fun story by Emma Lord. This version brings in the strange worlds of reality TV, viral social media posts, and commenting on the lives of people that you don't know but act like you do because you follow them on Instagram. In short, a pretty accurate representation of our society at the moment.

June & Levi were best friends throughout their youth but something kept them from speaking to each other for 10 years. She is back home running her sister's tea and scone shop and Levi came to work on his novel. Funny thing is, they have both been very publicly dumped. When someone gets of picture of them and calls them the "revenge ex-es," they decide to run with it.

What I liked about this story was the tension that is brought in because all of the characters are trying to be true to June & Dylan's deceased sister, Annie. There is also something about that high school crush or first love that didn't get to see itself through for whatever reason. June & Levi both need to face their emotions and fears in this light, fun read.

Friends to lovers at its best. June and Levi have known each other since they were teenagers. They are photographed together after each have had a public breakup that went viral on social media so they lean into a fake relationship. Only their fake dating leads to feelings. A great banter filled perfect beach read!