Emily Giffin’s “The Summer Pact” was a beautiful story about friendship after tragedy. I loved the connection and journey that these friends take after their loss of Summer and the growth they all do. You won’t be able to put this one down!

Emily Giffin delivers an interesting peek into 4 friendships crafted at the pivotal transition between their childhoods and adulthoods. Connections made in college run deep, but why? These characters walk with each other through heartbreak, betrayal, fledgling careers, travel, huge revelations about themselves, shifting dynamics with parents, and even death. I knew them as my own friends by the end, and I felt that Giffin wrapped up their storylines well for her readers. While some of the dialogue was whiny at times, I can’t say I haven’t sounded *exactly* like that at points in my own life, so kudos for a realistic portrayal of the 20s and early 30s times of life. I had a treat of a reading experience and enjoyed my time with “The Summer Pact!”

*Trigger warnings for suicide and alcoholism.

Enjoyed the read a lot. Started off very strong. Kind of petered off a little for final third but still a great summer read

This book had so much potential.. the premise was really good and the story could have been so emotional and heartwarming and it just… wasn’t. The characters were SO unlikable and mean to each other even though they claim they’re best friends?? Not buying it. I honestly wasn’t rooting for anyone and by the end I didn’t care how everything was resolved.

The imagery was really beautiful and it made me want to travel but this one just did not resonate with me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Emily Giffin has written a story of friendship before, during, and after tragedy. Three friends who are always there for each other despite any other obligations. Great beach read…get ready to be fully involved in the lives of all the characters.

Emily Giffin just keeps getting better and better! Her writing has evolved so much but she still has so many of the characteristics that made me fall in love with her voice all those years ago.

The Summer Pact is BY FAR the best book I’ve read so far this year. It starts out with a tragic event but follows the group of friends from college as they grow up and keep the promise of the pact they made all those years ago. I loved the flashbacks to the college years - it was so genuine and authentic. And to see those relationships transcend into different decades was amazing.

This is a little heavier than your normal “beach read” but it’s so so so worth it! I promise you will love it!

Thank you so much to Emily Giffin & NetGalley for sending me the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

"The Summer Pact" by Emily Griffin

Emily Griffin's "The Summer Pact" is a poignant novel about friendship, secrets, and healing. The story follows Tyson, Lainey, and Hannah, three lifelong friends who reunite after due to a pact they made to always be there for each other.

Tyson, a driven lawyer, grapples with work-life balance and career pressures. Lainey, an actor and alcoholic, while Hannah, thinking she is about to marry the love of her life calls in the troops.

Griffin's characters are relatable and well-developed, and her evocative writing brings the setting to life. The alternating perspectives and well-balanced pacing keep readers engaged, as the friends' summer pact becomes a vital support system, emphasizing the themes of loyalty, honesty, and the enduring power of friendship.

"The Summer Pact" is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that captures the complexities of friendship and the journey towards healing. It's an ideal summer read for fans of contemporary fiction and character-driven stories. .

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I had high hopes for this book based on the synopsis, however, the inciting event that happens just pages into the book feels unearned as we barely can tell the characters apart before their lives are turned upside-down. Even once we got into chapters told from other perspectives, it did not feel as though the characters developed throughout the book. I'm confident many readers will love this book as it is a great beach read that people will fly through, but it was not for me. Again, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
The characters came alive in this,book and were so realistic. There are 4 very close friends and when something happens to one of them it opens their eyes to just how much they care about each other. They decide to make a pact if any one of them is feeling down and out they will reach out and be there for each other. I devoured this book and want a sequel. I definitely think there could be one and carry the story on . I hope the author thinks about doing that. I would highly recommend this book. Emily is a wonderful author.

Book Review: The Summer Pact by Emily Griffin
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Synopsis:
*The Summer Pact* is about a group of friends who come together for one summer to fulfill a promise they made years ago. As they deal with personal issues, old secrets come to light, testing their friendships and forcing each character to face their past. The story is told from multiple perspectives, giving readers a look into each character's life.

Review:
I'd give *The Summer Pact* 3 stars at best. The premise seemed really promising, and I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

The book deals with some heavy themes, but despite that, I felt like there wasn't much character development. The characters didn’t seem to grow or change in any meaningful way, which made it hard to really care about them.

I did like that the story was told from different perspectives. It added some variety, but it also made the chapters feel repetitive at times since we kept revisiting the same events without getting much new information.

Overall, *The Summer Pact* just wasn’t my favorite. It had potential, but it ended up being more boring than engaging.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emily Giffin has been one of my favorite "chick lit" authors since her series, "Something Borrowed". She has a way of writing that makes the reader feel like she's part of the story, on the sidelines just watching everything unfold. And this was no different. "The Summer Pact" was a perfect summer read! It was much heavier than some of her other books, dealing with difficult topics like suicide and alcohol abuse. Watching the characters evolve after a life altering tragedy was not only thought provoking, but I found myself rooting for them as they found their way in life.

Emily Giffin does it again. I could not put this book down!! I had such love for all the characters and it was so so relatable for so many issues in this day and age. The character stories were all told so well. I loved it!!

After a tragedy among their friend group, Lainey, Hannah, and Tyson make a pact to reach out to one another if they feel as though they may not make it through their lowest moments. So a decade later, when Hannah catches her cheating fiancé, her best friends are on the next flight to be by her side. What follows is a tale of love, friendship, heartbreak and finding yourself.

I try very hard to avoid spoilers especially when reviewing ARCs but there may be some that will be difficult to avoid. First, even though it’s mentioned in the author’s note, the suicide really managed to hit me super hard. And I did not expect to be in tears so early into the book. It was so jarring that my stomach was literally hurting. This is not a criticism but a comment on how realistic it felt when discovering the death of a close loved one.

Summer, Hannah, Tyson and Lainey met their first year of college. Summer is the midwestern track star who is pursuing pre med. Hannah is the southern sweetheart who, while undecided on her major, is interested in interior design. Tyson is a DC local with varied interests but is considering law school. And Lainey is the California girl pursuing acting. Though they may seem like an unlikely group, they become best friends. As they are approaching graduation, it seems the pressure might well be too much for Summer and she takes her own life. Understandably this has a devastating impact on the group and, a year later, they promise - in Summer’s name - to not only reach out before ever taking such drastic measures, but also to be there for one another no matter what.

My second heartbreaking moment of the book was the moment Hannah caught her fiancé with another woman. While I never physically caught them, I had a cheating ex too who tried to gaslight me when I confronted him so this part of the story got me fired up. I was so glad for Lainey’s ballsy attitude in handling that situation since I think Hannah was a little too nice to go that far. And I’m glad Hannah was smart enough and brave enough to leave.

Lainey is slightly too volatile for me. I know she’s got a heart of gold and I love that about her, but she also overreacts to the point where she won’t even let her friends try to explain the situation before she’s already formed her opinions. She somehow manages to be a loyal friend but also sometimes a shitty one too.

Tyson is the type who knows a little about a lot of things which I like about him. I also appreciate how loyal and protective he is of his friends. He’s maybe occasionally a little too up on his high horse.

I enjoy reading stories about the power of great friends, especially knowing how much more important they become when you go through your darkest moments. Suicide is tough and I can’t say that I have anyone in my direct circle who has done it but I imagine I would always hold on to those questions of why? Especially as it often seems to happen with people who seem so happy on the outside or have so much success. So I admittedly found myself wanting that closure but knowing that sometimes in life it just never comes.

While it’s been a while since I last read anything by her, I have loved Emily Giffin for a while so I was looking forward to this book and just like her other books I’ve read, this filled me with so much emotion. I think maybe my main struggle is that I have mixed feelings about what progreses with Tyson and Lainey, especially after what happened with Summer. In a way, it does make it feel like he’s just making his way through the friend group. But more than that he and Summer made the most sense together while he and Lainey made the least sense together. Not that I expected him to end up with either one but at least ending up with Hannah might’ve been easier for me to understand, especially since it would’ve made sense as a rebound to end up with someone you’re familiar with and have a history with.

Lastly and I didn’t let my rating be affected but…I know it’s an uncorrected proof but there is a moment when we’re in Hannah’s perspective and she’s talking with Tyson and then the perspective suddenly changes to Tyson’s and that was a bit hard for me to get past initially.

Thank you for the opportunity to review - another great offering from Ms Giffin, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Great summer vibes option!

Lainey, Tyler and Hannah have been friends since college when their other friend committed suicide. In their early thirties, everything comes to a crises and they get back together to fulfill their pact. ARC from NetGalley.

A heartwarming story of best friends whose relationships span decades, tragedies, heartbreak, and joys.

This was a beautiful story about a group of friends, a shared tragedy and lifelong loyalty to one another. Emily Giffin does not disappoint in her writing.

**The Summer Pact deals with real life situations that can be difficult to read for some. Trigger Warnings for issues surrounding suicide, infidelity and alcoholism. **

Hannah, Summer, Lainey and Tyson met in college one night while they were all hanging out in the study lounge of their dorm. Hannah is the Southern girl who is tame and quiet. Summer is the perfectionist and athlete who is planning to go to medical school. Lainey is the dramatic, crazy, fun friend with no filter and Tyson, from Washington D.C.is our laid-back man of the group, planning to go to law school. They each come from completely different backgrounds but the night they meet, they form a bond that will last and leave them inseparable throughout their college years. As exams are ending, right before graduation, the group endures a terrible tragedy that will leave them in shock and with questions that cannot be answered. It will also lead to their pact declaring that no matter the time, distance or situation, they will all be there for one another in times of need.

As Hannah is preparing to get married ten years later, her world is flipped upside down. She knows she is not in a good place, and she calls Lainey. Without hesitation, Lainey drops everything and goes to Hannah and Tyson is not far behind. As the three of them are back together, it is obvious that each person in the group is fighting their own battles and their reunion, though not under the best circumstances, may be what they all need.

Buckle up for all of the emotions and enjoy every minute of this story. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Emily Giffin and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this advanced digital reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Summer Pact 💗☀️🌊

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I was so surprised by this book! I went into it blind and did not expect it to be a heavier topic book. @emilygiffinauthor did an amazing job bringing me tap health awareness into her writing and made a heavy topic more manageable
I love the focus of friendship and how it’s so important in our lives, especially with dealing with inevitable life struggles. It reminds me to be so grateful for all the amazing people in my own life. This book is published on July 9, 2024 and is definitely worth the read!





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This book was a sweet romance read! As a long-time fan of the author, I was thrilled with this story. A must-read for all romance enthusiasts!

The Summer Pact is about a group of friends that met in college and lost the fourth member of their group. They then make a pact to always be there for each other. When one of them find their fiancé cheating on them, they make the call and the story follows the group through their travel, healing and finding themselves. I wish that there was a little more development with the romantic subplots as they seemed rushed. I would recommend reading The Summer Pact when it comes out on July 9, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.