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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
4.75 stars
One thing can be said for Karina Halle, she's constantly surprising me. I absolutely love that she's been exploring so many different genres! One thing they all have in common thus far is that no matter what genre she's writing in, she fucking slays.
The Pact was such a refreshing contemporary romance. In a genre that's saturated with New Adult books right now, which I love too, it's also so nice to get a look at dating/finding love a little later in life. As I am, way too quickly, approaching the big 3-0 myself, I was easily able to understand and relate to the characters in this book, and their struggles. I honestly wish I could find more romances like it. There was something so refreshing reading about these adults who were still figuring life out well into their 20's and encroaching on their 30's. It's so funny how when you are a kid you think by 30 you'll be old and have everything worked out, family, career, home, children, etc. But that's not always the case, and it's funny how far from old and grown-up you feel as 30 looms on the horizon. How can you still feel so like 20 year old you, but also so completely different. I felt like The Pact captured this perfectly.
I really dug the beginning and how it skipped around a little throughout the years since the day the pact had been made. It almost had a kind of When Harry Meets Sally feel to it that I loved! Like Linden and Stephanie's time just never seemed to be right for years. I also love a good best friend romance. I mean that's the dream right?
"Isn't that the best person to want? The person that knows you inside and out. The person who has seen you at your ugliest, and most beautiful and still wants to be with you. The person who believes in you and has your back, no matter what."
While I guess you could say that these characters were a little more subdued than Halle usually writes, you could still see a lot of her trademark brazenness come through. Linden's dirty mouth made me blush a few times, and I LOVED every minute of it. He also said some of the toothachingly sweetest things as well. He was sugar and spice, to the 100th degree! Halle's characters always seem to have at least something naughty going on with them, along with a killer sarcastic sense of humor, and it makes me love them even more for it.
"Have I told you how fucking hot you look tonight?" His warm breath tickles me.
"No. Do go on, though."
"Your dress is amazing." He's right about that. It's strapless red satin to my knees, with a corset waist that sucks me in and makes my breasts look ridiculous. "You look like a Disney Princess."
"A Disney Princess?"
"Yeah," he whispers roughly. "One of those princesses who look like they might give you a BJ if you play your cards right but in the end she probably won't."
The build up of tension between Linden and Steph, and even the inevitable struggle with expanding on their relationship and what it would mean for their friendship was a fantastic journey. It's always scary to take that leap from being friends to something more, because either way, things between you two will never be the same.
I also found the relationships between the three friends, Linden, Steph, and James so realistic and completely relatable. I think every woman in her time has had at least one guy friend that had hoped for something more between you two, even when the feelings were not reciprocated. It almost never ends well. Especially when those unrequited feelings grow bitter with time.
These 3 amigos were a time bomb just waiting to explode, and I couldn't help being wrapped up in this faintly familiar, and totally enchanting story. The inevitable combustion between these friends cut deep though. I was honestly kind of shocked at how Linden ended up handling everything. Even though he's kind of a child in terms of maturity in relationships, it still knocked me on my ass when he screwed the pooch. I knew a rift was coming, but I was not expecting it to that extent. I had hoped for a little more from Linden after everything we had seen, and I think that's where my rating went to just below perfection.
I highly recommend this book, especially for anyone looking for a smart, relatable, ADULT contemporary romance. Way to knock this out of the park Halle!!!
One thing can be said for Karina Halle, she's constantly surprising me. I absolutely love that she's been exploring so many different genres! One thing they all have in common thus far is that no matter what genre she's writing in, she fucking slays.
The Pact was such a refreshing contemporary romance. In a genre that's saturated with New Adult books right now, which I love too, it's also so nice to get a look at dating/finding love a little later in life. As I am, way too quickly, approaching the big 3-0 myself, I was easily able to understand and relate to the characters in this book, and their struggles. I honestly wish I could find more romances like it. There was something so refreshing reading about these adults who were still figuring life out well into their 20's and encroaching on their 30's. It's so funny how when you are a kid you think by 30 you'll be old and have everything worked out, family, career, home, children, etc. But that's not always the case, and it's funny how far from old and grown-up you feel as 30 looms on the horizon. How can you still feel so like 20 year old you, but also so completely different. I felt like The Pact captured this perfectly.
I really dug the beginning and how it skipped around a little throughout the years since the day the pact had been made. It almost had a kind of When Harry Meets Sally feel to it that I loved! Like Linden and Stephanie's time just never seemed to be right for years. I also love a good best friend romance. I mean that's the dream right?
"Isn't that the best person to want? The person that knows you inside and out. The person who has seen you at your ugliest, and most beautiful and still wants to be with you. The person who believes in you and has your back, no matter what."
While I guess you could say that these characters were a little more subdued than Halle usually writes, you could still see a lot of her trademark brazenness come through. Linden's dirty mouth made me blush a few times, and I LOVED every minute of it. He also said some of the toothachingly sweetest things as well. He was sugar and spice, to the 100th degree! Halle's characters always seem to have at least something naughty going on with them, along with a killer sarcastic sense of humor, and it makes me love them even more for it.
"Have I told you how fucking hot you look tonight?" His warm breath tickles me.
"No. Do go on, though."
"Your dress is amazing." He's right about that. It's strapless red satin to my knees, with a corset waist that sucks me in and makes my breasts look ridiculous. "You look like a Disney Princess."
"A Disney Princess?"
"Yeah," he whispers roughly. "One of those princesses who look like they might give you a BJ if you play your cards right but in the end she probably won't."
The build up of tension between Linden and Steph, and even the inevitable struggle with expanding on their relationship and what it would mean for their friendship was a fantastic journey. It's always scary to take that leap from being friends to something more, because either way, things between you two will never be the same.
I also found the relationships between the three friends, Linden, Steph, and James so realistic and completely relatable. I think every woman in her time has had at least one guy friend that had hoped for something more between you two, even when the feelings were not reciprocated. It almost never ends well. Especially when those unrequited feelings grow bitter with time.
These 3 amigos were a time bomb just waiting to explode, and I couldn't help being wrapped up in this faintly familiar, and totally enchanting story. The inevitable combustion between these friends cut deep though. I was honestly kind of shocked at how Linden ended up handling everything. Even though he's kind of a child in terms of maturity in relationships, it still knocked me on my ass when he screwed the pooch. I knew a rift was coming, but I was not expecting it to that extent. I had hoped for a little more from Linden after everything we had seen, and I think that's where my rating went to just below perfection.
I highly recommend this book, especially for anyone looking for a smart, relatable, ADULT contemporary romance. Way to knock this out of the park Halle!!!
Meh,
I was expecting so much more.
Hated most of the characters but kinda loved their relationships.
I was expecting so much more.
Hated most of the characters but kinda loved their relationships.
Lol. Really, really flat, cliche characters, which on top of that are just bad. I hated Linden, I hated James, and Stephanie was just meh. I have a pretty low standard when it comes to romance books, but this was so over the top cheesy. It was fun though, because it was so ridiculous.
What happens when best friends who know each other in and out decide to make a pact that if they are both 30 and singe, they marry each other? What ensues is both Steph and Linden burying their feelings for one another and going through one crappy relationship after the other to try to replace the feelings of love they have for each other. Linden presents this pact when they are both 25, though there are a few months between the two. I really enjoyed the small time jumps and to see both Steph and Linden struggle with not only their strong friendship as they both grew through the years; the ups and downs with a friend they both have in common, James.
I grew to love him and hate all at the same time. GAH! I wanted to slap him a few times, because he got in between Linden and Steph, because he was SO petty and not to mention a pretty crappy friend. This proves that men can be petty as women and love make people do things they wouldn't do.
Well, I think I have a liking for Scottish men now thanks to Linden McGregor. The narrator who does the voice for Linden *chef's kiss*
I grew to love him and hate all at the same time. GAH! I wanted to slap him a few times, because he got in between Linden and Steph, because he was SO petty and not to mention a pretty crappy friend. This proves that men can be petty as women and love make people do things they wouldn't do.
Well, I think I have a liking for Scottish men now thanks to Linden McGregor. The narrator who does the voice for Linden *chef's kiss*
This was my very first Karina Halle book and I loved it!!! I know this is not her norm, so reading her others will make me nervous.
I love reading friends to lovers stories. They are usually the sweetest, and this definitely was.
I love reading friends to lovers stories. They are usually the sweetest, and this definitely was.
OK, I finished reading it yesterday and it took me one full day to calm down and write a moderate review.
Don't get me wrong : I *love* Karina Halle and have loved every single book I've read by her - except this one.
At first, the story wasn't captivating, but it wasn't bad either, I rather liked the characters even if I wondered why it took them so long to act on their feelings. And I liked the feeling of time passing and having to adjust to growing old. Then "Baby Blue" got a little on my nerves because she was always so afraid of what might happen. Life's short, girl, take risks and live fully ! Then they opted for secrecy - *sigh*. You know when something important is hidden that it's going to blow in everybody's faces later. Then Linden acted completely stupidly and I wanted to throw the reader at the wall, but I didn't, I love my reader. Then *that* thing happened that was sooooo boringly convenient to get people who don't speak to each other back together. Then there was the cheesy ending.
I felt no real passion between the two main characters, no real passion for their work except that they worked hard and their life is what, work and then get drunk/laid ?
To cut it short : James was whiny and selfish, Linden wasn't mature enough, only Stephanie was relatively better but she took him back without any sufficient groveling from his part.
I like the writing, though, but this series is definitely written off my to be read pile. I'll soon be back to the Experiment in terror series - creepy, scary, but sooo good !
Don't get me wrong : I *love* Karina Halle and have loved every single book I've read by her - except this one.
At first, the story wasn't captivating, but it wasn't bad either, I rather liked the characters even if I wondered why it took them so long to act on their feelings. And I liked the feeling of time passing and having to adjust to growing old. Then "Baby Blue" got a little on my nerves because she was always so afraid of what might happen. Life's short, girl, take risks and live fully ! Then they opted for secrecy - *sigh*. You know when something important is hidden that it's going to blow in everybody's faces later. Then Linden acted completely stupidly and I wanted to throw the reader at the wall, but I didn't, I love my reader. Then *that* thing happened that was sooooo boringly convenient to get people who don't speak to each other back together. Then there was the cheesy ending.
I felt no real passion between the two main characters, no real passion for their work except that they worked hard and their life is what, work and then get drunk/laid ?
To cut it short : James was whiny and selfish, Linden wasn't mature enough, only Stephanie was relatively better but she took him back without any sufficient groveling from his part.
I like the writing, though, but this series is definitely written off my to be read pile. I'll soon be back to the Experiment in terror series - creepy, scary, but sooo good !
They were friends, best friends, but for Linden, they were always more. He jokingly makes a pact with Steph, if they are not in serious relationships by the time they are 30, they will marry each other. She thought it was a joke, but it wasn't for him. This book follows the characters through five years of their lives, from the night the pact was made to their 30th year. Both Steph and Linden experience ups and downs, hits and misses, gains and losses, but they always come back to one another. That was the tough part for me. All the missed opportunities or moments of poor timing that kept them apart. AND THEN, when it all comes to a head, and Linden does what he does, I wanted to just punch him in the throat. It was a roller coaster, but I really did enjoy this book. The characters had many layers to their personas which were slowly revealed to us throughout the story. There was a lot of humor and a lot of lusty dirty talk, and in the end love and friendship were two of the most prominent themes to emerge. At times, I could see a little "When Harry Met Sally" stuff going on and that's not a bad thing. Great story!
Felt icky. Could feel some bad vibes settling in. Felt like One Day and that book depressed me a whole lot even before that big thing at the end.
When you say "best friends turning lovers", I think Lilo from Addicted. So, of course, I was expecting something close to that. Well I was surprised.
The first half of the book is pure effing frustration. The sexual tension stretches and stretches and stretches until the only thing left is annoyance. But then things started happening, and it was smutty, and the characters were okay. So overall I liked it, really.
The first half of the book is pure effing frustration. The sexual tension stretches and stretches and stretches until the only thing left is annoyance. But then things started happening, and it was smutty, and the characters were okay. So overall I liked it, really.