I’m a sucker for fake dating and second chance romance so I ATE this UP. I’m obsessed with the characters and the story was so unique! I wish the book was a little more fast paced, but other than that I did not have any complaints! I loved June and Levi and will revisit them again and again.

The plot, while fun, felt over the top and a bit ridiculous at times, making it an enjoyable but ultimately forgettable read. The pacing didn’t quite hit the mark either—some scenes dragged on while others felt rushed, which disrupted the flow of the story.

I was hoping for more from June and Levi’s relationship. Despite their long history, I never really felt the connection I was looking for, especially considering they were close friends before their fallout.

The book had its moments, but it didn’t fully deliver for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advance digital copy!

I love a good fake dating and this did not dissappoint me one bit. Sprinkle in a little friends to lovers and you have the perfect romance. I also really enjoyed the use of modern day terminology talking about tik tok and memes. I feel like many books don't do that or don't do that as well. Really loved this book so much. And you sprinkled in slow burn! So good. I'm getting excited writing this review all of over again!

This book is adorbs!
Delicious scones, witty banter, a beach town, a much awaited steamy scene 🥵, and the sweetest characters!
I’d read it again and again!

I ultimately liked this book. I feel like it was an easy beach read! Childhood friends to lovers vibes. Overall a great pallet cleanser if you are in a funk!

June and Levi are best friends who haven’t spoken in years, but when their respective breakups both go viral, they agree to fake date to take some of the heat off. Of course, it turns out, they’ve been in love forever, so it’s also friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance. This was both hilarious and heartwarming, and I enjoyed it! I loved the epilogue, and June’s friends and family were so fun! The only problem I had was that June seemed to be a completely different person after she admitted her feelings for Levi; the beginning was sooo funny and sarcastic, and by the end, she was way too philosophical. I understand the author was giving her character growth, but it was a very jarring transition. It was a very fun, quick read, and I look forward to Lord’s next book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read before pub day! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. THE BREAK-UP PACT is out now!

I was really looking forward to reading this book. But sadly I just couldn't get into it. I DNFed this book. I just couldn't get into it. Rating it 3 stars because while it wasn't the book for me it might be the perfect book for someone else.

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

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

The premise of this story was the romantic fake dating trope comedy I was eager to add into my summer reading rotation. As much as I wanted to really enjoy it, unfortunately it fell flat.

The adult relationship between June and Levi was too easy and quick, given they have a very complicated history from when they were teens. There were a couple of things that happened between them that would have been a hard “no” but June just brushed it off.

The story ended up having an identity crisis as it was cutesy but also had some tough tragedy. It just didn’t come together smoothly and I was left feeling unsatisfied overall. I don’t regret not dnf’ing, however, it is a somewhat surface level story.

Thank you to Griffin and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted to love this, and i really liked the sweetness, maturity, and chemistry of the main couple. However, overall, it felt like too much was going on. So many plot points, side chat stars, inside jokes, backstory, and themes. I got lost in remembering all of the intricacies. Would recommend still, 3.5 stars.

After two flop reads, this easy contemporary romance was a welcomed gift. The trope, the main characters, the setting was everything and more!! This one had been sitting on my Net Galley shelf for too long and I am so glad that I finally got around to it.

I know that fall typically is the slow adios to romance reads, but if you need a quick pallet cleanser book definitely add this one to the top of that list!

This book was so fantastic! What's not to love? Small seaside town, childhood friends to lovers, viral breakups, fake dating. It's got it all! And June and Levi are such a great couple. This is such an excellent read.

I usually love Emma Lord, but found this one to be exhausting. All of her ya are 5 stars !
I never cared enough about the characters.

I wanted to love this as it has one of my fav tropes and I have enjoyed Emma's previous YA romances. Unfortunately, I didn't and I truly struggled finishing the book. The 2.5 stars are because the book is well written (as expected); however I didn't really connect fully with the characters and that's super important to my enjoyment.

Huge thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I usually really like Emma Lord's writing, but I struggled to connect with this book. It might have been that I was tandem reading a Lynn Painter book that was SO GOOD, but I just had a hard time with the lack of chemistry between June and Levi. I probably didn't give this a fair chance reading it when I was already so invested in another book, but these characters and the story line just failed to ever pull me in.

Well. Emma Lord has done it again. Every single book I've ever read by her has never failed to make me laugh and cry all at once. She creates characters that are so fun to read, while giving them depth. Her character banter is always incredible, never fails to make me crack a smile or giggle while reading. The plot is top tier, she always has an amazing main plot, something that is usually not based around the romance part.

<i>When you love someone the way I love Levi, it becomes every bit as much a feeling as it is a part of your own soul.</i>

ANYWAYS! I absolutely loved this book. June and Levi, childhood besties turned rivals(ish) turned 'The Revenge Exes' (fake dating) turned true couple, one filled with so much unconditional love for each it makes me sick. (I love them.) Basically we follow June's perspective, and she has been turned into this giant internet meme because her asshole boyfriend broke up with her on a reality TV show and they sent it out for the world to see. (I have mad beef with a character who isn't even real.) Levi, also happens to get cheated on because his girlfriend went for this famous actor guy idfk. Since his gf was out doing who knows what with this guy he returns home, and June and Levi basically end up rekindling their friendship (after 10 years of not speaking btw) and somebody gets a picture of them rolling around on the beach making it look like they were a couple, and hence they get labelled as 'The Revenge Exes". They plan to fake date to help make their (ex)partners jealous and to help bring in money to June's tea shop.

Overall, this book was amazing. The depth these characters had was incredible, the banter they had was even better and the cherry on top of this was the amazing communication they had with each other. Highly recommend!!

Thank you so much to the publisher for giving me and ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

The Break-Up Pact is a fun, heartwarming and humorous rom-com by Emma Lord. June and Levi are childhood friends, who haven’t spoken in 10 years (😣 because of miscommunication), when they both find themselves in very public break-ups. So what’s the solution? But to fake date of course! Overall, this is a fun beachy read, but also deals with heavier topics like dealing with grief and the sudden loss of a loved one. I definitely enjoyed the tension between these two, the dates, and was very happy to not have to suffer through a 3rd act break up. Definitely recommend picking this one up and adding to your TBR!


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Emma Lord and St. Marin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

I DNF'd this about 100 pages in or so. The themes, characters, and overall vibe was not for me. I can see other people liking it but my definition of insanity is trying a new rom-com hoping it'll be good and then being disappointed every time.

"The Break-Up Pact" made the perfect fun read! I couldn't put it down and loved the unlikely romance. Add this one to your summer reading list!

Super light, super fast read. It was just okay, and I kept having to remind myself that's it's probably because it's YA.

Thanks for the advanced reader copy St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin & Netgalley.

I believe this is Emma Lord’s adult debut but it still felt very much like a YA romcom. On top of that, the writing was very surface level (even for a romcom), there is absolutely no depth to June or Levi. I really struggled to finish this and it ended up taking several weeks because I just kept putting it down in favor of other reads.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!