I loved Emily Giffin’s early books and then some of her more recent ones really let me down. This one was somewhat of a recovery. I feel her perspective has evolved and she’s moved past some of the problematic stuff from some of her previous books. But this one felt a bit too contrived for my taste. It was well written and interesting but I could never fully get into the characters.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Beautiful read and perfect book for the summer (if you need an escape in this frigid winter!).Emily Giffin truly never disappoints and this rich cast of characters adds to her robust collection of unputdownable books.

I have loved and followed Emily's books since day one, and this one just missed the mark IMO. The characters felt forced and the story fell flat. Still love her and her style, but I rather read SOMETHING BORROWED for the 20th time.

This wasn't my favorite of Giffin's writing, but it was a nice read. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters.

Another fun beach read by the queen of the sand. This was a lighthearted escape from the demands of life and I lost myself in the characters and flipping pages. Highly recommend.

I love Emily Giffin, but this book didn’t quite work the way her others have in the past. Friends gather together years after a tragic incident, finding themselves figuring out how to keep their friendship alive despite growing into very different people and working through their own struggles.

I like the premise but the characters were a bit over the top and difficult to relate to or root for.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Giffin's writing is sharp and poignant, exploring complex relationships with honesty and depth. The novel balances heartache and hope, capturing the nuances of long-lasting friendships and the challenges of navigating adult life. A must-read for fans of contemporary fiction that delves into personal growth and emotional connections.

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for letting me read the #advancereaderscopy of #thesummerpact. I haven’t read @emilygiffinauthor since #somethingborrowed and #somethingblue and this book was a great reintroduction! Following a group of friends from their first days of college through a tragic incident their senior year, which causes them to for a pact to always be there for each other. Ten years later, the pact is crucial as they all realize they are at turning points in their lives and need the bonds of their friendship to navigate their paths. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to grab from #yourlocallibrary or #localbookstore. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreviewer #my2024readingchallenge #bookrecommendations

Emily Giffin does it again with an amazing book about friendship and supporting each other. I enjoyed reading this book and it had the added benefit of making me think about my friendships far after reading it.

I typically enjoy Emily Giffin’s novels for their relatable characters and emotional depth, but The Summer Pact fell flat for me. The story centers on childhood friends reuniting over a shared secret, but the setup is quickly overshadowed by a love triangle involving a married man. This twist felt out of place and undermined the potential for a more heartfelt exploration of friendship and loyalty.

The pacing was another major issue. Major revelations, like the truth behind their “pact,” were crammed into the final chapters, leaving little room for the characters’ emotional arcs to feel authentic or earned. The rushed ending also left unresolved questions, making it difficult to fully connect with the story.

As a fan of Giffin’s earlier works, this one was a letdown. If you’re new to her books, I’d recommend starting with one of her older books!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I love Emily Giffin's writings and I am typically not disappointed...they are the ultimate beach read for me. However, this story fell flat. The theme was heavy and I did not care for some of the major plot points.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
I started reading The Summer Pact prior to publication, but the heaviness of the first chapter (one friend's suicide during college) made me set it aside for when I was in a different headspace. I returned to the book via audio a few months later. I think the audiobook is very well done, with multiple narrators for the different POVs, including one of my favorites, Karissa Vacker. I think The Summer Pact is a well-written book, but I don't think the light and bright cover does a good job portraying the darkness of this read. I recommend it, but I wish the cover felt a little more aligned with the content so readers could choose appropriately.

This was very average for me. The plot was kind of non-existent. Four strangers meet at the beginning of their college days and become insta-friends. Their college life is probably less than 10 pages so we just take the author's word for it that they are great friends. Then Summer commits suicide and their lives are all shaken up. They make a pact to always be there for each other.

Fast forward a bunch of years (I forgot how many) and Hannah's fiance is cheating on her. She needs her friends so their drop everything going on in their lives and fly to her (really money must not be an object to any of the these people). They decide to take a three week vacation together where they each pick a destination and go there for a week.

This whole premise is so baffling it doesn't even make sense. But you go with it. The story is told in alternating perspectives between the three friends. Hannah is annoying because she keeps claiming she's trying her best but keeps messing up when really she is selfish and not listening to anyone else. She also seems to have completely forgotten about her ex-fiance and is just going on with life (no spoilers but... really? Completely out of the storyline). Lainey is annoying and doesn't listen to anyone. And Tyson is just too stereotypical to feel like an actual character.

It was a light enough read, but not Giffin's best work.

I was lucky enough to read “The Summer Pact” back in March. I had galley on my Kindle and it kept me company while I was down with the flu. After 2022’s “Meant to Be” — a riff on JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s relationship — “The Summer Pact” feels like a return to classic Emily Giffin.

To me, classic Emily Giffin means a thorough, satisfying examination of a relationship. In this case, it’s college friends who made a pact to reunite after tragedy strikes their senior year.

I flew through the pages of “The Summer Pact” and think it would be an ideal beach read or the book to pick up when you need a distraction (hopefully not from the flu as I did). I am seeing Emily speak at @oebookstore next week and am excited to add to my collection of signed copies.

I gave The Summer Pact five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I adored this book! I loved all of the characters and they were written in such a way that I could easily identify with them and understand them. I was completely invested in each of them.

The storyline moves forward at a good pace and is easy to follow. I especially loved the tidbits of historical information about the places they visit. I could have a very real conversation with Tyson.

This story is all about growth and discovery. Emily Griffin is such a master in that arena. This book did not disappoint!

I liked this book but it was hard to follow sometimes. With the 3 POVs you're struggling to keep up with who was talking since there isn't that much that is different between the characters. Overall I did enjoy the book but it's not something that you can read without paying a lot of attention.

This story is about four college friends who, although very different, become friends for life. After a tragedy near the end of college, the 3 other friends make a pact to always be there for each other, not matter what. Emily Giffin has shown the true meaning of friendship in this book. The descriptive way she writes about each friend is just so real and heartwarming. I absolutely loved this story.

If you like books about friendship, love, struggles, and a bit of dysfunctional families, you will like this one!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I usually love Emily Giffin novels, but this one wasn't for me. The premise was promising, and the writing was great, but despite the depth of subject, I felt like something was missing from this book.

The Summer Pact had an intriguing premise, and I appreciated its focus on themes of friendship and the impact of trauma. The idea of close friends being there for each other through thick and thin was compelling, and I could see what the book was aiming for. However, the execution left me wanting more.

The characters felt very immature for their age, often making decisions that seemed out of place for thirty-year-olds. Lainey, in particular, was difficult for me to connect with—her behavior felt insufferable at times, and the constant boundary-crossing among the characters made it hard to root for them.

While I don’t mind a slow-burn romance, the relationships were introduced so late in the book (around 85% in) that they felt rushed and underdeveloped. Neither romance came across as believable, which made it hard to get invested.

That said, if you enjoy books that tackle heavier themes, like trauma and emotional drama, or stories with complicated friendships at their core, this might work for you. The concept had a lot of potential, and I think readers who don’t mind a character-driven, drama-heavy narrative may find this more enjoyable than I did. Personally, I was hoping for more character growth and deeper emotional payoffs.