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.

"June and Levi were best friends as teenagers—until the day they weren’t, and they've barely spoken since. Now, June is a tea shop owner struggling to make rent on her beachside set-up, and Levi is sarcastically living the New York dream as a disillusioned hedge fund manager and failed novelist.

But when both experience public, humiliating break-ups with their exes that spread like wildfire across TikTok rabbit holes and daytime talk shows alike, they decide to make some juicy gossip of their own. Pretending to date will help June’s shop get back on its feet and make Levi’s ex, Kelly, realize that she made a mistake.

As they go on a series of dates, aimed at getting prime photo ops while also helping plan her brother’s wedding, June and Levi start to uncover the truth of their relationship—that the cracks of the past can build a strong foundation for the future. That friendship is sometimes worth risking for something even more. And that despite all the distractions they throw in front of themselves—a cake tasting, a scream poetry reading, trivia night in a cozy bar, swaying chest-to-chest on a sweaty dance floor—absolutely nothing can erase the searing draw they feel towards each other.

One fake relationship. Two viral break-ups. 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?"