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The Revenge Pact
When her sneaky spouse starts screwing around with his ex, there’s only one thing to do…
Eva Hart’s dreams just went belly up. After marrying her dream guy and happily accepting the visa that came with the ring, she’s more than a bit dismayed to discover the jerk is cheating. And since demanding a divorce will mess up her plans, the self-reliant woman approaches her husband’s grumpy best friend with a perfect eye-for-an-eye proposal…
Ethan Steele’s moral compass never budges. But when the sobbing blonde beauty begs him for help, the loyal tech genius’s own feelings of betrayal have him cautiously agreeing to join in on some sly fun. And as he convinces the vengeance-plotting planner to cut loose and live a little, he’s shocked by the passionate chemistry that erupts.
Deciding that slipping between the sheets with another man would be a delicious double-cross, Eva bites her lip and suggests that she and Ethan get hot and heavy. And while the smitten self-starter is reluctant to let things go that far, he’s soon wondering how to turn their provocative partnership into forever.
Will serving it up cold start a fire that lasts for a lifetime?
*Steam level is five-alarm...very hot*
Eva Hart’s dreams just went belly up. After marrying her dream guy and happily accepting the visa that came with the ring, she’s more than a bit dismayed to discover the jerk is cheating. And since demanding a divorce will mess up her plans, the self-reliant woman approaches her husband’s grumpy best friend with a perfect eye-for-an-eye proposal…
Ethan Steele’s moral compass never budges. But when the sobbing blonde beauty begs him for help, the loyal tech genius’s own feelings of betrayal have him cautiously agreeing to join in on some sly fun. And as he convinces the vengeance-plotting planner to cut loose and live a little, he’s shocked by the passionate chemistry that erupts.
Deciding that slipping between the sheets with another man would be a delicious double-cross, Eva bites her lip and suggests that she and Ethan get hot and heavy. And while the smitten self-starter is reluctant to let things go that far, he’s soon wondering how to turn their provocative partnership into forever.
Will serving it up cold start a fire that lasts for a lifetime?
*Steam level is five-alarm...very hot*
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
27 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Brooke Stanton
42 books207 followersBrooke Stanton is an award-winning and #1 bestselling author of contemporary and historical romances. When she's not writing she loves reading, hiking, running, and taking pictures of her Russian Blue cat. Stalk her here for book news and other fun stuff:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 4, 2023
It was such a cute and fun read! The story follows Eva Hart, who finds out on her wedding day that her husband Joe is cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend. To make matters worse, Eva can't leave Joe because she would lose her visa. So, what does she do? She makes a plan to get revenge! And who does she team up with? None other than Joe's best friend Ethan.
Let me tell you, there's a lot going on in this book. But it's all so hilarious and entertaining. I mean, Joe's best friend never wanted him to marry Eva in the first place because he thought she was using him. And the revenge plot that Eva comes up with? Let's just say it leads to some pretty hilarious results.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a great mix of romance, comedy, and revenge. And of course, there's a happy ever after. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Let me tell you, there's a lot going on in this book. But it's all so hilarious and entertaining. I mean, Joe's best friend never wanted him to marry Eva in the first place because he thought she was using him. And the revenge plot that Eva comes up with? Let's just say it leads to some pretty hilarious results.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a great mix of romance, comedy, and revenge. And of course, there's a happy ever after. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 20, 2023
If I hadn't committed to reading an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review, I would not have read beyond the first chapter. Ultimately, of course, I did complete the novel, and I'm sorry to say that my opinion actually dropped as I read. Here are the Top Three reasons for my low rating:
1. I fundamentally object to the premise, which is built on the theme of cheating within relationships at every point. A bride, Eva, finds out on her sort-of-wedding day that her groom is cheating on her. She marries him anyway because she needs his cooperation to cheat the US government. She then teams up with his best pal, Ethan, who the groom had egregiously lied to in the past, which leads Ethan to agree to enter into a revenge pact and affair. Even the secondary characters all play roles in furthering the cruelty and deceit around which the plot revolves. I *might* have been able to get somewhat on board with things *if* the marriage had been purely one of convenience, but that is not how it was characterized.
2. The plot development is too superficial and character development is too weak to compensate for the problematic premise. All of my fundamental objections aside, as the novel progressed I was simply unconvinced that Eva and Ethan's relationship was solid enough by act three to survive her continued need for revenge. Both the solution to Eva's citizenship problem and the HEA epilogue felt forced and artificial.
3. The smutty scenes are cringey. As a general rule, I enjoy smut in my romance fiction, but the sex scenes in The Revenge Pact made me say, "Oh, my gosh..." for all the wrong reasons. This is most especially true for the scene in the hospital, which was just...no. And so many of the euphemisms (I mean, "sap," really?) and similies (too many bad ones to choose from) written into these scenes just landed all wrong for me.
While I can appreciate the effort it takes for an author to write any novel all the way to publication, I can't recommend this title at all.
[I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.]
1. I fundamentally object to the premise, which is built on the theme of cheating within relationships at every point. A bride, Eva, finds out on her sort-of-wedding day that her groom is cheating on her. She marries him anyway because she needs his cooperation to cheat the US government. She then teams up with his best pal, Ethan, who the groom had egregiously lied to in the past, which leads Ethan to agree to enter into a revenge pact and affair. Even the secondary characters all play roles in furthering the cruelty and deceit around which the plot revolves. I *might* have been able to get somewhat on board with things *if* the marriage had been purely one of convenience, but that is not how it was characterized.
2. The plot development is too superficial and character development is too weak to compensate for the problematic premise. All of my fundamental objections aside, as the novel progressed I was simply unconvinced that Eva and Ethan's relationship was solid enough by act three to survive her continued need for revenge. Both the solution to Eva's citizenship problem and the HEA epilogue felt forced and artificial.
3. The smutty scenes are cringey. As a general rule, I enjoy smut in my romance fiction, but the sex scenes in The Revenge Pact made me say, "Oh, my gosh..." for all the wrong reasons. This is most especially true for the scene in the hospital, which was just...no. And so many of the euphemisms (I mean, "sap," really?) and similies (too many bad ones to choose from) written into these scenes just landed all wrong for me.
While I can appreciate the effort it takes for an author to write any novel all the way to publication, I can't recommend this title at all.
[I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.]
June 26, 2023
Read this book with an open mind and enjoy the ride if you can. The Revenge Pact should not be taken seriously for all the blatantly alarming and ridiculous ways to get even with your cheater husband.
Thoughts:
• I didn't like it when the FMC found out on her wedding day that her husband has been cheating on her, she still walked on that damned aisle and said 'I do' because of that damn citizenship.
• My discomfort doubled when her cheating husband's best friend (MMC) also found out his best friend cheated on him with his girlfriend before they broke up. With that, they came up with a ridiculous revenge pact to get even with the cheater.
• There are a hundred ways to get even but the last resort the FMC did was so ridiculously dramatic, not unexpected, and to think he was her cheating husband's best friend although consensual, still, doesn't sit well with me. However, not gonna lie, but I slightly enjoyed the sexy parts of this book. How they ended up in that situation irks me.
• All the time I was reading this, I was mentally uncomfortable but at the same time invested in the story.
• The bottom line is, I hate the cheating trope and I don't see myself enjoying this kind of theme, also, the author failed to warn us of the content of this book which made it a miss for me.
CW: cheating, enabler, manipulation, roleplaying, body shaming, verbal abuse, panic/anxiety attack
Big thanks to the publisher for granting me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thoughts:
• I didn't like it when the FMC found out on her wedding day that her husband has been cheating on her, she still walked on that damned aisle and said 'I do' because of that damn citizenship.
• My discomfort doubled when her cheating husband's best friend (MMC) also found out his best friend cheated on him with his girlfriend before they broke up. With that, they came up with a ridiculous revenge pact to get even with the cheater.
• There are a hundred ways to get even but the last resort the FMC did was so ridiculously dramatic, not unexpected, and to think he was her cheating husband's best friend although consensual, still, doesn't sit well with me. However, not gonna lie, but I slightly enjoyed the sexy parts of this book. How they ended up in that situation irks me.
• All the time I was reading this, I was mentally uncomfortable but at the same time invested in the story.
• The bottom line is, I hate the cheating trope and I don't see myself enjoying this kind of theme, also, the author failed to warn us of the content of this book which made it a miss for me.
CW: cheating, enabler, manipulation, roleplaying, body shaming, verbal abuse, panic/anxiety attack
Big thanks to the publisher for granting me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2023
Cute, funny, bingeable romance! I felt like there was a lot going on in this book, and there were a lot of time skips (two weeks went by multiple times, which was unnecessary). Loosely enemies-to-lovers with a little fake dating in there, leading to an entertaining plot with relatable characters. I do hate cheating and even though Eva found out her new husband was cheating first (and before the wedding), it doesn't give her permission to also cheat... but getting past that, Ethan was much better for Eva and treated her well. I thought the writing was good and sucked you right into the story!
Definitely a good pool or beach read with a happy ending! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Definitely a good pool or beach read with a happy ending! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
July 4, 2023
This book was cute and a bit steamy and I enjoyed it. The enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes roped me in. However, all of the characters seem to be a bit self-centered and I really couldn't connect to most of them. I did like a good bit of the book but I just couldn't get past few parts. The banter was good though. Even though I'm giving this 3*'s I would like to try more of this author's books in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Brooke Stanton for the ARC! :)
Thank you NetGalley and Brooke Stanton for the ARC! :)
May 31, 2023
*Advanced reader copy received from netgalley*
3.5⭐️ 3🌶
This was a cute fun read from Brooke Stanton. Eva finds out that Joe is cheating on her on the day of their wedding, but can't leave him because she would lose her visa. She embarks on a journey of revenge, alongside Joe's best friend Ethan, with some hilarious results 🕷 and a happy ever after 🩷
3.5⭐️ 3🌶
This was a cute fun read from Brooke Stanton. Eva finds out that Joe is cheating on her on the day of their wedding, but can't leave him because she would lose her visa. She embarks on a journey of revenge, alongside Joe's best friend Ethan, with some hilarious results 🕷 and a happy ever after 🩷
April 26, 2024
You find out husbands cheating on you but you can’t leave him without putting your entire future in jeopardy, What do you do? Obviously you form a pact with his best friend, who you hate because he also hates your husband to get revenge, If it all goes to plan it will be simple but things aren’t always that easy, especially when your revenge pact turns into something more.
Once i started i was hooked and i couldn’t stop reading, the plot was so interesting and intriguing it had you not wanting to look away from the page because you were so excited to see what’s coming next.
The two mcs were so just so much fun to read about Eva was such a strong and relatable character to read about and Ethan was the so sweet from the very beginning, even if Eva didn’t think so. So between Eva’s fiery attitude and Ethan’s teddy bear shirts i was in love.
The banter between the two of them was so good ☝️
This was such a fun and quick read, and i will definitely be reading more of Brooke Stanton’s work.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley and CocoBee publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Once i started i was hooked and i couldn’t stop reading, the plot was so interesting and intriguing it had you not wanting to look away from the page because you were so excited to see what’s coming next.
The two mcs were so just so much fun to read about Eva was such a strong and relatable character to read about and Ethan was the so sweet from the very beginning, even if Eva didn’t think so. So between Eva’s fiery attitude and Ethan’s teddy bear shirts i was in love.
The banter between the two of them was so good ☝️
This was such a fun and quick read, and i will definitely be reading more of Brooke Stanton’s work.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley and CocoBee publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
June 3, 2023
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
Rating: 4.25/5
Spice: 2
Publishing date: 20 June, 2023
Well, this was just amazing!
After getting approved to review this book I downloaded the galley and went right into it. I did not come up for air in between and finished the entire book in an afternoon!
When Eva discovers her husband is cheating on her on her wedding day, she starts plotting a way to get revenge on him. When Ethan confesses he'd like to help, a plot is born: a revenge affair! But can they make it work without falling for each other?
I loved the way Eva and Ethan were portrayed as complete opposites. Eva being the planner-obsessed, wants-everything-on-a-schedule character and Ethan being the freewheeling, let's-see-how-the-evening-goes character. And we all know that opposites attract! They seem to be hating (though even that seems to harsh a term) each other at the beginning of the book but slowly grow closer together as Eva starts to plot her revenge.
Through the comfortably written dual POV we learn how both Eva and Ethan are experiencing their revenge plot, what motivates them both and how soon either of them are catching feelings. And it's great! I wouldn't say I'd immediately choose an affair to get revenge, but in the book it 100% works!
And I haven't even mentioned the spice! The book carries a very entertaining plot, but if you're only here for the smut (and I wouldn't blame you), you won't be disappointed!
All in all, an amazing read and I can't wait to discover any other books by this author!
Rating: 4.25/5
Spice: 2
Publishing date: 20 June, 2023
Well, this was just amazing!
After getting approved to review this book I downloaded the galley and went right into it. I did not come up for air in between and finished the entire book in an afternoon!
When Eva discovers her husband is cheating on her on her wedding day, she starts plotting a way to get revenge on him. When Ethan confesses he'd like to help, a plot is born: a revenge affair! But can they make it work without falling for each other?
I loved the way Eva and Ethan were portrayed as complete opposites. Eva being the planner-obsessed, wants-everything-on-a-schedule character and Ethan being the freewheeling, let's-see-how-the-evening-goes character. And we all know that opposites attract! They seem to be hating (though even that seems to harsh a term) each other at the beginning of the book but slowly grow closer together as Eva starts to plot her revenge.
Through the comfortably written dual POV we learn how both Eva and Ethan are experiencing their revenge plot, what motivates them both and how soon either of them are catching feelings. And it's great! I wouldn't say I'd immediately choose an affair to get revenge, but in the book it 100% works!
And I haven't even mentioned the spice! The book carries a very entertaining plot, but if you're only here for the smut (and I wouldn't blame you), you won't be disappointed!
All in all, an amazing read and I can't wait to discover any other books by this author!
August 25, 2023
Such a cute fun story! If I found out my husband was cheating with his ex on my wedding day, I would have lost it! But poor Eva, she could t exactly walk away because then she loses her visa! Next best thing for revenge, get with my husbands best friend right?!
What girl wouldn’t want revenge?! Or to Atleast go for the guy who didn’t want his best friend to marry her anyways!
I read reviews prior and I was a little nervous about this one but I can’t see why there were some bad reviews! I absolutely loved it!
What girl wouldn’t want revenge?! Or to Atleast go for the guy who didn’t want his best friend to marry her anyways!
I read reviews prior and I was a little nervous about this one but I can’t see why there were some bad reviews! I absolutely loved it!
March 5, 2026
I read this in one sitting.
I’m not totally impressed with the cheating, and ‘eye for an eye’ story line, but everything was compelling enough to keep me interested.
I did enjoy reading Eva and Ethan’s relationship progress. Joe was very much a horrible person.
I’m not totally impressed with the cheating, and ‘eye for an eye’ story line, but everything was compelling enough to keep me interested.
I did enjoy reading Eva and Ethan’s relationship progress. Joe was very much a horrible person.
July 10, 2023
well that was awful
May 29, 2023
Thank you CocoBee Publishing for sending me an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
⭐⭐⭐.5/5
This book was so fun. Brooke Stanton really knows how to write a fun drama filled romance. The characters were so fun, and I loved all the drama filled twists and turns. I didn't know this was the second book in a series so I will definitely be picking up the first one this summer. I feel like this is the perfect book for when you just need to relax and escape life with a book.
It was the perfect book to read after a really long weekend in one sitting and I can't wait to read more of Brooke Stanton's books in the future.
Thank you again CocoBee Publishing for sending me a NetGalley ARC of this book.
⭐⭐⭐.5/5
This book was so fun. Brooke Stanton really knows how to write a fun drama filled romance. The characters were so fun, and I loved all the drama filled twists and turns. I didn't know this was the second book in a series so I will definitely be picking up the first one this summer. I feel like this is the perfect book for when you just need to relax and escape life with a book.
It was the perfect book to read after a really long weekend in one sitting and I can't wait to read more of Brooke Stanton's books in the future.
Thank you again CocoBee Publishing for sending me a NetGalley ARC of this book.
May 29, 2023
I loved this.
This book is that cute and lovely summer read that you cannot put down.
It's funny from the start, there is some steam and it's worth it.😍
A lot of stuff happened, maybe really crazy but funny and he deserved it. Chemistry with Ethan was just right. 🥰
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book is that cute and lovely summer read that you cannot put down.
It's funny from the start, there is some steam and it's worth it.😍
A lot of stuff happened, maybe really crazy but funny and he deserved it. Chemistry with Ethan was just right. 🥰
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 10, 2023
⭐️3,5
A book that made me laugh, betrayals that made me almost tear up and a love between two main characters that was so sweet.
This book was good, I really liked the story and the plot in itself, but what I liked the most were the main characters, Eva and Ethan. They're so cute and belong together forever.
I LOVE the cheating trope if it's between the main characters, which this book has. Eva is married to Joe and cheats on him (after he cheats first) with Ethan, who is Joe's childhood best friend. I love reading this trope and I loved how it was done in this book. Though, maybe I would have liked more angst?
Eva is such an amazing character, I loved her a lot. I felt so sorry for her throughout the book. She didn't deserve what that happened to her, especially with her ex. All the things he said and did were just horrible. He was such an asshole, Ethan too. Even though I like him, I still haven't forgotten all the things he said about her before their relationship. I think, he didn't apologize enough for what he said. He misjudged her while not knowing her, which I really disliked. I forgive, but don't forget. I literally felt so hurt for Eva, the author wrote it in a way that made me feel the words, that have been said against Eva, as if they were said to me. I felt her pain. Rachel was the only real good friend character and I loved her so much.
I really loved Ethan, though he is considered as a "grumpy" guy, I don't think he's grumpy. He's such a sweet person, who shows his emotion. I love a main character who isn't afraid to show when he's sad, overwhelmed, happy, when he cries... I, especially, liked the moments we got between Ethan and his nephew. It was so freaking cute, I loved the hammock scene the most. I want to have a glimpse of him with his kids, if Eva and him ever decide to get.
I was so surprised to see how Ethan was still friends with Joe after what Joe did. I can understand that he still tries to stay friends, especially when you have known them since you were a child and their parents where like real parents to you, but if it were me, I wouldn't have been able to stay friends even if I had revenge in mind.
Something that kind of annoyed me when reading the book, was the fact that the author used "IRL" instead of writing "in real life". It wasn't that bad, because it wasn't regularly used. But, it is still something that irked me when seeing it.
I'm going to be honest, I don't really read smut. I tend to not really judge a book/author by how the smut has been written. For me, the plot, storyline and the characters are the most important thing, so I never mention how the smut scenes are. But, in this book the smut was a little cringe and funny and that's because of the words that the author decided to use to explain some *things*. Here are some examples:
“[..] filled my mouth with him, suctioning him like a vacuum.”
“Patience, grasshopper”
“[..] she sucked me like a Hoover.”
“I didn’t go gently into her night. I slammed my dick inside her cavern”
Reading those lines was just so funny, I couldn't take the whole moment seriously. It was entertaining to see what the author would use next, though.
I feel like there are too many time skips. They'll have a barbecue and the next chapter will say "it's been a few weeks since...", I don't really like that, a couple of days wouldn't have bothered me, but weeks are a little too much for me especially if there are multiple time skips.
At some point in the book, we have a scene where Ethan's ex, Jasmine, appears. She's mentioned throughout the book, but had not appeared until then. I was kind of scared when she came and was expecting the worse (I really hate ow/ex drama), but I was surprised, I actually really liked this scene. I really like Jasmine. From the little interaction there was, she seems like a really sweet person who didn't who she was and who she wanted to be and was able to find herself. I think it was an amazing and needed scene and I'm actually glad we had a "non-toxic" moment between the two exes, lol.
Overall, I really liked the story, the plot and the characters. It was an entertaining read and I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a fun story, but with little bits of emotional stuff. I'm glad I got this ARC.
This review will also be posted on Goodreads on June 10.
A book that made me laugh, betrayals that made me almost tear up and a love between two main characters that was so sweet.
This book was good, I really liked the story and the plot in itself, but what I liked the most were the main characters, Eva and Ethan. They're so cute and belong together forever.
I LOVE the cheating trope if it's between the main characters, which this book has. Eva is married to Joe and cheats on him (after he cheats first) with Ethan, who is Joe's childhood best friend. I love reading this trope and I loved how it was done in this book. Though, maybe I would have liked more angst?
Eva is such an amazing character, I loved her a lot. I felt so sorry for her throughout the book. She didn't deserve what that happened to her, especially with her ex. All the things he said and did were just horrible. He was such an asshole, Ethan too. Even though I like him, I still haven't forgotten all the things he said about her before their relationship. I think, he didn't apologize enough for what he said. He misjudged her while not knowing her, which I really disliked. I forgive, but don't forget. I literally felt so hurt for Eva, the author wrote it in a way that made me feel the words, that have been said against Eva, as if they were said to me. I felt her pain. Rachel was the only real good friend character and I loved her so much.
I really loved Ethan, though he is considered as a "grumpy" guy, I don't think he's grumpy. He's such a sweet person, who shows his emotion. I love a main character who isn't afraid to show when he's sad, overwhelmed, happy, when he cries... I, especially, liked the moments we got between Ethan and his nephew. It was so freaking cute, I loved the hammock scene the most. I want to have a glimpse of him with his kids, if Eva and him ever decide to get.
I was so surprised to see how Ethan was still friends with Joe after what Joe did. I can understand that he still tries to stay friends, especially when you have known them since you were a child and their parents where like real parents to you, but if it were me, I wouldn't have been able to stay friends even if I had revenge in mind.
Something that kind of annoyed me when reading the book, was the fact that the author used "IRL" instead of writing "in real life". It wasn't that bad, because it wasn't regularly used. But, it is still something that irked me when seeing it.
I'm going to be honest, I don't really read smut. I tend to not really judge a book/author by how the smut has been written. For me, the plot, storyline and the characters are the most important thing, so I never mention how the smut scenes are. But, in this book the smut was a little cringe and funny and that's because of the words that the author decided to use to explain some *things*. Here are some examples:
“[..] filled my mouth with him, suctioning him like a vacuum.”
“Patience, grasshopper”
“[..] she sucked me like a Hoover.”
“I didn’t go gently into her night. I slammed my dick inside her cavern”
Reading those lines was just so funny, I couldn't take the whole moment seriously. It was entertaining to see what the author would use next, though.
I feel like there are too many time skips. They'll have a barbecue and the next chapter will say "it's been a few weeks since...", I don't really like that, a couple of days wouldn't have bothered me, but weeks are a little too much for me especially if there are multiple time skips.
At some point in the book, we have a scene where Ethan's ex, Jasmine, appears. She's mentioned throughout the book, but had not appeared until then. I was kind of scared when she came and was expecting the worse (I really hate ow/ex drama), but I was surprised, I actually really liked this scene. I really like Jasmine. From the little interaction there was, she seems like a really sweet person who didn't who she was and who she wanted to be and was able to find herself. I think it was an amazing and needed scene and I'm actually glad we had a "non-toxic" moment between the two exes, lol.
Overall, I really liked the story, the plot and the characters. It was an entertaining read and I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a fun story, but with little bits of emotional stuff. I'm glad I got this ARC.
This review will also be posted on Goodreads on June 10.
June 10, 2023
⭐️3,5
A book that made me laugh, betrayals that made me almost tear up and a love between two main characters that was so sweet.
This book was good, I really liked the story and the plot in itself, but what I liked the most were the main characters, Eva and Ethan. They're so cute and belong together forever.
I LOVE the cheating trope if it's between the main characters, which this book has. Eva is married to Joe and cheats on him (after he cheats first) with Ethan, who is Joe's childhood best friend. I love reading this trope and I loved how it was done in this book. Though, maybe I would have liked more angst?
Eva is such an amazing character, I loved her a lot. I felt so sorry for her throughout the book. She didn't deserve what that happened to her, especially with her ex. All the things he said and did were just horrible. He was such an asshole, Ethan too. Even though I like him, I still haven't forgotten all the things he said about her before their relationship. I think, he didn't apologize enough for what he said. He misjudged her while not knowing her, which I really disliked. I forgive, but don't forget. I literally felt so hurt for Eva, the author wrote it in a way that made me feel the words, that have been said against Eva, as if they were said to me. I felt her pain. Rachel was the only real good friend character and I loved her so much.
I really loved Ethan, though he is considered as a "grumpy" guy, I don't think he's grumpy. He's such a sweet person, who shows his emotion. I love a main character who isn't afraid to show when he's sad, overwhelmed, happy, when he cries... I, especially, liked the moments we got between Ethan and his nephew. It was so freaking cute, I loved the hammock scene the most. I want to have a glimpse of him with his kids, if Eva and him ever decide to get.
I was so surprised to see how Ethan was still friends with Joe after what Joe did. I can understand that he still tries to stay friends, especially when you have known them since you were a child and their parents where like real parents to you, but if it were me, I wouldn't have been able to stay friends even if I had revenge in mind.
Something that kind of annoyed me when reading the book, was the fact that the author used "IRL" instead of writing "in real life". It wasn't that bad, because it wasn't regularly used. But, it is still something that irked me when seeing it.
I'm going to be honest, I don't really read smut. I tend to not really judge a book/author by how the smut has been written. For me, the plot, storyline and the characters are the most important thing, so I never mention how the smut scenes are. But, in this book the smut was a little cringe and funny and that's because of the words that the author decided to use to explain some *things*. Here are some examples:
“[..] filled my mouth with him, suctioning him like a vacuum.”
“Patience, grasshopper”
“[..] she sucked me like a Hoover.”
“I didn’t go gently into her night. I slammed my dick inside her cavern”
Reading those lines was just so funny, I couldn't take the whole moment seriously. It was entertaining to see what the author would use next, though.
I feel like there are too many time skips. They'll have a barbecue and the next chapter will say "it's been a few weeks since...", I don't really like that, a couple of days wouldn't have bothered me, but weeks are a little too much for me especially if there are multiple time skips.
At some point in the book, we have a scene where Ethan's ex, Jasmine, appears. She's mentioned throughout the book, but had not appeared until then. I was kind of scared when she came and was expecting the worse (I really hate ow/ex drama), but I was surprised, I actually really liked this scene. I really like Jasmine. From the little interaction there was, she seems like a really sweet person who didn't who she was and who she wanted to be and was able to find herself. I think it was an amazing and needed scene and I'm actually glad we had a "non-toxic" moment between the two exes, lol.
Overall, I really liked the story, the plot and the characters. It was an entertaining read and I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a fun story, but with little bits of emotional stuff. I'm glad I got this ARC!
A book that made me laugh, betrayals that made me almost tear up and a love between two main characters that was so sweet.
This book was good, I really liked the story and the plot in itself, but what I liked the most were the main characters, Eva and Ethan. They're so cute and belong together forever.
I LOVE the cheating trope if it's between the main characters, which this book has. Eva is married to Joe and cheats on him (after he cheats first) with Ethan, who is Joe's childhood best friend. I love reading this trope and I loved how it was done in this book. Though, maybe I would have liked more angst?
Eva is such an amazing character, I loved her a lot. I felt so sorry for her throughout the book. She didn't deserve what that happened to her, especially with her ex. All the things he said and did were just horrible. He was such an asshole, Ethan too. Even though I like him, I still haven't forgotten all the things he said about her before their relationship. I think, he didn't apologize enough for what he said. He misjudged her while not knowing her, which I really disliked. I forgive, but don't forget. I literally felt so hurt for Eva, the author wrote it in a way that made me feel the words, that have been said against Eva, as if they were said to me. I felt her pain. Rachel was the only real good friend character and I loved her so much.
I really loved Ethan, though he is considered as a "grumpy" guy, I don't think he's grumpy. He's such a sweet person, who shows his emotion. I love a main character who isn't afraid to show when he's sad, overwhelmed, happy, when he cries... I, especially, liked the moments we got between Ethan and his nephew. It was so freaking cute, I loved the hammock scene the most. I want to have a glimpse of him with his kids, if Eva and him ever decide to get.
I was so surprised to see how Ethan was still friends with Joe after what Joe did. I can understand that he still tries to stay friends, especially when you have known them since you were a child and their parents where like real parents to you, but if it were me, I wouldn't have been able to stay friends even if I had revenge in mind.
Something that kind of annoyed me when reading the book, was the fact that the author used "IRL" instead of writing "in real life". It wasn't that bad, because it wasn't regularly used. But, it is still something that irked me when seeing it.
I'm going to be honest, I don't really read smut. I tend to not really judge a book/author by how the smut has been written. For me, the plot, storyline and the characters are the most important thing, so I never mention how the smut scenes are. But, in this book the smut was a little cringe and funny and that's because of the words that the author decided to use to explain some *things*. Here are some examples:
“[..] filled my mouth with him, suctioning him like a vacuum.”
“Patience, grasshopper”
“[..] she sucked me like a Hoover.”
“I didn’t go gently into her night. I slammed my dick inside her cavern”
Reading those lines was just so funny, I couldn't take the whole moment seriously. It was entertaining to see what the author would use next, though.
I feel like there are too many time skips. They'll have a barbecue and the next chapter will say "it's been a few weeks since...", I don't really like that, a couple of days wouldn't have bothered me, but weeks are a little too much for me especially if there are multiple time skips.
At some point in the book, we have a scene where Ethan's ex, Jasmine, appears. She's mentioned throughout the book, but had not appeared until then. I was kind of scared when she came and was expecting the worse (I really hate ow/ex drama), but I was surprised, I actually really liked this scene. I really like Jasmine. From the little interaction there was, she seems like a really sweet person who didn't who she was and who she wanted to be and was able to find herself. I think it was an amazing and needed scene and I'm actually glad we had a "non-toxic" moment between the two exes, lol.
Overall, I really liked the story, the plot and the characters. It was an entertaining read and I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read a fun story, but with little bits of emotional stuff. I'm glad I got this ARC!
July 15, 2023
i'm sorry but this book is not good. i wanted to like it but it was just......💀. this was the first book i've read by this author and will probs be my last. since the writing was kinda dook, this really felt like i was reading something on wattpad from like 2014. the story had no real depth. and it was all over the place. the characters would be doing one thing and then in the literal next paragraph they'd be doing something completely different. also i just really did not like how some of the characters were written. the author wrote, "her eyelids pinched together when she grinned, her eyes almost disappearing" 😧😟.....is that even allowed??????? literal jaw drop moment bruh. there are ways to describe a character as asian without saying their eyes disappeared when they smiled. like that's actually insane. and later on in the book she wrote about ethan's sister pulling her tit out in front of him to feed her baby and he had to look away. obviously breastfeeding is normal but in front of your brother?????? and not even warning him that you're going to expose yourself or asking him to look away? idk that just seems weird to me but maybe it's not as uncommon as i think. and it was kind of weirdly fatphobic. one of the things eva did to get revenge was switch all of joe's favorite clothes out for the same ones but one size smaller (this is actually pretty funny tbh) and when he noticed his clothes being tighter he started talking about going on diets and such bc he was getting fat. very odd.....
and the characters were awful. only a few of the SIDE characters were tolerable. eva was soooooo annoying. she was always so mad at ethan for absolutely no reason. i understand why she was mad in the beginning bc obvi he didn't like her that much but after he started to show her that he actually DID like her at least a little she was still so rude. always blaming him for every bad thing that happened with joe as if that bozo wasn't making his own decisions. idk i just really did not like her. ethan was slightly better than her but he was also pretty dumb. like why do you apparently hate her and then three seconds later you're actually jealous of your friend and have always liked her. that could be a wrong observation tbh bc i started skimming at a certain point bc i just could not read this. but that's basically what happened. they went from hating each other to smashing to being in love in like .5 seconds. and i'm pretty sure they're supposed to be like mid 20's but the timeline was so confusing that i genuinely just gave up trying to figure it out. towards the end of the book ethan said he hadn't seen jasmin in 2 years since they broke up right before their senior year of college. and ethan said that eva and joe met during her senior year and a year later they were engaged. idk when the wedding was but let's assume it was maybe a year or so after that. so if they're mid 20's how has it still been 2 years since he last saw jasmin when they broke up in college. it doesn't make sense 😭. anyway.....
don't even get me started on the smut......🤣. it was very disturbing. the words used to describe different body parts and sexual acts was lowks vom-inducing. it was so sickening LMFAO. i had to skim through basically every smutty part it was so weird. also the one scene where they were in ethan's bathroom together and eva screamed! while his dad was in the house but he apparently didn't hear?????? i can't.
i need to stop writing about this bc the more i think about it, the more i'm remembering why this book sucks. i will say i did like one thing about this book though and that was the fact that one of the characters was named alexis. i barely ever see my name in books so that's kind of cool but the fact it was in THIS book...😐. anyway, thank you to netgalley for the arc.
and the characters were awful. only a few of the SIDE characters were tolerable. eva was soooooo annoying. she was always so mad at ethan for absolutely no reason. i understand why she was mad in the beginning bc obvi he didn't like her that much but after he started to show her that he actually DID like her at least a little she was still so rude. always blaming him for every bad thing that happened with joe as if that bozo wasn't making his own decisions. idk i just really did not like her. ethan was slightly better than her but he was also pretty dumb. like why do you apparently hate her and then three seconds later you're actually jealous of your friend and have always liked her. that could be a wrong observation tbh bc i started skimming at a certain point bc i just could not read this. but that's basically what happened. they went from hating each other to smashing to being in love in like .5 seconds. and i'm pretty sure they're supposed to be like mid 20's but the timeline was so confusing that i genuinely just gave up trying to figure it out. towards the end of the book ethan said he hadn't seen jasmin in 2 years since they broke up right before their senior year of college. and ethan said that eva and joe met during her senior year and a year later they were engaged. idk when the wedding was but let's assume it was maybe a year or so after that. so if they're mid 20's how has it still been 2 years since he last saw jasmin when they broke up in college. it doesn't make sense 😭. anyway.....
don't even get me started on the smut......🤣. it was very disturbing. the words used to describe different body parts and sexual acts was lowks vom-inducing. it was so sickening LMFAO. i had to skim through basically every smutty part it was so weird. also the one scene where they were in ethan's bathroom together and eva screamed! while his dad was in the house but he apparently didn't hear?????? i can't.
i need to stop writing about this bc the more i think about it, the more i'm remembering why this book sucks. i will say i did like one thing about this book though and that was the fact that one of the characters was named alexis. i barely ever see my name in books so that's kind of cool but the fact it was in THIS book...😐. anyway, thank you to netgalley for the arc.
June 20, 2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 1.75/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 2.75/5
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers✔️
Fake Dating✔️
Cheating✔️
Disclaimer: this review will be I will keep this UNUSUALLY s h o r t & sweet.
The Revenge Pact checked ALLmy boxes with the mentioned tropes.
Your girl is a whoreeee for:
enemies to lovers- although they really weren't ENEMIES tbh🤷🏻♀️. they were more ANNOYED with each other than anything.
The fake dating? That REVENGE AFFAIR?! (insert cheating trope here) It was scandalous AF and I was like ooop 💁🏻♀️
NONE of these things were the "problem".. it was how I had the hardest time CONNECTING with the characters. I didn't feel one way or another for them & that's where the problem relies. I didn't FEEL so it FELL FLAT.
Also.. I rarely (IF EVER) point my dislikes in a review but I HAVE TO at least point SOME out.
- All the characters seemed SELF-CENTERED.
A big reason Ethan would call her "Evelyn" is because he said that she once said she preferred to be called that but then towards the end he called her Eva. When he made it a POINT to call her that from the beginning of the book.
Eva was just WRONG all the way. It wasn't the cheating that I didn't like, it was her just USING people. Joe sucked and so does Ashley. Only person I really liked was Rachel tbh.
- As far as the romance goes.. to me both MCs lacked CHEMISTRY therefore it made it feel a little forced. 😔
- the abbreviations of IRL instead of (in real life) felt awkward. (no it wasn't in a text, it was in the middle of a conversation )
" 'I thought we'd just text our ideas. We don't need to meet IRL,' I stated plainly walking to the bedroom."
- & well.. just THIS.
"My heart pounded wildly, my cock slip-sliding in her juices, her walls as tight as a Chinese finger trap." <-- that is why, while the spice was SPICY... it felt a little WIERD.
Whenever I write LOW rating reviews.. I like to point out the following that I AM a TOTAL ✨MOOD✨ reader. What does that mean?
It's to say that just because I didn't like THIS particular book from Brooke Stanton.. it doesn't mean I won't like ANY of them. It means that although it didn't work for ME.. it totally doesn't mean it won't work for YOU.
*Thank you to Netgalley, Brooke Stanton, & team for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 2.75/5
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers✔️
Fake Dating✔️
Cheating✔️
Disclaimer: this review will be I will keep this UNUSUALLY s h o r t & sweet.
The Revenge Pact checked ALLmy boxes with the mentioned tropes.
Your girl is a whoreeee for:
enemies to lovers- although they really weren't ENEMIES tbh🤷🏻♀️. they were more ANNOYED with each other than anything.
The fake dating? That REVENGE AFFAIR?! (insert cheating trope here) It was scandalous AF and I was like ooop 💁🏻♀️
NONE of these things were the "problem".. it was how I had the hardest time CONNECTING with the characters. I didn't feel one way or another for them & that's where the problem relies. I didn't FEEL so it FELL FLAT.
Also.. I rarely (IF EVER) point my dislikes in a review but I HAVE TO at least point SOME out.
- All the characters seemed SELF-CENTERED.
A big reason Ethan would call her "Evelyn" is because he said that she once said she preferred to be called that but then towards the end he called her Eva. When he made it a POINT to call her that from the beginning of the book.
Eva was just WRONG all the way. It wasn't the cheating that I didn't like, it was her just USING people. Joe sucked and so does Ashley. Only person I really liked was Rachel tbh.
- As far as the romance goes.. to me both MCs lacked CHEMISTRY therefore it made it feel a little forced. 😔
- the abbreviations of IRL instead of (in real life) felt awkward. (no it wasn't in a text, it was in the middle of a conversation )
" 'I thought we'd just text our ideas. We don't need to meet IRL,' I stated plainly walking to the bedroom."
- & well.. just THIS.
"My heart pounded wildly, my cock slip-sliding in her juices, her walls as tight as a Chinese finger trap." <-- that is why, while the spice was SPICY... it felt a little WIERD.
Whenever I write LOW rating reviews.. I like to point out the following that I AM a TOTAL ✨MOOD✨ reader. What does that mean?
It's to say that just because I didn't like THIS particular book from Brooke Stanton.. it doesn't mean I won't like ANY of them. It means that although it didn't work for ME.. it totally doesn't mean it won't work for YOU.
*Thank you to Netgalley, Brooke Stanton, & team for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
June 17, 2023
It's Eva's wedding day and she should be excitedly waiting to walk down the aisle. Instead, she's laying on the floor in her wedding dress, listening through the crack under the door as her groom Joe's ex-girlfriend confesses that they've been having an affair. All Eva wants to do is run, but it's more complicated than that... she and Joe were secretly married months earlier and her visa application is reliant on their marriage lasting.
Alone and panicking, the last person Eva expects comes to her rescue; Joe's best friend Ethan. She doesn't know it yet, but Ethan has just discovered his own betrayal by Joe and is out for revenge. With his help, she gets through her wedding day and they enter into a pact; they'll get Joe for what he has done to them.
As time goes on and Joe becomes less secretive about his affair, Eva and Ethan decide to step it up with an affair of their own. What could be worse for Joe than his wife and his best friend? But with this line crossed, who will be the winners when it all blows up?
Thank you to Author @brooke_stanton_writes @netgalley @victoryeditingngc for this ARC. All opinions shared within this review are my own.
I really enjoyed this story and empathised with Eva and everything Joe was willing to take from her through his actions. It was easy to hate Joe, and that feeling only compounded as more of his choices came to light. I know that many readers don't like to read active cheating; but honestly the relationship was over before their wedding day and I didn't begrudge Eva for her actions.
Eva and Ethan together were the perfect enemies to lovers combination with him falling first and being the one who both grounded her and set her free. I really think the Author showed us the depth of both MCs in the story and I highly recommend you give it around when it's published on June 20th 🥳
Alone and panicking, the last person Eva expects comes to her rescue; Joe's best friend Ethan. She doesn't know it yet, but Ethan has just discovered his own betrayal by Joe and is out for revenge. With his help, she gets through her wedding day and they enter into a pact; they'll get Joe for what he has done to them.
As time goes on and Joe becomes less secretive about his affair, Eva and Ethan decide to step it up with an affair of their own. What could be worse for Joe than his wife and his best friend? But with this line crossed, who will be the winners when it all blows up?
Thank you to Author @brooke_stanton_writes @netgalley @victoryeditingngc for this ARC. All opinions shared within this review are my own.
I really enjoyed this story and empathised with Eva and everything Joe was willing to take from her through his actions. It was easy to hate Joe, and that feeling only compounded as more of his choices came to light. I know that many readers don't like to read active cheating; but honestly the relationship was over before their wedding day and I didn't begrudge Eva for her actions.
Eva and Ethan together were the perfect enemies to lovers combination with him falling first and being the one who both grounded her and set her free. I really think the Author showed us the depth of both MCs in the story and I highly recommend you give it around when it's published on June 20th 🥳
June 20, 2023
*3.5 stars*
Definitely don't judge The Revenge Pact by Brooke Stanton by the cover! It is no cute rom Com. Though there are some funny moments, it was spicy and complicated. Ethan and Eva's enemies to lovers ,fake relationship romance has so many complex layers and I bet everyone will have different reactions to it.
On her wedding day, Eva finds out that her husband is cheating on her with her friend but she has to go through the marriage because her citizenship is depending on it. But she has to take revenge on him and having a revenge affair with her husband's best friend tech nerd turned billionaire Ethan Steele is her best bet. But Ethan hates her and she is not sure if she can go through it.
This book has cheating so don't pick this up if you have issues there. I personally don't hate this trope IF the plot is right and the emotions are well done. Unfortunately this book didn't have it. Eva is a very unstable character. She is perfectionist and a planner and the marriage was part of her carefully crafted plan and probably she loved her husband. But it wasn't very clear from her action. She was definitely hurt and angry and disappointed but it was hard to say if this was from heartbreak or from something else. Ethan was her husband's best friend but Ethan was also betrayed by Joe ( the husband) and so he hates Joe now. Even though he didn't like the marriage previously, now suddenly he can see Eva's great qualities. That made no sense to me and felt very fake. The author tried to show the love blooming between Eva and Ethan through the mess but I mostly felt that Eva was using Ethan and Ethan was manipulated by her. Even at the end..I am not sure if Eva really got over Joe and fell in love or just jumped from one convenient ship to another. I liked Ethan better because his actions were real and reasonable. There are some heartbreaking angsty scenes and some emotional turmoil but not enough for me to feel for their relationship.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through Netgalley & Coco Blue
Definitely don't judge The Revenge Pact by Brooke Stanton by the cover! It is no cute rom Com. Though there are some funny moments, it was spicy and complicated. Ethan and Eva's enemies to lovers ,fake relationship romance has so many complex layers and I bet everyone will have different reactions to it.
On her wedding day, Eva finds out that her husband is cheating on her with her friend but she has to go through the marriage because her citizenship is depending on it. But she has to take revenge on him and having a revenge affair with her husband's best friend tech nerd turned billionaire Ethan Steele is her best bet. But Ethan hates her and she is not sure if she can go through it.
This book has cheating so don't pick this up if you have issues there. I personally don't hate this trope IF the plot is right and the emotions are well done. Unfortunately this book didn't have it. Eva is a very unstable character. She is perfectionist and a planner and the marriage was part of her carefully crafted plan and probably she loved her husband. But it wasn't very clear from her action. She was definitely hurt and angry and disappointed but it was hard to say if this was from heartbreak or from something else. Ethan was her husband's best friend but Ethan was also betrayed by Joe ( the husband) and so he hates Joe now. Even though he didn't like the marriage previously, now suddenly he can see Eva's great qualities. That made no sense to me and felt very fake. The author tried to show the love blooming between Eva and Ethan through the mess but I mostly felt that Eva was using Ethan and Ethan was manipulated by her. Even at the end..I am not sure if Eva really got over Joe and fell in love or just jumped from one convenient ship to another. I liked Ethan better because his actions were real and reasonable. There are some heartbreaking angsty scenes and some emotional turmoil but not enough for me to feel for their relationship.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through Netgalley & Coco Blue
June 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
This book is like a guilty pleasure you won't be able to put down.
So, the story goes like this: there are these three friends who make a revenge pact. Like, they're out for payback, and it's gonna be epic. Talk about drama, right? You won't believe the crazy schemes they come up with to settle their scores. It's juicy, it's addictive, and it's pure entertainment.
Now, let's talk about the characters. They're so relatable, with their flaws and imperfections. You'll find yourself rooting for them, even when they're up to some questionable stuff. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and the witty banter had me snorting with laughter.
Brooke Stanton has this knack for writing in a way that sucks you right into the story. It's like you're right there, hanging out with the characters, witnessing their revenge plots unfold. The pace is fast, and there's never a dull moment. You'll be flipping those pages like crazy, itching to see what happens next.
And let's not forget the romance! This book has some serious swoon-worthy moments. The tension, the sparks, the steaminess—it's all there. Get ready to fan yourself, my friend, 'cause it's about to get hot in here.
"The Revenge Pact" is the perfect escape when you're in the mood for some delicious drama and a healthy dose of payback. It's like binge-watching your favorite guilty pleasure TV show, but in book form. So, grab a cozy spot, get comfy, and prepare for a wild ride. This book is pure entertainment, and I guarantee you'll be hooked from start to finish.
This book is like a guilty pleasure you won't be able to put down.
So, the story goes like this: there are these three friends who make a revenge pact. Like, they're out for payback, and it's gonna be epic. Talk about drama, right? You won't believe the crazy schemes they come up with to settle their scores. It's juicy, it's addictive, and it's pure entertainment.
Now, let's talk about the characters. They're so relatable, with their flaws and imperfections. You'll find yourself rooting for them, even when they're up to some questionable stuff. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and the witty banter had me snorting with laughter.
Brooke Stanton has this knack for writing in a way that sucks you right into the story. It's like you're right there, hanging out with the characters, witnessing their revenge plots unfold. The pace is fast, and there's never a dull moment. You'll be flipping those pages like crazy, itching to see what happens next.
And let's not forget the romance! This book has some serious swoon-worthy moments. The tension, the sparks, the steaminess—it's all there. Get ready to fan yourself, my friend, 'cause it's about to get hot in here.
"The Revenge Pact" is the perfect escape when you're in the mood for some delicious drama and a healthy dose of payback. It's like binge-watching your favorite guilty pleasure TV show, but in book form. So, grab a cozy spot, get comfy, and prepare for a wild ride. This book is pure entertainment, and I guarantee you'll be hooked from start to finish.
May 31, 2023
Eva is the epitome of Better Than Revenge and I love to see it. She really said "you might have him but I always get the last word." 👏👏👏
I absolutely loved the premise and the fact that, as a reader, you’re basically thrown into the inciting incident. When Eva finds out her fiance (who she’d actually already eloped with) was cheating on her the morning of their wedding, she begins to make a plan and who is better to drag in than the man her husband also wronged (aka, his best friend)? I got into it very quickly and didn’t want to put it down; I couldn’t wait to see Joe get his karma and he definitely did.
As a type A girl who loves lists and spreadsheets and plans, Eva was super relatable. She felt very realistically flawed but I couldn’t help but root for her and her relationship with Ethan from the very start. Ugh—I loved that man and how his character developed from before the start of the book to where they ended up! Lastly, I loved Rachel and I hope there’s a follow up novel with her and Eva’s boss because that feels so right and I know I’d devour it! My only complaint was that some of the descriptions and dirty-talk during the spicy scenes felt a little too comical; like, sometimes the heat was totally doused but it wasn’t that way for all of the spicy scenes so I’m not sure how I feel about that!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Coco & Bee, and Brooke Stanton for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.
I absolutely loved the premise and the fact that, as a reader, you’re basically thrown into the inciting incident. When Eva finds out her fiance (who she’d actually already eloped with) was cheating on her the morning of their wedding, she begins to make a plan and who is better to drag in than the man her husband also wronged (aka, his best friend)? I got into it very quickly and didn’t want to put it down; I couldn’t wait to see Joe get his karma and he definitely did.
As a type A girl who loves lists and spreadsheets and plans, Eva was super relatable. She felt very realistically flawed but I couldn’t help but root for her and her relationship with Ethan from the very start. Ugh—I loved that man and how his character developed from before the start of the book to where they ended up! Lastly, I loved Rachel and I hope there’s a follow up novel with her and Eva’s boss because that feels so right and I know I’d devour it! My only complaint was that some of the descriptions and dirty-talk during the spicy scenes felt a little too comical; like, sometimes the heat was totally doused but it wasn’t that way for all of the spicy scenes so I’m not sure how I feel about that!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Coco & Bee, and Brooke Stanton for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.
June 25, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op, Coco & Bee, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Revenge Pact is so amazing that I couldn't put it down! This tale features hilarious moments, steamy scenes, straight-up revenge, and HEA! What more could you ask for?`
Eva Hart has just heard the worst thing imaginable as she is about to go down the aisle at her own wedding. The news that Joe, Eva's soon-to-be husband, has been having an affair for months was recently revealed to her by his ex-girlfriend, who is also his cheating partner. Since they had eloped and a visa was dependent on their marriage, Eva chose to exact retribution instead, choosing none other than Ethan Steele, Joe's best friend.
When Eva seeks help with her plan to get revenge on Joe, Ethan Steele, Joe's best friend and a loyal tech genius who recently discovered his own betrayal, finds it difficult to say no.
Eva is a type-A personality who forgets to have fun, and Ethan tends to avoid love due to recently being burned by a previous relationship. Despite the fact that they are polar opposites of one another, you can tell they are a good match from their interactions throughout the novel.
Brooke Stanton was able to craft a revenge storyline without going overboard, and I can't wait to read her future novels. Anyone looking for an incredible revenge novel with steamy scenes and hilarious bits to brighten their day should read this book!
The Revenge Pact is so amazing that I couldn't put it down! This tale features hilarious moments, steamy scenes, straight-up revenge, and HEA! What more could you ask for?`
Eva Hart has just heard the worst thing imaginable as she is about to go down the aisle at her own wedding. The news that Joe, Eva's soon-to-be husband, has been having an affair for months was recently revealed to her by his ex-girlfriend, who is also his cheating partner. Since they had eloped and a visa was dependent on their marriage, Eva chose to exact retribution instead, choosing none other than Ethan Steele, Joe's best friend.
When Eva seeks help with her plan to get revenge on Joe, Ethan Steele, Joe's best friend and a loyal tech genius who recently discovered his own betrayal, finds it difficult to say no.
Eva is a type-A personality who forgets to have fun, and Ethan tends to avoid love due to recently being burned by a previous relationship. Despite the fact that they are polar opposites of one another, you can tell they are a good match from their interactions throughout the novel.
Brooke Stanton was able to craft a revenge storyline without going overboard, and I can't wait to read her future novels. Anyone looking for an incredible revenge novel with steamy scenes and hilarious bits to brighten their day should read this book!
September 3, 2023
✨Tropes/ TW
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Forbidden lovers ✔️
Cheating ✔️
Angsty✔️
Okay so Eva is about to get married. Like.. she is in the white dress and everything when she finds out that he soon be.. jk her husband is hooking up with her frenemy. He world comes crazy down. Suddenly it’s hard to breathe or think. Little did she expect that her husband best friend would find her in the state of complete meltdown. He confides in her that joe betrayed him as well. This leads the duo to enter a pact for revenge. Little did they know that spending so much time with one another would change their view about each other.
This was a fun read!! There is a lot of drama. Eva is hilarious at times. Her dedication to the plan is on point. Ethan is swoon worthy. He wants to protect her and loves her brand of crazy. Joe and Ashley both suck period. Savi is fun. I love how supportive she is to Ethan. Rachel is the BFF everyone needs. I found myself chuckling a lot. The spiders were hilarious!! I would die !!💀 The spice 🌶️was there for sure!! 🥵 Although I did find myself enjoying some of the sex scene I was a little thrown. I think maybe how it was worded. I usually like to flow through my books but if a word throws me off i have to redirect my thoughts.
Overall it was a fun read. Definitely would recommend to check it out.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley.
Enemies to lovers ✔️
Forbidden lovers ✔️
Cheating ✔️
Angsty✔️
Okay so Eva is about to get married. Like.. she is in the white dress and everything when she finds out that he soon be.. jk her husband is hooking up with her frenemy. He world comes crazy down. Suddenly it’s hard to breathe or think. Little did she expect that her husband best friend would find her in the state of complete meltdown. He confides in her that joe betrayed him as well. This leads the duo to enter a pact for revenge. Little did they know that spending so much time with one another would change their view about each other.
This was a fun read!! There is a lot of drama. Eva is hilarious at times. Her dedication to the plan is on point. Ethan is swoon worthy. He wants to protect her and loves her brand of crazy. Joe and Ashley both suck period. Savi is fun. I love how supportive she is to Ethan. Rachel is the BFF everyone needs. I found myself chuckling a lot. The spiders were hilarious!! I would die !!💀 The spice 🌶️was there for sure!! 🥵 Although I did find myself enjoying some of the sex scene I was a little thrown. I think maybe how it was worded. I usually like to flow through my books but if a word throws me off i have to redirect my thoughts.
Overall it was a fun read. Definitely would recommend to check it out.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley.
June 9, 2023
This book was an unexpected surprise. I loved it. The main character, Eva, is the independent, determined girl that is going to great lengths to achieve what she wants. Her mind games come from a place of hurt and vulnerability and the twists and turns in her plans are what makes this book a fun read. Ethan has a difficult background which adds to his humanity. Eva’s childhood was marked by her father always leaving, which makes her feel the betrayal more than others. The spice was just right and it didn’t overshadow the main storyline. I also enjoyed the real issues presented in this book: the green card and immigration. This was the reason Eva was willing to do anything to be able to receive the status while also getting her revenge on the one that hurt her the most. I would have liked to have read more about Ethan and his feelings. I believe that Eva’s storyline was well written and well presented but I do believe that Ethan’s was lacking at times. I would have loved to know what he was thinking when he told Joe he shouldn’t marry Eva, what he was feeling when his father came to visit. What I love about his part was the meeting with Jasmine. She came to give him closure to be able to accept Eva and evolve as a person.
June 1, 2023
wow, there’s a lot going on in this book! for such a quick read, there was infidelity, a wedding, revenge, thievery, emergency room visit, more revenge, heartbreak, romance, & some wild characters to round it all up! I loved this story— I love a good revenge story, so even though the cheating and lying was terrible, it was clearly the reason for the revenge plot that set the whole story in motion.
I really felt bad for Eva as she navigates the downfall of her relationship with Joe— who is King Asshole— because she didn’t show love & affection the way Joe and even Ethan expected her too. seriously f*ck that because we all have our own ways of showing affection & Eva has actual trauma that shaped her ways of living.
Ethan really proved himself in this book to me, coming up from annoying asshole to committed frenemy, friend, revenge partner, and eventual lover. I loved how Eva & Ethan so clearly fit together from the start then built a feisty & loving relationship
just a great, fun, intriguing story with some questionable morals (but not accepting cruel behavior) that kept it exciting :)
thank you for the ARC!!!
I really felt bad for Eva as she navigates the downfall of her relationship with Joe— who is King Asshole— because she didn’t show love & affection the way Joe and even Ethan expected her too. seriously f*ck that because we all have our own ways of showing affection & Eva has actual trauma that shaped her ways of living.
Ethan really proved himself in this book to me, coming up from annoying asshole to committed frenemy, friend, revenge partner, and eventual lover. I loved how Eva & Ethan so clearly fit together from the start then built a feisty & loving relationship
just a great, fun, intriguing story with some questionable morals (but not accepting cruel behavior) that kept it exciting :)
thank you for the ARC!!!
July 25, 2023
A solid 3.75 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐️
Tbh..I did not expect this book to be soo goodd!!! I am trying books which are kinda unpopular yk. I have never heard of this book anywhere. This book's whole point is based on cheating, so if you are not comfortable with that, please don't read this.
Evelyn, who has her whole life planned out, finds out that her soon to husband and her maybe-maybe not love of her life has been cheating on her with his obnoxious ex-girlfriend. She decides to shed no tears for the dummy and bring out the big guns. She forms The Revenge Pact with her husband's best friend, Ethan.
I love the way Ethan does not like Evelyn in the starting. There is a bit of enemies to lovers sorta thing goin on.Then slowly you see him panicking over him making Eva upset to him being completely in love with her. I love it when in books the MC are sooo goddamn vulnerable and sweet and kind instead of them always being the big bad boy.
I had no high expectations with this book. All I wanted was a short, sweet, rom-com-ish type book which will help me get out of this book slump and this book did it for me. I wouldn't say that it's THE BEST BOOK and that everyone's gonna love it, cuz its not. I guess some may find it unsettling cuz of the cheating going on in there.
Overall, If you want to read a spicy ( hella spicy book btw), funny, enemies to lovers, you need to try this.
Tbh..I did not expect this book to be soo goodd!!! I am trying books which are kinda unpopular yk. I have never heard of this book anywhere. This book's whole point is based on cheating, so if you are not comfortable with that, please don't read this.
Evelyn, who has her whole life planned out, finds out that her soon to husband and her maybe-maybe not love of her life has been cheating on her with his obnoxious ex-girlfriend. She decides to shed no tears for the dummy and bring out the big guns. She forms The Revenge Pact with her husband's best friend, Ethan.
I love the way Ethan does not like Evelyn in the starting. There is a bit of enemies to lovers sorta thing goin on.Then slowly you see him panicking over him making Eva upset to him being completely in love with her. I love it when in books the MC are sooo goddamn vulnerable and sweet and kind instead of them always being the big bad boy.
I had no high expectations with this book. All I wanted was a short, sweet, rom-com-ish type book which will help me get out of this book slump and this book did it for me. I wouldn't say that it's THE BEST BOOK and that everyone's gonna love it, cuz its not. I guess some may find it unsettling cuz of the cheating going on in there.
Overall, If you want to read a spicy ( hella spicy book btw), funny, enemies to lovers, you need to try this.
June 12, 2023
Wow! Talk about a book starter. I was not expecting Eva to find out minutes before she got married that her friend and soon to be husband slept with each other the night before in the first sentence of the book. I was hooked from that point determined to see how this all plays out. I finished the book in a few hours.
So Joe is a complete a-hole! First 3 chapters and we learn so much about him and his messed up ways. I felt so bad and sad and Eva.
Watching Eva determined to get her life back and take revenge was eye opening in so many ways for her. I enjoyed watching the light come back to her life.
Ethan did not want the wedding to happen in the first place and maybe he was right. Learning more about Ethan and him being there for Eva is exactly what they both needed.
While the book took us on a ride, I really enjoyed the I enjoyed the intervention and operation Ethan. I also laughed a lot during the book.
Thank you to NetGalley EARC! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.
So Joe is a complete a-hole! First 3 chapters and we learn so much about him and his messed up ways. I felt so bad and sad and Eva.
Watching Eva determined to get her life back and take revenge was eye opening in so many ways for her. I enjoyed watching the light come back to her life.
Ethan did not want the wedding to happen in the first place and maybe he was right. Learning more about Ethan and him being there for Eva is exactly what they both needed.
While the book took us on a ride, I really enjoyed the I enjoyed the intervention and operation Ethan. I also laughed a lot during the book.
Thank you to NetGalley EARC! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.
June 14, 2023
I don't know what to say. I hate Eva so much. I'm not even sure how to put my thoughts on this book into words.
Obviously cheating isn't okay and it isn't Eva's fault that Joe cheated on her but she was a sh*t girlfriend and fiance. He should have broken up with her and moved on. Ethan is adorable and deserved way better than what he got. Then his scene with Jasmine when she said he broke up with her because he didn't want to explore sex with extra people and that was somehow on him. She loved him but he wasn't enough for her and since he didn't respect that it was his fault their relationship didn't work. I just feel like the theme of this book was "no matter how the woman is, cold and distant or wanting to have an open relationship, the man should agree and if not he's the problem" and that's just not something I'm on board with.
Anyway, 3 stars because the author took the time to write and publish a book and that deserves something.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Obviously cheating isn't okay and it isn't Eva's fault that Joe cheated on her but she was a sh*t girlfriend and fiance. He should have broken up with her and moved on. Ethan is adorable and deserved way better than what he got. Then his scene with Jasmine when she said he broke up with her because he didn't want to explore sex with extra people and that was somehow on him. She loved him but he wasn't enough for her and since he didn't respect that it was his fault their relationship didn't work. I just feel like the theme of this book was "no matter how the woman is, cold and distant or wanting to have an open relationship, the man should agree and if not he's the problem" and that's just not something I'm on board with.
Anyway, 3 stars because the author took the time to write and publish a book and that deserves something.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 16, 2023
What happens when you discover your new husband is screwing his ex-girlfriend just before your wedding?
You make a revenge pact with his best friend who hates you.
This was a fun, entertaining steamy romp, with two interesting, flawed characters. Eva is a focused, type A personality with lists and spreadsheets, who loses sight of just having fun and being a bit more freewheeling. Ethan is burnt from a previous relationship so he eschews love. I also really liked best friend Rachel who called out Eva when she was being ridiculous and Eva's supportive boss Derrick.
Normally I shy away from revenge stories as they tend to be over-the-top and ridiculous to a point where I don't find them funny or entertaining and skim through, but this book was nothing like that. I appreciated that Stanton knew when to reign her characters in at the right moment to let the romanctic and emotional beats shine through.
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Coco & Bee and NetGalley for the ARC.
You make a revenge pact with his best friend who hates you.
This was a fun, entertaining steamy romp, with two interesting, flawed characters. Eva is a focused, type A personality with lists and spreadsheets, who loses sight of just having fun and being a bit more freewheeling. Ethan is burnt from a previous relationship so he eschews love. I also really liked best friend Rachel who called out Eva when she was being ridiculous and Eva's supportive boss Derrick.
Normally I shy away from revenge stories as they tend to be over-the-top and ridiculous to a point where I don't find them funny or entertaining and skim through, but this book was nothing like that. I appreciated that Stanton knew when to reign her characters in at the right moment to let the romanctic and emotional beats shine through.
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Coco & Bee and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 19, 2023
While this book was a quick read, I did not really enjoy it at all. The main female character is not likable - trust me, I tried - and the entire premise is focused around cheating, which is not something I'm a huge fan of as a trope. If other things had gone better, I definitely could have looked past it.
This book is very steamy with descriptions of sex that I would consider truly terrible. I love smut and read it all the time, but this is not it. It would pull me out the story and just ruin the scene for me. But without good character and plot development, it just fell flat.
The author gets credit for writing and publishing a book because that is hard and it did hold my attention - I was intrigued enough and enjoined the banter to read to the end.
I'd be hesitant to pick up this author's next book because I can't do the cringeworthy smut again. But this would be an entertaining read for lots of romance readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.
This book is very steamy with descriptions of sex that I would consider truly terrible. I love smut and read it all the time, but this is not it. It would pull me out the story and just ruin the scene for me. But without good character and plot development, it just fell flat.
The author gets credit for writing and publishing a book because that is hard and it did hold my attention - I was intrigued enough and enjoined the banter to read to the end.
I'd be hesitant to pick up this author's next book because I can't do the cringeworthy smut again. But this would be an entertaining read for lots of romance readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.
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