The Break-Up Pact
Ratings5
Average rating2.8
A Library Reads Pick! Most Anticipated by Goodreads, Cosmo, E! News, and more! Two best friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date after break-ups with their respective exes go viral, in this delightfully fun and deeply emotional novel from New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord. June and Levi were best friends as teenagers—until the day they weren’t. Now June is struggling to make rent on her beachside tea shop, Levi is living a New York cliché as a disillusioned hedge fund manager and failed novelist, and they've barely spoken in years. But after they both experience public, humiliating break-ups with their exes that spread like wildfire across TikTok rabbit holes and daytime talk shows alike, they accidentally make some juicy gossip of their own—a photo of them together has the internet convinced they're a couple. With so many people rooting for them, they decide to put aside their rocky past and make a pact to fuel the fire. Pretending to date will help June’s shop get back on its feet and make Levi’s ex realize that she made a mistake. All they have to do is convince the world they're in love, one swoon-worthy photo opp at a time. Two viral break-ups. One fake relationship. Five sparkling, heart-pounding dates. June and Levi can definitely pull this off without their hearts getting involved. Because everyone knows fake dating doesn’t come with real feelings. Right?
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Tbh I prob would've liked it more if I read it. Would not recommend the audiobook version. I had the ick the entire time and the last 7 chapters were literally so unnecessary but the romance was cute for what it was up until then!
The Break-up Pact by Emma Lord
YEEHAWWWW This book was the full meal deal!
When two friends, who haven't seen each other in 10 years, both get dumped very publicly, they use each other to fake-date to claw back some of their integrity and hopefully their exes too.
I loved loved loved this book! The characters were CHEFS KISS!!! The story was so good!! I loved the ride.
The only thing I felt needed some adjustment was maybe the last 30% could have wrapped up quicker and would have knocked it out of the park!!
I love the fake dating trope, it never fails to entertain!!
4.5 stars!!!!
A Familiar Formula with a Few Twists
Emma Lord’s The Break-Up Pact is a light, breezy read that carries her signature charm and wit, but it ultimately falls short of the emotional depth and narrative satisfaction that makes her best work stand out. While the book has its strengths in humor and relatable character dynamics, it suffers from predictable plotting and underdeveloped themes.
Lord excels at creating relatable, flawed protagonists, and The Break-Up Pact is no exception. The central character’s voice is engaging, full of humor and heartfelt introspection. The banter between the two leads sparkles with chemistry, bringing some much-needed energy to the story. Fans of contemporary rom-coms will appreciate the quirky, situational humor that Lord weaves into the plot, as well as the charmingly chaotic side characters that populate the world.
The novel explores themes of self-discovery and friendship, and while it doesn’t break new ground, these themes are conveyed with sincerity. Readers looking for an easy, feel-good escape will find plenty to enjoy here, especially with the novel’s cozy, small-town setting.
However, The Break-Up Pact struggles to rise above its formulaic premise. The plot’s predictability makes the book feel overly safe, with few twists or surprises to keep the reader fully engaged. The “pact” itself—a classic rom-com trope—is treated too superficially, leaving it as little more than a setup for predictable misunderstandings and conflicts.
The emotional stakes, which are hinted at early on, never quite land with the weight they should. Some key relationships and character arcs feel rushed, especially toward the resolution, where the story sacrifices depth for a tidy, happy ending. Readers who crave deeper explorations of romance, heartbreak, and growth may find the narrative a bit shallow.
This is my first book by Emma Lord, and while it wasn’t entirely what I hoped for, I’d be willing to try another of her works. Despite its shortcomings, the book was an enjoyable, lighthearted read that offered moments of humor and charm. Fans of contemporary rom-coms may find it worth picking up. Three solid stars.
