I enjoyed this story. It takes place in New York City and revolves around friends, fake dating, and a bakery. I feel like that setting has been overused, time for a new one. Even though the book was predictable, it was up-to-date and hip, with two friends fake-dating that broke the Internet. The entertaining characters do make this a fun summer read to keep you entertained, laughing, and hoping for a happy ending.

My biggest takeaway from this is that I must experience scream poetry at some point in my life.

Although this was a sweet and charming book, at times, it hit a little close to home for me. That feeling of missing a person and wanting them in your life but too afraid to acknowledge the past hurt and pain you have connected to them. So you ignore it and take whatever version you’re being given. This book captures that feeling really well. And I easily connected to June.

The Break-Up Pact is a cute rom-com that has a lot of regret hidden in it, which I appreciate that it didn’t shy away from that. I truly love June and Levi. It was easy to see pieces of myself in their story.

The novel was a miss. It was trying to hard to be modern and cool while forgetting to include main characters that were interesting or had chemistry.

The characters all fall flat and the romance did not feel earned. I felt like I was dragging myself to finish the book. Just wasn’t as fun as previous efforts from Emma Lord.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for honest review.

Oh my gosh what a heartfelt, laugh out loud and spicy romance! I fell in love with the main characters and their love story. I couldn't put this novel down

This book had fake dating and a second chance, yet I feel it missed something. I just think everything went so smoothly. It was definitely cute and made me sad and happy, but when it came to banter and tension, it didn’t have much for me. She just forgives him most of the time. The beginning was a little rough, but after that, it was all pretty enjoyable regardless. If you like these tropes and a very cheesy, cute story, I’d recommend it for sure!

In 'The Break-Up Pact', .June and Levi were once best friends but no longer speak to each other. They come back together after both suffering through their own very humiliating and public (ie. going viral on social media) break ups. Together, they decide to fake-date so June can save her business and Levi can win back the girl.

This book captures a lot of tropes: childhood friends, fake dating, second chances, friends to lovers, miscommunication/misunderstanding, etc, so there’s a little something for everyone. The story begins slowly but once it picks up, it's a quick read. It's not my favorite book by Emma Lord, partly because I didn't get a good sense of who the characters were. Often, it felt like the characters didn't know who they were either. Taking place in a beach town, this book is a great Summer read and I would recommend it as such.

[Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!]

Thank you for this eARC!
4.5⭐️!
Clever, witty, not your typical fake-dating, friends to lovers story. Truly enjoyable read that begins with scandal, then blows up the lives of seemingly ex-friends, June and Levi, with more in common than they realize. Both are victims of break-ups gone viral on social media/internet. This unfortunate shared experience brings them together to form an alliance of sorts - a fake-dating relationship dubbed the "Revenge Ex's" that becomes social media famous itself. From start to finish, I could not put this book down.
June and Levi's relationship took me on a rollercoaster of emotions - I was rooting for them, crying for them, then cheering for them all over again- fully invested in this story from start finish.

The Break-Up Pact Scone - Lavender & Lemon with a crunchy Sea Salt topping. Cozy and comforting with just a hint of zest and edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emma Lord for the opportunity to read this ARC! This was my first time reading this author and I absolutely ADORED this book! I'm usually not super into the friends - to - lovers trope but Levi and June's story had me in a CHOKEHOLD. The way their relationship developed felt so natural and realistic, and I loved that they cared for each other enough to set healthy boundaries. I also really loved all of June's thoughts/feelings about Annie. I am very close to my sister and there were so many quotes that hit home and melted my heart.

I will definitely be reading more from Emma Lord!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Break-Up Pact is a sweet take on the "fake dating" and "friends to lovers" tropes with just enough originality sprinkled in to keep me reading. June and Levi are childhood friends who have grown apart for a multitude of reasons. After they both are the brunt of publicly humiliating breakups, they decide to go down the path of fake dating while Levi is back in their hometown for a few weeks. As with all romance reads, drama ensues and misunderstandings are rampant.

Unlike other reviewers, this was my first Emma Lord book so I didn't have anything to compare it to. However, there were some aspects of the book that just weren't for me. I found myself forgetting the main character's name and I had some trouble relating to any of the characters on a meaningful level. It was also difficult to understand Levi and June's relationship since so much of their backstory is tied to their childhood and I felt a little out of the loop for the first half of the book. I enjoyed the premise but found June's job running a failing Jane Austen-esque beachside tea shop created by her late sister to be just a little too far out of the realm of possibility for me. I definitely enjoyed the book but it isn't one that I'm keen to re-read any time soon.

The Break-Up Pact has its fair share of faults and lulls but in all it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I love a good fake dating romance. This one was no exception. Very cute and had me invested in the story. I did find the characters lacking a little something and the miscommunication trope in romances drives me bonkers! I think you either love it or hate it. Me, not a fan. That said, this book was enjoyable and I’d recommend it.

this book was the perfect mix of childhood friends, second chance romance, and fake dating. it started a little slow but then things got SO much better. some parts were a little drawn out, but overall it was a pretty good read.

thank you to netgalley and st. martin's press for the arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of The Break-Up Pact in exchange for my honest review!

As someone who is a die-hard enemies to lovers fan, it always surprises me when a friends to lovers (albeit friends to friends who drifted apart to fake lovers to real lovers???) pulls me in. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and fell in love with June and Levi instantly.

The fake dating trope gets me every time, because even though you more or less know exactly how this story will end, The Break-Up Pact still kept me on my toes with its little twists and surprises. I loved the backstory of June’s sister, and how deeply it affected both of our main characters in such different but parallel ways.

I honestly felt that all of our MCs were extremely relatable, and easy to identify with, making the story that much more compelling and heart wrenching. Also, I can’t forget to call out that we got a nice little bit of spice 🌶️❤️‍🔥 here, though I wish there had been a bit more.

If you’re a fan of Emily Henry, you’ll absolutely devour this book!

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a slow burn. This book was a beautiful, well fleshed-out accounting of childhood friends, who were in love, but we’re not in a place mentally or emotionally as teenagers to have a relationship as evidenced by what happened. They of course don’t know that they each had/have those feelings and it causes a strained relationship for them as adults. Things are not going great in either of their adult lives which brings them back to their hometown, and eventually to each other. Both of them have suffered very public and humiliating betrayals by their significant other. The opportunity presents itself for them to pretend to be a couple in order to take the heat off of themselves and they take it. This author writes very well, and I often felt the emotions our characters were feeling. This book did a very great job of showing the healthiest ways to deal with the kind of conflict that this situation brings. You don’t get a third act break up in this book so much as a third act mutual agreement to take time to process and come to an understanding of what they individually want and need before jumping into something real. This book, especially the ending about 60% felt like a textbook example your therapist would give you of how a healthy relationship works. While I did appreciate that, I feel like it slowed the pacing towards the end.

I really enjoyed this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the arc,

I loved Emma’s writing about grief even more than I loved the love story. It was beautiful, and though the characters were so frustrating at times, overall, it just helped me see them as humans going through real life in a time period between grieving and living.

NetGalley ARC -
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely look for more from this author. I loved the social media viral story lines, the dealing with the aftermath of grief without wallowing in it, and the friends then relationship story line and growth. The best friend was great, as well as the other characters. A fun read that I couldn't put down!

Cute romance about two people who are dumped by relatively famous people and then end up getting together to pretend to date. Set in a tiny beach town outside NYC. Also: a charming tea shop is pretty much a main character. Nothing not to like about this novel.

This book really surprised me. It had some heavier themes than what I was expecting, but the author did a great job in handling those themes. I loved both June and Levi, as well as their love story. It was one of those love stories that is very deep rooted and meaningful. They share similar experiences as well as grief of losing someone close to them that brings them together. I also really love the fake dating trope. Really well done overall. 4.5 ⭐️

The Break-Up Pact starts a little slow but then gets interesting a very social media way. The 2 friends from high school who have been publicly humiliated by their exes make a plan to get some revenge and of course their hidden true feeling for each other emerge over time
It’s well written and I enjoyed the ups and downs and growth both characters go thru during the story
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for opportunity to read this book

Thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin Publishing, for the eARC. This rom-com has it all—laughs, comfort, warm fuzzies, and tears. June and Levi, both recently dumped and turned into social media fodder, reconnect. They decide to fake date to make their exes jealous. Will it turn real? Emma Lord's writing is captivating, each chapter leaving me craving more. The depth of their complicated history and shared understanding is beautifully portrayed. Lord skillfully brings the characters to life, making me feel their hurts, hopes, and fears. A fantastic read!

Nora Ephron and Emily Henry would be proud of "The Break-Up Pact". It has relatable protagonists, lovable and sassy sidekicks, and a tried-and-true romantic comedy plot that can't be beat. I enjoyed the witty repartee that balanced well with the heartfelt moments that made you stop and soak it in. Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book that I'm sure will be a hit!