In The Break-Up Pact, her sweet, steamy first novel for adults, Emma Lord (The Getaway List; Tweet Cute) whips up a second-chance love story laced with grief, complicated family dynamics, the vagaries of viral Internet breakups, and some truly wacky scone flavors.
After her sister Annie's death, June Hart returned to her hometown of Benson Beach to run Tea Tide, Annie's built-from-scratch beachside bakery. But amid June's struggles to keep the shop afloat, she got dumped on national television. Now, June is trying to deal with her public humiliation and the local reporters, bloggers, and influencers invading Tea Tide. She is shocked when her childhood crush, Levi Shaw, shows up at the bakery after his own headline-making breakup. The two agree to fake date to capitalize on the attention, secure more sales for Tea Tide, and help Levi win back his ex. But as her summer with Levi continues, June admits to herself that although their dates may be fake, her feelings for Levi definitely are not.
Lord sensitively explores grief and other complex emotions, digging into June's reluctance to change anything at the bakery after Annie's death and Levi's hesitance to pursue the writing career he wants. As the two spend time together, they also revisit their shared history, gaining fresh perspectives on past experiences and figuring out how to move forward.
Packed with zany situations and tasty desserts--plus a dash of the unexpected, such as pizza sprinkled with Pop Rocks--Lord's novel is a treat for readers who like their romance to carry some emotional heft and spill plenty of tea (literal and metaphorical). --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams