i was really excited for this book but it did not meet my expectations. everything felt very convoluted, the characters were annoying, and the constant mention of tiktok made it seem dated FAST. i didn't connect with any of the characters, which made reading this such a drag. think others will like it though, just not for me and my increasingly higher standards for romance books

Ok I think I've given Emma Lord enough chances and I just... can't

The writing and characters are just too immature for me.

“I love you, June.” He says it plainly, sincerely, but with more depth in his voice than I’ve ever heard before. Like he’s pulling it out from the blood in his veins, the marrow of his bones. Some thing that is every bit as much a part of him as the pieces that keep him alive. “It’s the only thing I’m certain about. The only thing I always will be.”

Emma Lord’s style here is quirky descriptions and deeper elements to the narrative. Both Levi and June have been with Kelly and Griffin respectively for a while and were used to the nature of an unhealthy relationship. I loved to see how these dynamics were explored, played out and resolved. The themes of courage, regaining your forgotten authentic self and being intentional took the cake here. At times, I thought it was more a "coming of age" novel than it was a romance. However, I loved the main characters, humor and storyline. GREAT!

4.5 stars

The Breakup Pact by Emma Lord was everything I hoped for in a fake-dating romance—fun, heartwarming, and unexpectedly heartfelt! Emma Lord has crafted a perfect blend of humor and emotional depth, with two complex, lovable characters you can’t help but root for.

June and Levi’s dynamic as estranged best friends made their fake-dating journey even more electric. Watching them navigate their unresolved history while pretending to be madly in love was a delight. But what I loved most was June’s resilience—she didn’t let Griffin’s betrayal break her, and instead, she chose to move forward with strength and confidence. Her determination was inspiring and added layers to her character, making her feel like a real person you’d want to be friends with.

The viral break-ups and the accidental fame were hilarious and so on point for today’s social media world, and the chemistry between June and Levi made every “fake” date feel achingly real. This book reminded me why I adore the fake-dating trope—there’s something so magical about watching two people realize what’s been right in front of them all along.

Whether you’re a romance lover or just looking for a feel-good read, The Breakup Pact is one not to miss!

2.5 stars- This book was….fine. The main characters were reasonably likeable, but maybe not fully fleshed out. The plot took quite some time to get going. I considered DNFing at around 30%, but this was a quick enough read, with a bit of skimming, I just decided I’d push through. I generally really enjoy a fake dating trope, but this wasn’t what I would hope for in that regard. Towards the end, they was no breakup- it was more complicated than that, which actually seemed more realistic, but maybe not super interesting. I also generally am really moved by the whole “he doesn’t want me” when you know they’ll work out, That’s one of the few plot points in books that can actually make me cry- but this story was no where near accomplishing that. I feel like this book had potential, but just needs more editing to cut down on extraneous stuff, especially towards the beginning.
Thank you for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

This was such a sweet romance. I loved the idea of June and Levi’s break up pact but beyond that I absolutely loved the growth that both of them had to go through in order to be happy together. I love romances that include a lot of “work” when it comes to the relationship.

I know Emma Lord is famous for her YA novels, and I've heard nothing but good things about them. I had no idea that she wrote adult romances too! I will say, this book definitely gave me YA vibes, and while the characters were older and they were working real jobs instead of going to school. I still feel like this story would have worked better as a YA plot. I feel like there was a lack of depth. While I didn't dislike the story by any means, I also felt like this story was lacking in something. Overall, it was an okay read, and I ended up breezing through it. 3.25 stars

this was a cute friends to don’t know each other anymore to fake dating to lovers romance. a quick read that i found enjoyable with childhood friends levi and june. i do think the fact that they went ten (10!!!!!) years without talking is kind of crazy because like what do you mean??? but i am happy they found their way back to each other. i hate the exes and also struggled with levi’s inability to move on for the majority of the book, especially when he just kinda left june after such a big moment halfway through. however, overall i enjoyed the small-town vibe and the family aspects. cute and easy!

June and Levi grew up together and used to be best friends. Now 10 years later they find themselves coming back together after they both experienced really messy public breakups. They agree to go on five fake dates, I am always a sucker for a good fake dating trope. They soon realize they still have feelings for one another. However, neither of them ever knew the other one had feelings for them. I really struggled with the miscommunication between June and Levi. This is just one I struggle with and tends to make me scream at the book.

The pacing of the story was clunky at times. and some of the story line could have been flushed out a little bit more, especially the fake dating.

This might be the first Emma Lord book that I didn't like. It felt really forced in a way that didn't vibe with the other books I've enjoyed so much. The narrator also didn't help. I've heard and liked her for other things, but didn't like her for this one.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes of all time and THIS is an excellent example of that! I will be reading as many Emma Lord books that I can get my hands on after this.

This was such a fun book. I love fake dating and the characters were well developed.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, the publisher for a copy of this book!

i loved this book. june and levi were so cute! i love fake dating and these two were messy in a perfect way

Unfortunately, this book felt completely driven by tropes rather than by story. The fake dating premise overshadowed more genuine themes that could have been explored, and it lent very little to the development of the characters or plot. I needed earlier clarification on why the two main characters stopped being friends, and their friendship resolved very quickly.

Super cute read but everything felt very surface level…I kept expecting there to be some sort of emotional depth because it was being set up and then it would fall flat. Apart from this it was a super cute story!

I really enjoyed The Breakup Pact! While the hero frustrated me a bit—taking his time to commit and then revealing their fake relationship to his ex—it ultimately made his journey feel more realistic. His hesitation added tension, even if it wasn’t ‘cool’ on his part. Aside from that slip, the story was nearly perfect, with great chemistry and a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What do you get when you combine a few of my favorite tropes (fake dating, second chance, siblings best friend) with things I dislike the most (reality television and society climbers)? You get a pretty decent book. June's boyfriend dumps her on live TV (think The Apprentice meets the opening scene to Hope Floats). Levi's fiancé cheats on him with a major celebrity. Both are back in their hometown and find each other once again. While the relationship begins as fake, will they remember their unrequited crushes and fall for one another?

Such a quick easy read for romance lovers! This was a cute book if you’re looking for a good summer read

I really wanted to like this more than I did. Not sure if I couldn’t relate to June and Levi but this was a miss

This book was great. Good love story, wasn't cliche or too predictable. I laughed a lot and reccomend it to my friends