I love Emma Lord’s works. It’s such a fun and cute story about a June and Levi. June and Levi I used to be friends but grew apart. Now in adulthood they had very public break ups and decide to fake date. June and Levi had to face a lot to get to where they are and this story brings them back together. However, this story was at times hard to follow. There was a lot going on, but I still enjoyed it.

This had a unique premise: former childhood friends, June and Levi, each have a viral break-up and reconnect to revenge fake-date. Told from June’s point-of-view, there was humor, banter and many push/pull, will they/won’t they moments as the “fake” turns to real. The miscommunication trope was hot and heavy and was somewhat redundant, thus dragging the plot a bit. This was my first book by this author, I’d love to go back and read the young adult backlist. 3.5 stars

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the DRC of The Break-Up Pact! All opinions in this review are my own.

Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed another Emma Lord book. I love the character she creates and how they interact with each other. Fake dating is my favorite trope and I like how this one had the added factor of social media. I like that the conflict towards the end is surprising and not just because the characters are afraid of their feelings for each other.

Just when I least expected, Emma Lord got me! The Break-Pact sets up as another “app” story. Something happens on the apps! Drama ensues. But it really goes much deeper than that. June, Annie (June’s sister), and Levi were inseparable as kids on Benson Beach before everyone went their separate ways. But Annie died suddenly. June now needs to run Annie’s business Tea Tide. Meanwhile, Levi has returned to finish his novel. Cue “the apps drama”. This leads to June and Levi fake dating. I don’t love fake dating as a trope (especially in contemporary novels) but there was some logic here. Obviously, the formula is fake dating becomes real dating. But this story delves into the emotions of truly deciding to commit to someone. And yes, that involves dealing with emotions like grief and feelings of inadequacy. I found the ending satisfying because it earned it. A truly heartwarming story.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a delightful, laugh-out-loud rom-com that cleverly explores the chaos of second chances, fake relationships, and the unpredictable nature of love. June and Levi were once inseparable best friends, but years of silence and distance have come between them. Now, both are struggling in different ways—June is fighting to keep her beachside tea shop afloat, while Levi is living the high-stress life of a hedge fund manager in New York, failing to find fulfillment in either his career or his writing.

When a viral photo of them together after humiliating breakups with their exes convinces the internet they're a couple, June and Levi decide to roll with it. Their fake relationship could help save her business and make Levi's ex regret letting him go. What starts as a mutual, business-minded pact soon spirals into something more complicated, with staged "romantic" dates and swoon-worthy photo ops designed to convince the world they’re in love. But as the line between pretend and real begins to blur, both must confront the emotions they’ve been burying for years.

Lord expertly balances humor and heart, creating a cast of lovable characters and a setting full of charm and warmth. The dynamic between June and Levi is both sweet and full of tension, making their journey from fake romance to real feelings an absolute joy to read. The Break-Up Pact is a perfect feel-good read for fans of fake-dating tropes, second-chance romance, and witty banter. It’s a fun, heartfelt reminder that sometimes the best relationships come from the most unexpected places.

one thing about me, is that a second chance friends to lovers romance is going to do it for me every time. this was a sweet story about self discovery and grief, at its core. it delved into so many topics i don't see discussed in many books, and held a very messy romance between two people finding their way back together. i loved each of the characters, even the side characters had so much life in them.

Enjoyable but Predictable

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a charming and lighthearted read with plenty of witty dialogue and endearing characters. The chemistry between the protagonists is fun to follow, and Lord’s signature humor and heartfelt moments shine throughout the story.

That said, the plot is fairly predictable, following familiar romance tropes without many surprises. While the emotional beats are well-executed, some parts feel rushed, and the conflict resolution is a bit too convenient. I also wished for deeper character development in certain areas.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable book if you’re in the mood for a sweet and breezy romance, but it doesn’t break new ground. A solid 3 stars!

Emma Lord delivers a charming and heartwarming story in The Breakup Pact, blending humor and nostalgia with the fake-dating trope.

June and Levi were once inseparable best friends, but after a many years of silence, their lives couldn’t be more different. June is struggling to keep her beloved tea shop afloat, while Levi is reeling from a high-profile breakup. When a photo of them together goes viral, they hatch a plan: a fake relationship that will help Levi regain control of his public image and hopefully bring new business to June’s shop. Somehow these staged moments turn into real emotions. Their unresolved feelings from the past resurface, making them question whether their pact was ever just pretend.

Lord uses witty banter in this romance and while the book leans heavily on the miscommunication trope, the undeniable chemistry between June and Levi keeps the story engaging. The Breakup Pact is a delightful, fast-paced summer read perfect for fans of fake dating and friends-to-lovers.

It was pretty good but it didn't really stand out to me. I liked June and Levi's relationship and the themes around grief and figuring out your path. I really hated Griffin (obviously) but I also don't understand why she would stay in a 10 year relationship with a man who has never said 'I love you'...

2.5 ⭐️ oof. No more scones for me for a while.

I started this book months ago and only just finished it in the new year. Sure, the plot is right up an easy-to-read contemporary romance alley: June and Levi (too on the nose, i know) reunite after humiliating public breakups and decide to fake date to get back at their exes. BUT YALL. The drag of the will-they/wont-they is INSANE. How long was this book?? Almost DNF'd it (maybe should have).

In the beginning we learn that June's older sister, Annie, died suddenly a few years prior (did i make up that it was an aneurysm). She was Levi's best friend the driving force behind a beach-side tea shop June now poorly manages. The novel is bookended with insights and depth about Annie's loss that do draw you in, but the middle 30 chapters completely skip that depth to show the poor communication skills that led to June and Levi avoiding each other for 10 years. Everyone here needs a therapist before another relationship.

Lastly, (SPOILER) whyyyyyy was half the book building toward Dylan (June's brother) and Mateo's wedding just to NOT see/read/experience the event??? they just skip to a year later. i should have dnf'd right then and there, 95% in.

I have such trouble finding a brand of contemporary romance that I like. This was not it; maybe the next one.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This was not a romance for me, felt a bit childish to my taste.

This was a cute fake dating romcom with all of Emma Lord's signature charm. It didn't grab me like her other books have but it was still enjoyable and I'll keep reading everything she writes.

Thanks to St. MArtin's for the copy to review.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
Advanced Reader Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although I was delayed in picking this up, I’m glad I finally read it. This book has all the makings of a great beach read: set on a boardwalk, it follows two childhood friends who reconnect after both endure very public breakups. Reading this during the middle of an Iowa winter felt like a much-needed escape with Levi and June to a charming seaside town.

June runs a tea shop she inherited from her late sister, and the setting immediately transported me to a Nicholas Sparks-esque beach town (think The Last Song). Emma Lord’s writing is simple and easy to follow, told in first-person from June’s perspective. The single point of view keeps the narrative tight while maintaining an air of mystery about the characters’ pasts.

The tropes were a major draw for me-fake dating and second chances-but I couldn’t help but feel that having both diluted their impact. Perhaps focusing on one would have made the story more cohesive. Additionally, the subplot involving fame and its accompanying lack of privacy didn’t resonate with me and pulled me out of the narrative at times.

What stood out most were the supporting characters, particularly June’s brother and her best friend. Their unwavering support, both in helping her keep the Tea Tide afloat and in dealing with her sister’s loss, was heartwarming and added depth to the story.

Overall, The Break-Up Pact is a light, cute, and quick read. It may not have fully clicked for me, but fans of Emma Lord or small-town romances will likely enjoy it.

Rating: 3 stars

The Break-Up Pact was one of my favorite fake dating books last year. I love Lord’s characters, her funny banter, and the way social media was worked into this story.

This one has romance of course, but it also has a pretty emotional subplot. I seem to be really drawn to the books lately that have a mix of romance and heavier topics. It makes the characters and story so relatable! Love doesn’t always happen during the perfect times, and I really like books about the love that can sneak up on you even in hard times. Lord does it so well in this one!

I also loved the setting in this one! I’m a city girl at heart, but the cute seaside town sounds like a place I’d love to visit!

Well......I genuinely don't have a whole lot to say about this one...

I do want to thank Netgalley for the ARC. I'm super thankful for the opportunity to review this book!

Now to the nitty gritty, yeah?

I am a romance reader. I LOVE love. That said, I am picky about certain things. The main certain thing being the development of the MC's romance.

In this case, June & Levi were childhood friends that fell out of touch, and to be honest, I don't really get June's "meh" about Levi as a whole.....Waaaay too much resentment in my opinion. But that could just be because June annoyed me for most of this book......We didn't connect.
I also REALLY don't get how you go from running into each other for the first time, to "fake dating" for "revenge" like 2 pages later.......

WTF......Makes NO sense. Not realistic at ALL. NOT AT ALL!!!!!

Levi was just kind of ok too. Not swoon worthy, as he should be. He's kinda a turd.

You read that right....a turd.

Didn't love it y'all.....Did. Not. Love. It.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a sweet and cozy story. The story and the characters leave you feeling good and hopeful.

4/5 stars

I thought this was a good, unique spin on some of the more popular romance tropes. It was definitely more of a "slow burn," but I appreciated the character depth and emotional ties that the FMC had to her sister. and how this story also focused a lot on grief and emotional growth for her. The tea shop in a beach town setting is a dream come true! Overall the premise for how these exs got together was funny, the paparazzi element was unique, and it was an enjoyable read throughout. Not my most favorite romance I read in 2024, but a great read to escape.

Thank you to St. Martins, Netgalley and the Author for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord was such a cute story!

5🌟

June and Levi find themselves single after very public and very viral break up posts on social media.

Then in a crazy twist they find themselves in a picture together that manages to get posted leading everyone to believe they are a couple.

So, why not pretend to date and make a break-up pact? I love a good fake dating troupe and this one was perfect!

ohhh I wanted to absolutely adore this one, but it was just a solid 3 star read for me. I never really felt the chemistry between our two main characters.

Oh Emma Lord, her pacing really gets to me and... not in a good way. But, pacing aside this was a decent book. I thought the whole cheating exes part was a bit much but it fit with the story. I wasn't really into their romance, it wasn't convincing to me but I think that was partly due to the pacing of the book. The tea shop was so cute but I was so unprepared for the sadness in this book. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, who provided me with an ARC.