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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Great book! I really enjoyed reading this book. Great writing.
"Everything is changing. I'm nowhere but I'm somewhere and it's not where I want to be. I don't really know what I want. But I know I don't have it."
The Pact was a surprise release from Karina Halle and it came at the perfect time! I have been unable to get into any books for the past two weeks but as soon as I started this one I found myself devouring it in one sitting. Told in duel POV, The Pact is a story centered around best friends Linden and Stephanie, two people that are still struggling to come to terms with adulthood. With no romantic prospects, Linden and Stephanie make a pact to marry each other if they are still single at 30.
"I can't have you, I think to myself for a moment, trying to bring myself to reality, to the present, to what we really are to each other."
I have always been fascinated by friends-to-lovers stories, especially ones involving marriage pacts (My Best Friend's Wedding is one of my favorite movies ever!) and The Pact hit all the right spots. First you have Linden. Sigh, Linden is a sexy Scot with a dirty mouth described as a Scott Eastwood look-a-like (Google him and drool away). Then you have Stephanie, she is hip and funny and definitely a girl you can relate to. Put them together and you can feel the friendship, but most importantly, the chemistry. There is this constant balance of wanting Linden and Steph to blur the lines and elevate their friendship to something else. The burn is slow and steady and on the verge of spreading like wildfire. It's inevitable.
"Linden," she says and her voice sounds like snow. "Please be gentle with me."
The Pact is so very different from the stories I've come to know from Karina. There are no ghosts, gunshots, or gore in this one but The Pact is one example of why I love her writing because there is substance to her stories. Being closer to 30 than 20 I really could connect with the pressures of being an adult and the expectations of ourselves we have at that age. When the market is oversaturated with New Adult and smut, The Pact is a breathe of fresh air. I started this just expecting a sweet friends-to-lovers romance but what I got out of it was so much more.
4.5 stars*
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
The Pact was a surprise release from Karina Halle and it came at the perfect time! I have been unable to get into any books for the past two weeks but as soon as I started this one I found myself devouring it in one sitting. Told in duel POV, The Pact is a story centered around best friends Linden and Stephanie, two people that are still struggling to come to terms with adulthood. With no romantic prospects, Linden and Stephanie make a pact to marry each other if they are still single at 30.
"I can't have you, I think to myself for a moment, trying to bring myself to reality, to the present, to what we really are to each other."
I have always been fascinated by friends-to-lovers stories, especially ones involving marriage pacts (My Best Friend's Wedding is one of my favorite movies ever!) and The Pact hit all the right spots. First you have Linden. Sigh, Linden is a sexy Scot with a dirty mouth described as a Scott Eastwood look-a-like (Google him and drool away). Then you have Stephanie, she is hip and funny and definitely a girl you can relate to. Put them together and you can feel the friendship, but most importantly, the chemistry. There is this constant balance of wanting Linden and Steph to blur the lines and elevate their friendship to something else. The burn is slow and steady and on the verge of spreading like wildfire. It's inevitable.
"Linden," she says and her voice sounds like snow. "Please be gentle with me."
The Pact is so very different from the stories I've come to know from Karina. There are no ghosts, gunshots, or gore in this one but The Pact is one example of why I love her writing because there is substance to her stories. Being closer to 30 than 20 I really could connect with the pressures of being an adult and the expectations of ourselves we have at that age. When the market is oversaturated with New Adult and smut, The Pact is a breathe of fresh air. I started this just expecting a sweet friends-to-lovers romance but what I got out of it was so much more.
4.5 stars*
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
In my Humble opinion. This is how you do friends to lovers. All of the uncertainty, will they won't they, and banter was everything. Linden is so yummy and sexy. Stephanie is hella relatable.
Halle is a decent writer but these characters make no sense. There are three main characters who are supposedly best friends, but... why? This James guy, especially, is just the worst. I cannot think of any universe in which a guy like Linden would do what he did for the sake of a friendship like the one these three had. It never seemed like Linden or Steph actually liked James, and he definitely didn't seem to like them, they were all just hanging out together out of habit, or something. But then their friendship becomes the major pivotal factor in the whole story. Again, why?
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
The only real negative thing I can say about this book is how the author seems apologetic for writing it. It was "hella" good. (Born and raised in northern Cali). Great characters, realistic entanglements and a creative pace I really enjoyed.
Quick and easy read. Liked both main characters and definitely thought Linden was 'hawt'! Look forward to reading more by this author
3.5 good easy to read romance. I liked it better for the first part of the book than the last. Parts of it are a bit too cheesey for me but overall i liked it. Honestly not a huge fan of friends to lovers i think if the guy friend is hiding his feelings. Reminds me too much of past guy friends screwing me over. Al right that's all ✌️
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes