I thought this audiobook was super cute! I loved the playful tone of the summer beach town tea shop. I appreciated that although the book was cute and had a happy ending, it also addressed more serious topics of loss, job struggles, etc. I felt that I saw growth and development in the characters, and always enjoy the friends to more than friends trope. I feel like the narrator did a good job voicing several characters and she was very easy to understand, even on 2x speed. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen and review this book!

I legit squealed when I saw I was approved for an audio ARC of The Break-Up Pact. Natalie Naudus is my favorite audiobook narrator, bar none. I would listen to her read my car's operating manual, so there's little risk in picking up an audiobook narrated by her. But I was also really interested in the premise of The Break-Up Pact. Second chance romances are some of my favorites, and I already know that Emma Lord can write.

I'll start by saying, I definitely enjoyed The Break-Up Pact. The writing was exceptional, and there were some very funny moments. June and Levi were fun characters to follow, and it was easy to be sympathetic to their plights - both publicly humiliated after their partners cheated on them. So, they decide to benefit off the publicity and fake date as The Revenge Exes. It's a very cute premise and for the most part it worked, but I think I understand why it didn't work for a lot of readers.

First, while I like my romances to have a fair bit of introspection, June was almost entirely in her head. It was exhausting to read about every little thing she was thinking, all the memories each experience evoked. Sometimes, I just want to be in the moment with the characters, you know? But the navel-gazing was unrelenting.

Second, the book is trying to do too much. It's a fake dating story, a grief story, a plucky small-business owner story, a second chance romance story, a struggling writer story, and by the end, it felt like none of these things had been done particularly well. Just when I felt like I was absorbed into one storyline, the book would change tack, and I'd feel unmoored again, trying to get my bearings on what the story was about now. (Did I manage to beat that sailing metaphor to death?)

And third, the romance just didn't really work for me? I can't explain why, exactly, but I saw another reviewer mention that the characters had no reason not to be together, and I think that might be part of it. Really, I was confused by their relationship from the beginning, and I think that is largely a fault of the writing. At first, I thought they were exes, but no, Levi is really good friends with June's brother? But no, actually he was super good friends with June's sister? But no, actually he was extra good friends with June? They were all friends together? Honestly, I still have no clue.

For all the reasons mentioned, it took me a long time to get through, but I've been slumpy, too, so that's partially on me. Counter intuitive as it might seem given my complaints, I adored Emma Lord's writing and I'm excited to read her next adult rom-com. I'm also very glad I have The Break-Up Pact preordered, because I'll probably end up rereading it at some point.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and to Netgalley for granting me an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This started out with a few classic romance tropes, but quickly became something deeper and much more meaningful. We follow June, who became a viral reaction meme after her ex revealed he was cheating…while on national TV. At the same time, June’s estranged childhood friend, Levi, is dealing with a similar situation. His girlfriend was photographed kissing one of the most famous celebrities of all time. After a serendipitous run-in after over a decade of no-contact, June and Levi are thrown into a fake dating whirlwind.
And while the fake dating does include a set list of rules and goals, most of the story’s focus is on June and Levi’s slowly repairing relationship. They were childhood best friends, along with June’s older sister Annie. But between fights they had as teenagers and Annie’s sudden passing a few years ago, there is a large rift between June and Levi that takes a while to soften.
I loved the traditionally crazy townspeople that were scattered through the book and the cozy seaside town they lived in. Annie’s tea shop sounded adorable (even with the ridiculous name of Tea Tide), and I was desperate to try a cookie-filled scone. I also absolutely loved Natalie’s narration, which brought the coziness and romance up to a level 10.
The only thing that bugged me was the emotional immaturity of the characters. June and Levi are both in their late 20s, but refuse to have actual conversations about their lives and choices. There were even moments where they were physically together, and one had a question, and then left instead of having any sort of conversation. That level of miscommunication and stubbornness was just a little too grating for me. Additionally, June spent a large portion of her time trying to find herself. While this totally made sense in the context of the story, the amount of “finding herself” felt repetitive and unproductive with the plot as a whole.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a summery small town romance. It’s sweet and silly, but there’s deeper moments that give the whole story a more meaningful ending.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review!

Sweet, yet sad at times too!

June and Levi were good friends in HS…and she was hoping for more…but that’s not the way it went…

Now, she’s running a beachside tea shop that she started with her sister…but, she’s having a hard time making ends meet …

And he’s a hedge fund manager in NY, and hating every minute of it.

When they accidentally meet up again, 10 years after HS, they’ve both been through bad break-ups that went very public…

And so, they decide to make a pact! They’re going to ‘fake date’ to try to get Levi’s girlfriend jealous, so that she’ll take him back! Great plan, right? What could go wrong??

This had me laughing. This had me tearing up.
This had so many precious, beautiful moments and memories that it makes you think about your own past….
It also had me wondering wth was wrong with June that she’d accept this kind of behavior from a guy… (Ladies…if your man treats you this way…red flag!! Get out!! RUN!!)

And the ending? Well, just perfect!!

If you like the sappy, gooey kind of romance books (with a little kick of badass), don’t pass this one up!

4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

***** Release date on this one is 8/13/24…just a few days away!! *****

#TheBreakUpPact by #EmmaLord. Narrated nicely by #NatalieNaudus.

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June Hart's heart has been recently broken publicly turning her into a viral meme. After moving home to Benson Beach to take on operating her late sister's tea shop, June hopes to focus on the upcoming nuptials of her brother and live a quiet life. All of this changes when childhood best friend Levi shows his face in Benson Beach. Levi has recently been dumped by his fiancé and the pair agree to enter into a "revenge ex" pact to gain good PR for their reputations and to get back at their exes.

June and Levi were adorable and Emma Lord does a great job writing steaming scenes!

I've been a fan of Emma Lord since reading Tweet Cute a few years back. That has been my favorite from this author thus far, but after reading the Break-Up Pact I may have a new favorite.

Narration: The narrator brought the story to life in a wonderful way.

Story: In this story we follow childhood friends June and Levi. Both are picking up the pieces after facing public humiliating breakups, more June than Levi. When the two are caught together rumor spreads that they are the revenge exes and the two take full advantage of this.

This story was written for a more mature audience than the author usually writes for, but her writing still comes through in the story. June and Levi are still written as if they are real people in the world and the side characters add great moments throughout the story. The author does a wonderful job of demonstrating the history the characters have with each other.

This story is not without heartbreak. There are mentions of a sibling passing away off the pages and while it is important to the storyline, it isn't so present to make it hard to read the story itself.

The Break-Up Pact will be a great beach read this summer!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: Shout Out To My Ex - Little Mix

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

🩷Let's start with some kindness:

Love this cover. Did I design this? It’s all of my favourite colours

I rarely crave a scone but this book had a way of making me craze a mouthful of pasty dough. 😂 But in all honesty, no one can beat my mom’s pumpkin scones

The reasoning behind the conflict made sense and didn’t make me want to pull my hair out

🩵What didn’t work:

I don’t have much to say but I was a bit bored and lacked caring for the 2 main characters

Read if:
🥐Pastries are life
🌸Have been publicly dumped
🍺You’ve chugged a beer at 8 am
🩵Would date a childhood best friend

The Kelly in the story was one of the kind of jerky exes not majorly asshole-ish so im not too salty 😂

Watch out EmHen! There’s a new Adult Romance author in town and she is 🔥🔥! Friends to lovers, fake dating, second chance romance, beachy small-town vibes, and a tea shop with fresh baked scones? Yes please 😍!
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This is my 5th book by Lord. Loved all her YA romcoms 💓. But for anyone thinking, “oh, Emma Lord writes YA. I’m sure this is all closed door and no spice.” THINK AGAIN 😁. Lord does spice🌶️🌶️. She’s entered her adult romance era and I am 💯% here for it 🥵👏!
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While they were best friends as teenagers, June and Levi haven’t spoken in a decade. June has spent the last few years globe-trotting with her boyfriend, but that ends abruptly when she is dumped on reality TV and becomes a viral crying girl meme. Meanwhile, Levi is experiencing his own front page moment after his fiancé leaves him for a famous actor.
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When the two friends reconnect at June’s beachside tea shop, a photo of them goes viral, and the Internet labels them the Revenge Exes. So why not give the people what they want? They hatch a fake dating pact, hoping viral photos will bring business to June’s failing tea shop while helping Levi win back his fiancé. What could possibly go wrong?
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This is a love story, but it’s also a book about figuring out your dreams and going after them, even if they change shape.
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Lord’s signature witty banter had me cackling out loud. Her writing on grief and heartbreak had me tearing up. And I cheered out loud when she nailed the full-circle ending 🥹👏👏.
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I read and listened to this one. @natalienaudus was absolutely 🔥🔥🔥 with the narration. One of my all-time favorite narrators! Thank you for the ALC and finished copy @macmillan.audio @smpromance !
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The Break-Up Pact - Emma Lord
5/5⭐️
Pub Date: 🎉8/13/24🎉
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“Like he’s asking me to flip my heart over, to show him the underside of it, that secret part where you keep things tucked away long after other people forget.”

This was my first book by this author, and certainly will not be my last. I love the characters so so much! The heartbreak, the plot, the spice, ooof it was all so amazing. I really loved how I thought I knew how it was going to end, I should have, but it surprised me, in the most wonderful way! Definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good, sweet, fun and addicting romance! The narrator did a wonderful job, Ill definitely be sure to keep me eye out for books they work on next!

I LOVED this story! It was modern with the memes and becoming an overnight internet sensation, even if over something going wrong in a person's life. I couldn't help but wish this were a movie. The characters came to life in my mind, the scenes along the boardwalk with all the little shops made me want a small-town life. I am new to the Emma Lord bandwagon, but I am here to stay. I enjoyed this book & Lord's writing style. I can't wait to read more of her books. Thank you.

I listened to this one through Net Galley- and really enjoyed it! It isn’t a typical “rom com” despite the fake dating trope (among others)- it definitely has more depth and more serious themes throughout.

I liked the seaside scone shop setting, and I loved the backstory between June & Levi. I don’t like “fast love” in novels- so I appreciated that theirs was one with history and friendship at its core.

I loved the messiness and realness of it all- strong friendships, business struggles, family history, finding yourself, mental health, social media, etc!

This book is charming - typical of books in this genre. It has an Emily Henry vibe but with less angst, making it a more enjoyable read for me. I recommend it to anyone who likes cute romance novels.

This book started off really strong and I enjoyed the audiobook narration immensely. I really loved the emotional depth of the characters and their working together to deal with difficult moments in the past. The fake dating and break up pact was fun - I always love fake dating, and though I had some misgivings about the miscommunication trope near the end, it felt a bit realistic too. Perfect summer vibes in a beautiful town and it held my interest but wasn't a new favourite and I think I maybe prefer this author's YA work.

The Break Up Pact was a very cute story! Two ex high school best friends team up to make their exes jealous, but of course backfired. The setting was so stunning, It reminded me of a little town I visited in florida one year, seaside or something like that.

Thank you netgalley for the audiobook.
This book started out ok, and it isn’t bad at all, but I found myself extremely bored around the 60% mark, to the extent that I had a hard time following what was going on. There was no relationship building.

I loved this book! The romance was just right, I love a second chance romance. He never did anything that I wanted to yell at the MC about forgiving which is a great change of pace from other romances I’ve encountered lately. I could not put it down.

This was such a fun read!! The chemistry was so palpable, the tension was so sharp, and I was giggling like a school girl through so much of this book! This was also such a feel-good book, so much personal growth and fixed miscommunication. Sometime I do wish there was more romance than personal growth, but the ending and epilogue was so great that I forgot anything I had been upset about. Highly recommend this read!

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley, Emma Lord, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with this ARC. I thought this was cute and entertaining read. I thought this book was relatable in the sense of being afraid to be vulnerable and becoming complacent in where you are in life.

I loved this so much!!! I lived for the beachy and small town vibes! Childhood friends to lovers is one of my favssss! Can’t wait to read the rest of Emma’s books!!!

I normally love Emman Lord's books. But I think this is the first adult romance I have read, they have all been YA before. And this one unfortunately still read like a YA book, but with some spice in it. I wasn't a fan of their chemistry and there was a lot about the sister who past away a few years before the book takes place. The book was almost more about the sister than the main characters.

3 stars
1 spice