This is my least favorite Emma Lord book I have read. It is not her normal YA fun fluffy fare, but two adults who couldn't find healthy communication if punched them in the face. They are a bit insufferable and although they have chemistry, the scenes in-between their dialed up chemistry fall a bit flat. Emma Lord's other books I have read have atmosphere and a sense of place that are vibrant, and this book really was a bit dull in comparison.

Also, this book should have been titled The Revenge Exes. The break-up pact moniker felt forced into the plot. It wasn't well named. I'm very annoyed at poorly titled books lately.

Book elements: Internet sensations, High school besties-second chance romance, shared grief, close knit community, single POV, fake dating, entrepreneurship, making decisions for yourself

Content Note: 1 very open door scene, LGBTQ side story of planning a wedding, infidelity, grief

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Griffin for the gifted title. All opinions are my own.

I have been waiting for this book for a long time and I was so happy to be able to listen to this book! And it was just as good as I thought it would be!

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advance audiobook of this title.

When you've just experienced the most embarrassing, humiliating, public break up of your life, is a friend from your past the best or worst person to come back into your life? Well, when they appear to have gone through something similar, perhaps the best, as the break up pact is born. Whether for revenge or to make the ex jealous, June and Levi agree to pretend to be a couple for a designated number of dates and with clear boundaries. But can they both stick to those boundaries? And how will the exes react?

A well-narrated, somewhat light, romantic comedy--but who will get to live happily ever after?

Emma Lord never misses—The Break-Up Pact is a must-read for rom-com fans! Sweet, fun, and heartfelt!

I love second chance romance and fake dating, and this one had plenty of both! June and Levi haven't spoken in ten years and start fake dating after each experiences very public, viral breakups. This one wasn't as easy breezy as the cover might lead you to believe, but I enjoy a romance with big feelings, which this one had. Both were dealing with relationship trauma and public ridicule in the social media sphere, so they're both trying to heal from troubling relationships, which isn't easy. Also, they have to deal with issues from their past friendship. It's a good balance of light and heavy. This one kind of gave me some Tarah Dewitt vibes, so I'd recommend this one to fans of Funny Feelings.

Former teenage best friends pretend to be lovers after their breakups go viral? YES PLEASE! Emma over here hitting me with all the best tropes. Also, who doesn't want to see a new love thrown in the crappy exes faces? The writing was heartfelt and easy to get lost in. I listened to it in one sitting because I needed to know how it all played out (even though we all know how it's going to end. It is a romcom after all). June and Levi were both endearing characters that you wanted to find happiness together. I highly recommend picking this one up if you like light-hearted romance books. It's perfect for a quick pick me up that will bring a smile to your face.

This was such a cute book. It managed to touch on viral shaming in the digital age, with a second chance and still lovers. I loved the writing, and I will definitely look for this writer again in the future. The narration was also great and I really can’t recommend this book enough.

June and Levi were absolutely adorable!

Both end up going viral for break ups, June on the more unfortunate end as "crying girl". They are both back home and trying to patch up their friendship and their life. They end up starting a fake relationship (one of my favorite tropes) and no surprise, things take off from there. If you are looking for a warm and fuzzy beach read this is the one!

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me and I ended up deciding not to finish it at 70%.

I’m a hard sell on fake dating anyway but the way it was done here felt very paint by numbers, as if the the author were checking items off on a list of how to write a romance book. On top of that the MCs felt kinda flat and I just lost interest in following them.

All of that said, I could totally see this working for other readers, there isn't anything objectively wrong here.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord was a fun romcom with enjoyable production. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

Cute enough, but I don’t think this author and I vibe anymore. It was fine but surface level and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters so it all felt very meh to me

All the great tropes but just didn’t hit it for me.

✔️ fake dating
✔️ friends to lovers
✔️ struggling business
✔️ miscommunication
✔️ second chance romance
✔️ sisters best friend

There were quite a few things that made me not really care for the book. For one how both main characters acted toward their exes, umm no. They were both publicly humiliated and yet they both make excuses for them, one ACTUALLY wants to try and make it work with the ex, and don’t get me started about the show. Maybe I’m just crazy but no way in 🔥 would I be that way. Like I believe in payback, but that’s just me. Also it’s very hard to believe after 10 years apart they just step right in sync just like that. <insert a roll of the eyes>

The one thing I did like about the book was the narrator, I actually enjoyed Natalie Naudus as the reader.

I have seen it mentioned several times that Emma Lord’s ya novels are where it’s at (this is my first by her) so I plan on trying one of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

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.