What do you think?
Rate this book
The Anti-Marriage Pact: A Novel
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
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
320 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 2, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!!
3.5 ⭐
HOLY character development!! I have yet to read a book where the main character grows this much in one book!! I loved loved EJ's story and her awakening!! This is very women rights/feminism forward! She had some amazing ideas and opinions and some other crazy ideas lol. Sometimes she was super unhinged lol.
This is set in New York City, we walk through the streets, take the subways, talk about life in the big city. If you are near New York and/or understand the street and block names then this will be so fun for you!! We are REALLY set in New York!
You know, we have a saint in this book and that's Olivia. This girl was such an understanding person to deal with her bf and his "friend" that is always there.
Speaking of Olivia having to deal with EJ, she can cause some freakin trouble. EJ just wreaks havoc everywhere she goes. Before she "woke up" she was AWFUL. She is lucky her friends loved her anyway. She still keeps a lot of her beliefs after she realized her ways, she didn't do a full 180, but she became more mellow, sweet, and understanding. I loved the character she turned into!
3.5 ⭐
HOLY character development!! I have yet to read a book where the main character grows this much in one book!! I loved loved EJ's story and her awakening!! This is very women rights/feminism forward! She had some amazing ideas and opinions and some other crazy ideas lol. Sometimes she was super unhinged lol.
This is set in New York City, we walk through the streets, take the subways, talk about life in the big city. If you are near New York and/or understand the street and block names then this will be so fun for you!! We are REALLY set in New York!
You know, we have a saint in this book and that's Olivia. This girl was such an understanding person to deal with her bf and his "friend" that is always there.
Speaking of Olivia having to deal with EJ, she can cause some freakin trouble. EJ just wreaks havoc everywhere she goes. Before she "woke up" she was AWFUL. She is lucky her friends loved her anyway. She still keeps a lot of her beliefs after she realized her ways, she didn't do a full 180, but she became more mellow, sweet, and understanding. I loved the character she turned into!
July 10, 2026
BLURB:
EJ and her 3 roommates vow to reject marriage through an anti-marriage pact, but when their lives take unexpected turns and a new friend, Chris, challenges her beliefs, EJ is forced to question everything she thought she knew about happiness.
REVIEW:
I grabbed a copy of this one because I’m a huge fan of Abigail Reno’s narration, and this was a different genre (lit. fiction) from what I’ve listened to her narrate in the past. I went in blind, expecting a slower-moving literary book, and instead I got an engaging literary drama with a subtle romance, a complex (and initially unlikeable) protagonist, and a story that surprised me. EJ lives in Brooklyn with roommates and has some very rigid beliefs about marriage, relationships, and society’s expectations. Her rebellious attitude and sometimes annoying behavior are front and center from the start, so I knew I’d have to be patient and see whether her growth throughout the story would eventually make me connect with her more. Thankfully, sticking with this book and her journey mostly paid off.
The story is told entirely from EJ’s first-person POV, and it was definitely entertaining to get pulled into her very opinionated inner monologues. Right away, I was intrigued by her dynamic with her three roommates, Hal, Jenny, and Tara, who call themselves the Redstockings, and their Brooklyn basement apartment they call “The Inn.” Initially, it seems they all share similar views about marriage and society, but as time goes by, it becomes clear that each woman is complex and has her own needs that change her—and EJ is by far the most rigid in her beliefs. I liked how the group dynamic evolved throughout the story. It was difficult for EJ to stomach the disappointments, but she needed them, and it felt realistic and relatable.
When EJ meets Chris at an art gallery show, their first interaction is anything but romantic, and she brushes him off. But as fate keeps bringing them together, they slowly develop an unconventional friendship while he’s dating someone else. If you’re hoping for a romance, that’s not really what their relationship is for most of the book. There’s a mutual growth between them, and EJ’s personal transformation is propelled forward after meeting him.
This book’s reviews are all over the place, and I understand why. EJ is an unlikeable character who will frustrate and annoy a lot of readers. Even though some of her views are limited and hurtful, and she seems oblivious to how she negatively affects people at times, I can’t say I disagreed with everything she said—she also makes some very valid points about societal expectations and conformity. Later in the story, she’s forced to confront her owncontradictions and realize she doesn’t have all the answers, which is where I started enjoying the book more.
The writing is straightforward, feeling more like contemporary women’s fiction than anything lyrical or especially literary. EJ goes through a rapid shift in her mindset near the end after a life-changing experience. I didn’t completely buy into it, as she was still so set in her ways and deeply rooted in her beliefs only a few chapters earlier. That being said, it was still satisfying to see her become less stubborn and recognize her own flaws.
I also appreciated that the ending, especially regarding the romance, didn’t go into unrealistic happily-ever-after territory (thank goodness!)—that would have been very at odds with this story. The absolute highlight for me, though, was EJ’s relationship with Chris’s dog, Arnie. Their connection was a fun and heartwarming addition and honestly elevated my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars!
BLURB:
EJ and her 3 roommates vow to reject marriage through an anti-marriage pact, but when their lives take unexpected turns and a new friend, Chris, challenges her beliefs, EJ is forced to question everything she thought she knew about happiness.
REVIEW:
I grabbed a copy of this one because I’m a huge fan of Abigail Reno’s narration, and this was a different genre (lit. fiction) from what I’ve listened to her narrate in the past. I went in blind, expecting a slower-moving literary book, and instead I got an engaging literary drama with a subtle romance, a complex (and initially unlikeable) protagonist, and a story that surprised me. EJ lives in Brooklyn with roommates and has some very rigid beliefs about marriage, relationships, and society’s expectations. Her rebellious attitude and sometimes annoying behavior are front and center from the start, so I knew I’d have to be patient and see whether her growth throughout the story would eventually make me connect with her more. Thankfully, sticking with this book and her journey mostly paid off.
The story is told entirely from EJ’s first-person POV, and it was definitely entertaining to get pulled into her very opinionated inner monologues. Right away, I was intrigued by her dynamic with her three roommates, Hal, Jenny, and Tara, who call themselves the Redstockings, and their Brooklyn basement apartment they call “The Inn.” Initially, it seems they all share similar views about marriage and society, but as time goes by, it becomes clear that each woman is complex and has her own needs that change her—and EJ is by far the most rigid in her beliefs. I liked how the group dynamic evolved throughout the story. It was difficult for EJ to stomach the disappointments, but she needed them, and it felt realistic and relatable.
When EJ meets Chris at an art gallery show, their first interaction is anything but romantic, and she brushes him off. But as fate keeps bringing them together, they slowly develop an unconventional friendship while he’s dating someone else. If you’re hoping for a romance, that’s not really what their relationship is for most of the book. There’s a mutual growth between them, and EJ’s personal transformation is propelled forward after meeting him.
This book’s reviews are all over the place, and I understand why. EJ is an unlikeable character who will frustrate and annoy a lot of readers. Even though some of her views are limited and hurtful, and she seems oblivious to how she negatively affects people at times, I can’t say I disagreed with everything she said—she also makes some very valid points about societal expectations and conformity. Later in the story, she’s forced to confront her owncontradictions and realize she doesn’t have all the answers, which is where I started enjoying the book more.
The writing is straightforward, feeling more like contemporary women’s fiction than anything lyrical or especially literary. EJ goes through a rapid shift in her mindset near the end after a life-changing experience. I didn’t completely buy into it, as she was still so set in her ways and deeply rooted in her beliefs only a few chapters earlier. That being said, it was still satisfying to see her become less stubborn and recognize her own flaws.
I also appreciated that the ending, especially regarding the romance, didn’t go into unrealistic happily-ever-after territory (thank goodness!)—that would have been very at odds with this story. The absolute highlight for me, though, was EJ’s relationship with Chris’s dog, Arnie. Their connection was a fun and heartwarming addition!
If you’ve seen this one around and the premise intrigues you, I highly recommend experiencing it as an audiobook. Abigail Reno elevates this story and brings EJ, the roommates, and the Inn brilliantly to life. I laughed more than a few times during several of EJ’s rants, and I think you will too!
If you’ve seen this one around and the premise intrigues you, I highly recommend experiencing it as an audiobook. Abigail Reno elevates this story and brings EJ, the roommates, and the Inn brilliantly to life. I laughed more than a few times during several of EJ’s rants, and I think you will too!
EJ and her 3 roommates vow to reject marriage through an anti-marriage pact, but when their lives take unexpected turns and a new friend, Chris, challenges her beliefs, EJ is forced to question everything she thought she knew about happiness.
REVIEW:
I grabbed a copy of this one because I’m a huge fan of Abigail Reno’s narration, and this was a different genre (lit. fiction) from what I’ve listened to her narrate in the past. I went in blind, expecting a slower-moving literary book, and instead I got an engaging literary drama with a subtle romance, a complex (and initially unlikeable) protagonist, and a story that surprised me. EJ lives in Brooklyn with roommates and has some very rigid beliefs about marriage, relationships, and society’s expectations. Her rebellious attitude and sometimes annoying behavior are front and center from the start, so I knew I’d have to be patient and see whether her growth throughout the story would eventually make me connect with her more. Thankfully, sticking with this book and her journey mostly paid off.
The story is told entirely from EJ’s first-person POV, and it was definitely entertaining to get pulled into her very opinionated inner monologues. Right away, I was intrigued by her dynamic with her three roommates, Hal, Jenny, and Tara, who call themselves the Redstockings, and their Brooklyn basement apartment they call “The Inn.” Initially, it seems they all share similar views about marriage and society, but as time goes by, it becomes clear that each woman is complex and has her own needs that change her—and EJ is by far the most rigid in her beliefs. I liked how the group dynamic evolved throughout the story. It was difficult for EJ to stomach the disappointments, but she needed them, and it felt realistic and relatable.
When EJ meets Chris at an art gallery show, their first interaction is anything but romantic, and she brushes him off. But as fate keeps bringing them together, they slowly develop an unconventional friendship while he’s dating someone else. If you’re hoping for a romance, that’s not really what their relationship is for most of the book. There’s a mutual growth between them, and EJ’s personal transformation is propelled forward after meeting him.
This book’s reviews are all over the place, and I understand why. EJ is an unlikeable character who will frustrate and annoy a lot of readers. Even though some of her views are limited and hurtful, and she seems oblivious to how she negatively affects people at times, I can’t say I disagreed with everything she said—she also makes some very valid points about societal expectations and conformity. Later in the story, she’s forced to confront her owncontradictions and realize she doesn’t have all the answers, which is where I started enjoying the book more.
The writing is straightforward, feeling more like contemporary women’s fiction than anything lyrical or especially literary. EJ goes through a rapid shift in her mindset near the end after a life-changing experience. I didn’t completely buy into it, as she was still so set in her ways and deeply rooted in her beliefs only a few chapters earlier. That being said, it was still satisfying to see her become less stubborn and recognize her own flaws.
I also appreciated that the ending, especially regarding the romance, didn’t go into unrealistic happily-ever-after territory (thank goodness!)—that would have been very at odds with this story. The absolute highlight for me, though, was EJ’s relationship with Chris’s dog, Arnie. Their connection was a fun and heartwarming addition and honestly elevated my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars!
BLURB:
EJ and her 3 roommates vow to reject marriage through an anti-marriage pact, but when their lives take unexpected turns and a new friend, Chris, challenges her beliefs, EJ is forced to question everything she thought she knew about happiness.
REVIEW:
I grabbed a copy of this one because I’m a huge fan of Abigail Reno’s narration, and this was a different genre (lit. fiction) from what I’ve listened to her narrate in the past. I went in blind, expecting a slower-moving literary book, and instead I got an engaging literary drama with a subtle romance, a complex (and initially unlikeable) protagonist, and a story that surprised me. EJ lives in Brooklyn with roommates and has some very rigid beliefs about marriage, relationships, and society’s expectations. Her rebellious attitude and sometimes annoying behavior are front and center from the start, so I knew I’d have to be patient and see whether her growth throughout the story would eventually make me connect with her more. Thankfully, sticking with this book and her journey mostly paid off.
The story is told entirely from EJ’s first-person POV, and it was definitely entertaining to get pulled into her very opinionated inner monologues. Right away, I was intrigued by her dynamic with her three roommates, Hal, Jenny, and Tara, who call themselves the Redstockings, and their Brooklyn basement apartment they call “The Inn.” Initially, it seems they all share similar views about marriage and society, but as time goes by, it becomes clear that each woman is complex and has her own needs that change her—and EJ is by far the most rigid in her beliefs. I liked how the group dynamic evolved throughout the story. It was difficult for EJ to stomach the disappointments, but she needed them, and it felt realistic and relatable.
When EJ meets Chris at an art gallery show, their first interaction is anything but romantic, and she brushes him off. But as fate keeps bringing them together, they slowly develop an unconventional friendship while he’s dating someone else. If you’re hoping for a romance, that’s not really what their relationship is for most of the book. There’s a mutual growth between them, and EJ’s personal transformation is propelled forward after meeting him.
This book’s reviews are all over the place, and I understand why. EJ is an unlikeable character who will frustrate and annoy a lot of readers. Even though some of her views are limited and hurtful, and she seems oblivious to how she negatively affects people at times, I can’t say I disagreed with everything she said—she also makes some very valid points about societal expectations and conformity. Later in the story, she’s forced to confront her owncontradictions and realize she doesn’t have all the answers, which is where I started enjoying the book more.
The writing is straightforward, feeling more like contemporary women’s fiction than anything lyrical or especially literary. EJ goes through a rapid shift in her mindset near the end after a life-changing experience. I didn’t completely buy into it, as she was still so set in her ways and deeply rooted in her beliefs only a few chapters earlier. That being said, it was still satisfying to see her become less stubborn and recognize her own flaws.
I also appreciated that the ending, especially regarding the romance, didn’t go into unrealistic happily-ever-after territory (thank goodness!)—that would have been very at odds with this story. The absolute highlight for me, though, was EJ’s relationship with Chris’s dog, Arnie. Their connection was a fun and heartwarming addition!
If you’ve seen this one around and the premise intrigues you, I highly recommend experiencing it as an audiobook. Abigail Reno elevates this story and brings EJ, the roommates, and the Inn brilliantly to life. I laughed more than a few times during several of EJ’s rants, and I think you will too!
If you’ve seen this one around and the premise intrigues you, I highly recommend experiencing it as an audiobook. Abigail Reno elevates this story and brings EJ, the roommates, and the Inn brilliantly to life. I laughed more than a few times during several of EJ’s rants, and I think you will too!
June 17, 2026
I’m all for strong women, but the main character is next level in the worst way. EJ’s attitude toward anyone who feels differently than she does is awful, and she comes across as genuinely unlikable, judgmental and self-absorbed throughout the entire story. The narrative is completely dominated by EJ’s opinions, and we barely get to know the other Redstockings members as individuals. They feel more like props for her story rather than fully realized characters. Meanwhile, EJ internally portrays her family as awful people, even at one point considering alienating them completely, yet they come across as an average family. There’s no abuse or toxicity, just different perspectives that she can’t tolerate.
EJ operates under the assumption that every married woman is a “trad wife,” which shows an incredibly narrow and judgmental worldview. She believes that if anyone feels differently than she does, they’re automatically wrong or inferior. She’s exhausting to follow as a protagonist. At the end of the book, I felt like I was supposed to accept her sudden attitude change as meaningful character growth when she develops feelings for a man and briefly shows a vulnerable side. After spending the entire book watching her be dismissive and superior to everyone around her, this shift feels unearned and convenient rather than genuine development. EJ is simply an unlikable, judgmental character who made the entire listening experience unpleasant. Instead of feeling empowered by a strong female protagonist, I found myself frustrated by her inability to respect different viewpoints or show basic empathy toward people who don’t share her exact beliefs.
I finished this ALC because I am appreciative that the publisher provided me with an advanced copy.
All thoughts shared here are my own.
EJ operates under the assumption that every married woman is a “trad wife,” which shows an incredibly narrow and judgmental worldview. She believes that if anyone feels differently than she does, they’re automatically wrong or inferior. She’s exhausting to follow as a protagonist. At the end of the book, I felt like I was supposed to accept her sudden attitude change as meaningful character growth when she develops feelings for a man and briefly shows a vulnerable side. After spending the entire book watching her be dismissive and superior to everyone around her, this shift feels unearned and convenient rather than genuine development. EJ is simply an unlikable, judgmental character who made the entire listening experience unpleasant. Instead of feeling empowered by a strong female protagonist, I found myself frustrated by her inability to respect different viewpoints or show basic empathy toward people who don’t share her exact beliefs.
I finished this ALC because I am appreciative that the publisher provided me with an advanced copy.
All thoughts shared here are my own.
July 8, 2026
This one was a fun surprise! Maybe it's just the old lady in me, but I enjoyed EJ's snarky, albeit jaded, outlook on marriage. She definitely had some junk to work through, but who doesn't?
And then, *the epiphany*, and the entire story took a 180. Not in a bad way necessarily, but the tone changed so dramatically it was a bit of a shock to the system. Still, there were some profound moments and I ended up really enjoying the overall themes. I would've loved more of the friend group!
🎧 Abigail Reno's narration was fantastic! Highly recommend the audio.
Thanks to Harper Muse, Booksparks, and LibroFM for my gifted copies!
And then, *the epiphany*, and the entire story took a 180. Not in a bad way necessarily, but the tone changed so dramatically it was a bit of a shock to the system. Still, there were some profound moments and I ended up really enjoying the overall themes. I would've loved more of the friend group!
🎧 Abigail Reno's narration was fantastic! Highly recommend the audio.
Thanks to Harper Muse, Booksparks, and LibroFM for my gifted copies!
June 16, 2026
Several chapters into this novel, I nearly quit reading - I thought it was just another Rom Com: 4 New York City pals sharing the rent and vowing to never marry ... ho hum. But I kept listening (I rented the audio version) and it turned out there was a lot more to the Anti-Marriage Pact, even if there were times I could have sworn I had read the book before, or one that was very similar. The interactions between the women seemed very familiar to me, but when the main character, from whose viewpoint the story is told, has a revelation in a place she didn't expect to ever find herself, I knew the book was indeed unique from most RomComs, and had a different story to tell.
June 24, 2026
Thank you to Book Sparks, HarperMuse, and Libro.fm for the gifted early reader and listener copies. All opinions are my own.
This was almost a DNF for me. I was thisclose to throwing in the towel because EJ, the FMC, was off the charts obnoxious. She was rude, opinionated, dismissive, self centered, and generally not very likable. I continued reading because I wanted to see her suffer the consequences of her behavior. (Yes, I was rage reading!)
And then something incredible happened. Author Lindsay MacMillan made this wholly horrible character sympathetic. The redemption arc stunned me. Truly. The slow chipping away at the cocoon of nasty that EJ shrouded herself in revealed a damaged soul trying to protect herself the only way she knew how.
How she got there is a journey I won’t spoil. There are elements of romance here, but the overriding themes are of self discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Readers who are willing to dig through the muck in search of an elusive gem will find this book satisfying. Be warned, however, that getting there will test your patience. I struggled with how to rate this book and ended up at 3.25 ⭐️. The transformation from almost DNF to a strong ending left my overall rating somewhere near the middle.
This was almost a DNF for me. I was thisclose to throwing in the towel because EJ, the FMC, was off the charts obnoxious. She was rude, opinionated, dismissive, self centered, and generally not very likable. I continued reading because I wanted to see her suffer the consequences of her behavior. (Yes, I was rage reading!)
And then something incredible happened. Author Lindsay MacMillan made this wholly horrible character sympathetic. The redemption arc stunned me. Truly. The slow chipping away at the cocoon of nasty that EJ shrouded herself in revealed a damaged soul trying to protect herself the only way she knew how.
How she got there is a journey I won’t spoil. There are elements of romance here, but the overriding themes are of self discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Readers who are willing to dig through the muck in search of an elusive gem will find this book satisfying. Be warned, however, that getting there will test your patience. I struggled with how to rate this book and ended up at 3.25 ⭐️. The transformation from almost DNF to a strong ending left my overall rating somewhere near the middle.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The story was hit and miss.
The romance for the main character was hit and miss. Really slow but also obvious while wondering how these 2 characters would make it work-they were very different.
The main character was so extreme that she bordered on being annoying. Even given her place in life, and her past, she was annoying.
At the same time there was redemption, change, growth for all of the characters. The writing wasn't bad and the reader did want to know what was going to happen.
The shocker plot twist didn't receive the time it should have. Very similar to its impact on the character's life.
I won this book from the publisher and have given my honest, unbiased review.
The romance for the main character was hit and miss. Really slow but also obvious while wondering how these 2 characters would make it work-they were very different.
The main character was so extreme that she bordered on being annoying. Even given her place in life, and her past, she was annoying.
At the same time there was redemption, change, growth for all of the characters. The writing wasn't bad and the reader did want to know what was going to happen.
The shocker plot twist didn't receive the time it should have. Very similar to its impact on the character's life.
I won this book from the publisher and have given my honest, unbiased review.
March 11, 2026
*Thank you Goodreads for the ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.*
WOW. When I started this book, I wasn’t sure if I would make it through. EJ is so over-the-top against societal norms that it was kind of annoying to read about. I stuck with it though and very, very slowly things began to evolve. I don’t want to give too much away, but the transformation that takes places in her is genius, and I am so glad I had a chance to read this book. I will be thinking about this one for a long time!
WOW. When I started this book, I wasn’t sure if I would make it through. EJ is so over-the-top against societal norms that it was kind of annoying to read about. I stuck with it though and very, very slowly things began to evolve. I don’t want to give too much away, but the transformation that takes places in her is genius, and I am so glad I had a chance to read this book. I will be thinking about this one for a long time!
July 11, 2026
2.75⭐️ The description of this one had me so excited to receive an early listener copy from NetGalley! Four friends, living in NYC, putting their friendship and their beliefs before societal norms - no marriage, no babies, no conforming - no matter what! What could possibly go wrong?!
I love a strong woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, but EJ is next level, and not in a good way. She has to be one of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read. Because I listened to this immediately after reading another book with a very unlikable character, I almost couldn’t do it and thought about DNF’ing. Because it was an early listen audio, and the narrator was actually fantastic(!!), I decided to push through. I’m glad I did.
EJ is steadfast in her beliefs, and it’s admirable, at first. But the way she refuses to let anyone in her life believe anything even a little different is uncomfortable, to say the least. It’s great to fight for those beliefs, but the world is not black and white. There are moments when it seems EJ recognizes this, but instead of thinking about those feelings, she decides everyone else is simply wrong, and despite some enlightening internal dialogue, she just blames everyone else. Perhaps it was to really drive the strength of her convictions, but I felt like her reactions to her friends’ growth were pretty awful and selfish, and that it took far too long for her own character development to begin. I think the book could’ve been a bit shorter and would’ve been just as effective, but possibly more enjoyable? That said, if the current political climate has taught us anything, it’s that people refuse to admit when they are wrong or even try to see the other side of any viewpoint, so maybe it is more realistic than I wanted to believe? I did like enjoy the friend group, and appreciated that they knew their girl, and despite their differences, still supported her. A strong friend group is hard, especially as adult women in different stages of life. That part of this story was my favorite part. And the dog. A good pup is always the best addition to a story!
While it wasn’t a favorite of mine personally, it eventually got where it was going and I did ultimately enjoy it. I would say the narrator, Abigail Reno was a big reason for my sticking with it and enjoyment. Regardless of how I felt about her, she really brought EJ’s character to life. I don’t know that I would have felt the same reading the text. I am not sure this will be for everyone, but I will definitely recommend it, specifically the audio, to the right person - and I actually have a few in mind!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, HCCP & HCF Audio | Harper Muse, and author Lindsay MacMillan, for the ALC of The Anti-Marriage Pact.
I love a strong woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, but EJ is next level, and not in a good way. She has to be one of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read. Because I listened to this immediately after reading another book with a very unlikable character, I almost couldn’t do it and thought about DNF’ing. Because it was an early listen audio, and the narrator was actually fantastic(!!), I decided to push through. I’m glad I did.
EJ is steadfast in her beliefs, and it’s admirable, at first. But the way she refuses to let anyone in her life believe anything even a little different is uncomfortable, to say the least. It’s great to fight for those beliefs, but the world is not black and white. There are moments when it seems EJ recognizes this, but instead of thinking about those feelings, she decides everyone else is simply wrong, and despite some enlightening internal dialogue, she just blames everyone else. Perhaps it was to really drive the strength of her convictions, but I felt like her reactions to her friends’ growth were pretty awful and selfish, and that it took far too long for her own character development to begin. I think the book could’ve been a bit shorter and would’ve been just as effective, but possibly more enjoyable? That said, if the current political climate has taught us anything, it’s that people refuse to admit when they are wrong or even try to see the other side of any viewpoint, so maybe it is more realistic than I wanted to believe? I did like enjoy the friend group, and appreciated that they knew their girl, and despite their differences, still supported her. A strong friend group is hard, especially as adult women in different stages of life. That part of this story was my favorite part. And the dog. A good pup is always the best addition to a story!
While it wasn’t a favorite of mine personally, it eventually got where it was going and I did ultimately enjoy it. I would say the narrator, Abigail Reno was a big reason for my sticking with it and enjoyment. Regardless of how I felt about her, she really brought EJ’s character to life. I don’t know that I would have felt the same reading the text. I am not sure this will be for everyone, but I will definitely recommend it, specifically the audio, to the right person - and I actually have a few in mind!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, HCCP & HCF Audio | Harper Muse, and author Lindsay MacMillan, for the ALC of The Anti-Marriage Pact.
June 17, 2026
If the girls from Girls were Gen Z feminists, you'd get The Anti-Marriage Pact.
I had suuuuch a good time with this audiobook.
EJ somehow manages to be both incredibly self-aware and completely oblivious at the same time. She can dissect exactly why she's making a terrible decision...and then happily make it anyway. That made her feel messy, complicated, and very human. I genuinely loved spending time with her, even when she was making me shake my head.
It also takes a seriously talented writer to pull off a character like that. Lindsay MacMillan somehow made EJ frustrating, hilarious, vulnerable, and incredibly real, all while making me laugh out loud.
I also loved watching her, and really the entire friend group, grow throughout the book. It captures that season of your twenties where you're so convinced you've got life figured out, only to slowly realize you're still becoming the person you're going to be. Their growth felt earned, and I found myself completely invested in where each of them ended up.
The audiobook itself was REALLY great. Abigail Reno was the perfect narrator for EJ. She absolutely nailed the humor, the sarcasm, and the contradictions that make EJ such an entertaining character. Her performance brought so much personality to the story that I honestly can't imagine experiencing this book any other way.
While there is a romance, I'd definitely consider it more of a subplot. At its heart, this is a story about female friendship, identity, and learning that there's no single "right" way to build a happy life.
By the end, I was genuinely sad to say goodbye to the Redstockings, but so happy they each ended up exactly where they were supposed to be.
I had suuuuch a good time with this audiobook.
EJ somehow manages to be both incredibly self-aware and completely oblivious at the same time. She can dissect exactly why she's making a terrible decision...and then happily make it anyway. That made her feel messy, complicated, and very human. I genuinely loved spending time with her, even when she was making me shake my head.
It also takes a seriously talented writer to pull off a character like that. Lindsay MacMillan somehow made EJ frustrating, hilarious, vulnerable, and incredibly real, all while making me laugh out loud.
I also loved watching her, and really the entire friend group, grow throughout the book. It captures that season of your twenties where you're so convinced you've got life figured out, only to slowly realize you're still becoming the person you're going to be. Their growth felt earned, and I found myself completely invested in where each of them ended up.
The audiobook itself was REALLY great. Abigail Reno was the perfect narrator for EJ. She absolutely nailed the humor, the sarcasm, and the contradictions that make EJ such an entertaining character. Her performance brought so much personality to the story that I honestly can't imagine experiencing this book any other way.
While there is a romance, I'd definitely consider it more of a subplot. At its heart, this is a story about female friendship, identity, and learning that there's no single "right" way to build a happy life.
By the end, I was genuinely sad to say goodbye to the Redstockings, but so happy they each ended up exactly where they were supposed to be.
May 20, 2026
While the main character was extremely unlikeable for about 90% of the book, I’m happy to report that she in fact experiences a character arc by the end! And when I wasn’t rolling my eyes at EJ’s proclamations, I sometimes found myself agreeing with her insights: “What if you’re so determined not to let other people down that you let yourself down in the process?”
June 12, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
Thank you to Libro.FM and Harper Muse for providing me with a gifted ALC copy of The Anti-Marriage Pact. All opinions are my own.
Format: Audiobook (Libro.FM)
Narrator: Abigail Reno
Time: 10 hours 40 minutes
The Anti-Marriage Pact is a character driven story that takes a look at feminism, friendship, and romance through the lives of four women roommates in NYC. MacMillan explores a lot of complex issues including the effects of child s*xual abuse and the loss of a loved one into adulthood through EJ and Chris’s characters.
I enjoyed EJ as a character because she was committed to her beliefs but was able to grow and change once some of those beliefs didn’t quite hold up anymore to the place that she was in her life. I also liked that the romance wasn’t rushed and the story kept most of its focus on the female characters and the choices that they were making.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* CW: Grief, Child S*xual Abuse, Suicidal Thoughts
* Feminist Views
* Friend Group
* Opposites Attract
* NYC Setting
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️
This one worked well as an audiobook and was a quick listen for me. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with characters who have strong feminist ideals, female friendships, and self discovery journeys, then I would recommend The Anti-Marriage Pact.
Thank you to Libro.FM and Harper Muse for providing me with a gifted ALC copy of The Anti-Marriage Pact. All opinions are my own.
Format: Audiobook (Libro.FM)
Narrator: Abigail Reno
Time: 10 hours 40 minutes
The Anti-Marriage Pact is a character driven story that takes a look at feminism, friendship, and romance through the lives of four women roommates in NYC. MacMillan explores a lot of complex issues including the effects of child s*xual abuse and the loss of a loved one into adulthood through EJ and Chris’s characters.
I enjoyed EJ as a character because she was committed to her beliefs but was able to grow and change once some of those beliefs didn’t quite hold up anymore to the place that she was in her life. I also liked that the romance wasn’t rushed and the story kept most of its focus on the female characters and the choices that they were making.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* CW: Grief, Child S*xual Abuse, Suicidal Thoughts
* Feminist Views
* Friend Group
* Opposites Attract
* NYC Setting
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️
This one worked well as an audiobook and was a quick listen for me. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with characters who have strong feminist ideals, female friendships, and self discovery journeys, then I would recommend The Anti-Marriage Pact.
July 1, 2026
EJ and her three best friends make a pact to stay single and never have kids, convinced they don’t need marriage or traditional family life to be happy. They’re focused on their careers, their friendship, and living life on their own terms. But things get complicated when her friends start falling in love and EJ meets Chris, a tax accountant who makes her question everything she thought she believed about relationships. As her world starts to change, EJ has to figure out whether sticking to the pact is really what she wants or if it’s time to rethink the future she always imagined.
What a hidden gem of a novel this is! I picked it up on NetGalley after reading the description, and I’m so glad I did.
I really loved it. I loved EJ, who is very unique and outspoken, and a passionate advocate for women’s liberation. I completely agreed with many of her views, but I also appreciated her growth and maturity throughout the story. The changes she goes through felt natural and appropriate.
I loved the New York setting, and I loved how witty and funny this novel was at times.
I felt all of EJ’s heartbreaks throughout the book and really felt for her.
My only complaint is that I wanted more of EJ and Chris! Bonus epilogue perhaps? 😊
This novel might not be for everyone, but I loved it.
This was also my first book by Lindsay MacMillan, and I’m excited to read more of her work!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC!
I loved the audiobook just as much!
Abigail Reno was the perfect narrator for EJ. She captured EJ's voice exactly the way I imagined it when I first read the book, making the story feel even more immersive.
Whether you choose the physical book or the audiobook, you really can't go wrong. I highly recommend experiencing this story in whichever format you prefer!
What a hidden gem of a novel this is! I picked it up on NetGalley after reading the description, and I’m so glad I did.
I really loved it. I loved EJ, who is very unique and outspoken, and a passionate advocate for women’s liberation. I completely agreed with many of her views, but I also appreciated her growth and maturity throughout the story. The changes she goes through felt natural and appropriate.
I loved the New York setting, and I loved how witty and funny this novel was at times.
I felt all of EJ’s heartbreaks throughout the book and really felt for her.
My only complaint is that I wanted more of EJ and Chris! Bonus epilogue perhaps? 😊
This novel might not be for everyone, but I loved it.
This was also my first book by Lindsay MacMillan, and I’m excited to read more of her work!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC!
I loved the audiobook just as much!
Abigail Reno was the perfect narrator for EJ. She captured EJ's voice exactly the way I imagined it when I first read the book, making the story feel even more immersive.
Whether you choose the physical book or the audiobook, you really can't go wrong. I highly recommend experiencing this story in whichever format you prefer!
July 3, 2026
Look, I'm not going to say there are no women out there who so deeply misunderstand and misappropriate feminist theory as EJ does, but I don't get the sense the narrative here fully understands what it's satirizing. The Anti-Marriage Pact touts itself as "an exploration of modern feminism," but instead reads like a caricature of some retro version of the movement.
That being said, I do love a messy main character, and here Anti-Marriage Pact delivers in spades. EJ is a fiercely independent and utterly self-involved young woman living in the Big City with three roommates with whom she has sworn off marriage and children. You know, like the real feminists do. EJ is a failed actor-turned-playwright who enjoys nothing more than hanging with her besties and, with increasing frequency, dog-sitting for cute account-next-door Chris, whom she definitely does not have a crush on. But don't let the blurb fool you: EJ's journey is far more one of self-discovery than it is a girl-meets-boy romcom, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the plot hinged much less on a male-centric meet cute than on EJ's changing relationships with her, let's just say, not-so-married-to-their-principles friends.
EJ is necessarily a divisive character, in large part due to her frequent feminist diatribes (all of which seem plucked straight from your boomer parents' nightmares). But beneath all the bluster, EJ has some genuinely wholesome qualities. She's a passionate hype man for her friends, a stickler for following one's principles, and at heart an idealist who demands nothing less than the best from herself (even if she doesn't always succeed). These qualities set up a major turn in the last third of the book that will satisfy some readers, while leaving others rolling their eyes.
Overall, the world of The Anti-Marriage Pact feels strangely anachronistic, and I couldn't help feeling I'd buy the characters much more if this story were set in the 80s or 90s. As is, many of the jokes just don't ring true, and not just the ones about feminism. At one point in the story, an inspiration-challenged EJ, in boredom and desperation, asks AI to write a script for her. She immediately abandons the script, but the fact she even considered, let alone used it, felt unrealistic (do you know how much Gen Z--and especially creatives--hate generative AI?). The good news is, readers will discover right away if they gel with the narrative's particular outlook, and based on the other positive reviews I've seen thus far, this book is finding its niche.
Not my cup of tea, but with some charm and a surprisingly female-centric story. Thank you to Net Galley for the free copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.
That being said, I do love a messy main character, and here Anti-Marriage Pact delivers in spades. EJ is a fiercely independent and utterly self-involved young woman living in the Big City with three roommates with whom she has sworn off marriage and children. You know, like the real feminists do. EJ is a failed actor-turned-playwright who enjoys nothing more than hanging with her besties and, with increasing frequency, dog-sitting for cute account-next-door Chris, whom she definitely does not have a crush on. But don't let the blurb fool you: EJ's journey is far more one of self-discovery than it is a girl-meets-boy romcom, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the plot hinged much less on a male-centric meet cute than on EJ's changing relationships with her, let's just say, not-so-married-to-their-principles friends.
EJ is necessarily a divisive character, in large part due to her frequent feminist diatribes (all of which seem plucked straight from your boomer parents' nightmares). But beneath all the bluster, EJ has some genuinely wholesome qualities. She's a passionate hype man for her friends, a stickler for following one's principles, and at heart an idealist who demands nothing less than the best from herself (even if she doesn't always succeed). These qualities set up a major turn in the last third of the book that will satisfy some readers, while leaving others rolling their eyes.
Overall, the world of The Anti-Marriage Pact feels strangely anachronistic, and I couldn't help feeling I'd buy the characters much more if this story were set in the 80s or 90s. As is, many of the jokes just don't ring true, and not just the ones about feminism. At one point in the story, an inspiration-challenged EJ, in boredom and desperation, asks AI to write a script for her. She immediately abandons the script, but the fact she even considered, let alone used it, felt unrealistic (do you know how much Gen Z--and especially creatives--hate generative AI?). The good news is, readers will discover right away if they gel with the narrative's particular outlook, and based on the other positive reviews I've seen thus far, this book is finding its niche.
Not my cup of tea, but with some charm and a surprisingly female-centric story. Thank you to Net Galley for the free copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
June 24, 2026
The Anti‑Marriage Pact isn’t a romcom — it’s a story about identity, friendship, and the terrifying moment in your late 20s when the life you imagined collides with the life you’re actually living. It has a Gen Z Little Women energy at its core: four friends bound by loyalty, idealism, and a pact that feels unbreakable… until life begins to pull them in different directions.
What struck me most is how honestly this book captures the emotional architecture of that transition into your 30s — the fear of being left behind, the ache of outgrowing people you love, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own rules. The Brooklyn setting adds a grounding authenticity (especially the “how you order a slice tells if you’re local” detail), and the friendships feel lived‑in, messy, and real.
But the heart of this novel is EJ.
She bursts onto the page with all the “Go girl!” energy in the world — funny, bold, chaotic, and instantly likable. And then something shifts. As her friends grow, evolve, and step into their adult lives, EJ stays defiantly static. She becomes prickly, self‑centered, even emotionally younger than her age, and my feelings toward her changed. I admired her commitment to the Redstockings Sisterhood, but I didn’t always like her.
And that’s the point.
EJ’s discomfort — and ours — is the engine of the book. Her late‑20s‑to‑30s transition is foundational, necessary, and deeply human. This isn’t a quest for romance with Chris; it’s a quest for a relationship with herself. By the final third, I was rooting for her to reconnect with her own identity, survive the truths she uncovers, and step into the stability and success she deserves.
Readers who stop when EJ becomes difficult will miss the entire emotional payoff — the transformation of a woman I didn’t want to leave by the end.
The Anti‑Marriage Pact is a thoughtful, emotionally honest exploration of friendship, identity, and the courage it takes to grow up when everyone around you seems to be doing it faster. It’s not loud, it’s not flashy — it’s real. And that’s what makes it powerful.
What struck me most is how honestly this book captures the emotional architecture of that transition into your 30s — the fear of being left behind, the ache of outgrowing people you love, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own rules. The Brooklyn setting adds a grounding authenticity (especially the “how you order a slice tells if you’re local” detail), and the friendships feel lived‑in, messy, and real.
But the heart of this novel is EJ.
She bursts onto the page with all the “Go girl!” energy in the world — funny, bold, chaotic, and instantly likable. And then something shifts. As her friends grow, evolve, and step into their adult lives, EJ stays defiantly static. She becomes prickly, self‑centered, even emotionally younger than her age, and my feelings toward her changed. I admired her commitment to the Redstockings Sisterhood, but I didn’t always like her.
And that’s the point.
EJ’s discomfort — and ours — is the engine of the book. Her late‑20s‑to‑30s transition is foundational, necessary, and deeply human. This isn’t a quest for romance with Chris; it’s a quest for a relationship with herself. By the final third, I was rooting for her to reconnect with her own identity, survive the truths she uncovers, and step into the stability and success she deserves.
Readers who stop when EJ becomes difficult will miss the entire emotional payoff — the transformation of a woman I didn’t want to leave by the end.
The Anti‑Marriage Pact is a thoughtful, emotionally honest exploration of friendship, identity, and the courage it takes to grow up when everyone around you seems to be doing it faster. It’s not loud, it’s not flashy — it’s real. And that’s what makes it powerful.
June 29, 2026
EJ is a revolutionary. She and four friends are living in a Bushwick basement, calling themselves the Redstockings after the radical feminist group of the 1970s. They’ve made a pact to thwart societal expectations: no marriage, no kids, platonic female friendship for life. Until some of them start pairing off and EJ wants to do nothing else but cut them off.
The more I think about this book, the more I like it, and believe me, there were times I did. not. like. it. Let me rephrase, there were times (the majority of it, actually) when I did not like EJ. She’s awful. Insufferable. Completely and utterly delulu, y’all. And I ate it up. She’s got a stance on everything. All the world’s ills are someone else’s fault. She’s self-righteous. She thinks she’s a brilliant playwright, but doesn’t have any self-discipline to finish what she starts. She’s an unsupportive friend when her friends want something else from their lives than she does. She’s mean toward her family and it doesn’t make any sense for 75% of the book. And yet, the journey, my eye-rolling frustration with EJ and all, was worth the ending. I have a feeling some audiences will toss this aside and choose not to finish before getting there, but I am so glad I didn’t.
EJ’s self-revelation comes with this odd friendship, situationship, with Chris - a rich accountant and so not her type because her type is falling in lust with 8 different people per night at the club. Chris makes her see a different perspective and she him. They get each other out of their echo chambers. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a typical romance.
At its core this is a story of someone recognizing that by creating her own rules to break all the rules, she’s caged herself. I’ll be real, the free version of EJ is still obnoxious which tracks with her character, but her growth was brilliant.
Thank you BookSparks for including me as an ambassador in the summer reading challenge and to Harper Muse for partnering with them for the finished copy of this book.
The more I think about this book, the more I like it, and believe me, there were times I did. not. like. it. Let me rephrase, there were times (the majority of it, actually) when I did not like EJ. She’s awful. Insufferable. Completely and utterly delulu, y’all. And I ate it up. She’s got a stance on everything. All the world’s ills are someone else’s fault. She’s self-righteous. She thinks she’s a brilliant playwright, but doesn’t have any self-discipline to finish what she starts. She’s an unsupportive friend when her friends want something else from their lives than she does. She’s mean toward her family and it doesn’t make any sense for 75% of the book. And yet, the journey, my eye-rolling frustration with EJ and all, was worth the ending. I have a feeling some audiences will toss this aside and choose not to finish before getting there, but I am so glad I didn’t.
EJ’s self-revelation comes with this odd friendship, situationship, with Chris - a rich accountant and so not her type because her type is falling in lust with 8 different people per night at the club. Chris makes her see a different perspective and she him. They get each other out of their echo chambers. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a typical romance.
At its core this is a story of someone recognizing that by creating her own rules to break all the rules, she’s caged herself. I’ll be real, the free version of EJ is still obnoxious which tracks with her character, but her growth was brilliant.
Thank you BookSparks for including me as an ambassador in the summer reading challenge and to Harper Muse for partnering with them for the finished copy of this book.
June 4, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🚶♀️ are friends with a walking cliche
🫣 only eat vegan when you can afford it
🖤 love to hate the main character
🙃 have ever done a 180 on an idea
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
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.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a fun read. As most other reviewers stated, EJ is not a likable character, at all. In fact, she’s downright insufferable, but I’ve met people like her, walking cliches, so it wasn’t a stretch for my imagination. As someone in her mid thirties, I totally understood where EJ was coming from in her belief system, but I knew that it wouldn’t really last. So many people I know said they would never have children or get married, and then do. Life just hadn’t happened for her yet, and when she sees it happening for her friends, I can’t help but feel she had a little bit of FOMO going on inside. Overall, this is a well written novel that really encompasses how a lot of younger women are feeling these days. And I’m happy to report that EJ has a redemptive arc near the end!
🚶♀️ are friends with a walking cliche
🫣 only eat vegan when you can afford it
🖤 love to hate the main character
🙃 have ever done a 180 on an idea
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
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.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a fun read. As most other reviewers stated, EJ is not a likable character, at all. In fact, she’s downright insufferable, but I’ve met people like her, walking cliches, so it wasn’t a stretch for my imagination. As someone in her mid thirties, I totally understood where EJ was coming from in her belief system, but I knew that it wouldn’t really last. So many people I know said they would never have children or get married, and then do. Life just hadn’t happened for her yet, and when she sees it happening for her friends, I can’t help but feel she had a little bit of FOMO going on inside. Overall, this is a well written novel that really encompasses how a lot of younger women are feeling these days. And I’m happy to report that EJ has a redemptive arc near the end!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I picked up The Anti-Marriage Pact because the idea felt very real to me. Four friends making a pact to skip marriage and kids and just focus on their lives and ambitions? I can absolutely see a group of women doing that in their twenties and feeling completely sure they’ve figured everything out. Life has a funny way of testing those kinds of declarations though, and that’s really what this book explores.
What I liked most was the friendship between the women. It felt messy in a believable way. They support each other, they argue, they judge each other a little, and sometimes they struggle when their lives start moving in different directions. That part rang true to me. Friendships change as people grow, and the book doesn’t pretend that’s always smooth or easy.
EJ was interesting to follow, especially when Chris enters her life and starts challenging everything she thought she believed about relationships. I appreciated that the story didn’t rush that shift. You can see her slowly wrestling with her own ideas about independence, loyalty, and what she actually wants versus what she once promised her friends.
For me, this landed at three stars because while I enjoyed the story, I didn’t feel deeply attached to the characters the way I hoped I would. I liked them, but I didn’t love them. There were also moments where the pacing felt a little uneven, like some emotional beats deserved more time.
Still, I’m glad I read it. It’s thoughtful, a little funny, and it raises interesting questions about how our beliefs evolve as we get older. Sometimes the rules we set for ourselves in one stage of life don’t quite fit the next, and this book captures that tension well.
What I liked most was the friendship between the women. It felt messy in a believable way. They support each other, they argue, they judge each other a little, and sometimes they struggle when their lives start moving in different directions. That part rang true to me. Friendships change as people grow, and the book doesn’t pretend that’s always smooth or easy.
EJ was interesting to follow, especially when Chris enters her life and starts challenging everything she thought she believed about relationships. I appreciated that the story didn’t rush that shift. You can see her slowly wrestling with her own ideas about independence, loyalty, and what she actually wants versus what she once promised her friends.
For me, this landed at three stars because while I enjoyed the story, I didn’t feel deeply attached to the characters the way I hoped I would. I liked them, but I didn’t love them. There were also moments where the pacing felt a little uneven, like some emotional beats deserved more time.
Still, I’m glad I read it. It’s thoughtful, a little funny, and it raises interesting questions about how our beliefs evolve as we get older. Sometimes the rules we set for ourselves in one stage of life don’t quite fit the next, and this book captures that tension well.
June 28, 2026
This was a mixed bag of a book, and I'm not sure what to do with it.
I liked how EJ came in, fiery and opinionated, but that quickly got old. After the first tangent, I was like, "Okay, go off girl." After the fifth or sixth, I was more like, "Please stop, this is embarrassing now."
EJ is a red hot feminist, leaning dictator. She's the type of feminist that gives feminism a bad name. Stoutly against marriage, children, and the works, she shuns societal norms and conformity. Which, if that's your vibe, great. However, by shoving it in everyone's face, constantly, it became tiring. Her stalwart belief that her friends were lesser and weak because they were getting corporate jobs, getting married, even thinking about having kids, was entirely unfeminist, and even one of her friends points out that the whole point of feminism is for women to have the choice.
I did see her shift in worldview as the story went on. You see her building back her relationships, and not taking everything back, but truly being happy that her friends made choices that make them happy, which was great, and I loved seeing the friendships grow and change, and also see the change it had on EJ.
However, if your friends are afraid of your judgement, are you a friend?? EJ was not my vibe for much of the book, and the redemption/character growth arc wasn't enough to persuade me to like her, unfortunately.
Did I enjoy the ending? Yes. It just wasn't enough for me when the first 40-50% made me want to DNF.
TW: alcohol consumption, drug use; mentions child abuse, sexual assault, pedophilia
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 1.5/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Finished copy gifted by Booksparks and Harper Muse in exchange for an honest review.
I liked how EJ came in, fiery and opinionated, but that quickly got old. After the first tangent, I was like, "Okay, go off girl." After the fifth or sixth, I was more like, "Please stop, this is embarrassing now."
EJ is a red hot feminist, leaning dictator. She's the type of feminist that gives feminism a bad name. Stoutly against marriage, children, and the works, she shuns societal norms and conformity. Which, if that's your vibe, great. However, by shoving it in everyone's face, constantly, it became tiring. Her stalwart belief that her friends were lesser and weak because they were getting corporate jobs, getting married, even thinking about having kids, was entirely unfeminist, and even one of her friends points out that the whole point of feminism is for women to have the choice.
I did see her shift in worldview as the story went on. You see her building back her relationships, and not taking everything back, but truly being happy that her friends made choices that make them happy, which was great, and I loved seeing the friendships grow and change, and also see the change it had on EJ.
However, if your friends are afraid of your judgement, are you a friend?? EJ was not my vibe for much of the book, and the redemption/character growth arc wasn't enough to persuade me to like her, unfortunately.
Did I enjoy the ending? Yes. It just wasn't enough for me when the first 40-50% made me want to DNF.
TW: alcohol consumption, drug use; mentions child abuse, sexual assault, pedophilia
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 1.5/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Finished copy gifted by Booksparks and Harper Muse in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
4 best friends one anti-marriage pact… what happens when real life and real relationships start to make them question everything? 🤫
The Setting & Depth:
First of all, the gritty, vibrant energy of Brooklyn & NYC is practically its own character in this book. The urban backdrop brings so much life to a story that spans over several years. While it has humor & romantic elements, feminism is easily the biggest topic of the book. It tackles some heavier life themes and focuses deeply on complex female friendships, personal autonomy, and the ultimate journey of self love.
The Slow Burn:
Let’s talk about Chris. His and EJ’s relationship progresses slowly throughout the book. It’s clear she was in love with him much longer than she ever wanted to admit! A huge highlight for me was Arnold (AKA Arnie)… Chris’s dog that EJ dog sits for. He completely stole the show whenever he was on the page. 🐾
The Main Character:
Lindsay MacMillan’s writing is beautiful, but EJ is a tough pill to swallow for most of the book. She is incredibly opinionated, rigid, and defensive… to the point where she frequently rains on her friends’ parades if their happiness doesn’t align with her own worldview. It made it hard to root for her at times.
The Redemption:
However, towards the end of the book, EJ has a major epiphany about why she is so fiercely guarded and opinionated. This breakthrough creates a beautiful domino effect, completely transforming all of her relationships, from her friends and family to Chris & most importantly herself. It truly saved the story for me and turned it into a realistic portrait of someone unlearning their own defense mechanisms.
The Verdict:
If you love character driven stories about friendship with a strong sense of place, a slow burn romance, and real, messy growth, this is absolutely worth the read! Just be prepared to stick with EJ through her bumpy journey.
Thank you again to #Musepartner @harpermusebooks and @booksparks for the gifted copy! 🤎
The Setting & Depth:
First of all, the gritty, vibrant energy of Brooklyn & NYC is practically its own character in this book. The urban backdrop brings so much life to a story that spans over several years. While it has humor & romantic elements, feminism is easily the biggest topic of the book. It tackles some heavier life themes and focuses deeply on complex female friendships, personal autonomy, and the ultimate journey of self love.
The Slow Burn:
Let’s talk about Chris. His and EJ’s relationship progresses slowly throughout the book. It’s clear she was in love with him much longer than she ever wanted to admit! A huge highlight for me was Arnold (AKA Arnie)… Chris’s dog that EJ dog sits for. He completely stole the show whenever he was on the page. 🐾
The Main Character:
Lindsay MacMillan’s writing is beautiful, but EJ is a tough pill to swallow for most of the book. She is incredibly opinionated, rigid, and defensive… to the point where she frequently rains on her friends’ parades if their happiness doesn’t align with her own worldview. It made it hard to root for her at times.
The Redemption:
However, towards the end of the book, EJ has a major epiphany about why she is so fiercely guarded and opinionated. This breakthrough creates a beautiful domino effect, completely transforming all of her relationships, from her friends and family to Chris & most importantly herself. It truly saved the story for me and turned it into a realistic portrait of someone unlearning their own defense mechanisms.
The Verdict:
If you love character driven stories about friendship with a strong sense of place, a slow burn romance, and real, messy growth, this is absolutely worth the read! Just be prepared to stick with EJ through her bumpy journey.
Thank you again to #Musepartner @harpermusebooks and @booksparks for the gifted copy! 🤎
June 15, 2026
This book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions, especially when it came to the likeability of the main character. Because the story is entirely told from EJ’s perspective, it often felt like being inside the mind of an unreliable narrator. She’s passionate about feminism and independence, and she’s also deeply wounded. For a large part of the book, EJ isn’t necessarily a likeable character, and I think that’s what made her feel so realistic. It’s interesting to read about someone that believes they have good intentions for the people around them while failing to realize how their actions actually affect others. Despite frustration, the writing kept me invested.
I went into this book expecting a slow-burn romance with feminist themes woven throughout it, but part of me was wrong. While EJ and Chris’s “romance” was slow, it wasn’t the overall idea. Their romance was never really the point of the story. It wasn’t anti-marriage or pro-marriage either. Instead, it felt like a journey toward understanding that everyone is on their own path, and that true freedom comes from making conscious choices yourself.
I also enjoyed the different friendships within the Redstockings and just seeing the different directions each woman’s life took. I’m still young and seeing women in their late twenties and thirties still navigating life and figuring things out was surprisingly comforting. It reminded me that life unfolds differently for everyone.
Overall, I enjoyed the story a lot. While there were certain aspects of EJ’s experiences that I couldn’t personally relate to, I still appreciated witnessing her growth.
I went into this book expecting a slow-burn romance with feminist themes woven throughout it, but part of me was wrong. While EJ and Chris’s “romance” was slow, it wasn’t the overall idea. Their romance was never really the point of the story. It wasn’t anti-marriage or pro-marriage either. Instead, it felt like a journey toward understanding that everyone is on their own path, and that true freedom comes from making conscious choices yourself.
I also enjoyed the different friendships within the Redstockings and just seeing the different directions each woman’s life took. I’m still young and seeing women in their late twenties and thirties still navigating life and figuring things out was surprisingly comforting. It reminded me that life unfolds differently for everyone.
Overall, I enjoyed the story a lot. While there were certain aspects of EJ’s experiences that I couldn’t personally relate to, I still appreciated witnessing her growth.
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
Fair warning, the main character of this book, EJ or Emily Jane is extremely annoying and unlikable. She enters into (or coerces her friends into) an Anti-Marriage Pact as a way to maintain her life as a carefree, anarchist who refuses to compromise herself and her art. Hijinks ensue.
As stated, EJ is incredibly prickly and quick to anger over the smallest slights. Somehow she has charmed three other women into being her die-hard friends while she whines and complains, sporadically drives Uber, parties at the crusty bars in her neighborhood, and changes her contact lenses to change her eye color every day. It's at one of these endless shindigs that she meets an accountant named Chris who intrigues her enough to follow up with him later. She ends up being his dog sitter, and occasional witness to his small, predictable life while she insists she is not interested in him, and would never pursue a relationship with him. Interestingly, as the story moves along, we learn more about EJ and Chris, and the traumas they have. With EJ, I became especially sympathetic, even as I never liked her much. However, her growth throughout the story was unexpected, and really well done, as she never once loses her annoying edge, yet slowly lets go of her judgments of everyone, including herself.
I wouldn't say I liked the book, or the characters by the end, but I did find a small admiration for them, and even for the story as a way a person can grow from their flaws into a new understanding of the world around them.
As stated, EJ is incredibly prickly and quick to anger over the smallest slights. Somehow she has charmed three other women into being her die-hard friends while she whines and complains, sporadically drives Uber, parties at the crusty bars in her neighborhood, and changes her contact lenses to change her eye color every day. It's at one of these endless shindigs that she meets an accountant named Chris who intrigues her enough to follow up with him later. She ends up being his dog sitter, and occasional witness to his small, predictable life while she insists she is not interested in him, and would never pursue a relationship with him. Interestingly, as the story moves along, we learn more about EJ and Chris, and the traumas they have. With EJ, I became especially sympathetic, even as I never liked her much. However, her growth throughout the story was unexpected, and really well done, as she never once loses her annoying edge, yet slowly lets go of her judgments of everyone, including herself.
I wouldn't say I liked the book, or the characters by the end, but I did find a small admiration for them, and even for the story as a way a person can grow from their flaws into a new understanding of the world around them.
June 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you Booksparks, Harper Muse, and Libro.fm for the gifted copies!
The Anti-Marriage Pact
Lindsay MacMillan
Publishing Date: June 2, 2026
🎧 Narrator: Abigail Reno 🎧
Four friends make a pact. They are never getting married. They are going to be fierce and independent and not abide by society’s expectations. But plans made in youth don’t tend to stick as we grow up now do they?
EJ’s friends start to couple up and move on, but she is determined to stick to the plan. She meets a guy, Chris, and falls in love with.. his dog. Her and Chris become friends and she takes care of his pup when he needs a sitter. I actually really enjoyed the friendship that developed here between EJ and Chris. I also enjoyed EJ’s friendships with her girlfriends.
EJ is one of those characters that could easily be called unlikeable. She’s a lot, she’s kind of pushy and annoying, a bit bossy. What I saw was a woman who was very loudly lacking confidence. As EJ starts to discover more about herself, we quickly understand why she is the way she is.
I do feel like the pacing of this book was a little uneven. There is a pretty big reveal within EJ’s character development that just did not get the attention and depth that it deserved, in my opinion. The ending also tied up pretty quickly compared to the rest of the book. The New York setting was fun for me since I live near the city, so naturally I had to feature the book with some NYC backdrops!
🎧 Abigail Reno did a great job channeling her inner EJ! I enjoyed audio format for this one!
Thank you Booksparks, Harper Muse, and Libro.fm for the gifted copies!
The Anti-Marriage Pact
Lindsay MacMillan
Publishing Date: June 2, 2026
🎧 Narrator: Abigail Reno 🎧
Four friends make a pact. They are never getting married. They are going to be fierce and independent and not abide by society’s expectations. But plans made in youth don’t tend to stick as we grow up now do they?
EJ’s friends start to couple up and move on, but she is determined to stick to the plan. She meets a guy, Chris, and falls in love with.. his dog. Her and Chris become friends and she takes care of his pup when he needs a sitter. I actually really enjoyed the friendship that developed here between EJ and Chris. I also enjoyed EJ’s friendships with her girlfriends.
EJ is one of those characters that could easily be called unlikeable. She’s a lot, she’s kind of pushy and annoying, a bit bossy. What I saw was a woman who was very loudly lacking confidence. As EJ starts to discover more about herself, we quickly understand why she is the way she is.
I do feel like the pacing of this book was a little uneven. There is a pretty big reveal within EJ’s character development that just did not get the attention and depth that it deserved, in my opinion. The ending also tied up pretty quickly compared to the rest of the book. The New York setting was fun for me since I live near the city, so naturally I had to feature the book with some NYC backdrops!
🎧 Abigail Reno did a great job channeling her inner EJ! I enjoyed audio format for this one!
June 12, 2026
3.5/5
Thank you to the author, Harper Muse, and BookSparks for the gifted physical copy!
What happens when four friends living together in Brooklyn decide to make a no-marriage pact?
The premise of this one was so intriguing from the start. Told from EJ's first person POV, the book chronicles her perspective on the lives of these four friends as they navigate friendship, love, and career in their early 30s. While EJ was perhaps the most detestable character I've ever read on paper, it was gratifying to see her growth and development from an extremely opinionated, rigid, and defensive person to someone willing to accept others' worldview that might be different from hers.
At its core, this is a story of female friendships. I liked EJ's bond with Chris and his dog Arnie, and how they both brought a newness to the other's life. The book showed the vulnerability that comes with accepting one's own changing viewpoints on life, and also briefly touched on the role spirituality and self-awareness play in relationships.
I will say that most people probably wouldn't be able to read past the first 100 pages, since EJ's personality makes it fairly difficult to push through. It's uncertain what the book intends to focus on, often switching between multiple things without being able to truly delve into one single relationship too much. I quite liked the last third of the book, and was definitely relieved to see the ending wrapped up neatly while also leaving some plot points to the reader's imagination.
Recommended if you like your narrators to be downright annoying and hateful, but also root for their character development the whole time. There is very little romance in there, so don't go expecting a romance when this is, ultimately, women's fiction.
cw: child abuse, sexual assault, grief and death, animal injury (no death)
Thank you to the author, Harper Muse, and BookSparks for the gifted physical copy!
What happens when four friends living together in Brooklyn decide to make a no-marriage pact?
The premise of this one was so intriguing from the start. Told from EJ's first person POV, the book chronicles her perspective on the lives of these four friends as they navigate friendship, love, and career in their early 30s. While EJ was perhaps the most detestable character I've ever read on paper, it was gratifying to see her growth and development from an extremely opinionated, rigid, and defensive person to someone willing to accept others' worldview that might be different from hers.
At its core, this is a story of female friendships. I liked EJ's bond with Chris and his dog Arnie, and how they both brought a newness to the other's life. The book showed the vulnerability that comes with accepting one's own changing viewpoints on life, and also briefly touched on the role spirituality and self-awareness play in relationships.
I will say that most people probably wouldn't be able to read past the first 100 pages, since EJ's personality makes it fairly difficult to push through. It's uncertain what the book intends to focus on, often switching between multiple things without being able to truly delve into one single relationship too much. I quite liked the last third of the book, and was definitely relieved to see the ending wrapped up neatly while also leaving some plot points to the reader's imagination.
Recommended if you like your narrators to be downright annoying and hateful, but also root for their character development the whole time. There is very little romance in there, so don't go expecting a romance when this is, ultimately, women's fiction.
cw: child abuse, sexual assault, grief and death, animal injury (no death)
June 14, 2026
My sincere thanks to Harper Muse and Library Thing Eary Reviewers for giving me the opportunity to read The Ani-Marriage Pact by Lindsay Macmillan. I give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.
EJ and her three best friends live in a basement apartment in the city that they call the Dunge Inn. They are all single and happy being single or so it appears. EJ especially has adopted a free and adamantly anti-marriage lifestyle and convinces her friends to enter into a pact to never marry or have kids. This pact is not a flippant spontaneous moment; it is a true serious commitment. Let me just say right here that as I truly disliked Emily Jane (EJ) from the first page of this book. I found her too radical, too controlling, too cynical and too anti everything even remotely conventional. I kept reading because I figured the author would be transforming her character by the end of the book and I wanted to see how she managed to do it. Of course, EJs friends start dropping one by one, finding love and daring to break the pact. EJ is not at all easy on them, but as time goes on, she finds herself looking inward and searching for answers to why she is the way she is. I'm so glad I kept reading this book despite my initial dislike. It was worth it. While EJ still has an edge to her, I really liked where she ended up. This was not a quick or easy read for me, but I recommend giving this book a try. It is a lot more than I expected and in a good way.
FYI: strong language, casual drug use, casual sex (off page)
July 10, 2026
The Anti-Marriage Pact by Lindsay MacMillan | Narrated by Abigail Reno
This one took me a little while to warm up to, and I think that is worth being honest about. EJ is fiercely, unapologetically feminist to a level that initially felt a little hard for me to connect with personally. I believe in women, I believe in equality, and I absolutely consider myself a feminist, but I also always wanted to get married and have a family and I genuinely love that part of my life. So EJ’s all or nothing stance gave me some pause early on.
But here is the thing: once I settled into the story and understood what the book was really asking, I found myself genuinely invested. Because at its heart this is not really a story about whether marriage is good or bad. It is a story about figuring out who you are when the people and principles you built your identity around start to shift, and whether being true to yourself means holding the line or being brave enough to evolve. That is a question worth sitting with.
The friendship dynamics are the real heartbeat of the book and they are handled with a lot of honesty and complexity. Abigail Reno’s narration suits the Brooklyn energy of the story well.
A solid 3.5 stars and a new to me author I will definitely be watching going forward. I spotted this one on Amazon Vine and honestly regret not requesting it there, but I am very glad I got to listen through NetGalley and discover a new to me author in the process.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
This one took me a little while to warm up to, and I think that is worth being honest about. EJ is fiercely, unapologetically feminist to a level that initially felt a little hard for me to connect with personally. I believe in women, I believe in equality, and I absolutely consider myself a feminist, but I also always wanted to get married and have a family and I genuinely love that part of my life. So EJ’s all or nothing stance gave me some pause early on.
But here is the thing: once I settled into the story and understood what the book was really asking, I found myself genuinely invested. Because at its heart this is not really a story about whether marriage is good or bad. It is a story about figuring out who you are when the people and principles you built your identity around start to shift, and whether being true to yourself means holding the line or being brave enough to evolve. That is a question worth sitting with.
The friendship dynamics are the real heartbeat of the book and they are handled with a lot of honesty and complexity. Abigail Reno’s narration suits the Brooklyn energy of the story well.
A solid 3.5 stars and a new to me author I will definitely be watching going forward. I spotted this one on Amazon Vine and honestly regret not requesting it there, but I am very glad I got to listen through NetGalley and discover a new to me author in the process.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"If it seems like I'm being judgmental, I am." EJ says this to the reader 11% into the book and it basically summarizes the entire story.
EJ has got to be one of the most pretentious main characters I've ever read. Absolutely insufferable, so much so that there were several times I almost DNFed this book, which I absolutely never do, especially for ARCs. So incredibly obnoxious, thinks she's better than EVERYTHING, and overall just a terrible person.
In the Uber ride with Chris and Olivia, EJ was so unnecessarily cruel to her for absolutely no reason that I actually had to reread it to make sure I read it properly the first time. The love story was bland, she had no chemistry with Chris and I had no idea what they even saw in each other, especially on his side. He's also still with Olivia for pretty much the entire book so maybe he's just as bad as EJ is and the two of them deserve each other.
I always say that main characters don't have to be likable, but they have to at least be interesting and in this case, I couldn't find one single thing interesting OR likable about EJ. Just a miserable person through and though and a really bad friend and it never got any better which made finishing this book a chore.
The one positive (other than the beautiful cover) is thankfully, the last maybe 10% of the book. It doesn't completely save it, but EJ is at least slightly tolerable, which made a huge difference.
EJ has got to be one of the most pretentious main characters I've ever read. Absolutely insufferable, so much so that there were several times I almost DNFed this book, which I absolutely never do, especially for ARCs. So incredibly obnoxious, thinks she's better than EVERYTHING, and overall just a terrible person.
In the Uber ride with Chris and Olivia, EJ was so unnecessarily cruel to her for absolutely no reason that I actually had to reread it to make sure I read it properly the first time. The love story was bland, she had no chemistry with Chris and I had no idea what they even saw in each other, especially on his side. He's also still with Olivia for pretty much the entire book so maybe he's just as bad as EJ is and the two of them deserve each other.
I always say that main characters don't have to be likable, but they have to at least be interesting and in this case, I couldn't find one single thing interesting OR likable about EJ. Just a miserable person through and though and a really bad friend and it never got any better which made finishing this book a chore.
The one positive (other than the beautiful cover) is thankfully, the last maybe 10% of the book. It doesn't completely save it, but EJ is at least slightly tolerable, which made a huge difference.
June 26, 2026
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Harper Muse publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
The most exciting thing about this book was the cover and no longer reading it. The main character was absolutely unbearable to read about, I rather count grains of sand rather than to hear her speak.
I’m all for women as a woman myself but she makes it so unbearable. She’s the type to shove her beliefs and values down everyone throat and doesn’t respect anyone’s values that’s even slightly different. EJ thinks she’s a know it all about the world and everyone in it clearly to diagnose what’s wrong with them without being able to see her own faults.
I can see why EJ and her friends stick together, they’re such a cringey clique who are nothing but hypocrites that will stick together to confirm their own bias and are quick to dismiss anyone who doesn’t agree.
Don’t even get me started on the “romance” with Chris if you can even call it that. The fact that Chris has a girlfriend and she still harbors feelings and brush aside his girlfriend that she’s not a problem for EJ to consider is crazy. Her facts reaffirming that someone having a partner never stopped EJ before is insane. How can you be a girl’s girl but still proceed to get closer to someone else’s man?
I’m all for redemption but if it takes 90% of the book to see any type of changes, this is just poor writing and planning for the book.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Harper Muse publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
The most exciting thing about this book was the cover and no longer reading it. The main character was absolutely unbearable to read about, I rather count grains of sand rather than to hear her speak.
I’m all for women as a woman myself but she makes it so unbearable. She’s the type to shove her beliefs and values down everyone throat and doesn’t respect anyone’s values that’s even slightly different. EJ thinks she’s a know it all about the world and everyone in it clearly to diagnose what’s wrong with them without being able to see her own faults.
I can see why EJ and her friends stick together, they’re such a cringey clique who are nothing but hypocrites that will stick together to confirm their own bias and are quick to dismiss anyone who doesn’t agree.
Don’t even get me started on the “romance” with Chris if you can even call it that. The fact that Chris has a girlfriend and she still harbors feelings and brush aside his girlfriend that she’s not a problem for EJ to consider is crazy. Her facts reaffirming that someone having a partner never stopped EJ before is insane. How can you be a girl’s girl but still proceed to get closer to someone else’s man?
I’m all for redemption but if it takes 90% of the book to see any type of changes, this is just poor writing and planning for the book.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews