Emma Lord is becoming an auto buy author for me. I love hilarious cringy situations that make you want to look away while still taking a peak. That is how Emma Lord creates these embarrassing at times hilarious yet hopeful and romantic stories you are rooting for.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I didn’t feel any chemistry at all between the main characters, June and Levi. And I could not stand Levi!

I adored this sugary sweet dessert of a novel. Emma Lord's writing swung from laugh-out-loud funny to a depth of emotional introspection that I found surprising from a contemporary romance. As with many rom-coms, there were moments of ridiculousness and plenty of trope-fulfilling lines, but this one hit it out of the park for me. This was a pleasantly surprising 4.5/5 for me. I will be reaching for more from this author in the future when I need a fun romance for a change of pace. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for a digital ARC.

Lord is the reigning YA romcom queen, and every book of hers has a great cast, funny premise, and whip-smart writing. I devoured this one just like all the others!

I think this author does best with YA as this had some adult content but the characters read like her YA books. This one dragged a little bit for me and just felt a little off.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I had a hard time getting through it and ultimately could not finish.

This book unfortunately haunted my tbr pile for a long time. I tried a handful of times to jump into it but just couldn't connect with the story. It definitely did not deserve a DNF or no rating though so here we are, albeit a bit delayed. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this book but there was also nothing that connected me to the characters or even left me truly rooting for them. This book had a lot of things I typically enjoy in romance books (fake dating is actually usually one of my favorite romance tropes) but everything fell a bit flat for me.

The FMC & MMC felt soooooo platonic despite supposedly having long term history and a childhood past. I never once really felt any true angst or longing or pining between them. It was stated, and often very descriptive, but never truly *felt* any of those feelings in their actions. There's a ton of miscommunication through the entirety of the book and not great communication in general.

There are quite a bit of side characters that also seem to quickly serve their purpose and then proceed to completely fade to the background. We're supposed to be following the wedding planning for two of their closest loved ones but barely even see them throughout the story. Parents? Practically non-existent other than their house. Best friend plays her beginning role and then also fades away. Sister that passed away who was the hub of the group of friends and siblings. I know that the story of course revolves around the FMC & MMC but it really needed something to help round out the story or add some more intrigue because I was mostly just...uninterested.

I think this book just wasn't really for me or I wasn't the right reader for this book! It was not terrible by any means but just not a favorite for me.

June and Levi are both grieving when circumstances thrust them back into one another's lives. There was a lot of humor built into this double whammy of a trope (fake dating and second chance) novel. I really enjoyed and appreciated June and Levi showing up for one another. Initially to save themselves and then to support one another.

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 13 August 2024)

SYNOPSIS | June + Levi were best friends as teenagers, but a misunderstanding resulted in them falling out right before Levi departs for college. Ten years later, June returns to their hometown to run her sisters tea shop after a very public breakup and finds Levi has also returned after his girlfriend broke up with him too. After a compromising photo of them goes viral they decide to run with it + pretend to be a couple all in an attempt to make their ex's jealous.

WHAT I LIKED:
- I liked June + Levi as individuals (but sadly I didn't feel the spark or root for them as a couple)
- fun banter at the beginning of the book (which unfortunately fizzled out as the book progressed)
- a beach-side tea shop sounds adorable
- a decent transition into the adult romance genre

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- considering June's sister is an integral part to the story I felt her character + relationships were very underdeveloped
- the foundation of the book hinges on miscommunication (aka my least favourite trope)
- this took me four months to finish because I initially put it down during a sex scene and then every time I picked it back up again I got the ick and couldn't make myself care

this book unfortunately took me an entire calendar year to get through. I’m a big fan of Lord’s YA Tweet Cute and generally love how quirky her stories can feel. In an adult contemporary setting however, it loses its charm. I felt like the characters came off really one-dimensional (like Griffin being such an easy villain to hate / write off for his childish behavior and Sana treated as the token diversity side character and white female main character’s best friend. Please) and the romance didn’t have me invested at all. What I really loved about the story was how June worked through her feelings of grief about her sister and learning how to not let the past dictate her present. But that was like maybe 2% of this novel. Super disappointed about this read and genuinely one of the hardest romances I’ve had to finish this year.

This is so much fun! I loved every second of it 💕 I was looking for a break from the holiday reads, & this hit the spot 🥰 Emma’s books are a breath of fresh air, & always enjoyable 🌟 this one is no different!

June is someone I would love to meet. She is smart, creative, strong, & learns to go after what she wants. She also owns a coffee shop called Tea Tide & it sounds like my kind of place! And Levi is so much more than he thinks. He is passionate, caring, & looks out for those he loves. June & Levi gave me all the feels 🫶🏻 their relationship was so much in the making ❤️ a slow burn that keeps a smile on your face.

Even though this is a romcom, it incorporates some heavy topics with care, & that makes the characters & story so much more authentic & relatable. Well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

What to expect:
✨friends to lovers
✨fake dating
✨second chance
✨small beach town
✨cute coffee shop
✨slow burn
✨open door
✨fun revenge plot

HAPPY READING 🫶🏻📚 thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress for the earc & the #gifted finished copy 💕💕💕

The Break-Up Pact was the first book I’ve read by Emma Lord and right from the beginning I knew that this story would be an interesting read. I always love a friends to lovers trope and June and Levi’s story did not disappoint. June and Levi went through very public breakups that both went viral and ended up coming back to their childhood town. After years of no contact, they end up re-connecting and decide to fake date one another. However, they didn’t plan on their real feelings coming back.

Emma’s writing and character development were such a great reminder that peoples’ lives are never linear. We all go through ups and downs as well as hardships. June and Levi’s relationship shows us that no matter how much time has passed that it’s never too late to reach out to someone who meant a lot to you in your past. What’s meant to be will always end up working out.

Overall, I thought of this book as a heartwarming and relatable read. The only thing I would have wanted was a few extra chapters to in order to to rush the conclusion the book.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An e-ARC was provided by the publisher and net galley in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

While this book has a good premise, there is not much that sets it apart from other contemporary romances. I was not able to connect with the main characters and the romance was missing.

“The Break-Up Pact” by Emma Lord is a sweet, emotional and entertaining romance about childhood friends turned estranged duo, Levi and June. After high school, they drifted apart, but now, fresh off some super public and cringe-worthy breakups, they're back in each other's lives. Levi's home to heal and write a book, while June's trying to keep it together after a life changing loss. Cue the perfect plan: fake dating as “revenge exes” to show the world they’ve totally moved on.

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Their shared history and old feelings bubble to the surface as they fake adorable couple moments for social media. Suddenly, pretending doesn’t feel so fake anymore.

This story is packed with fun romance tropes—second chances, friends to lovers, and fake dating—and sprinkles in real-life challenges for a grounded yet heartwarming read. If you're into sweet, feel-good romance with a touch of nostalgia, give this one a try! I can’t wait to see what Emma Lord writes next in the adult romance space.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the gifted ebook ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

June has returned to take over her late sister’s beachside tea shop, where she is struggling to make ends meet. Her former best friend, Levi, who she hasn’t spoken to in years, is living a completely stereotypical life in the city as a hedge fund manager and unsuccessful author. They simultaneously go through embarrassing public breakups, and before long, they find themselves in a break up pact. They’ll fake date their way into publicity, bringing customers to June’s tea shop and helping Levi get his ex girlfriend back.

I really wanted to love this, because I usually enjoy a fake dating, ex friends to lovers situation, but it really left me wanting more. I never truly connected with the characters and therefore had a hard time escaping into the story and believing there was any true chemistry between June and Levi. There were a few too many tropes thrown in, so they all felt underdeveloped to me. I did enjoy the setting of June’s tea shop and the time spent addressing the grief of losing her sister. Overall, this story just wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

really sad about not liking this book! things happened, but there was zero tension somehow? the characters lacked the chemistry emma's previous books had, and after like 5 chapters of exposition, i was ready to see some, or literally ANY action.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord is a heartwarming and relatable story that perfectly captures the rollercoaster of high school friendships, budding romance, and the messiness of growing up. The book centers around two best friends who make a “break-up pact” — a funny twist on the usual romantic pact — and then face the reality of what happens when feelings begin to get complicated.

Emma Lord’s writing is witty and fast-paced, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their journeys. The main characters are well-developed and endearing, with their unique personalities and quirks adding depth to the story. The dialogue feels authentic, with lots of funny and heartfelt moments that keep you engaged.

While the plot is somewhat predictable at times, the charm and humor make up for it, as do the meaningful messages about friendship, self-discovery, and learning to communicate. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and you can’t help but root for them.

Overall, The Break-Up Pact is a fun, lighthearted read that delivers plenty of laughs and tender moments. It’s perfect for fans of young adult romance who want a sweet, feel-good story.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am always going to love a book by Emma Lord, and The Break-Up Pact is no exception. I loved the will they/won't they dynamic of this one, and the way the characters were able to come together.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was an alright one for me. Not gonna lie, there wasn’t what I wanted in this. The romance was so quick for me and don’t get me wrong, I can get down with some instalove but LORD when I tell you the main character pissed me off don’t even get me started. I will be honest, I’m hoping she comes out with a second book about her best friend because I loved that lady and I wanna read all about her.

This was my first read from this author and I was super excited going into it based on the tropes. Unfortunately it just didn't hit right for me. The book isn't bad by any means, it was a quick read and I don't regret my time spent reading it... but I think its just one of those that I will forget about pretty quickly.