3 stars for my first read from Emma Lord. I didn't find anything wrong with this book. It just won't be especially memorable for me. I would entertain reading other's from the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy. The Break-Up Pact is available on August 13, 2024.

The Break-Up Pact is a seemingly light read but goodness is it so much more! The book is funny, sweet with SO many tropes I love, it also has 2 characters who are grieving and heartbroken and we get to go on that journey with them as well!

June and Levi were once best friends and after a rift and tragedy they were pushed apart. They are brought back together because of a wedding and very public breakups which leads to fake dating, jealous exes and so many shenanigans.

Loved the audiobook of this and big thanks to NetGalley for my ALC!

I really, really, really wanted to love this book. Small town, second chance, fake dating vibes is my thing. Sadly, this fell a bit flat for me. I never truly felt the chemistry between June and Levi - not in the past or present.

There were a few things that felt unfinished to me and others that seemed forced. The whole wedding planning plot line was unrealistic and the tension with June’s dead sister was unresolved.

While I was pleased the main characters got their HEA, I was never fully invested in their relationship and felt my mind wandering through parts of the book. I alternated between print and audio versions of the book and found the audio to be well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to access advance copies in exchange for my unbiased review.

Second chance AND fake dating? Yes, please! Emma Lord masterfully interweaves these tropes to create a fun romance. While fun, the characters are also dealing with real problems: a flailing business, grief, expectations, and burnout. The characters felt real and flawed, the wild scenarios were not outside the realm of possibility, and I really enjoyed this novel!

The narrator was excellent and enhanced the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC!

I feel like Emma Lord just is not for me.

I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters, the plot was just okay, and the pacing felt rushed.

I had such high hopes for this book!

Best friends in high school getting a chance to reconnect and fall in love through fake dating. Sounds like a solid plot! But it just did not deliver for me. The chemistry between the characters just wasn't there. The banter fell flat and the jokes didn't hit home. It was also a very slow burn, and since it lacked so much for me, I wasn't invested enough to want to keep going.

The writing is solid and the cover is super cute! It just didn't work for me.

A friends to lovers book with a really fun twist, I love how this plays out on a national and local stage!

June is a pretty fun heroine — even if she makes some frustrating decisions in the name of protecting herself. It was nice to watch her process grief, and how she loves the people around her so well. And her longing for Levi’s friendship is so pure and good, and relatable. And the way she falls into that is so satisfying.

Levi is making some terrible choice we all can relate to when we love someone for a long time… and then June shows up and gives him a bit of power back. I loved him and his soft spots.

My biggest frustration was with the clear miscommunication… or more accurately, REFUSAL of communication because no one says anything they feel, from chapters 16 through 22 or 23. It made me not want to finish it. The character’s decisions were very frustrating. BUT they were realistic in their stupidity. But they did have a lot of internal problems they needed to solve so the chapters are necessary… Although if miscomm is a huge red flag for you, maybe skip those chapters. . .

But the end was sweet. I was happy I finished it when I got past myself. All in all, about a 3.5 read.

I also listened to the audiobook, and really enjoyed the narrator! Her voices were great— and her guy voice wasn’t bad, which can be a prob for some readers. It’s a fantastic way to read this book!!

CW/TW: loss of sibling before story; one chapter of sex on page, easily skippable;

*4.5 Stars*

After a public break-up, June is known across social media as 'the crying girl'. Now she has lost her regular customers and maybe her business that was opened by her sister. When Levi, a friend from high school who is also going through a public break-up comes back to town, they soon find themselves back in the social media gossip when a photo that gets leaked onto the internet perceives them as more than friends. Now instead of crying girl, Levi and June are known as the revenge exes. The two decide to keep the rumor going and create a pact to act like a true couple. What could go wrong?

I was surprised on how much I loved this book. The narrator did a great job for this story, and I ended up finishing this book in two days. I love June and Levi as main characters and as a couple. I loved their chemistry with each other and the comedic situations they got themselves into. Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of the fake dating trope.

The Break-Up Pact is out August 13th.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review The Break-Up Pact. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emma Lord’s writing is always so digestible, I never want to put her books down. The way she mixed hard topics like grief into the fun story of a second chance, fake dating romance was done perfectly.

I do feel like there was a lot going on with the different side-plots we got and some of them didn’t make a ton of sense. We have the breakups that brought June and Levi back together and the drama with their exes, their past and their shared grief, her struggling tea shop, planning her brother’s wedding together and the “dates” they went on to vet everything for the wedding, their fake dating relationship and proving to the public that they’re dating, and his manuscript he’s trying to write. While most of these side plots were interesting to read, it was hard to follow at times. In an attempt to make her characters well rounded and 3D, we ended up with a bit of a chaotic story.

Aside from that, the fake dates were reminiscent of Beach Read by Emily Henry which was fun. I really loved June and Levi and felt that their relationship was very believable the whole time. I enjoyed the cozy setting and ultimately felt this story was definitely something I would recommend.

I thought the premise of this book was good but the actual story could’ve been better. The fake dating was done well and the reasoning behind it but I wish there was more about their actual dates and how things progressed over time. Wasn’t a fan of TikTok being mentioned throughout but otherwise it was alright.

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.