Thank you to Ballantine and PRH audio for the review copies of The Summer Pact.

This is one read that I wanted to like more than I did. I felt the plot and themes were worthwhile, I love a study in friendship and themes on the complexity of young adult roles but I felt the book and writing, as well as character portrayals, held back enjoyment and engagement.

1. I am 100% here for diverse and inclusive reads but here the inclusion of diverse characters felt less than authentic and written from a place where there was limited effort to really explore these identities and how these aspects of identity really shape experiences in college and in post college roles. I note this in particular for the connection to UVA as that is a complex space to live as a Black person or other marginalized identities (not UVA alone but many college campuses and within the surrounding areas and communities around UVA and other area campuses).

2. The writing felt at times clipped? less than developed? a little too on the surface and light when topics and characters deserved some stronger more nuanced and fleshed out writing.

3. The pacing felt off to me as did relationships. I never felt really invested in the stories or characters even though I normally love books about friendships over time.

The Summer Pact was not a book for me. It was heavy and full of a lot of subjects that are ones I don’t want to read when I am looking for an easy smooth book. I was hoping to read and relax but it was hard to keep my mind on the book while I was reading. I could not connect with any character in the story.
Thank you NetGalley, Emily Giffin and Random House Publishing Group for the copy of The Summer Pact. This is my personal review.

As a longtime fan of Emily Giffin's works, I approached The Summer Pact with high expectations, but unfortunately, this novel fell short in many areas. Despite Giffin's usual knack for crafting relatable and heartwarming stories, this book was marred by several problematic elements and a lackluster plot that ultimately detracted from the reading experience.
Plot Summary: The story revolves around three college friends who make a pact after one of the best friends commits suicide. The pact requires them to show up when one of them is at their lowest point. To help one of the characters, they go on a series of trips of places they always wanted to travel. However, as they navigate their personal challenges, and long-buried secrets unresolved tensions emerge.
Cultural Elements and Character Issues: One of the most troubling aspects of The Summer Pact is the inclusion of cultural elements that feel forced and out of place. These elements not only disrupt the flow of the story but also make it likely that future readers will find parts of the novel unrelatable. Additionally, the portrayal of a black character with stereotypical racist ideations is deeply problematic and offensive, detracting from the narrative and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Forced Relationships: The inclusion of a lesbian couple feels unnatural and forced, as if added merely to tick a box rather than to contribute meaningfully to the story. This lack of authenticity undermines the development of the characters and their relationships, making it difficult for readers to engage with their journeys.
Pacing and Plot: The storyline is painfully slow, with numerous introspective passages that drag on without adding substantial value to the plot. When the narrative finally picks up, the ending feels rushed and unsatisfying, leaving many threads unresolved and questions unanswered.
Trigger Warnings: Readers should be aware that the book contains triggers for suicide, alcoholism, and a skimmed-over sexual assault. These serious issues are not handled with the sensitivity or depth they deserve, which may be distressing for some readers.
Conclusion: The Summer Pact was a disappointing read, especially given Emily Giffin's reputation for delivering emotionally resonant and well-crafted stories. This book lacks the depth, nuance, and authenticity that characterize her best works. The problematic cultural elements, offensive character portrayals, and forced relationships only add to the novel's shortcomings. While Giffin is usually an author I love, this book does not showcase her true talent or writing style.
Unfortunately, The Summer Pact fails to live up to expectations and is not a testament to Giffin's otherwise impressive literary career.

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin seemed like a light beach/summer read from the title, but the prologue was heavy right off. I didn't mind that because I enjoyed the premise, writing, the different POVs and the initial drama. Unfortunately, towards the end, the book began to unravel and the ending didn't do it for me. The two relationships formed at the end didn't seem believable. Thank you, Negalley and Ballantine books for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Hannah, Tyson, Lainey and Summer have found each other in college and are the very best of friends. When Summer commits suicide the remaining three are left in turmoil. They eventually make a Summer Pact in which they promise to always be there for one another no matter what. When Hannah faces a crisis, Lainey and Tyson drop everything to go be with her. It is now that they all take the time to really examine their lives, loves, career choices and each other.

Giffin has such a sweet, wonderful way of telling stories, even when the story is difficult to tell. I adored all of these characters and by the end felt like I was part of their friend group.

Always an Emily fan but this book felt different. Minus a couple pages this felt slow and I struggled to stay interested.

I love Emily’s writing voice. It’s engaging and easy. I started reading and didn’t want to stop.
I liked the premise of the book, but it fell a little short. I just didn’t connect with any of the characters the way I usually do with Emily’s characters. The point of view switched before I could really get into their story, and then it would switch again. I also felt there were a lot of heavier issues and topics that needed more development.
But I couldn’t quit reading.
3.5

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

This book really makes you reflect on friendships and the people around you. It is heartwarming, heartbreaking, and thought provoking all at the same time. The way these friends are there for each other no matter what is beautiful.

Let me just start by saying.. I think the book’s title and cover led me to believe the story was going to be a lighthearted and fun summer read. This book started off heavy, and has several trigger warnings throughout. However, I felt the topics for the most part were well written and found myself enjoying each of the main characters in their journey’s to healing and discovering themselves. I do wish that we would’ve learned more about Summer as a person and been given more concrete reasoning for her tragedy, but that’s just me!

I was a bit letdown by this book. The cover and title of the book makes it look like it is a lighthearted and jovial book, however it's a little bit dark. I also felt like the heavy themes are somewhat brushed past. There is a lot of build up in the beginning and the rest of the book is breezed through. Most of the action and climax takes place a bit late in the book in my opinion.

The Summer Pact - Emily Giffin

⭐️⭐️⭐️

"I just wish I could look into a crystal ball and know that I won't end up alone."

After the tragic death of their college best friend, three friends make a pact that whenever their lives hit rock bottom, they will drop everything to be there. Hannah calls in that favor and the three friends head off on a three part trip to find themselves.

I received this as an ARC from Random House Ballantine and NetGalley so thank you. I was slightly deceived into thinking this was a book about summer but Summer was the name of a character instead. I needed more character development and deeper connections between Tyson, Lainey, and Hannah. These three didn’t seem like they were even best friends outside of their connection to Summer. I usually really enjoy Giffin’s books but this was a rare miss for me.

Emily Giffin at her best These characters were strong, believable and loving I laughed and cried and loved every page

This book is the perfect summer heart-wrenching read. I was crying in the first 20 pages. A little bit of romance and a lot of friendship, I loved it!

Fine but forgettable. There is a big question that remains frustratingly unanswered. I was waiting for drama surrounding that question that never came. Instead the drama that ensues seems forced and kind of silly. A lot of glaring issues that the characters should face or deal with are glazed over in an almost baffling way, especially a huge one towards the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader’s Copy.

This was really nice easy read but also had some important topics and really made you think about your life and your friendships. I really wish the relationships were developed a bit more and we had more time with certain characters but the overall vibe of the book was really intriguing to me and a great summer read. Will be adding to our library.

This was my first Emily Griffin book and while I would give her another shot, this was a miss for me.

The first tragedy happens so early on in the book, I was hoping to have more time getting to know the 4 characters and their dynamics. The rest of the book is told in alternating POVs and I found to differentiate between them.

It also hits on a lot of heavy themes in a short amount of time, it seems like less might have been more in this case.

I did enjoy the descriptions of Capri, and it made me wish I was traveling too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A beautiful story of grief and friendship.

I enjoyed the journey of the book but at times felt like a lot of the events in the “present” day were very surface level. While we get some good development of Hannah and Lainey, there’s not much why once their plot peaks. Tyson we barely get much background on him besides his unhappiness at work. I just wanted a little more.

Most of it is very predictable, especially Hannah’s story. It was still great to see her finally push aside her mom’s manipulation.

One thing I didn’t like was the change in POV repeating exactly what just happened. It makes me lose interest immediately because it’s basically reading the same event twice.

Overall, a good book to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book but it was not as good as I hoped. It is a quick, easy read at least. For me, the plot didn’t really have any depth. Everything just kept turning out okay without any diving in or working out on the page. Also, the two relationships at the end came out of no where. It was so odd. Lainey is so unbearable and it’s not because of her drinking. She is an immature, volatile person who treats others poorly and with zero self awareness. Hannah is a doormat. Tyson is likeable but again that relationship at the end, out of no where and makes absolutely no sense given the entire rest of the book. It all just felt choppy and disconnected and confusing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC.

Such a beautiful story about friendship, love and grief. I loved following along with Lainey, Tyson and Hannah while they deal with losing their best friend and then navigate life in the aftermath of Summer while tackling new issues. Some story lines went dead (I would have loved to learned more about Summer and what happened) and things seemed oddly rushed (Hannah & Olivia), overall this was very enjoyable & such a fun summer read but with depth

SUMMER PACT is about strong friendships, love, loss, and new self discoveries. I became emotionally invested at the beginning of the story. Having a daughter that starts her first year of college this fall, I couldn't help but think of her and all the new friendships she's going to make. Overall, I highly recommend grabbing a copy. it's a great choice for the beach or even a road trip.

This review will be shared to @coffee.break.book.reviews closer to pub date.