Promises We Meant to Keep

Lancaster Prep #3

by Monica Murphy

New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy returns to the glittering Lancaster world with the story of a damaged woman who gets her chance to redeem herself with the one man who's been in love with her forever...

Spencer Donato.
My brother’s best friend.

My dirty little secret.

We fell for each other at Lancaster Prep. Sneaking around. Not wanting anyone to find out. He was my first love, my protector, my knight in shining armor. We were made for each other, and I truly believed he was my forever.

But then I did the unthinkable, and betrayed him in the worst possible way. I thought I lost him for good…

Until I saw him at my brother’s wedding. Now he’s older. Crueler. Unbearably handsome. We’re drawn to each other still, but will Spencer be there for me when I need him the most? Or did I ruin us once again?

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Dark Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance

422 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2022

About the author

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.

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Reviews

[jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

if i took my foot and swiped it across my keyboard 3 times i’d come out with a better book than this.

[ApoorvaReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

loved the whitsummer and crewwren crumbs but main couple didn’t serve💔

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface, Sylvie Lancaster is the stereotypical “poor little rich girl.” However, on the inside she’s vulnerable, broken. Despite their truth, no one believes the outlandish claims she makes leaving her lonely on top of everything else.

For years she’s solely been her mother’s focus. Sylvia Lancaster is not just your run-of-the-mill autocratic socialite. No, overbearing would have even been preferable to the horrors Sylvie endured at the hands of her very own mother.

When she’s sold to a Medicare-eligible magnate with the highest bid, Sylvie gives the most intimate piece of herself to the only man she’s ever loved, before accepting her fate.

Having loved one another all their lives, Sylvie and Spencer Donato have had a tumultuous relationship. As a Lancaster, Sylvie would never be permitted to marry a Donato yet he’s the only person to see the real person behind the facade.

The contradictions of Sylvie’s personality are what makes her the most intriguing to me, I think. Combined with the dichotomy of the ever-patient yet fierce Spencer, the duo’s romance is an emotionally charged, coming of age story full of tender moments and explosive couplings.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😩😭😳🥵😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}

🗂 Genre: Contemporary Romance

✨ Tropes: Virgin h, Forbidden, Friends-to-Lovers, Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance

🫦 Kinks: n/a

⛔️ Warning: This book may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care.

⚠️ Safety Squad: There are some triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: Promises We Meant to Keep is a standalone.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[. (rip) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I think authors forgot how to write second chance romances 😔 one of the reasons why I like to read them is because I love the angst, the pain, the betrayal especially if one of the main characters married someone else like here.
Spencer accepted Sylvie so easily that I just didn't want to keep reading. The person you loved MARRIEDT SOMEONE ELSE, make her suffer, cry. They hated each other and the other second they were in love again???? where's the toxicity, the jealousy, nothing happened here.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 Stars.

I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Looking at the reviews before picking up the book made me think and even scared me that I would end up dnfing it before reaching a certain chapter, but I was glued to my place the entire time I was reading this book. I could not put it down. Though I would say that after 75% it became a teeny tiny bit annoying, I wanted the fmc to grow a stronger backbone and not let anyone to have control over her.

The two twists that happened in this book also took me by surprise, I was actually flabbergasted by the turn of those events.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad that I read it despite the not so positive reviews.

The female main character has the same name as me, of course I'm going to read this book.

[Sarah♡books · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 🌟

✔️Virgin/ celibate heroine
✔️Non-celibate hero
✔️ Brothers bff
✔️ Annoying heroine
✔️Seperation (3 years)


Ohhhh man here we go again 👀
I LOVED 'A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime' but this was just a no Go 😶😬

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER!!

• the heroine was just too much.... I really understand that she had a traumatic childhood but man u don't need to treat the people u love like that 🤡 Couldn't connect with her and I don't understand why she handled things like she did
• the hero.... This hero was just disgusting 💩
He didn't belive her when she told him about her mother and said that she is like crazy ? Boy what is wrong with u 👀
RED FLAG
Also after their seperation he tells her how he f*cked women... Really THE most disgusting and pathetic Hero I' ve ever read about ❌❌❌
• There was literally no chemistry and development through this book 💀
We already see that they were a couple and had their first time together (didn't understand why because they didn't seem like in love... But okayyy) after their seperation they just go on like nothing happend and at this point it was just too much for my brain 🤯
I skipped through the last 30% because I just got annoyed with them and if I should be honest I don't understand why there are so little bad reviews about this book 🤔
In my opinion it was just a waste of time and I really hope that her other books are better because that just was a big failure and I feel fooled by all these reviews


Soooo all in all it really was just meehh and I definitely WOULDN' T recommend it ❌

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just glad that Sylvia is dead

[moniqueॱ◌̥*⃝̣ ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5★

So glad that I still decided to give this book a try, even though ‘Things we wanted to say (but never did)’ was such a disaster. This book made up for it and made me even more excited to read more Monica Murphy books in the future!

This one was a second chance, brother’s best friend, (kind of) forbidden love story, that deals also with a lot of family drama, trauma, issues and complications. Adding to that also mental and physical health issues caused by those circumstances. And I gotta say.. it was pretty good!!

Sylvie is the little sister of Whit and while I didn’t really care for her in his book, she really won me over in her own! She’s an amazing character and I feel so bad for her because of what she had to go through from a young age. Not being able to have her own identity and always being compared to her mother AND her mother supporting that idea, must’ve been so painful and hard for her!

Her mother is very much a psychotic demon. I hated her in all the other books and despise her even more in this one! The things she did to her family and especially her children is unforgivable and so disgusting. So glad that she got what she deserved at the end and won’t be a bother anymore. Karma wins once again!

And we can thank Spencer for that! Spencer has got to be my favourite male lead out of all the MMCs in this series. He’s literally so sweet, not toxic at all and he actually shows that he cares for her, instead of being an emotionally constipated piece of work. He proved over and over how much he loves Sylvie and I’m so glad that they got together at the end! He literally gave her the best gift ever, which is her freedom.

Their relationship is also so well developed! Considering that it’s a second chance romance makes it even better! They had chemistry and love for one another from the get go and how their relationship developed in the past was also so endearing and not weird or overboard! It was just so cute and it made sense!! It just made me enjoy the book even more.

The only thing that I didn’t really like about this book is them doing so much “adult” stuff at the age of 13/14. It rubbed me the wrong way. It just seemed kinda unnecessary and could’ve been replaced with other things that they could’ve done to bond and get closer.

Other than that, the book was pretty good! Loved the vibes and settings as well!
And the fact that there were quite a few flashbacks to show more depth to their past relationship and character development was also a nice add to the story.
The spicy scenes also weren’t too much or took up too much of the plot which I liked. They were actually quite hot and well written if you ask me!

Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book and I will probably read the rest of the books in this series as well!!

[crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my freaking gosh. sylvie and spencer. SYLVIE AND SPENCER!! IM IN SO MUCH LOVE WITH THEM!! this book was so amazing. i cant get over how much sylvie and spencer are meant to be. they are the definition of soulmates. from beginning to end, these two had me so captivated. i love a protective hero and spencer was everything!!! im so in love with him. i cant and will not stop talking about him. and sylvie… i love this girl. i am so proud of how far she has come and her book was incredible. sylvie is an icon and im so happy we got her book🥹🥹🥹. the lancaster prep universe is one of my favorites of all time 🤍🤍🤍

[mary steven · Rating 1 out of 5]

first flop read of the year🥳this book was awful!

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

I have been in love with you for so long, I don’t know how to stop. I will do whatever it takes to make this work.

Sylvie was a character I equally loved and hated in Things I Wanted to Say, But Never Did. She was such a complex character who I couldn't wait to peel back the layers in her own book. So I have been eagerly anticipating her story.

He was my respite. A way for me to forget. Until I made myself forget him.

Spencer is Sylvie's brother's best friend and her most sacred secret. He was her everything when they were at Lancaster Prep, but then she broke them in the most irrevocable way. Years later she's a different Sylvie but with more scars, and her scars run deep. When she sees Spencer again he's not the same boy that allowed her to toy with him in her hot and cold persona back in the day.

I think this is the part that I wanted a little more angst in. There's nothing I love more than the angst of second chance romance, and considering the history and betrayal between these two, I was eagerly anticipating some angst...which never came. They worked past their differences pretty quick. And I think my masochistic heart yearned for something more here.

I absolutely adored Spencer. And as much as I was back and forth with Sylvie in her brother's book, being in her head really endeared me to her here. She's such a broken, tortured soul. You couldn't help but love her.

The ending felt a little rushed, but was ultimately satisfying. And while the story wasn't fully what I had hoped for, it still hit the spot.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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[Ashlee » libraryinthecountry · Rating 5 out of 5]

the worst thing about this book is that the average rating is so low ??? 😭😅 happy that I read a different book than everyone else, I guess 🤣

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on IG: @xojazzle
Ok let me start off by saying I absolutely love the Lancasters! I was super excited to learn Sylvie was getting a book bc I loved the chemistry between her and spencer in “things I wanted to say.” Reading the blurb I knew it would be a second chance romance and was guessing this would have some past/present chapters (and it did). I enjoyed some aspects of the book, but overall thought it was bc I felt like some aspects fell flat for me. I felt like the pacing of the book was just kind of off. For it being a second chance romance, I expected us to see them a part for a while, read about their time together from high school and slowly see them get together. But they actually found themselves together fairly early on in the book. Much earlier than I expected. I felt like everything happened in a way where it just didn’t flow for my liking. I did really enjoy seeing little snippets of whitsummer and crewwren bc I absolutely loved their books and seeing updates made me SO happy, but I think we focused on them a little too much and not so much on the development between Sylvie and spencer. I LOVE spencer and how protective and aggressive he is and I think sylvies character is so complex given her past and a lot of the things she endured. I did like Sylvie in this book, but did it redeem her…? Seemed like an entirely different character compared to the Sylvie in “things I wanted to say” (which I’m happy about bc I didn’t like her in that book) but we didnt really get to SEE that change. It just happened. Also the plot line at the end just seemed so out of pocket haha like it just came out of left field (again, related to the pacing of this book) This wasn’t my favorite book, but overall I enjoyed the read and was thankful to get another book in the Lancaster universe! Also: this had good spice haha Overall, I adore Spencer and sylvies relationship and glad they got their happy ending!

[SP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica is really started this one off with a bang. This story has this rich aristocratic feel throughout it. It’s filled with darker tones, and top notch angst. It’s definitely different then anything else in the Lancaster world we have seen so far, and I was loving it.

If you read things I wanted to say, then you remember Sylvie. I am one of those people. I have been waiting for her story for a while now, and it’s nothing I could ever imagine.

What I thought would be a straight forward story of redemption turned out to be so much more. This story shows that love can overcome it all. This story can be read as a standalone, it takes place in a time line differently from “things I wanted to say, but never did”.

This is Sylvie and Spencer’s story, we see the product of heartbreak and trauma, and how this effects both characters. There is a lot of wrongs that need to be made right and trust that needs rebuilding. I feel like Monica did a great job of having us feel for Sylvie and redeeming her. She is not a perfect person, she is flawed she is broken… but she is her and doing the best she can. Just like all of us are at the end of the day.

The love these two shared is the type I enjoy reading about most. It’s unconditional and transcend time. The way Spencer supported her and built her up… was amazing to see. I was very happy with this story. The tone of us is very unique and created this feeing of when is the other shoe going to drop. There’s twists, and secrets that need to come to light. Overall I definitely recommend this story! I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it there.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok here it is.

This is so angsty and self pitying and toxic. I’m 25% in and I can’t take it anymore.

I still maintain the creepy ‘Flowers in the Attic’ vibes it’s giving and I cannot continue. On to the next.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“No more broken promises between us, Syl. When we talk, we mean what we say.”

Sylvie and Spencer’s book! We catch back up with this duo around the time Whit & Summer’s ending takes place, and then the story takes place a few years after that.

This was an entertaining read and I’m glad Sylvie got her happy ending, and “resolution” with her horrid mother, but to be honest I felt like there was something missing for me to take this one over the edge that book one had. It was nice to catch up and be back in this world though.

Interested to see what Carolina’s book will entail.

[bookwormriss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Toxic relationships galore… every page is a red flag. I hated Sylvia and Spencer.

[Deni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Това не се търпи направо 😣 DNF @53%. Някой беше се изказал сред ревютата, че ако си беше зататразил краката по клавиатурата щеше да сътвори по-добра история с по-плътни персонажи и съм напълно съгласна с това. Пълен потрес! Жалко за момента с майката-нарцис. Имаше толкова много потенциал, а Мърфи така жестоко се 💩 върху идеята с бездарното си писане, че дори скат привържениците ще кринджнат. Това е втора нейна книга, която зарязвам, заради непреодолими позиви за 🤢🤮, породени от посредствените ѝ (не)способности като автор. Явно е изразходила целия си талант и вдъхновение в първите две книги от поредицата и до там. След време ще ѝ дам трети, последен шанс да ме убеди, че книгите ѝ стават за нещо различно от 🚽🧻. Ако ли не - всеки по неговия си път и ще я повиша в 🚩 author.

Книгата е перфектна за почитателите на Ерген(ин)ът и всички останали подобни реалитита с евтина драма и празноглави "актьори" 🥴

[Komal☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I would destroy this entire world if it meant keeping you safe".

[Maloukk ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long for no reason

[freyleyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

disliked this. didn’t think either of the characters lived up to the hype

[lexie · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf’d at 38%

i physically cannot stand them

[_booktique2_ D Amora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t hate this book, but I also didn’t love this book.


This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022-23, and to say the least it underwhelmed me in some ways. This is the third story that follows along one the Lancaster children, and this one being Sylvie Lancaster whom we meet in ‘things I wanted to say but never did’. I absolutely adored her character in that book and she was honestly what got me through it. So obviously with the open ended cliff they left us for Sylvie and spencer I was over the moon to get a book about them, especially after I found out it takes place years later after high school, and a second chance romance.

The beginning of this book was GOOD, high hopes and was setting the plot for the story really well. I was truly emotional in that first 10%. The part where they ran into each other and meet again after so many years at her brothers wedding gave me like this butterfly feeling, which was like “woah what’s gonna happen now that they see each other again”. And it was going so well truly. There was a part in the story where Sylvie hid and spencer went to look for her, and it got me excited. But the minute he found her things took a turn, and not necessarily in a bad way, but in a way I was hoping would keep the pace slower. The unfortunate part was that their story was too fast compared to whit and crew Lancaster books, and the thing is sylvies needed to be the biggest one. So as you can imagine spencer got over what she did TOO quick. There was not enough angst, passion, and tears. They were sort of just horny most of the time. I know there is ALOT more to them and I was hoping to get those parts. But as you can see we didn’t.

I think it would have been a lot cooler if this also set place originally in Lancaster prep so we can see how they went through high school together while Sylvie was supposedly dying from a sickness.

Overall, it was a good story, wished for a better execution. Others potentially would love this more than I did, but I still stand by my word that ‘a million kisses in your lifetime’ was beyond the best book. We shall see if charlotte Lancaster book exceeds it😏😏

[San (slikestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 promises stars

“You say you love me again and I’m never going to let you go. It doesn’t matter what happens. I’m by your side until the day I die.”

I had been waiting for Sylvie's story since I read TIWTS, and I'm happy we finally got her POV and her back story. Spencer and Stevie finally got their story y'all, get ready because its steamy, heart-wrenching, and it's so rewarding to see were their path takes them.

I'm going to be honest, I was not sure what to expect for this book. We got some hints of the possible story between Syl and Spencer, but it was better than what I thought. The book takes us a little back in time but I liked that it focus on the present. We did need and get glimpse of the past to understand stand the present and Syl/Spence's love story. Syl and Spencer have always had an interesting relationship since they first met at kids. They were friends, or very connected you can say. Their story is not easy from the start, for many reasons. As we keep reading the book we get answers of why their relationship was difficult from he start. I loved that Syl and Spencer fought for their HEA, like I said their story didn't start easy, so many odds against them, but they kept going.

note, please I loved whit and Summer appearances! it feels like this book picks up after their book and I loved that.

[Yas · Rating 1 out of 5]

the only reason why I’m even giving this book a star is because of Whit and Summer, a book that didn’t even revolve around them😭This spinoff was unnecessary, I feel absolutely no sympathy for Sylvie (she didn’t evolve into a better person and she definitely thinks world problems don’t exist) and the romance aspect was NOT there. Spencer and Sylvie’s love story actually gives me hope for the future because I know I will never have a dumpster fire of a relationship like theirs. Also, Sylvia getting killed was a surprise and something I did not see coming. like I know we were all thinking the same thing when it came to her, but I did not expect Monica to follow through. Props to her. Overall, Whit & Summer are THAT couple, they stole the show and don’t get me started on the birth scene LMAO. So cute baby Iris🥹the only reason why I kept going was because of them.

[Reese · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sylvie - a character you will hate, weak, always feeling sorry for herself, has a mommy issue.

"Why does Whit get to marry the love of life, while I had to marry the old man"

Well news flash gurl that was on you. Yes your mom force you but for goodness sake STAND UP FOR YOURSELF. Too bad you thought your mom's approval is something you needed altho she treated you like shit hence marry the guy that could be your grandfather/father yes why not.

I am at about 10% into the story when I realize this one is not meant for me. I'm sorry but I hate it.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

nothing happens in this book i'm so serious.

[Beckee❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one given Sylvie's treatment of Summer in Things I Wanted To Say...but I really loved Sylvie and Spencer's story and Sylvie's personality turn-around!

[Jenifer Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn't really do it for me. Maybe it's because I haven't read the rest of Lancaster Prep, or really a MM book in quite some time, but this was just flat. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either.

Sylvie has finally broken away from her toxic mother (toxic barley even covers how awful that woman was) and is finally living life for herself and her wants and needs. When she sees Spencer, it's like all the feelings she's kept rel repressed so she could survive come roaring back. But what kind of future can they have? And will Spencer ever be able to forgive her?

I liked Spencer, but for some reason I never really connected with him. I felt his obsession for Sylvie run deep, but that was about it. I felt their journey back together was way too short, and like everything was forgiven in the blink of an eye. Idk, Sylvie definitely deserves all the happiness with what she's been through, but so much was swept under the rug and ignored. Plus I didn't like the resolution with her mother at all.

Maybe it's just me, but I had really high expectations for this book that just weren't met.

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions**

[Lia Tinoco]

i don't know what this was but it was a no