This was a cute read and is the perfect book to curl up with in the summer. Yet again, Emma Lord does not disappoint! I highly recommend it to those who enjoy light-hearted reads.

2.5 stars rounded up

Lord's first adult book (this includes one open door scene), but it still read like a YA book in my opinion. I kept forgetting these characters were adults because they so often acted like immature teens.

I did like the small beach town setting, the smidgens of fake dating, and the general idea of the plot.

I honestly just think there was too much filler. I often got bored and did a lot of skimming.

I don't know if Lord is moving exclusively to adult, but I hope she revisits YA in the future because I enjoyed those once much more.

The synopsis of this book sounded so cute and I loved The Getaway List (also by Emma Lord), so I was really excited to read it! Two former best friends - one a tea shop owner/baker, the other a wannabe novelist - run into each other after both having viral breakups and hatch a fake dating plan to turn it all around. What a fun premise! I really liked all the characters and their reconnections, the beach town tea shop setting was so picturesque, and the history between all the characters really adds to the story.

As a huge fan of romance books, I don't mind predictable storylines, but I felt like even though we knew where the story was going from the start, the journey through it wasn't as engaging as I would have liked it to be. And although I liked all the characters, I didn't particularly connect with any of them. I would have loved a bit more depth to the characters and storyline, but overall I liked the book, and would definitely recommend it to any romance fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!

i was excited to read this one! Emma Lord is a new to me author but i really loved the idea of this book.

June and Levi were childhood best friends who had a falling out over a misunderstanding in their teen years. They haven't seen each other or spoken in years, but they reconnect when they return to their home town both after very VERY public break ups (internet meme worthy! 😵‍💫) and as they reconnect the internet sees these two together and start obsessing. So June and Levi decide to fake date for the internet so they can try to salvage their online reputations. it was a little more serious than i was expecting, they are both dealing with a lot of intense emotions, but it was still a really sweet love story

Ahhh! This is easily one of my favorite reads of this year. I’m off to read every book Emma Lord has ever written now!

The whimsical nostalgic feeling of childhood best friends was perfectly captured, and she had so many beautifully written lines in this book.

The whole idea of the #RevengeExes and fake dating was so much fun. I absolutely loved every second of this book!

I wanted to love The Break-Up Pact for its fun mix of fake dating, childhood friends-to-lovers, and small-town charm, but it didn’t quite hook me. The premise is solid: June and Levi reconnect after viral public breakups, sparking a “break-up exes” paparazzi craze that leads them to fake-date. I enjoyed the cozy beach town and bakery setting, and the story tackles grief and healing, adding some emotional depth. However, the romance lacked the chemistry I’d hoped for, and the fake dating felt too obvious, missing the tension and slow burn that would have made it shine. While there were some fun moments, the characters’ connection just didn’t fully land for me.

This was solid! I liked that both the characters grew. I eish the supporting cast had been brought to life more. Sana was close, and I loved Mateo’s sweater vests, but besides that, the secondary characters felt underdeveloped. Ironically, the book felt too long. I think cutting out some chunks of repetitive narration would’ve moved everything along more quickly and helped things feel snappier.

Personal preference, but I hate when exes change their minds and come crawling back. It’s just not believable a lot of the time. And as I’ve said before, it feels like a lazy way to prove the characters have grown. There are other ways to show growth than sticking it to your groveling ex.

This was overall good! 3/5 stars.

June and Levi were both fun characters to follow. I loved the scene that this book set and it made me want interesting scones. I was invested in the story.

I will be honest with you, I saw Emma Lord and I requested! I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a new adult, instead of Lord’s usual young adult. The story was well paced and kept my interested. June and Levi drove me crazy by times with their terrible communication and obliviousness, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. Lord knows how to write a romance that has you rooting for the characters!

June and Levi were best friends as teenagers, but as adults, it's been years since they last spoke. After each experiencing very embarrassing, very public breakups, they find each other again. But when a picture of the two of them together makes its way to the tabloids, they decide to lean into the assumption that they are dating. They continue to post pictures pretending to be in the perfect relationship, but quickly the feelings become real.
I have loved Emma Lord’s YA romances, so I was thrilled to learn she was writing one for adults, and it lived up to all my dreams and expectations. June and Levi’s chemistry was incredible and their shared history as friends made their romance even sweeter. I loved them together.
The audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus who is one of my favorite narrators. As always, she did a phenomenal job bringing thee characters to life and I could listen to her all day. No matter which format you choose, this book is amazing!
Thank you to SMP Romance, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

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.