From the publisher:
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?
A LibraryReads Pick!
“Light, feel-good fare that’s perfect for the beach.” – Publishers Weekly
“A relatable rollercoaster for anyone who has ever found themself at an impasse in life…a charming story about the power of second chances.” – Kirkus (Starred Review)
“The perfect small-town romance for summer…for fans of Sarah Adams and Emily Henry.” – Library Journal
https://amzn.to/46VWbTA
June and Levi were best friends in high school, had a falling out, and haven’t spoken since. June just got dumped on TV and turned in a “crying girl” meme. Levi, a writer, also has a very public breakup when his fiancee leaves him for an A-list celebrity. They both end up in their hometown of Benson Beach to lick their wounds.
June lost her sister and has taken over her tea cafe. But her heart isn’t in it without her sister, and business reflects that. Levi is having difficulty with his book and a deadline is looming. He starts writing in the tea cafe, and June and Levi fall into an easy friendship after all those years. When a picture of the two of them goes viral, they decide to cash in on it and start fake dating, with June’s friend documenting their dates on social media. Business is booming at the tea cafe, with tourists wanting to take selfies with the crying girl and her new hot boyfriend. Not to mention both of their exes are getting jealous.
This seems like a win-win for both of them. Levi wants to get back together with his ex, and while June is glad her ex is gone, she is starting to develop feelings for Levi. He is fighting the same feelings and it all blows up eventually, but there is a lot of angst and plenty of laughs along their journey.
The fake dating trope is extremely popular, and this is a good example of why. I personally don’t know anyone who has ever fake-dated, but I guess it must be a thing as there are so many romance novels based on it. If you like your beach read with some laughs and some heat, this is your book! It is a fast, fun read.
8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE BREAK-UP PACT by Emma Lord. Griffin (August 13, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250845306. 320p.
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