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The Summer Pact
10 hours, 14 minutes
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?
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?
Audiobook
First published July 9, 2024
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About the author
Emily Giffin
41 books25.4k 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,632 reviews
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.
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
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 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.
October 21, 2024
I liked Hannah's chapters but the rest of them were corny and trying way too hard to be ''woke''
July 11, 2024
giving myself permission to DNF @ 42%
July 13, 2024
This book was so so stupid. I wanted to quit and should have because it just kept getting worse.
August 15, 2025
4/5
- This book is so good!! Was recommended this book by my friend Andrea and she said that the beginning of the book will have your jaw on the floor… she wasn’t lying!! The prologue and first chapter literally had me SHOOK!!
- Love how much this story focused on friendship and the complexities, joy, and beauty that come with it. It’s so rare for me to love every character when there are multiple povs but I was hanging on every word from each story.
- If you want to read a story that feels so real, covers heavy topics, but also balances the struggles of life with humor and joy.. this read is the one for you!
- This book is so good!! Was recommended this book by my friend Andrea and she said that the beginning of the book will have your jaw on the floor… she wasn’t lying!! The prologue and first chapter literally had me SHOOK!!
- Love how much this story focused on friendship and the complexities, joy, and beauty that come with it. It’s so rare for me to love every character when there are multiple povs but I was hanging on every word from each story.
- If you want to read a story that feels so real, covers heavy topics, but also balances the struggles of life with humor and joy.. this read is the one for you!
July 19, 2024
Literally one of the worst books I’ve encountered all year. Not only does it lack the wonderful storytelling Emily giffin is known for the plot of this story is awful. The adults in this story are terrible people lacking character and self awareness.
The book feels nothing like anything I’ve read from Emily giffin before. It cheapens her previous work and feels written to appeal to a new and more shallow crowd. Too much underlying politics and lacking actual story. What a shame.
The book feels nothing like anything I’ve read from Emily giffin before. It cheapens her previous work and feels written to appeal to a new and more shallow crowd. Too much underlying politics and lacking actual story. What a shame.
May 26, 2025
3.25💫
not my favorite by emily giffin, and im definitely glad i audiobooked it. i think if i read my physical copy i would have dnfed this one. it was a bit slow and underwhelming in my opinion, and i felt like i was constantly waiting for something to happen.
the book starts off really strong and we got a good insight into who the characters were as a person, what shaped them, and what they are personally dealing with. the premise of the book revolved around their best friend summer, who killed herself right before college graduation, with no explanation why. they created this pact called “the summer pact” where if any of them ever feel like they are at their lowest, they will all come together and rely on one another instead of making drastic choices. the reason they all came together this time was because hannahs fiance cheated on her, but we kind of lost that reasoning once the story started moving. the main focus moved to laineys family drama, and we completely lost the whole reason they initially came together, which was to help hannah heal. tysons problems were also introduced and then completely swept under the rug. also, we never found out what happened to summer, and the story completely lost the point that this escape from real life was mainly about her. i assumed there would be some heartfelt scenes and all of the friends coming together, but everyone kinda did their own thing and only laineys problems were touched on. i feel like emily giffin included a lot of filler into this book, but didn’t add anything meaningful for the characters and their personal journey.
i enjoyed listening to it and i think the book started off pretty strong, but it fell off and was extremely underwhelming. glad i can finally knock this one off the tbr tho!
not my favorite by emily giffin, and im definitely glad i audiobooked it. i think if i read my physical copy i would have dnfed this one. it was a bit slow and underwhelming in my opinion, and i felt like i was constantly waiting for something to happen.
the book starts off really strong and we got a good insight into who the characters were as a person, what shaped them, and what they are personally dealing with. the premise of the book revolved around their best friend summer, who killed herself right before college graduation, with no explanation why. they created this pact called “the summer pact” where if any of them ever feel like they are at their lowest, they will all come together and rely on one another instead of making drastic choices. the reason they all came together this time was because hannahs fiance cheated on her, but we kind of lost that reasoning once the story started moving. the main focus moved to laineys family drama, and we completely lost the whole reason they initially came together, which was to help hannah heal. tysons problems were also introduced and then completely swept under the rug. also, we never found out what happened to summer, and the story completely lost the point that this escape from real life was mainly about her. i assumed there would be some heartfelt scenes and all of the friends coming together, but everyone kinda did their own thing and only laineys problems were touched on. i feel like emily giffin included a lot of filler into this book, but didn’t add anything meaningful for the characters and their personal journey.
i enjoyed listening to it and i think the book started off pretty strong, but it fell off and was extremely underwhelming. glad i can finally knock this one off the tbr tho!
June 20, 2024
3.75 ⭐️ an incredibly sweet story of friendship, grief, & love!
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.
August 29, 2024
"The Summer Pact" was NOT my favorite book of the summer.
😭😥😭
Were my expectations set too high for one of my favorite authors?
(Probably!)
TWs: suicide, infidelity, bisexuality, alcoholism, mental illness, toxic dysfunctional family dynamics.
(Did I miss anything????)
As the book progressed, the author threw every TW under the hot summer sun into this book's convoluted storyline.
Favorite 5-star Emily Giffin books:
* All We Ever Wanted
* Heart of the Matter
* Something Borrowed
* Something Blue
* Baby Proof
* Love The One You're With
Least favorite Emily Giffin book:
* The Summer Pact
I listened to the audiobook read by JD Jackson, Karissa Vacker, and Alex McKenna.
All narrators did an outstanding job with the narration.
One star, rounded up.
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.
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 19, 2024
⭐️ DNF - never in my life would I expect to see these 3 little letters next to an Emily Giffin book. I’ve loved her books since forever. On release day, I’d have her book in my hands. She has written such moving litfic with characters and plots that have such depth.
This has been flat. A huge event happens in the first few pages and it’s just thrown out there without any care. It landed with nothing since the characters relationships weren’t developed yet.
This group of friends just doesn’t work. It doesn’t make sense. The one is so incredibly unlikable and insufferable. They are immature and this plot is going nowhere. Also; Emily is a white woman. Trying to write from a black man’s perspective? Come on.
100+ pages in, and the amount of far left winged agenda sprinkled in is insane. Do you. Cover an important topic. But it feels like she’s using her platform to simply try and write in every single political topic she feels strongly about and it has nothing to do with anything. I don’t want extreme politics in any direction in the books I read. This has made me lose respect for this author. I usually “ban” these authors from my bookshelf.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Hard pass.
This has been flat. A huge event happens in the first few pages and it’s just thrown out there without any care. It landed with nothing since the characters relationships weren’t developed yet.
This group of friends just doesn’t work. It doesn’t make sense. The one is so incredibly unlikable and insufferable. They are immature and this plot is going nowhere. Also; Emily is a white woman. Trying to write from a black man’s perspective? Come on.
100+ pages in, and the amount of far left winged agenda sprinkled in is insane. Do you. Cover an important topic. But it feels like she’s using her platform to simply try and write in every single political topic she feels strongly about and it has nothing to do with anything. I don’t want extreme politics in any direction in the books I read. This has made me lose respect for this author. I usually “ban” these authors from my bookshelf.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Hard pass.
July 11, 2024
Very much bummed by this. Its not the Emily Giffin of old, it's the Emily Giffin of 2024 trying to be Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez and it's just not it.
The three main characters were extreme Caricatures of stereotypes. And the ending just twisted to twist.
The three main characters were extreme Caricatures of stereotypes. And the ending just twisted to twist.
July 19, 2024
I’m sorry but what on earth. This book was an interesting rollercoaster. I feel like there was no real direction of the plot, things were just thrown around. When I tell you I could predict Olivia & Hannah from the MOMENT they first interacted. I think it’s sweet how loyal this trio is to each other but at the same time, the way they all just throw their entire life away for each other is chaotic & unrealistic. Tyson quitting his job, ending his relationship… Lainey ditching an audition… wowzers. Also I wish we had resolution as to why the character at the beginning did what she did… like why did the author neglect to acknowledge the why😭😭😭
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.
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.
August 20, 2024
good god i wish i didn’t torture myself to finish this mess.
like, it sucked, so bad. i could not stand lainey and her besties completely enabling her the entire book. the epilogue was such bullshit. please save yourself the TIME and do not bother reading this.
like, it sucked, so bad. i could not stand lainey and her besties completely enabling her the entire book. the epilogue was such bullshit. please save yourself the TIME and do not bother reading this.
June 22, 2025
I had such a fun time in the first half. Hannah,Lainey, and Tyson all have their own personal struggles which are real and valid but the start of the book was all about Hannah and them showing up for her due to the “pact” they made. Yet the last half of the book Lainey being messy and Hannah having to be peace maker and Tyson still hung up on the past.
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.
August 12, 2024
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.
It pains me to give this book 2 starts because Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. This felt like work to read, I rolled my eyes at every chapter and none of the main characters were likable. She added a lot of "woke" stuff so if that's not your cup of tea I suggest avoiding this book. Just avoid it because it's not good.
SPOILERS
I was not aware of the plot and I assumed this was a fun book to read because of the cover. It's not. The character Summer commits suicide and the pact is for the three remaining friends to always be there for each other. I don't mean to sound insensitive but they harp on Summer and I understand losing someone to a tragic death but the way it's written reads gross. And, the conversations surrounding Summer are repeated a million times to the point that you want to scream to the characters to move on.
Also, a romance between two characters happens out of nowhere which proves the point of one of the character's ex that men and women can't be friends without romantic feelings. Very stupid. And, even more out of nowhere, the other character becomes gay. No signs or feelings before just boom she's gay now.
Did I mention already how none of the main characters are likable? All are selfish, one lectures everyone and the other is not only selfish but extremely annoying.
The ending felt rushed and honestly, this whole book seemed to be a rush job. I suggest skipping this one.
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.
It pains me to give this book 2 starts because Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. This felt like work to read, I rolled my eyes at every chapter and none of the main characters were likable. She added a lot of "woke" stuff so if that's not your cup of tea I suggest avoiding this book. Just avoid it because it's not good.
SPOILERS
I was not aware of the plot and I assumed this was a fun book to read because of the cover. It's not. The character Summer commits suicide and the pact is for the three remaining friends to always be there for each other. I don't mean to sound insensitive but they harp on Summer and I understand losing someone to a tragic death but the way it's written reads gross. And, the conversations surrounding Summer are repeated a million times to the point that you want to scream to the characters to move on.
Also, a romance between two characters happens out of nowhere which proves the point of one of the character's ex that men and women can't be friends without romantic feelings. Very stupid. And, even more out of nowhere, the other character becomes gay. No signs or feelings before just boom she's gay now.
Did I mention already how none of the main characters are likable? All are selfish, one lectures everyone and the other is not only selfish but extremely annoying.
The ending felt rushed and honestly, this whole book seemed to be a rush job. I suggest skipping this one.
August 8, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ this is a super cute story about friendship. The beginning hooked me and I loved the summer/vacation vibes. I thought the middle was really slow, nothing really happens. I did adore the ending though. There is a lot of dialogue so it reads rather quickly, but I would have loved to get to know the characters while they were getting to know each other. Their time in college is briefly mentioned, which was a missed opportunity to build that connection, in my opinion.
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.
August 26, 2024
After the loss of their friend the three remaining classmates(friends), make a pact, The Summer Pact, to always be there for each other, no matter where they are or what is going on in their lives. This novel is about friendship, grief, coping, and always being there for each other.
August 12, 2024
Four students become best friends in college at UVA and also become bound by tragedy in their senior year. They make a pact to always be there for each other.
A decade later, when Hannah is supposed to be joyously celebrating a big occasion, she is instead experiencing a low point in life and turns to her friends, who answer the call, fulfilling the promise of their pact. It seems Hannah isn’t the only one dealing with big challenges though. Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson decide to take a trip that they could all desperately use.
This is a story about friendship, grief, happiness, and forgiveness. At times, the dialogue definitely felt unrealistic but overall, I enjoyed The Summer Pact. I appreciated the friendships and enjoyed the travel elements in this story — 3.5 stars
A decade later, when Hannah is supposed to be joyously celebrating a big occasion, she is instead experiencing a low point in life and turns to her friends, who answer the call, fulfilling the promise of their pact. It seems Hannah isn’t the only one dealing with big challenges though. Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson decide to take a trip that they could all desperately use.
This is a story about friendship, grief, happiness, and forgiveness. At times, the dialogue definitely felt unrealistic but overall, I enjoyed The Summer Pact. I appreciated the friendships and enjoyed the travel elements in this story — 3.5 stars
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