☕✨ Throwback Thursday: The Pact by Jodi Picoult

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☕✨ Throwback Thursday: The Pact by Jodi Picoult


📖 Book Summary

The Pact: A Love Story (1998) by Jodi Picoult follows childhood neighbors and best friends, Emily Gold and Chris Harte, whose relationship blossoms into romance as they grow older. But when tragedy strikes, Emily is gone by the novel’s opening, and Chris finds himself accused of her murder. What unfolds is a heart-wrenching story of love, promises, and the blurred lines between loyalty and loss. As the truth of their “pact” is slowly revealed, the book forces readers to wrestle with what it really means to keep a promise.

💭 Why This Book Still Stays With Me

I first picked up The Pact back in 2016—it was actually the very first romance novel I ever read. Even though it doesn’t follow the lighthearted, swoony romances I usually reach for now, it opened my eyes to how complex love stories can be. It’s not just about first kisses and butterflies; sometimes love is tangled up in grief, secrets, and impossible choices. Looking back, this book left such a mark because it showed me that romance as a genre can be raw, layered, and unforgettable.

💌 Trope Spotlight

At its core, this story leans into one of the most timeless tropes: childhood friends to lovers. Chris and Emily’s history makes their romance feel inevitable, and yet, it’s also what makes the tragedy cut so deeply. Unlike the fluffy takes on this trope that I adore now, The Pact showed me the weight that comes when love is tied to history, family, and lifelong promises.

⏳ Then vs. Now Reflection

When I first read this book in 2016, I was swept up in the drama and heartbreak. It felt shocking, intense, and unforgettable. Now, years later and after reading so many romances, I can see how The Pact doesn’t just tell a love story—it asks hard questions about relationships, promises, and trust. It feels less like a teenage romance and more like a coming-of-age story that shows how fragile love can be when it collides with pain.

❤️ What I Loved

  • The raw emotion—it felt heavy but real, capturing how messy love can be.

  • The childhood friends-to-lovers bond that made Chris and Emily’s story feel fated from the beginning.

  • Picoult’s ability to weave courtroom drama with romance, making it a page-turner.

💔 What I Didn’t Love

  • The story is extremely heavy—definitely not a “comfort read.”

  • Some parts felt drawn out, especially in the trial sections.

  • As a romance lover now, I miss the lighter, swoony moments that balance out heartbreak.

☕ Coffee Pairing

Honey Latte – sweet and soothing, with a touch of warmth that lingers. Just like The Pact, it feels gentle at first but leaves behind an ache that stays with you long after.

✨ Final Thoughts

Sometimes, the books we read first stay etched in our hearts the deepest. The Pact isn’t my usual cozy, swoony romance pick, but it was the story that first showed me the depth of love in all its forms. Even now, almost a decade later, I still remember the way it made me feel.

💛 What’s the first romance you ever read, and do you still think about it today?

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