This book was a cute romance, nothing to super write home about but a fun little read that made me feel good while I was reading it. I love a second chance friendship romance, so that added a lovely layer to the stakes of the book, and both characters coming out of embarassing relationship ends made you want them to succeed. I am also a sucker for a book that features grief, and June and Levi really take you on a journey throughout the 320 pages here.


Overall, this was a typical romance novel, and I wouldn't go into it expecting to change your life, but if you want a little bit of fluff, and to lose your mind for a little while (and who doesn't, right now!?) then I'd say to go for this. :)

The novel focuses on their evolving relationships, personal growth, and the ups and downs of navigating love, friendship, and self-identity. While the story is filled with humor and heart, it also touches on deeper emotional struggles, showcasing the importance of friendship during tough times. However, the pacing and resolutions may feel predictable at times, but it remains a heartwarming read for fans of YA romance and friendship.

I have loved all of Emma Lord’s YA books and I was so excited to read her Adult Romance debut. And this did not disappoint. This had the expected love of food that we get in Emma’s books and combined with very relatable FMC/MMC characters. I’m a sucker for the fake dating trope and June & Levi were absolutely perfect. I loved their chemistry and I loved their relationship development. Reading her adult debut really makes me excited for what she has planned in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

the story line is about working on ourselves before committing to a relationship we know it's not right for us. it offers humor and entertainment, its prolonged storyline may leave readers seeking a more succinct and impactful resolution. June and Levi, two high school friends whose messy breakups become social media sensations. this one feel short with me because i felt like i couldn't connect with the main characters.

I typically rave about Emma Lord books, but this one was an average read for me. This is meant to be her adult debut, but some of the character behaviour didn’t reach that for me. I enjoyed the premise, faking dating to be in charge of the own narrative in the eyes of the media. This is a friends to lovers, but I wasn’t always buying the lovers part, and there was just too much miscommunication.
This book did, however, do a great job of handling grief. The characters are well developed and go through a good amount of growth throughout the novel. There are some delicious sounding scone creations. Overall, the story is enjoyable, it just doesn’t stand out.
I recommend this book if you are looking for a fun summer read. I look forward to seeing how Emma evolves as an adult contemporary romance writer.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an early digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Childhood best friends become close again through their breakups with different people.

This is another one of those fake dating troupes where we only start dating to get something else out of it. For June, it's getting her business back in the black. For Levi, it's to show his ex that she made a mistake cheating on him.

It's a cutesy story so please go into it as just that. It was a great palate cleanser.

I will always read Emma Lord, not because she writes the most thought-provoking books but because I always enjoy the books and the characters that she introduces us to.

I was so pumped to see this come up on NetGalley - I've loved Emma Lord's other books and was excited for this one as I saw in reviews it's not a YA, but an open-door romance! Huzzah!

Our MC's, June and Levi, were super close in high school. But, like most high school relationships, they grew apart and life took them in different directions. When both June and Levi have very public breakups that, thanks to social media, go viral, Levi heads back home. As Levi and June reconnect, a random snapshot of the two of them goes viral fueling speculation that they're together. Public opinion being the reason behind success or failure of small businesses, the two hatch a plan to save June's business - fake it.

The tropes were all there: fake dating, second chance romance, friends to lovers. It was a straightforward and fast read - all plusses in my book!

June and Levi were close friends in high school until they weren’t. Both of them recently experience very public breakups that went viral on social media leading Levi back home. As they reconnect, a photo of them together goes viral with the speculation that they are together. In an effort to turn public opinion and save June’s business, they decide to fake date.

I enjoyed watching June and Levi’s romance blossom. We know that June has a huge crush on him. And I thought it was obvious that he felt the same way when June talks about the past and in the present day. Their banter is so good!

This story is more than a romance. It is about healing and grief. June’s sister and Levi’s best friend, Annie died a few years prior to this story beginning. June still has a lot to process about this loss.

I did enjoy this story and read most of this one on audio. I recommend this for readers that like this if you enjoy

🩷 fake dating
🩷 second chance romance
🩷 small town settings
🩷 open door romance

I read this book late unfortunately but I'm glad that I had the chance. To me this was a story of complicated ties to friendship, family, and the places we call home.
June and Levi were high school friends that grew up with a few other friends in their small town, and June's sister, Annie. School and life decisions pull the group and Levi/June apart, but a strange romantic situation leads them back together in present time. June and Levi have both been publicly hurt and scorned by their partners, and Levi ends up back in town where June is running the cafe that had been her sisters dream (her sister having passed away in recent years). June had gone viral on social media over her messy breakup and was trying to lay low, but the idea of using the social media obsession as an advantage is proposed. Levi and June (with the help of a friend) agree to pretend to date and hang out while being shared on social media to make their exes jealous or get the results they want. In turn, they end up revisiting a lot of their past, hangups, old feelings, and getting stuck into what it means for them going forward.
This book was an easy read. The characters are likeable, the plot isn't over complicated, and it makes for a great cozy read.

This was lighthearted but had lots of emotions, and some tropes (fake-dating, friends to lovers) that I loved. It was straightforward and quick to read, and was overall enjoyable.

This is not my first Emma Lord book, but it was my first adult romance book that I have read of hers, and while I liked it, it wasn’t my favorite. I thought the premise was interesting, sort of a second chance slow burn romance with the main characters being very close friends in high school and finding themselves back in each other's lives. They agree to fake date, which is one of my favorite troupes. While I enjoyed the troupes, I think that I just didn’t connect to the characters as much as I wanted to. I didn’t really feel the tension between them as much as I wanted, and they felt a bit more cringe at times then I prefer. That being said, I did enjoy the elements of the book that involved June’s tea shop, and I’ve honestly never wanted a scone more in my life than by the time I have finished this book. It was a like, not a love, but it might be exactly what you are wanting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

was not able to get into this book at the time it was due to be reviewed and was not able to finish reading. i am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this book early and have heard nothing but good things about this author.

Words can’t even describe the joy this book brought me. Actively being in a reading stump, I went back to wear my love for books started, RomComs. In this book Emma gave me all I could want and more, a small town childhood friends to lovers is the hallmark book of my dreams. I was skeptical in the beginning as this plot included friends to lovers, fake dating, and second chances however it quickly sucked me in and made me feel like I was apart of their chaotic love story.

Thankyou so much NetGalley and the plungers for letting me have this e- ARC in exchange for my honest review.

These main characters were annoyinggg. I think bc this author usually writes YA, she carried some of that personality into this book, but the characters were in their late 20s so it just came off as very immature and angsty. I did absolutely love the setting, so that saved it (a little bit) for me.

Emma Lord is easily one of my favorite romance writers. Her books have a range of ages and are funny and romantic and heartbreaking all in one. The Break-Up Pact more than fulfilled my expectations with the fake relationship trope and some best friends added in.

June and Levi are the focus of this story and I just love both of them. It takes a lot to make me really like everyone in a story, but these characters were so adorable and likable. June was such a hard worker and had such good ideas, but she was held back a bit. I loved her fierceness for what she wanted and wanting to do everything she could to get it. Lord did a fantastic job with the progression of this story. It didn’t necessarily go exactly how I thought it was going to go and that made it refreshing. A lot of romcoms are very predictable.

My only hesitancy was that there were a few moments when I felt the story lagged. It slowed down a bit too much for my liking and I wish it had kept pushing forward and being engaging. Now this was not too detrimental, as I still love this story and I still would highly recommend it to everyone. It just kept me from a five star review.

With that said, this was another hit from Emma Lord, who maintains her position as one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to her next book and will be throwing this recommendation out like candy at a parade. Pick up your copy and enjoy a weekend of reading.

This book was so fun!! Emma Lord’s books are always delightful and this was no exception. I liked both of the characters backstories as well as how they grew and changed outside of their romance. The romance, of course, was also excellent.

Friendship and romance get a second chance for June and Levi. They were inseparable as teens until a conflict destroyed their friendship. Now, years later, they’ve both recently gone through very public break-ups that are viral on TikTok. When a photo of them together sparks speculation that they’re together, they decide to run with it, hoping to save face. Five dates in public should be easy, right?

I love a good fake dating trope—where does the act end and reality begin? That push and pull is always so fun to watch unfold. I enjoyed how the whole thing kicked off due to viral TikTok drama, making it feel very of-the-moment. That said, this story felt kind of shallow to me even though June and Levi had their own personal struggles to navigate and there was a bit of character development.
If you want a quick read that feels pretty current with how social media can impact real life, this might be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Emma Lord for the ARC.

I was immediately hooked when I found out this was Emma Lord's adult romance debut and it didn't disappoint! June and Levi's relationship was fun but I felt like there was a good balance of seriousness that kept it rooted in reality... as much as fake-dating ever can be.

June and Levi were best friends throughout their teenage years but their lives began to shift and change until one day they were no longer connected at all due to a misunderstanding.

June remained in their hometown of Benson Beach to run the seaside tea shop that her sister opened. Business has been challenging and June wants to make changes but feels both visionless and directionless.

Levi went to NYC where he became a hedge fund manager. Professionally he does not feel connected to his work or passionate about it.

Ironically, both June and Levi experience fairly public breakups in close proximity to each other. June’s breakup makes her insta famous as she becomes deemed “the crying girl” across social media outlets. Levi’s long-term girlfriend ends their relationship to be with a famous celebrity. After their break-up, Jude needs a break from his work, life, and reality. So, he returns to Benson Beach

June and Levi reconnect for the first time in years! They plot and scheme together. They decide to fake date in an attempt to bounce back from their break-ups, Levi pledges to help June increase tea shop revenue, and June is determined to help Levi rediscover his love for art, prose, and creativity.

This book is not the fast-paced summer read with lots of witty banter that I’m used to. It is a great read that I’d suggest to other readers though. It tackles many topics in one’s professional and personal life that can set us back. It also proves how important it is to have the support of a friend or significant other during difficult times.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

I liked the story and thought it offered an interesting take on fake dating. Levi and June’s second chance was sweet, but I didn’t connect with them as much as I hoped. The book started off strong for me, but around a third of the way in, I started losing interest and couldn’t fully get back into it.

The whole revenge exes was weird to me… it seemed like fake dating but with an added layer of drama, and it came out of nowhere. I was willing to overlook it at first because I liked the characters, but as the story went on, I found myself getting frustrated with them. The plot didn’t have enough depth to make up for it. I just wanted to shake the main characters; it felt like they were stuck in a cycle of miscommunication and constant misunderstandings. The third-act conflict felt pointless and lacked enough tension to be engaging.