The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord -> Starting April 1st, 2024

[Aly]

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?

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Chapter 5: I got a chance to sit down with this one before dinner tonight and I'm enjoying the set-up and June's character. I am definitely excited (view spoiler)[to learn more about June and Levi's history together. I also am super excited by the idea that June's brother is going to ask Levi to be his best man and that they will have to work together to plan/host some of the wedding activities!! I love that type of situation so much. (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Mid-Chapter 6: I love how Sanaa is (view spoiler)[like the stage manager of this fake dating relationship -- also, The Revenge Exes is born!!! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Chapter 11: This is interesting. It doesn't have as much witty banter as I am used to from Emma Lord. The tone seems a lottle more serious, but maybe it's because of everything our two mains are going through personally. I am still engaged, but it's not as punchy as I expected, or wanted...

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Chapter 14: ohhhh, heck yeah. I'm sold. (view spoiler)[This past little section with the scream poetry and then the chat at the sports bar, to the dare kiss at the trivia place-- next level pining! I love the sexual tension. So good! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

To Chapter 17: 🤦‍♂️
(view spoiler)[Levi! Tell Kelly to take a flying leap, dude. WTF!? Like nothing says I am over my ex, like literally running out at her first beck and call. I am so freaking annoyed with him, RN. I can't even!! (hide spoiler)]

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up))]

Finished! This was a solid 4-star for me. As an Adult Debut for Lord, I feel like this was well-executed. It definitely has a more serious tone than her YA books, but I feel like that makes sense in light of everything going on in these character's lives. For me, this was less about the romance and more about the journey that main characters were on, finding themselves and figuring out what the each wanted, individually, for the futures. The romance was cute as well though, not going to lie.

[Jessica]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Finished! This was a solid 4-star for me. As an Adult Debut for Lord, I feel like this was well-executed. It definitely has a more serious tone than her YA books, but I feel like that makes sense i..."
I'm enjoying your insights as someone who has never read any of Emma Lord's stuff before. Not clicking on the spoilers yet but this has me alot more optimistic than some other reviews I saw.
Probably won't get to it until this weekend or next, but I'm intrigued again.

[Jessica]

I started this last week and then set it down to finish Aprils BOTMs in time for those points. I'll be picking it back up later this week.

[Jessica]

I am going to finish this (well at this point restart because my memory is crap) just working through a backlog of other arcs.

[Jessica]

I have actually restarted now. This poor book, it's not like I was having a bad time, I was enjoying it but I should know better, as soon as I put a book down to read another it's over.

[Jessica]

Chapters 1-8
(view spoiler)[ I'm enjoying this set up, I love fake dating so I am all for this. I wasn't expecting the tragedy with her sister. Poor them, and his mom too, there's more sadness here than I expected but I'm enjoying it nonetheless (hide spoiler)].

[Jessica]

megs_bookrack wrote: "To Mid-Chapter 6: I love how Sanaa is [spoilers removed]"
Yes same. She's so great and that scene was so fun.

[Jessica]

Chapters 9-16
God I love Sana (view spoiler)[ that was such a night they had. I knew something would happen, though I didn't think quite this soon. I know it's going to work out and that Levi needs to have it out with Kelly but ugh I wanted a little more time for them before this. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapters 17-20
(view spoiler)[ Don't run away 🤦🏻‍♀️. I knew going on that show was going to be bad news but yikes that was so bad. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Finished
This was cute. Not what I expected, but in a good way. I've realized I'm not a light romcom person so I was happy with the more serious tone. I'm sad to see the reviews are mostly mid, I thought it was a solid four stars.