The Break-Up Pact

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.

If a YA author sets her first novel for adult readers in the town where the FMC and MMC both grew up, and 95% of the secondary characters are their high school friends, is it really an adult novel? Sorry, but adding sex scenes to what is basically an arrested development YA book does not automatically make it attractive to your new target audience.

Fake dating, viral social media fame, a high-powered hedge fund manager who really just wants to write (starting with the epic fantasy stories he drafted as a teen)...I can't even. YMMV if you've been secretly in love with your cross-country teammate since forever AND your little brother is marrying the guy who had a crush on him in high school.

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!!!!