June and Levi were best friends as teenagers, but as adults, it's been years since they last spoke. After each experiencing very embarrassing, very public breakups, they find each other again. But when a picture of the two of them together makes its way to the tabloids, they decide to lean into the assumption that they are dating. They continue to post pictures pretending to be in the perfect relationship, but quickly the feelings become real.
I have loved Emma Lord’s YA romances, so I was thrilled to learn she was writing one for adults, and it lived up to all my dreams and expectations. June and Levi’s chemistry was incredible and their shared history as friends made their romance even sweeter. I loved them together.
The audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus who is one of my favorite narrators. As always, she did a phenomenal job bringing thee characters to life and I could listen to her all day. No matter which format you choose, this book is amazing!
Thank you to SMP Romance, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

Not for me, sadly. I typically love Emma Lord and fake dating is a favorite plot device of mine but this was not it. The chemistry between the characters fell flat for me and their constant miscommunication was painful.

Narrator did a great job however.

This might be the first Emma Lord book that I didn't like. It felt really forced in a way that didn't vibe with the other books I've enjoyed so much. The narrator also didn't help. I've heard and liked her for other things, but didn't like her for this one.

This was a cute, quick easy read. It didn't have a memorable story line though, so I didn't love it. The audio was realy well done, and it is what kept me invested enough to finish.

I love Emma Lord’s books and I think I have a new favorite. I loved the faked-dating trope, two friends, slow burn, great location, (I have a thing for NYC settings), and lots of fun.
It was heartwarming, funny and charming.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this complimentary audiobook.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸-𝗨𝗽 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝘁 by Emma Lord released August 13, 2024.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and McMillian Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What’s the best way to get over an ex? Especially an ex that used you to get to fame and then use your breakup for further entertainment?

You get even through dating another famously dumped ex. Lord does a great job of making you connect with June - someone who is trying to live her sister’s American Dream, while also trying to find out who she is and what she wants to do. Enter Levi. Levi, throws June for a loop, emotionally, mentally, and makes her question herself, her dreams, and her heart. This quaint fake dating scheme is filled with the question of will they or won’t they. It also has you wondering if either of them are really ready for what’s next.

I was a bit disappointed with June. I thought that her growth was a bit stunted and that the hiccups on her side were pretty foreseen. I do not always like when things are super predictable. However, it was nice to see how things ended for June, especially in learning to identify her dream versus the dreams she should leave behind. Overall, it is a quick read and another take on fake dating.

I will never get on board with the miscommunication trope and this one was heavy with it. MC’s that don’t speak for years over a misunderstanding is so silly and ridiculous that I didn’t even care if they ended up together by the end. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a three star read for me. I had to start it numerous times before feeling a slight interest in the story and characters. A three star read, for me, means I fully acknowledge I could have been out of sorts or in a funk and due to that, this has elements that will certainly be an easy four to five star read for someone else.

That being said, in 'The Break-Up Pact' by Emma Lord, two old friends, June and Levi, find themselves in an unexpected situation after both experience embarrassing, viral break-ups. June, who now runs a small beachside tea shop, and Levi, a hedge fund manager with dreams of becoming a novelist, decide to fake a relationship. Their goal? To get some positive attention on social media that might help June’s struggling business and possibly win back their exes. But as they navigate five "staged" dates, they start to wonder if their fake romance could turn into something real.

Again, I didn't feel especially connected to their story but I certainly recommend it and will continue to be super excited to read other works from Emma Lord!

*The Break-Up Pact* by Collin Hymes is a refreshing and humorous take on the complexities of modern relationships, blending elements of romantic comedy with insightful commentary on love and friendship. The story revolves around two best friends, who, after a series of romantic disappointments, decide to make a pact to help each other navigate their dating lives, leading to unexpected twists and turns.

Hymes's writing style is engaging and lively, filled with witty dialogue and relatable situations that capture the essence of dating in today's world. The author has a knack for creating a lighthearted atmosphere while tackling deeper themes such as self-discovery, personal growth, and the often-blurred lines between friendship and romance.

The characters are well-drawn, each bringing their own quirks and insecurities to the table. Their chemistry is palpable, and the evolution of their relationship is both heartwarming and entertaining. As they embark on their pact, the challenges they face together reveal the importance of honesty and communication, making their journey all the more compelling.

The pacing of the book is well-structured, with a nice balance of comedic moments and emotional depth. Hymes effectively builds tension, allowing readers to invest in the characters' arcs and root for them throughout their ups and downs.

Overall, *The Break-Up Pact* is a charming and enjoyable read that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the highs and lows of love and friendship. Collin Hymes has crafted a delightful narrative that combines humor with heartfelt moments, making it a perfect pick for fans of romantic comedies and contemporary fiction. It leaves readers with a smile and a sense of hope, reminding us that sometimes the best relationships are the ones we least expect.

I'm usually a pretty big fan of Emma Lord's books, but this one missed the mark for me in a lot of ways. It's the first that's marketed as an adult romance fiction, but it honestly felt exactly like her YA books but with added steamy scenes. While the steamy scenes were good, it just felt off when the rest of the book felt very young adult written. I liked both the characters, but it wasn't enough to keep me fully into it. I wanted so much more from their romance, considering Emma Lord is usually so good at building up her characters relationships. Next one!

The audio was very enjoyable!

This was cute, but nothing too memorable. I enjoyed the main characters but wish they had more depth to them. A lot of the story lines seemed like we were given information and then later explained the background or context for them. Things would just be mentioned and then explained later, I can't explain it but it was weird.

Perfect summer, light hearted beach read. The characters and setting were great. I loved this one. The narrator was perfect.

This was good. It was cute, it was enjoyable, but there was nothing about this novel that made it stand out. This is one of those books that if you've read one, you've read them all. Classic fake dating/miscommunication/self sabotaging FMC. There was one super spicy chapter, but would be very easy to skip that chapter and not lose anything from the story. This definitely reads like a closed door romance with the exception of that one chapter, which mak

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review :)

This was a fun, enjoyable romcom but wasn’t something I loved. I did enjoy the setting and wished the tea shop on the beach was real. I loved the scones and was craving one the entire book. I never connected with the characters though and didn’t feel like their story was anything special or unique. The narrator was great and helped make this book more enjoyable. I’ll definitely recommend this to my followers.

The Break-Up Pact
Written by Emma Lord, read by Natalie Naudus, is a romantic comedy featuring former high school friends June and Levi. June and Levi lost touch after high school, and now June doesn’t really know where she stands with him. But after her boyfriend of ten years breaks up with her on live television, and Levi’s girlfriend publicly breaks up with him, they reconnect in their home town. June is struggling to keep up with her Tea and Scone cafe, and Levi is having trouble in his own way with some writers block, when they decide to work together and try to help each other by creating a Break-Up Pact. But where does the pact end, and who will be hurt?
I really enjoyed the friendships, scones, and comedy in this book. I also appreciated the family dynamics shown, and how the characters grew throughout the book, and recognized ways that they could heal. I look forward to reading more books by this author! Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrator for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

June and Levi, childhood best friends, take the reader on a journey of break- ups and growth. This fake dating book will make you feel all the emotions, and male you realize sometimes dreams are just deferred- not forgotten.

This one wasn't my favourite by this author. The story/characters really didn't grab my attention and I've forgotten most of the book after shutting it.

This one was just okay to me. I didn't really feel the romantic spark between the main characters. It seemed fun but the chemistry was lacking. I also rarely enjoy the miscommunication trope, so it made it hard to get through this one and the 'third act break up'.

This was a fun perfect quick summer read! It was great for fans of Carley Fortune. I enjoyed the narrators, I think they did a good job telling the story.

Unfortunately, this was a dnf audiobook for me. It was primarily related to the plot which I couldn't get invested in enough to keep listening. For the audiobook specifically, I liked the narrators voice and pace. However, I did notice that there were obvious points of editing which were jarring as a listener. I could hear a change in echo for the narrator's voice and deepening. It sounded like they were recording in a different spot and it was spliced into the other track. This was distracting and it happened at least twice during the 35% of the audiobook that I did listen to.