The Summer Pact

A Novel

By: Emily Giffin

Narrated by: Karissa Vacker, Alex McKenna, JD Jackson

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the wake of tragedy, a group of friends makes a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark upon a life-changing adventure together—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Meant to Be.

“Juicy, page-turning escapism.”—The New York Times

Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and aspiring lawyer from Washington, D.C.; Summer, an ambitious, recruited athlete from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner who is content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. Soon after arriving on campus, they strike up a conversation in their shared dorm, and the seeds of friendship are planted.

As their college years fly by, their bond intensifies and the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. Stunned and heartbroken, they make a pact, promising to always be there for one another, no matter how separated they may become by circumstances or distance.

Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are all facing their own crossroads. True to their promise, they agree to take a time out from lives headed in wrong directions and embark on a shared journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.

In this tender portrayal of grief, love, and hope, Emily Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides, helping us pick up the pieces?

Critic reviews

“Want to indulge in juicy, page-turning escapism? The Summer Pact is about a group of friends . . . [and] a reunion tour, a decade after college, inspired by a long-ago promise to turn to one another in times of need. [They] take turns narrating their trip to the Italian island of Capri, where closure may or may not await.”—The New York Times

“If you need a break from love and crime stories, try The Summer Pact, a novel about friendship. . . . Grief and redemption are big themes of this book. It’s not lighthearted reading, exactly, but it is deeply heartfelt.”—Harper’s Bazaar

“I am a huge fan and so excited to read Emily’s new novel!”—Britney Spears (People)

“If Giffin is writing it, I’m going to be reading it.”—Marie Claire

“A tender, heartfelt journey . . . Great writing is great storytelling—and that is what Emily Giffin does time and time again.”—Woman’s World

“In a story about friendship, grief, love and connection, Emily Giffin delivers another unforgettable tale.”—SheKnows

“Giffin is at her best when she’s delving into the hard and sometimes outwardly questionable choices that her characters make in their pursuit of happiness, and her latest harks back to her bold, layered debut, Something Borrowed (2004). This thirtysomething coming-into-one’s-own tale feels true to life, messy in all the best ways, and hopeful. A triumph.”—Booklist (starred review)

Hard to listen.

The narrators had the most grating voices. Awful! The girls were whining all the time and Tyson sounded like he’d had a head injury.

Horrendous Narration

All narrators are just terrible and the story was boring. Not the best one from this author.

Predictable storyline and annoying readers

I am a HUGE Emily Giffin fan- I’ve read all of her books and preordered this one with much anticipation but this is a great example of don’t judge a book by its beautiful cover. I may have enjoyed the book more if I hadn’t listened to it. The audio version felt almost painful to finish- I ended up speeding up to the 1.7 speed to get through it faster. Hannah’s voice is so stereotypical southern, Laney’s is predictably gruff and Tyson’s is just odd- long, breathy, statement after statement. Tyson’s character is conflicting overall and the ending is unbelievable. This was a disappointing read- one I wouldn’t have finished if it hadn’t been our book club selection.

The narrators made it hard to finish listening

The story started out strong but then started dragging and the female characters became frustratingly annoying.

Quick read but not my favorite

In just couldn’t do the narrators in this story - the story was ok but the voice interpretations were off in my opinion