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?
My review:
One-word review: Angsty-fun
Emojis: 🥺🫠🤨🥰
Rating: 4 🌟s
- I adore the cover! It’s the perfect confectionary creation for a fun summer read.
- The epilogue is a fitting ending for the story. It’s everything I hoped it would be and more.
- I don’t know about a tea and scone shop on the boardwalk. Usually, you find cold beverages, not hot, on a beach’s boardwalk, so that was a little strange to me.
- The use of social media in the breakup and fake dating stories is not just current, it’s also incredibly appropriate. It adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative, making it more relatable to the readers.
- I love the fake dating trope. It’s fun, creative, and full of delicious angst.
- June’s relatability and her deep friendship with Sana are the heart of The Breakup Pact. The author’s skillful character development makes them feel like real people you might know, rather than characters in a book.
- While the pacing of The Breakup Pact was slower than I typically prefer, it was in line with the childhood-friends-to-lovers storyline. This pace, while not my usual cup of tea, added depth to the characters and their relationships.
- I loved the setting! It feels so quaint and coastal, which is my absolute favorite setting.
- I had a hard time with Levi. I didn’t necessarily feel he was any better for June than her ex-boyfriend. I couldn’t connect or sympathize with his choices.
- The aspect I loved best about The Breakup Pact is the poignant understory. It’s a surprising element that brings depth to the current tale, keeping the readers engaged as the characters grow and develop through their grief over June’s sister’s death.
11 responses to “The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord #BookReview #RomCom”
Fab review glad you enjoyed it so much!
Thank you 😊
Me too! It gives a little edge to all the fun fluffiness.
This one sounds brilliant. I love it when characters feel like real people.
I do love a great epilogue and fake dating is one of my favorite romance setups. Excellent review, Tessa💜
Great review! I read this one and wasn’t a fan of it lol. I feel like there has been a lot of mixed feelings about it. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Levi almost ruined the story for me and I should have rated it more like 3 because of him, but still I liked it okay for the most part.
Fake dating is good stuff. This one sounds fun! 🙂
This sounds good and I love fake dating trope. Amazing review, Tessa!
You’re right about that cover – it’s perfect for a summer read. And you know how I feel about a beach setting.
I do enjoy a fake dating trope, but with Levi being somewhat unlikable, I guess I will see what I think when I finally get to this one. It sounds like there is still lots to like. Nice review, Tessa.