This started off really strong for me and just fell flat towards the end. I didn’t really connect with the characters so I think that affected me in the long run. I do LOVE a fake dating trope though!

If you’re looking for a relaxed, easy read give this one a shot! In the end, just wasn’t for me

This book was a bit middle of the road for me. I read through the first half of it in one sitting and then the second half took me a LONG time to get through. I think the premise was cute and the characters were fun, but the pacing was off, and the development of the romance could have used a lot of work.

The story is about two childhood friends turned strangers that get very publicly dumped and decide to very publicly (fake) date to get back at (or with) their exes. Because of this scenario I wanted way more angst???? These two were long-term besties and also LIKED each other and then stopped talking for years. There should have been awkwardness and angst and more of a slow-build but these two fairly jump into deciding they actually like each other and then there's angst because the MMC is still technically trying to get his ex back?

I don't know. It was still fun and cute with some cringe moments that all rom coms have. The side characters were cute, and the plot managed to plot a bit. I think this just needed a little reworking tbh.

Would recommend if you like a silly little friends to lovers romance. Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for my ARC!

As a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, I appreciated the cozy beach town setting. However, I found the repeated focus on the characters' physical attraction a bit excessive. We get it—they're into each other! There’s no need to keep hammering that point home.

The story centers on June and Levi, two high school friends whose tumultuous breakups become viral sensations. When a rumor spreads online suggesting they’re a couple, they decide to play along for their own reasons, leading to a rekindling of old feelings.

My main issue with the book was June herself. From the very beginning, her judgmental attitude rubbed me the wrong way, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. It’s tough to enjoy a book when you can’t connect with the main character, you know?

Despite this, there were some sweet moments in the story that I enjoyed. Overall, it was a decent read. If you're looking for a light-hearted romance with a beachy vibe, The Break-Up Pact might be worth checking out.

I've read and loved every book by Emma Lord so I was really excited for this one since it was her adult romance debut! I enjoyed this one too, but not as much as I love her YA stuff. I love the revenge exes stuff but I think I needed more angst for them in the beginning. 3.5 stars

As soon as I found out that one of my favorite YA authors was making her Adult debut, I just had to get my hands on it. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!! Emma Lord’s books have always felt like a warm hug and this one was no exception!

It was definitely a fast-paced book but that didn’t particularly bother me. I also don’t need all my books to make perfect sense, sometimes you just want the teeth-rotting sweetness and that’s what I always know Emma will deliver!

Levi was very sweet, my only problem was that I almost didn’t recognize the guy we first met compared to the one we get to know. And June definitely had some flaws but don’t we all? I was rooting for them both.

I wish we had gotten to see some more of Kelly because I just never understood her. And that guy June was dating, I don’t even know his name, SUCCKKKKSSSSS.

I particularly enjoyed the conversations around grief and Annie, that was truly the highlight of the book for me. Siblings’ relationships will always mean the most to me.

If you’ve enjoyed other books from Emma, I think you’ll enjoy this one, too!

I liked this. It was an enjoyable and easy read. I enjoyed the banter and storyline. There were some longer parts but liked the ending.

Emma Lord’s The Break-Up Pact is a lively, heartfelt journey through friendship, love, and the unexpected twists of life in the digital age. When ex-best friends June and Levi find themselves thrust into the public eye after their respective break-ups go viral, they decide to revive their old friendship—with a twist. As the internet mistakenly dubs them a couple, they make a pact to lean into the rumor, hoping it will revive June’s struggling beachside tea shop and help Levi’s ex see what she's lost.

Lord has a knack for creating characters who feel both authentic and vividly relatable. June’s tenacity to keep her shop afloat despite mounting pressures and Levi’s classic New York disillusionment combine to create a dynamic duo whose chemistry practically leaps off the page. The charm of their “fake relationship” hinges on five picture-perfect dates, all designed to convince the world that they’re in love—except, of course, they aren’t supposed to be. Lord beautifully navigates the blurry lines between pretend and real feelings, giving readers a glimpse into the insecurities and hopes that underpin adult relationships.

Through witty dialogue, engaging plot twists, and a fair share of emotional moments, The Break-Up Pact captures the essence of modern romance with a social-media twist. The novel reminds us of the challenges of friendship and forgiveness, the strength of second chances, and how, even in a world obsessed with appearances, the most meaningful love stories can emerge from real vulnerability.

With its sparkling, romantic scenes and a storyline that tugs at the heart, The Break-Up Pact is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy their love stories with equal parts humor and depth. Emma Lord once again proves she’s a master of the genre, delivering a story that is sure to leave readers rooting for June and Levi’s happily-ever-after.

I absolutely love everything Emma Lord writes, This again is another feel good second chance romance of two people trying to get over their respective exes by fake dating. But throw in the element of social media and their previous breakups going viral. This book constantly had me giddy and metaphorically kicking my feet as the main characters constantly tried to deny the evolution of their relationship. This book is a good reminder that dreams are not set in stone and how one must be willing and open to adapt to find an even better dream/reality can be out there,

Emma Lord brings some wit to this friends to lovers story, but the characters leave something to be desired. I prefer to see the connection between the characters in a romance book, and this felt more like the author was just telling us there was a connection.
The miscommunication irritated me.

Overall, this book is a light read and good for fans of romantic comedy, but it doesn't compare to the stories told by Abby Jimenez, Anabell Monaghan, or Emily Henry. It's pretty meh.

I had a hard time getting into this one. It was really solid in the beginning but then just fell flat. I’m also coming out of a reading slump though, so perhaps that’s why. I won’t post this review on Goodreads as it *might* just be me.

This was a three star read for me. I had to start it numerous times before feeling a slight interest in the story and characters. A three star read, for me, means I fully acknowledge I could have been out of sorts or in a funk and due to that, this has elements that will certainly be an easy four to five star read for someone else.

That being said, in 'The Break-Up Pact' by Emma Lord, two old friends, June and Levi, find themselves in an unexpected situation after both experience embarrassing, viral break-ups. June, who now runs a small beachside tea shop, and Levi, a hedge fund manager with dreams of becoming a novelist, decide to fake a relationship. Their goal? To get some positive attention on social media that might help June’s struggling business and possibly win back their exes. But as they navigate five "staged" dates, they start to wonder if their fake romance could turn into something real.

Again, I didn't feel especially connected to their story but I certainly recommend it and will continue to be super excited to read other works from Emma Lord!

I am a sucker for a good second chance trope, so this book looked like it would be right up my alley. And I was right -- this one was super cute, but, I will say it's much less romance and moreso women's fiction. I feel like this story was much less about Levi and June, and much more about June getting out of her sister's shadow and living her own life. In fact, that was my favorite part. I love to see a woman succeed!! If you're looking for an easy read with minimal drama, with a sprinkle of romance on top, you should for sure pick this up!

If you know me you know that friends-to-lovers trope is one of my all time favorite trope ever! So I had to read this book. That being said, it did kind of fall flat, but it was sweet and fluffy if that's what you're looking for.

The Break-Up Pact is Emma Lord's adult romance debut following a number of successful YA romance novels. After viral break-ups, childhood best friends, June and Levi, team up to fake date each other to get back at their exes and boost their business prospects. Of course, pretending to date turns into actually dating as they rekindle old feelings they held before they fell out of touch.

Romance is a hard sell for me, so I was never going to be the intended audience for this book. Even still, this book relies on overdone tropes that I think we could all afford to break up with.

❌ Second-chance romance
❌ Miscommunication
❌ Acting childish / over-reacting
❌ Third-act break-up
❌ Rushing into a relationship

Your mileage may vary, but in my opinion, this book was not a standout in any way.

I am so bummed. Typically I adore all of Emma Lord's books but for some reason this one just didn't hit home for me. It was probably more of a me thing than the book, but I just didn't connect with any of the characters & had a hard time even rooting for them to get together. I'll still always be a fan of Emma's but this one was just a miss for me sadly.

This book ended up being a DNF for me. I just couldn’t get into it—I realized it felt a bit too young for my taste. I think I’ve outgrown YA books, so this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally. That said, I know others have really enjoyed it, so I recommend checking out other reviews if you’re a YA fan!

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This just wasn’t for me, but it had its cute moments. I did love how these two reconnected after both going through viral breakups. I thought that was an interesting and very modern premise.

The cover of The Break-Up Pact is what drew me in. I was hoping for a cutesy rom con and found one with this book. I enjoyed the fake dating trope, however I was not a big fan of the miscommunication trope. Having to yell "would you just TALK TO EACH OTHER" at a book is not something I particularly enjoy. That said, I did connect to and relate with the main character and enjoyed the humor and romance.

a second chance friends to lover rom com type book that I just ate up both of our mc has had their hearts broken recently by the people they were dating now they come together to get revenge but does it get a little too serious? that I'll let you find out by reading it for yourself over all i enjoy this story and did i say there is a tea shop in this story? if not there one not I will say there is a trigger for lost it doesn't happen in this book but it mentioned a few time in the book and it deal with our fmc dealing with it over all I gave this story 4 stars and i can't wait for the next book from Emma lord

Fun, sweet, and hilarious—this book is another hit from Lord. If you loved her YA novels, you'll love The Break-Up Pact and I can't wait to see what other adult romances she writes next.