The Anti-Marriage Pact: A Novel

by Lindsay MacMillan

Four friends. One pact. Zero compromises... Until now.

When EJ and her three roommates swear off marriage and motherhood with their infamous "Anti-Marriage Pact," they think they've got life figured out. No white dresses, no baby fever, no losing themselves to societal expectations. Just fierce friendship, creative ambitions, and the gritty freedom of Brooklyn.

But the bonds that once felt unbreakable start to fray as one friend and then another begins to find love. Meanwhile, Chris walks into EJ's life—a buttoned-up tax accountant who dares to question everything she believes about love, commitment, and what it really means to live on your own terms. Now EJ finds herself caught between loyalty to her sisters-in-arms and the terrifying prospect of opening her heart to something she's spent years rejecting. As her carefully constructed world begins to crack, EJ must confront the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she's been wrong about everything.

A wickedly funny and brutally honest exploration of modern feminism, female friendship, and the courage it takes to rewrite the rules of your own life

Genres: Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is in her late 20’s, closer to her 30’s, this book came as a delightful option. Is there any category of “coming of age”, but for adults pushing 30? Because this book would be a great example.

Emily Jane (EJ) is the book’s main character. I think that she was so well built, with such an incredible development, that at the same time that I’d hate some of her attitudes - she definitely would be that friend that is too woke - I would also cheer for EJ, because she is amazing e also because she is someone that I, reader, could also be.

The frustrating of feeling constantly unmotivated to chase your dreams - just like every single time that EJ would find a reason to not write -, but knowing that you're capable to be someone bigger than you are today, aka the 30s crisis, it’s amazingly portrayed, specially that “thing” of when you look at the people around you and all of them seem to have their life’s done, growing up, while you are just… stuck, even tho those people are incredible and always available to help and support you (even in some crazy pacts).

For me, one of the book’s highlights are EJ’s friendships. When you are a woman, being surrounded by other women is essential, because it’s there where you’ll learn how to be truly loved and to feel belonged. In the book, it’s amazing to see how EJ’s friends are a true toll to make her develop and also how they stayed by her side, even she was trying to avoid them,

Honestly, I’m in love with this book. But truth be told: I’d have loved an epilogue, but it’s absence didn’t ruin the experience - Lindsay MacMillan, please please please, consider publishing a short story or a novella just to give me some updates about EJ, I truly care about her.

If I could, I’d give this book to all of my friends, in particular to those who, just like me, feel lost in a world that is so complex and tuff, but still hold a little bit of faith.

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Muse for giving me the incredible chance to be part of thar journey.

[Tate · Rating 1 out of 5]

A group of women questioning traditional expectations around marriage and motherhood is such a good setup, which is why I was excited to read this book.

But I really struggled with the main character. She was constantly talking down on everything. Marriage, long-term relationships, the idea of children, and men in general all seemed to be treated with the same level of disdain. Her inner thoughts are packed with nonstop pop-culture references, buzzwords, and commentary about capitalism and the patriarchy. I don’t mind those themes at all. They make sense for the story. But the delivery is so constant that it becomes repetitive and exhausting. It pulled me out of the story again and again.

I really liked the premise and the focus on questioning expectations of women in our society, but the execution wasn’t good. It was tough to get through and almost ended up as a DNF. #giveaway

#giveaway

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

EJ and her three roommates make an “Anti-Marriage Pact,” rejecting marriage and motherhood in favor of friendship, ambition, and independence. EJ's friends start falling in love rupturing the pact and she meets Chris. After a lot of denial, she is forced to question her beliefs about love, loyalty, and the life she thought she wanted.
it is well written but all the anti-everything discourse gets old really quickly making the book full of clichés and a bit youngadultish. I also think that it could have been shorter. Still, it can be a fun light read with some deeper moments.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

A group of friends that have an anti-marriage pact find themselves struggling to really stick to that pact (as much as they may try).

I do think that this is more of a literary fiction story about friendship and going through different stages of life with those friendships than a romance.

But there definitely is still a subplot of romance.

I had fun reading this. I found it to be refreshing and easy to read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Niko Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

MacMillan can write — the prose and pacing kept me turning pages. That said, I didn’t connect with the story’s overall stance. I liked the premise and what it was trying to explore, but the “anti” tone across the board began to wear on me after a while. EJ, especially, frustrated me because she seemed fully aware she was sabotaging her own life, and I struggled to root for her.

[Nancy Graben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet romcom with a feminist edge and an undercurrent of trauma that wasn't fully exposed until later in the novel.

Wonderful characters and very well-written.

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time reading this book. I just did not like the FMC and couldn't buy the romance. I dnf'd at 35%