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The Summer Pact
Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 15:14:23
20 copies available
U.S. only
In the wake of tragedy, a group of friends make a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark upon a life-changing adventure together—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Meant to Be.
Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and law school hopeful from D.C.; Summer, a recruited athlete and perfectionist from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner who is content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. Soon after moving into their shared dorm, they strike up a conversation in a study lounge, and the seeds of friendship are planted.
As their college years fly by, their bond intensifies and the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. Stunned and heartbroken, a pact is made to be there for each other in their time of need, no matter how separated they are by circumstances or distance.
Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are facing their own crossroads. True to their promise, they agree to take a time out from lives headed in wrong directions and embark on a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
In this tender portrayal of grief, love, and hope, Emily Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides to help pick up the pieces?
Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and law school hopeful from D.C.; Summer, a recruited athlete and perfectionist from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner who is content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. Soon after moving into their shared dorm, they strike up a conversation in a study lounge, and the seeds of friendship are planted.
As their college years fly by, their bond intensifies and the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. Stunned and heartbroken, a pact is made to be there for each other in their time of need, no matter how separated they are by circumstances or distance.
Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are facing their own crossroads. True to their promise, they agree to take a time out from lives headed in wrong directions and embark on a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
In this tender portrayal of grief, love, and hope, Emily Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides to help pick up the pieces?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2024
About the author
Emily Giffin
40 books23.7k followersEMILY GIFFIN is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With, Heart of the Matter, Where We Belong, The One & Only, First Comes Love, All We Ever Wanted, The Lies That Bind, and the recently released Meant to Be, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family.
Website: www.emilygiffin.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmilyGiffinFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilygiffin
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emilygiffina...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
June 18, 2024
i listened to this on audio and tbh felt underwhelmed — it was a highly anticipated 2024 release for me but it was just okay and feels forgettable in a month or two.
something was missing and just felt off, but i can’t quite put my finger on it and that’s what’s bugging me!! to be fair, i am playing the comparison game though bc i loooooved MEANT TO BE and also enjoyed THE LIES THAT BIND / her older work.
i think what bugged me most is that i kept waiting for more—the plot to get deeper, a twist to come at the end, something to surprise me?? IDK!!! it was hard to get an emotional connection to any of the characters the way the author went about it (keeping spoiler free). the big event happens right away in the first 15 pages so then you’re left with nearly 350 pages post-big plot and i think executionally, she could have built on the friendship and time in college before diving right in.
i know it’s a litfic but it just felt like nothing happened (yet she crammed in so many tidbits and topics? like the eras tour and Travis Kelce? even as a Swiftie…i’m like, what?!?? 😂) and the characters seemed so immature for their ages. i also felt a little icky after the end… a major trigger warning was missed and it felt very random to the story.
i did the audiobook and while i enjoyed the 3 POVs, the narrators were just okay. not my faves ever and i wonder if i would have felt different by reading the physical copy, just a tip!
really interested to see what readers think when this comes out! thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC and early copy
something was missing and just felt off, but i can’t quite put my finger on it and that’s what’s bugging me!! to be fair, i am playing the comparison game though bc i loooooved MEANT TO BE and also enjoyed THE LIES THAT BIND / her older work.
i think what bugged me most is that i kept waiting for more—the plot to get deeper, a twist to come at the end, something to surprise me?? IDK!!! it was hard to get an emotional connection to any of the characters the way the author went about it (keeping spoiler free). the big event happens right away in the first 15 pages so then you’re left with nearly 350 pages post-big plot and i think executionally, she could have built on the friendship and time in college before diving right in.
i know it’s a litfic but it just felt like nothing happened (yet she crammed in so many tidbits and topics? like the eras tour and Travis Kelce? even as a Swiftie…i’m like, what?!?? 😂) and the characters seemed so immature for their ages. i also felt a little icky after the end… a major trigger warning was missed and it felt very random to the story.
i did the audiobook and while i enjoyed the 3 POVs, the narrators were just okay. not my faves ever and i wonder if i would have felt different by reading the physical copy, just a tip!
really interested to see what readers think when this comes out! thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC and early copy
June 20, 2024
3.75 ⭐️ an incredibly sweet story of friendship, grief, & love!
May 12, 2024
I'll start by saying I have really enjoyed Emily Giffin's books over the years, from her original books to some more recent ones. But this one failed spectacularly for me, for a plethora of reasons. It's a well-written book, but beyond that, I struggled greatly. Why?
1. There are 3 POV's in the book, and there isn't enough distinction between the character's voices, to the point where I kept forgetting whose POV I was reading.
2. The characters are very immature for their age, constantly overstep boundaries, and don't exactly portray the picture she's trying to paint of an uplifting friendship. Moreover, Lainey was insufferable!
3. The epilogue contains a lot of information that should not have been dumped at the end.
4. The romantic plotlines come in late, like an afterthought, and do not feel genuine (both, in my opinion).
5. There were a lot of side conversations in the book, and therefore pages devoted to political-adjacent topics and conversations. Of course, this will naturally occur, especially with BIPOC characters, but it was more than required. The amount of political-esque content pulled me from the plot of the book and felt very disruptive to the plot.
6. Many of the antagonists feel one-dimensional.
I had high hopes for this one but was ultimately very disappointed. Hopefully her next one is better! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel.
1. There are 3 POV's in the book, and there isn't enough distinction between the character's voices, to the point where I kept forgetting whose POV I was reading.
2. The characters are very immature for their age, constantly overstep boundaries, and don't exactly portray the picture she's trying to paint of an uplifting friendship. Moreover, Lainey was insufferable!
3. The epilogue contains a lot of information that should not have been dumped at the end.
4. The romantic plotlines come in late, like an afterthought, and do not feel genuine (both, in my opinion).
5. There were a lot of side conversations in the book, and therefore pages devoted to political-adjacent topics and conversations. Of course, this will naturally occur, especially with BIPOC characters, but it was more than required. The amount of political-esque content pulled me from the plot of the book and felt very disruptive to the plot.
6. Many of the antagonists feel one-dimensional.
I had high hopes for this one but was ultimately very disappointed. Hopefully her next one is better! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel.
July 9, 2024
I haven't read an Emily Giffin book in so long, and I loved the ones I did read way back in the day. When I saw this one, I really wanted to read it. A group of college friends who, after a tragedy, make a pact to always be there for each other during the hard times, no matter what. Ten years later, they are all going through their own hardships and decide to take some time to be together, travel, and support each other. This was definitely a light read while still covering some heavy topics, such as addiction and suicide. I enjoyed following the friends through their travels. You do get the POV from each of them, and I did enjoy that. This was a nice read about friendship and hardships. I do feel like there could have been more to it, but overall, an enjoyable summer read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 7, 2024
Though it didn't feel quite the same as Emily Giffin's earlier novels, this was still a quick and enjoyable read. It told the story of a group of college buddies who get together one summer to travel and support one another throughout difficult times. The story was full of self-discovery moments and even unexpected romance which I appreciated but it would have been better if the development had been spread out over more time.
I liked how the friends' relationships changed as they matured and how their characters changed. I thought several of the storylines were just rushed too much. There was a little more development I would have hoped to see in those relationships.
I thought it was interesting to hear this story from multiple points of view; it helped me get a deeper understanding of the characters. But in the end, I thought this book's drama was a little too forced.
Still, it was a fun summer book that I would recommend to others, especially if you enjoy stories about friendship and self-discovery.
I liked how the friends' relationships changed as they matured and how their characters changed. I thought several of the storylines were just rushed too much. There was a little more development I would have hoped to see in those relationships.
I thought it was interesting to hear this story from multiple points of view; it helped me get a deeper understanding of the characters. But in the end, I thought this book's drama was a little too forced.
Still, it was a fun summer book that I would recommend to others, especially if you enjoy stories about friendship and self-discovery.
May 9, 2024
A beautifully wrought story populated with characters who are affecting and amusing. Achingly hard to read at moments—and yet such a joy. Giffin’s prose is intoxicating…masterful even. Tackling provocative issues while infusing grace, humor, romance, and witty repartee.
An exquisite homage to friendship and the tragedies that bind us. Pack your sunscreen for Capri, Italy (the visuals are spellbinding!)—and your tissues.
An exquisite homage to friendship and the tragedies that bind us. Pack your sunscreen for Capri, Italy (the visuals are spellbinding!)—and your tissues.
July 18, 2024
3.75. I love Emily Giffin’s books and this was a fun summer read with some tough underlying themes. I certainly enjoyed the island of Capri. My biggest dislike is that I felt like she threw every situation and every possible relationship type in this novel in order to make everyone feel included. I still liked the storyline.
June 21, 2024
This was my first Emily Giffin book, and I... didn't like it. I did enjoy the idea of the story and the various settings — love a travel book for the summer — but the stereotypical and underdeveloped and frankly annoying characters were where things fell apart for me.
Firstly, the book practically starts with a pretty gruesome suicide, that I was not expecting or prepared for, and sadly, we never get real resolution as to why Summer ended her own life. Her three best friends are the POV characters in this book, Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson; Hannah very much came across to me as the "main" character, though the other two have their moments.
Lainey was the most egregious character in the "annoying as hell" category. I suppose she has her reasons, her dad being mostly absent from her life (due to the fact that her mom was his mistress and he has a whole family in another state) and her mom's relatively recent death contributing to her borderline alcoholism, but her main storyline of finding her half siblings went so off the rails. The way she confronts her half-sister in front of her mom and dad, instead of talking just to the dad — the one who actually did something wrong — was unhinged. Later finding out that her other half-sister, Olivia, is more-or-less estranged from the rest of the family because of politics/sexuality/lifestyle choices (I'm honestly unsure if this was actually unclear or if I've just already forgotten) felt like the stereotypical "black sheep" of the family, even if Lainey at first refuses to believe it or give her a chance.
The characters who weren't white women (like the author) came across very stereotypical, and it honestly made me uncomfortable to read her attempt at getting inside the head of a Black man and a queer woman. I was not surprised at all that the only guy in the friend group, Tyson, had romantic feelings/encounters with two out of the three girls (Summer before her death and Lainey at the time of the book, which is years later, so it's all above board) — truly the only shocker there was that something never happened with Hannah, too. And Tyson having kept secret his and Summer's romance for all these years, after she died, felt impossible and also pointless. His chapters felt the most uncomfortable with weirdly forced political things happening in the writing, presumably due to the white author's feeling like that's what she needed to do with her one Black main character. It just felt unnecessary and like I didn't really get to see who Tyson was for himself.
And finally, I was absolutely mindblown at the out-of-nowhere romance between Hannah and Olivia, whom she meets and starts making out with almost immediately (at least it feels that way). The entire premise of this book is that Hannah's friends convince her to go on this whole trip because she walked in on her male fiance having sex with another woman, and she admits that she's never had romantic feelings toward a woman before, yet suddenly here we were. Really? What? First of all, it's way too soon to be getting into any sort of relationship, much less one with your best friend's sister, who she has never met, and indeed is currently refusing to meet because of how poorly meeting the other part of the family went. What are you actually doing?? This is not friendship! I was baffled that it happened and even more baffled that the end of the book had them still together, like this was a happy ending. It was so out of the blue and really made my opinion of the book go down.
Truly, I was disappointed in this book. I've seen Emily Giffin's books for years and years and always thought I'd get around to reading them someday, and now I think... probably not.
Firstly, the book practically starts with a pretty gruesome suicide, that I was not expecting or prepared for, and sadly, we never get real resolution as to why Summer ended her own life. Her three best friends are the POV characters in this book, Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson; Hannah very much came across to me as the "main" character, though the other two have their moments.
Lainey was the most egregious character in the "annoying as hell" category. I suppose she has her reasons, her dad being mostly absent from her life (due to the fact that her mom was his mistress and he has a whole family in another state) and her mom's relatively recent death contributing to her borderline alcoholism, but her main storyline of finding her half siblings went so off the rails. The way she confronts her half-sister in front of her mom and dad, instead of talking just to the dad — the one who actually did something wrong — was unhinged. Later finding out that her other half-sister, Olivia, is more-or-less estranged from the rest of the family because of politics/sexuality/lifestyle choices (I'm honestly unsure if this was actually unclear or if I've just already forgotten) felt like the stereotypical "black sheep" of the family, even if Lainey at first refuses to believe it or give her a chance.
The characters who weren't white women (like the author) came across very stereotypical, and it honestly made me uncomfortable to read her attempt at getting inside the head of a Black man and a queer woman. I was not surprised at all that the only guy in the friend group, Tyson, had romantic feelings/encounters with two out of the three girls (Summer before her death and Lainey at the time of the book, which is years later, so it's all above board) — truly the only shocker there was that something never happened with Hannah, too. And Tyson having kept secret his and Summer's romance for all these years, after she died, felt impossible and also pointless. His chapters felt the most uncomfortable with weirdly forced political things happening in the writing, presumably due to the white author's feeling like that's what she needed to do with her one Black main character. It just felt unnecessary and like I didn't really get to see who Tyson was for himself.
And finally, I was absolutely mindblown at the out-of-nowhere romance between Hannah and Olivia, whom she meets and starts making out with almost immediately (at least it feels that way). The entire premise of this book is that Hannah's friends convince her to go on this whole trip because she walked in on her male fiance having sex with another woman, and she admits that she's never had romantic feelings toward a woman before, yet suddenly here we were. Really? What? First of all, it's way too soon to be getting into any sort of relationship, much less one with your best friend's sister, who she has never met, and indeed is currently refusing to meet because of how poorly meeting the other part of the family went. What are you actually doing?? This is not friendship! I was baffled that it happened and even more baffled that the end of the book had them still together, like this was a happy ending. It was so out of the blue and really made my opinion of the book go down.
Truly, I was disappointed in this book. I've seen Emily Giffin's books for years and years and always thought I'd get around to reading them someday, and now I think... probably not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
A decade ago three best friends lost the fourth member of the group and made a pact to always be there if they need one another. That call comes after one finds her fiancé cheating and what follows is a beautiful story about finding yourself, healing after loss and the power of friendship.
What I loved:
-How easy the writing flowed
-The heavier themes embedded into the story
-The three POVs: gave a unique perspective on what happened/ what’s happening now
-The Capri setting
What I didn’t love:
-Some plot points felt rushed (Particularly the romance subplots)! I would have loved more pages for more development!
What I loved:
-How easy the writing flowed
-The heavier themes embedded into the story
-The three POVs: gave a unique perspective on what happened/ what’s happening now
-The Capri setting
What I didn’t love:
-Some plot points felt rushed (Particularly the romance subplots)! I would have loved more pages for more development!
May 17, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I do think the premise had potential, but it was very slow moving, the characters pov chapters all felt like the same so no one had a unique voice, everyone was underdeveloped, romance was an afterthought… and honestly the only one I thought had uniqueness was Olivia who had 5% involvement in the story.
I do think the premise had potential, but it was very slow moving, the characters pov chapters all felt like the same so no one had a unique voice, everyone was underdeveloped, romance was an afterthought… and honestly the only one I thought had uniqueness was Olivia who had 5% involvement in the story.
July 10, 2024
**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑮𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒏
Release Date: July 9, 2024
4⭐️3🌶
This is the perfect summer read! There is a small friend group that meet on the first day of college, and they're inseparable after that. This little slice-of-life book is a breath of fresh air with its realism and heart.
All the characters are facing some sort of midlife crisis, and they decide to take the European vacation they never got to have together after graduation. This is book is all about finding yourself and hard truths!
A big thank you to @netgalley for approving me for this ARC!
Release Date: July 9, 2024
4⭐️3🌶
This is the perfect summer read! There is a small friend group that meet on the first day of college, and they're inseparable after that. This little slice-of-life book is a breath of fresh air with its realism and heart.
All the characters are facing some sort of midlife crisis, and they decide to take the European vacation they never got to have together after graduation. This is book is all about finding yourself and hard truths!
A big thank you to @netgalley for approving me for this ARC!
July 9, 2024
Absolutely awful and woke as hell.
July 12, 2024
I've read all of Emily Giffin's novels and her writing voice has really evolved over time. The Summer Pact is definitely on my list of her top three though!
Originally posted at Chick Lit Central
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The story was really engaging the entire time and I loved all of the main characters and cared so much about them. Getting to see each of their perspectives was helpful. There are some heavy topics, but Emily handles them in a sensitive and honest way. I also loved the armchair adventure aspect and felt like I was in Italy with the friends. It was really easy to visualize people and places.
I was constantly surprised by everything that was happening and had no idea what would come up next. I maybe only guessed at a few things but they were hinted at early on. And Hannah's mother made me so angry on Hannah's behalf. Such toxic behavior! She reminded me a bit of Skeeter's mom in The Help(but also with a lot of Hilly's personality).
This is such a great summer (or even year-round) read and it will definitely make you laugh, smile, and even cry! Perfect for fans of Jane Green and Jill Santopolo, as well.
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting suggestions:
Tyson: Lucien Laviscount
Tyson: Lucien Laviscount
Hannah: Elizabeth Lail
Lainey: Meghann Fahy
Summer: Bella Thorne
Grady: Luke Kleintank
Olivia: Adelaide Kane
Originally posted at Chick Lit Central
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TW: suicide, death of parent, alcoholism
June 22, 2024
I’m a huge fan of the author and this is probably my least favorite of all of her books but it’s still a 4 star for me, so take that as you will. It’s pretty depressing at times as it deals with some heavy subject matter so don’t let the pretty cover and lighthearted title fool you. The author did handled topics like suicide and addiction with care though but it was a bit of an odd balance between summer travels and emotional upheaval. I did like the travel aspect and the reasoning behind the whole thing. I also appreciated the connection between this group of friends and you hear from all of them in alternating POVs so I felt like I got a solid understanding of them by the end. If you want a read with some real depth and tragedy instead of a standard summer read, try this. It’s a great exploration of friendship and found family if you can handle some serious issues.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
June 17, 2024I have really liked other titles from Emily Giffin, but this one didn't live up to her previous efforts. DNF'd after 3 chapters.
Source: digital review copy
Source: digital review copy
May 16, 2024
I really enjoyed the first 30% of this book but it got too messy - and for such a quick read it tried to take on too many heavy topics.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2024
I kind of hated this one??? The characters were annoying and shallow and the narrator who voiced Lainy was annoying (deep fried valley girl accent NO THANK YOU). Also, Lainy was just insufferable; she was selfish and immature and I actively disliked her even though she was supposed to be a protagonist.
It felt like the author just googled “politically correct buzzwords 2024” and dumped them in the book with little to no context and with little to no necessity. Like I’m all for making a point on a social justice matter when it’s relevant to the story but I feel like it cheapens and lessens the impact of the potential lesson when you just scatter vague references to social issues throughout the story without elaborating on why or how they impact the characters? And writing from the POV of a Black man as a white female author and trying to use his character solely as a way to lecture readers on equality issues is… a choice. A bad one! And it made his character feel flat.
And the romance?? What romance?? Both relationships develop in the last 1/4 of the book and feel rushed, impractical, and fake. Like not even vaguely realistic. No tension, no buildup, just, “oh by they way they now LIKE like each other.” Ok??? Show me, don’t tell me, and the author did not show us anything on that front.
Also the biggest event of the story happens on like page 10 and it is horrible and tragic and I think the author could have written that scene with a little more tact, perhaps putting the event in the middle of the book and spending more time developing the characters’ friendships instead of just skimming over 4 years of shared history and being like, “hey they were best friends. Just trust me!” Idk. I just didn’t like this book lolol
It felt like the author just googled “politically correct buzzwords 2024” and dumped them in the book with little to no context and with little to no necessity. Like I’m all for making a point on a social justice matter when it’s relevant to the story but I feel like it cheapens and lessens the impact of the potential lesson when you just scatter vague references to social issues throughout the story without elaborating on why or how they impact the characters? And writing from the POV of a Black man as a white female author and trying to use his character solely as a way to lecture readers on equality issues is… a choice. A bad one! And it made his character feel flat.
And the romance?? What romance?? Both relationships develop in the last 1/4 of the book and feel rushed, impractical, and fake. Like not even vaguely realistic. No tension, no buildup, just, “oh by they way they now LIKE like each other.” Ok??? Show me, don’t tell me, and the author did not show us anything on that front.
Also the biggest event of the story happens on like page 10 and it is horrible and tragic and I think the author could have written that scene with a little more tact, perhaps putting the event in the middle of the book and spending more time developing the characters’ friendships instead of just skimming over 4 years of shared history and being like, “hey they were best friends. Just trust me!” Idk. I just didn’t like this book lolol
July 11, 2024
What happened to Emily griffin as an author? She use to be my top fav all her early books are my fav then boom the one and only came out and she went downhill from there. I hope one day she goes back to her original story roots.
June 15, 2024
4🌟
I adored this book! This adventurous read was full of deep friendships, summer travels, and emotional baggage. 😩
When tradegy strikes, a group of 3 friends make a pact to come together in times of need. Years later, they are reminded of their promise to each other and set off together on a world trip of a lifetime. 🗺️
Giffin’s writing was as spectacular as ever! Although the vaca vibes were vibing 🍹, Hannah, Lainey, & Tyson were flaweddd characters with DEEP wounds. I grew to like them bc their problems felt real to me. ❤️🩹 I was actually debating 4.5 stars for this one but, there were some turns in the second half of the story that felt a little random/rushed? 🤔 I could have done without the romantic subplots tbh, not needed. It also felt like the book was trying too hard to include current events (you’ll know what I mean if you read it lol). I really loved the emotional pull we got from this one but keep in mind it’s a heavy read! 😞🫶
‼️ You should always look up triggers before reading fiction. This book mentions triggers before chapter 1 starts. But IMO, they missed a major trigger... I hope they fix this for the final copies. DM me on insta for specific triggers.‼️
I adored this book! This adventurous read was full of deep friendships, summer travels, and emotional baggage. 😩
When tradegy strikes, a group of 3 friends make a pact to come together in times of need. Years later, they are reminded of their promise to each other and set off together on a world trip of a lifetime. 🗺️
Giffin’s writing was as spectacular as ever! Although the vaca vibes were vibing 🍹, Hannah, Lainey, & Tyson were flaweddd characters with DEEP wounds. I grew to like them bc their problems felt real to me. ❤️🩹 I was actually debating 4.5 stars for this one but, there were some turns in the second half of the story that felt a little random/rushed? 🤔 I could have done without the romantic subplots tbh, not needed. It also felt like the book was trying too hard to include current events (you’ll know what I mean if you read it lol). I really loved the emotional pull we got from this one but keep in mind it’s a heavy read! 😞🫶
‼️ You should always look up triggers before reading fiction. This book mentions triggers before chapter 1 starts. But IMO, they missed a major trigger... I hope they fix this for the final copies. DM me on insta for specific triggers.‼️
May 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I really wanted to like this book. However, it fell flat for me. I struggled through the last 30% and almost did not finish.
I feel like it had potential but there really was no plot and I felt that these friends had no business being friends. It was kind of like a train wreck you couldn’t look away from.
I couldn’t relate to the characters, I did not like any of them. I don’t want to give spoilers but the beginning was rushed and should have focused on the four friends more. I’m agitated that there was no explanation or hints at why the tragedy happened. And the twist at the end…c’mon that doesn’t just happen. There should have been mentions of at least curiosity, but there was none whatsoever.
I’ve liked other books by the author but this was not for me unfortunately.
I feel like it had potential but there really was no plot and I felt that these friends had no business being friends. It was kind of like a train wreck you couldn’t look away from.
I couldn’t relate to the characters, I did not like any of them. I don’t want to give spoilers but the beginning was rushed and should have focused on the four friends more. I’m agitated that there was no explanation or hints at why the tragedy happened. And the twist at the end…c’mon that doesn’t just happen. There should have been mentions of at least curiosity, but there was none whatsoever.
I’ve liked other books by the author but this was not for me unfortunately.
May 15, 2024
Another winner from Emily Giffin - this one is more focused on friendship rather than romance, although there is some romance here. The characters were real and flawed and I appreciated their struggles. The Summer Pact also depicts how addiction can manifest in different ways, which is something that really resonated with me in this. I am a huge Giffin fan and look forward to her releases every other year, and I wish we didn't have to wait two more years for more!
Thank you to Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 10, 2024
Emily Giffin continues to do what she does best: delivering elevated beach fiction. Giffin's readers know that she is not afraid to pack a punch; and it's not all sunshine and roses in her novels.
In fact, THE SUMMER PACT opens with a content warning that this book deals with a variety of incredibly tough issues that will be hard for some to digest. At its heart, it is a love letter to the power of the complexities of friendship, and a novel about finding yourself where you least expect it. A group of college friends who survive a shattering tragedy in their world make a pact to always come together when someone is in trouble; and in the pages of this heartbreaking yet heartwarming novel Giffin takes them on a globe trotting journey of discovery.
It's a true page turner; I ripped through it in two nights; and while yes it is full of tough but real moments; Giffin's storytelling shines through in the most charming of small scenes and little bits of dialogue. My heart ached for all of the protagonists at times all the while loving her enchanting visuals of Capri. It may be a bit too heavy content wise for someone to take to the beach, but to be honest Emily Giffin novels are the kind of book that you want to savor every page and read as slow as you can....!
Thank you to the Ballantine for an ARC.
In fact, THE SUMMER PACT opens with a content warning that this book deals with a variety of incredibly tough issues that will be hard for some to digest. At its heart, it is a love letter to the power of the complexities of friendship, and a novel about finding yourself where you least expect it. A group of college friends who survive a shattering tragedy in their world make a pact to always come together when someone is in trouble; and in the pages of this heartbreaking yet heartwarming novel Giffin takes them on a globe trotting journey of discovery.
It's a true page turner; I ripped through it in two nights; and while yes it is full of tough but real moments; Giffin's storytelling shines through in the most charming of small scenes and little bits of dialogue. My heart ached for all of the protagonists at times all the while loving her enchanting visuals of Capri. It may be a bit too heavy content wise for someone to take to the beach, but to be honest Emily Giffin novels are the kind of book that you want to savor every page and read as slow as you can....!
Thank you to the Ballantine for an ARC.
July 14, 2024
Much was wrong with this book.
I have been a huge fan of Emily Giffin since Something Borrowed and Something Blue (a book I read at least once every two years)- earning her an extra star in my review.
With that being said...she's changed. And not for the best. This book was the biggest letdown.
The story comes from the point of view from three college friends bound together by tragedy.
The three of them make a pact to be there for one another when or if they ever hit rock bottom.
When one does, the other two decide it's time to drop everything and be there.
Here's what I hated:
The characters voices were all too similar- I kept forgetting who was narrating.
The dialogue was so fakey and politically correct (I kept screaming "no one talks like that!" Throughout)
The characters were insufferable and extremely unlikable. One was whiny and woe is me. One was so annoyingly self righteous and the third was the worst- selfish and so far over the top.
I hated that there was no further explanation of the beginning tragedy.
The storyline was so flat and boring.
The romantic relationships felt like a last minute "oh this might work" thought that was so not expected or realistic. (Neither couple seemed like they would work at all)
Ah that's all. Just bummed about a highly anticipated read that left me annoyed and sour.
I did appreciate the Easter egg of Marcus the neighbor boy. A nod to Something Blue... Did that book really come out almost 20 years ago geez.
I have been a huge fan of Emily Giffin since Something Borrowed and Something Blue (a book I read at least once every two years)- earning her an extra star in my review.
With that being said...she's changed. And not for the best. This book was the biggest letdown.
The story comes from the point of view from three college friends bound together by tragedy.
The three of them make a pact to be there for one another when or if they ever hit rock bottom.
When one does, the other two decide it's time to drop everything and be there.
Here's what I hated:
The characters voices were all too similar- I kept forgetting who was narrating.
The dialogue was so fakey and politically correct (I kept screaming "no one talks like that!" Throughout)
The characters were insufferable and extremely unlikable. One was whiny and woe is me. One was so annoyingly self righteous and the third was the worst- selfish and so far over the top.
I hated that there was no further explanation of the beginning tragedy.
The storyline was so flat and boring.
The romantic relationships felt like a last minute "oh this might work" thought that was so not expected or realistic. (Neither couple seemed like they would work at all)
Ah that's all. Just bummed about a highly anticipated read that left me annoyed and sour.
I did appreciate the Easter egg of Marcus the neighbor boy. A nod to Something Blue... Did that book really come out almost 20 years ago geez.
July 11, 2024
giving myself permission to DNF @ 42%
May 8, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book!
I had high hopes and I loved this book but I have to say around the 60% in the book I was kinda bored with it. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. So 3 stars sound perfect for this rating.
I had high hopes and I loved this book but I have to say around the 60% in the book I was kinda bored with it. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. So 3 stars sound perfect for this rating.
Want to read
February 7, 2024This is one of those covers I have to have or ill combust
July 13, 2024
Ugh! I am such a fan of Emily’s. I’ve read everything she’s written, but this was just simply terrible. Everything was bad. The characters were completely ridiculous. Ironically they go on a trip but this plot went no where. It made zero sense. Throughout most of the book you get the feeling that Tyson can’t stand Lainey. Then all of a sudden there’s attraction and in zero seconds they’re in a relationship and engaged. They proved tysons girlfriend correct and to the world that you can’t have platonic friendships with the opposite sex, which was so disappointing. Tyson was supposed to find himself and the story never even addressed what he discovered. Lainey is an alcoholic and they are all
Supposed to be such good friends but they never address her alcoholism until she almost dies. Come on!!! Don’t even get me started on Hannah’s character. The weakest of all. One minute she’s this jilted bride who is so strong she single handily doesn’t miss her ex and the next she’s a lesbian? These were all supposed to be adults with careers and they couldn’t get out a college mindset. Poor Summer bc they definitely couldn’t let her rest in peace. It was so odd how they kept bringing her up. She had been dead longer than they knew her. Oh and the racial undertones in this book. Holy crap! Obviously the United States has a long way to go with racial injustice, but basically every single person Tyson encountered was a racist and felt negatively towards black people. It was just so insane.
This book was so frustrating. I hate that it’s the worst book I read all year.
Supposed to be such good friends but they never address her alcoholism until she almost dies. Come on!!! Don’t even get me started on Hannah’s character. The weakest of all. One minute she’s this jilted bride who is so strong she single handily doesn’t miss her ex and the next she’s a lesbian? These were all supposed to be adults with careers and they couldn’t get out a college mindset. Poor Summer bc they definitely couldn’t let her rest in peace. It was so odd how they kept bringing her up. She had been dead longer than they knew her. Oh and the racial undertones in this book. Holy crap! Obviously the United States has a long way to go with racial injustice, but basically every single person Tyson encountered was a racist and felt negatively towards black people. It was just so insane.
This book was so frustrating. I hate that it’s the worst book I read all year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2024
"The Summer Pact" by Emily Griffin
Emily Griffin's "The Summer Pact" is a poignant novel about friendship, secrets, and healing. The story follows Tyson, Lainey, and Hannah, three lifelong friends who reunite after due to a pact they made to always be there for each other.
Tyson, a driven lawyer, grapples with work-life balance and career pressures. Lainey, an actor and alcoholic, while Hannah, thinking she is about to marry the love of her life calls in the troops.
Griffin's characters are relatable and well-developed, and her evocative writing brings the setting to life. The alternating perspectives and well-balanced pacing keep readers engaged, as the friends' summer pact becomes a vital support system, emphasizing the themes of loyalty, honesty, and the enduring power of friendship.
"The Summer Pact" is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that captures the complexities of friendship and the journey towards healing. It's an ideal summer read for fans of contemporary fiction and character-driven stories. .
Emily Griffin's "The Summer Pact" is a poignant novel about friendship, secrets, and healing. The story follows Tyson, Lainey, and Hannah, three lifelong friends who reunite after due to a pact they made to always be there for each other.
Tyson, a driven lawyer, grapples with work-life balance and career pressures. Lainey, an actor and alcoholic, while Hannah, thinking she is about to marry the love of her life calls in the troops.
Griffin's characters are relatable and well-developed, and her evocative writing brings the setting to life. The alternating perspectives and well-balanced pacing keep readers engaged, as the friends' summer pact becomes a vital support system, emphasizing the themes of loyalty, honesty, and the enduring power of friendship.
"The Summer Pact" is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that captures the complexities of friendship and the journey towards healing. It's an ideal summer read for fans of contemporary fiction and character-driven stories. .
July 2, 2024
First of all, I’m a big fan of Emily Giffin, especially her older books, so I was really excited to get approved for an advanced copy of her newest release! I loved the concept of this story, and being part of this friend group on their travels, but unfortunately it didn’t sweep me away like some of her other books. The story starts really dark, and I wish that we dove deeper into that storyline. Even though it was the main focus of the story, it also felt like it wasn’t necessary somehow and I was waiting for a twist to tie things together. I did enjoy the friend group, but I felt that the multiple POVs overlapped a bit too much so it was repetitive at times. I also felt like there wasn’t enough distinction between the characters and that the romance included was very delayed and sudden. Overall, it’s a quick and easy summer read, but it was a bit disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 26, 2024
This was classic Emily Giffin — a thorough examination of our closest relationships under pressure. Thank you, Random House, for a gifted eARC via NetGalley.
“The Summer Pact” is told in alternating perspectives, and the characters are very exposed — we seem to get the best and worst of all of them, and especially the worst of “California party girl” Lainey.
“College friends reuniting after tragedy” may be a trope, but I really enjoyed Giffin’s spin on it. I found this one to be binge worthy; it’s an easy read but not what I’d call lighthearted.
“The Summer Pact” is a celebration of lifelong friendships and reminded me of “And Just Like That,” the “Sex and the City” reboot.
“The Summer Pact” is told in alternating perspectives, and the characters are very exposed — we seem to get the best and worst of all of them, and especially the worst of “California party girl” Lainey.
“College friends reuniting after tragedy” may be a trope, but I really enjoyed Giffin’s spin on it. I found this one to be binge worthy; it’s an easy read but not what I’d call lighthearted.
“The Summer Pact” is a celebration of lifelong friendships and reminded me of “And Just Like That,” the “Sex and the City” reboot.
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