Emma Lord knows how to write a rom com that is funny, relatable, and tender all at the same time.

Levi and June were best friends in high school -- but ten years later they are barely speaking. He's a big time hedge fund manager in New York City and she's returned to their hometown after spending years doing daredevil adventure trips with her now-ex Garrett. She is now running the scone shop that was the dream of her older sister, who passed away suddenly two years earlier.

But the shop is barely hanging on and Levi's job is as soul-sucking as it sounds. Oh, and both of them coincidentally happened to be the dumpees on the receiving end of viral, totally embarrassing public break ups. When a picture of them looking cozy goes viral, they decide to use this newfound fame for their own gain -- to get their revenge, to save June's shop, and to possibly save Levi's relationship with the ex he isn't sure he's ready to let go.

Two former best friends with simmering feelings for one another entering into a very public fake relationship -- what could possibly go wrong?! Despite this recipe for disaster, I absolutely adored June, Levi and the entire cast of characters in Benson Beach. This was a true second chance romance and it was beautiful to see these two reconnect for real and reclaim their lives on their own terms, despite their public staged appearances.

A really fun beach read, definitely check it out when it releases Summer 2024!

I've been reading Emma Lord's novels since her first came out in 2020 (Tweet Cute). This is her first Adult book. To me, it still felt YA, as an adult, I'm not as wrapped up in social media and would hope to God that I'd never have my public life on display as the characters in this book did, but who knows, maybe it does happen. June and Levi were best friends as teenagers, both went their separate ways, and both ended up being the laughing stock on social media when their breakups go viral. They come back together and start fake dating to get back. The book was lacking something I can't put my finger on, the characters were too nice and forgiving maybe? It had a good plot but just fell a little flat compared to Lord's other works.

I really enjoyed Emma Lords' YA books and was excited to see her delve into the adult genre. Fake dating? Enemies to lovers and old friends to lovers? Count me in. I liked June, I liked that she was quirky and had character and the seaside scone business was cute enough to draw you in. I honestly didn't really feel the chemistry between these two, but June was a compelling enough character that it was ok. Her brother, the shadow of her sister, her aspirations, her hang ups were all super engaging, and the romance sweet enough to keep it all together.

Silly for sure with the viral social media craze, but that is the world we live in now. Will definitely keep Emma Lord on the auto-read list.

The Break-Up Pact is the story of Levi and June. I was hesitant about this book because I was worried it would be too Tik-Tokky for me, but I loved the balance of a plot that involved social media with a story that really had depth and guts. June and Levi have both been broken up with in rather extreme ways, leading them both back to their hometown. They were childhood friends, but something has created a chasm between them and this is the story of their way back to one another. Sweet friends-to-lovers story with a strong and interesting backstory and a little beachy/food truck vibe on the side. Definitely recommend!

I have read every Emma Lord book that I could get my hands on. The Break-Up Pact is a fun and light read that is great for anyone that wants a little love and humor in their lives.

I have loved Emma Lord's books for the last couple years, and this is the fourth I've read! I wish it had lived up to all my expectations, but there was a part around the 2/3 mark that started to fall flat for me. The beginning is everything you want in a romcom book, there is fake dating, banter, cute dates. I will be sending photos of random art to my friends to see if they would bang or pass if it was hanging above a date's bed. The depth of their friendship was also lovely and very heartening to see. And of course, Emma Lord continues to mix in sweet confections in her classic style.

The parts that didn't fit for me was the wishy-washyness that happens after they realize they like each other. While both June and Levi are dealing with grief over the loss of June's sister, I felt a lack of connection to it since we never met the sister on page, and the memories of her painted her as quite selfish. It made me like June and Levi less for how much they had let her rule their lives, but at the same time, the grief/loneliness was so prevalent in who they were for most of the book, that it wasn't surprising in other ways? I am confused on my own emotions for this, but again, is why this didn't feel like it fit a romcom as much.

The ending picked up with another set of cute chapters, but that little bit at the 2/3 mark felt like a slog to get through and keeps this from being a five star book in my opinion.

This book was such a giddy kicking my feet book! While it was a fake dating trope it didn’t feel like the normal go around. Both of the MCs really grew throughout the book and that was refreshing. Now I am craving scones!

This was a great read! There were times when I felt there was a lull in the storyline, but not enough to make me stop reading. I was definitely rooting for the main character! I might have wanted a bit more detail in the description of their dates, but overall this was a great read!

This is what I'm talking about! Yes! This romance delivered on all fronts: witty dialogue, great characters, perfect pacing, excellent writing. The list goes on. Everything I'm looking for in a romance is right here. Silver platter meet "The Break-Up Pact".

It's unusual that I want to root for both characters equally, but that's what we have here. I really loved both of them, and I liked them together, too. I love that they're bonded by this past growing up together and by their mutual love and grief over her sister. It's a little loose why they never got together before and why she hated him so much at first, but I prefer that over a storyline that is so awful, you wonder the entire time how the person could ever forgive them.

And, I love the use of social media, reality TV, and viral journalism to add that extra layer of modern-day life. This is the world we live in, why not use that to your advantage. Overall, this was fantastic. I read it cover to cover as quickly as possible - trying to force myself to slow down long enough to appreciate some serious A+ writing. This is my first Emma Lord book, but I can promise you it will not be my last!

The chemistry Emma Lord creates between Levi and June is swoon worthy! I love the author’s style of writing. She is able to use well-known tropes and make them her own with her character development and original plots. I would definitely recommend!

In the midst of winter, "The Break-Up Pact" by Emma Lord, an ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, offers a cozy diversion from the chilly weather outside. Set in a picturesque beach town, this novel weaves a tale of rekindled friendship, love, and the complexities of a life that never quite goes as planned.

The story centers around June and Levi, former best friends whose lives have taken wildly different paths since their teenage years. Reunited by their respective, and unexpectedly viral, break-ups, they engage in a faux romance that's as charming as it is complicated. Emma Lord, transitioning from YA fiction to adult fiction, brings her characteristic humor and emotional depth to this new venture.

June, struggling to keep her dream tea shop afloat, and Levi, a disillusioned hedge fund manager, are characters with depth, but their journey sometimes feels uneven. Their progression from estranged friends to pretend lovers is filled with moments both touching and awkward, offering glimpses of what could be a deeper exploration of their relationship.

However, the novel does encounter some turbulence. The premise of viral break-ups among non-celebrities stretches the imagination, and at times, the narrative can feel burdened by extraneous details. Additionally, the book's foray into internet culture and memes might not resonate with all readers, occasionally feeling out of sync with the story's more heartfelt moments.

Despite these drawbacks, "The Break-Up Pact" shows promise in its exploration of friendship, the complexities of past mistakes, and the bittersweet nature of returning to one’s roots. The avoidance of typical miscommunication tropes is a refreshing aspect, allowing for some genuine, if not entirely explored, growth between the characters.

Overall, "The Break-Up Pact" is a pleasant read, suitable for those looking for a light romance with a sprinkle of nostalgia and the complexities of modern relationships. It earns a solid three-star rating, serving as a reminder that life, much like love, is seldom straightforward and often takes us on unexpected detours.

3/5 stars

This one started off really strong for me but unfortunately around 1/3 of the way into the book I started losing interest and couldn’t get back into it.

The “revenge exes” thing was a little weird to me, it felt like fake dating but worse and it happened suddenly but I was willing to let it slide because I initially liked the characters. As the book went on, however, I started to get annoyed with them and the plot didn’t have enough substance to make up for it. I wanted to shake the mc’s throughout this book, it felt like they were going in circles of not communicating clearly and constantly misunderstanding each other. The whole third act “conflict” felt pointless and too low stakes to be interesting.

Finally, the references go internet memes and trends felt kind of cringy to me (just my personal opinion, I almost always dislike it in books) but fortunately that didn’t really come up again in the second half of this book

Overall, I thought this book had potential it just let me down

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin for the ARC

I’m still not sure how I feel about the initial premise of the book - the breakups of these non-celebrity couples going viral - because it feels a little far-fetched. BUT I loved everything about June and Levi’s story. No insta-love, no frustrating miscommunication… just two old friends reconnecting and tricking themselves into thinking they can fake date without acknowledging their feelings. I’ve loved all the YA I’ve read by Emma Lord, and I’m so glad she’s venturing into adult fiction!

Interesting concept but the writing style just wasn't for me. Plus, the typos made it difficult to read sometimes. Thanks for the ARC!

"Two best friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date after break-ups with their respective exes go viral, in this delightfully fun and deeply emotional new novel from New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord."

Thank you to Netgalley, the. Author Emma Lord and the Publishers for letting me read & review this advanced copy of The Break- Up Pact. This novel by Emma Lord is all around amazing in addition to being heartwarming, enjoyable, hilarious banter and off the charts chemistry. I read this on January 6th during the winter season but when it comes out on August 13th 2024 it will be a perfect summer/ vacation/ beach read. The Break- Up Pact has various Tropes people will love -> Forced Proximity, Friends to Strangers, Friends to Lovers, Fake Relationship romantic comedy book. My favorite part about this E- ARC was how the author writes thoughtfully about their past and present. The past shows the two main characters June and Levi's backstory and their present story of their current lives.
The two main characters the story revolves around are June and Levi, whom were best friends as teenagers until they stopped being friends all together and became strangers. June and Levi were best friends as teenagers—until the day they weren’t. Now June is struggling to make rent on her beachside tea shop, Levi is living a New York cliché as a disillusioned hedge fund manager and failed novelist, and they've barely spoken in years. They live very different lives but together end up experiencing embarrassing public/ global break ups with different people. Since the break up was global through social media people start putting photos of June and Levi together with wanting them to start being a couple. Both of them decided to let the past stay in the past resulting them to give in to peoples wishes, so they start fake dating.
Overall this was a slow burn 4 star read that I had a fun time reading.

Release date: August 13th 2o24.

This was my first Emma Lord book and it did not disappoint. The relationship between June and Levi was adorable and what you would hope would happen between two childhood friends as close as they were. This book was a nice light read and had very likable characters. My only issue was not reading this in the summer! I loved that the characters actually talked through their issues instead of there being a huge blowup. Overall- I would recommend this to anyone looking for a friends to lovers read.

The Break-Up Pact is packed with tropes that will appeal to lovers of the genre and author. This is a solid beach read for anyone looking to add a bit of romance to their shelves this summer. The emotional growth of the main character particularly stands out in this novel. While most romances leave their impact through the couple’s development, June’s experience with grief and the stress of running a small business left behind by her loved one is the more remarkable through line. This is a fun read that will do well with book clubs or shared among friends.

I've really enjoyed Lord's other novels, and this one was also fun and engaging throughout - witty dialogue, realistic characters, and a host of secondary characters that enhanced the plot. I did feel that there were moments that could have been edited a bit more, details on things that were fun but not super relevant to the plot overall. I'm still giving this four stars for an enjoyable and well crafted read.

I love Emma Lord! Her books are so cute and fun with tropes that I look forward to. This book was no different. I enjoyed the friends to lovers trope as always and Emma delivered.

This book was a great take on the "friends to lovers/second chance" trope. I can honestly see this being made into a movie. I would love to see the "crying girl" meme for real. :)

Overall, I give this 3 stars. The inner dialogue was a little wordy for me at times, and some details were over explained, while I was still confused on others. I don't want to give out spoilers, so I'll leave it at that. HEA as predicted, but isn't that why we read romance novels?

I would totally recommend this book to any rom-com lovers. I'll be reading more of Emma's books after this as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!