Reviews - The Summer Pact | The StoryGraph

1.66k reviews for:

The Summer Pact

Emily Giffin

3.3 AVERAGE

hmalones's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was my first Emily Giffin book and I absolutely loved it.

The plot: Four college friends meet at the University of Virginia and click like puzzle pieces, even though they are four very different people. The story starts just before they are to graduate and begin their adult lives. A horrific tragedy occurs that changes their lives.

The story picks up ten years later when a crisis brings everyone together again. This story is told in alternating points of view by each of the friends. I can’t say much more without spoiling parts of the story.

I was reminded so much of the part of adulthood where you feel like you’re supposed to have it together, and you just don’t. You’re questioning everything - career, relationships, life choices, and facing the effects of your childhood, schooling, etc. This is a beautiful story about the friendships we have that keep us together when it feels like the world is falling apart. I will definitely be checking out more Emily Giffin.

This book kept calling to me at the bookstore with its pretty cover - but it had way more depth than the lighthearted story I expected. Thank you to my lifelong friend of 40 (!) years, Sarah, who has always professed her love for Emily Giffin. I should’ve listened to you sooner 💕

sakuramelodybooks's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this read— a great story of friendship, summer travels and how people deal with grief differently. Tigger warning : this book deals with suicide. The heavy topic is dealt with quite well -as the friends work through their grief of losing their friend Summer years when one of them finds their life hitting rock bottom and the pact they made the year Summer died is put to the test. Although the plot wasn’t overly deep for me it still felt real in many ways —the friend’s connection how they mature and grow throughout the story , banter and wit from time to time was nice helping to relax story. The writing flows well between the 3 characters Tyson, Hannah and Lainey giving the reader a unique perspective in current and past events. This book is full of self-discovery moments and some interesting subplot romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Doubleday Canada for this ARC . This is my honest review.

charleybelsly's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful fast-paced

p_oyster1's review against another edition

3.5

hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

vincenzadidom's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

literacydocent's review

2.0

medium-paced

stellahadz's review against another edition

3.75

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I was really excited to read this book; I'm a sucker for stories about friendships, and this one seemed like a good summer read to boot. The setting and leadup to the main plot were really well done, but I thought most of the story lacked the depth I wanted from it despite it tackling really serious topics. Tyson specifically didn't get as much character growth as Lainey and Hannah, and even their growth felt underdeveloped. Some of the writing also felt awkward. While I commend the author for being inclusive in her writing, some of the discussion of white privilege and gendered double standards felt very heavy-handed and not in tune with the overall writing style. There was also a random, plot-irrelevant mention of Jeffrey Epstein that threw me off and completely took me out of the story for a minute. The epilogue also felt rushed; it could have easily been a few pages longer and taken the time to flesh out how things turned out for each of the characters. Overall, I wish the book had been more character-focused and maybe gone through another round of editing. I had high hopes but ultimately didn't love it.

Content Warnings