Book Information
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ISBN-13: 9780061150142 - ISBN-10: 0061150142 Publication Date: 9/1/2006 Pages: 512 |
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Book Reviews of The Pact: A Love Story
123 Book Reviews submitted by our Members
sorted by voted most helpful
15 member(s) found this review helpful.
I struggled with this book. I understand the premise of this book, but at the same time, I just couldn't see myself in the position that the main character found himself him. Yes, I was moved during reading parts of this book, but at the same time I felt vaguely unsatisfied with it. I just didn't buy into the main characters reasons for what he did. They didn't seem believable to me. So, I would hesitatingly recommend this book.
Peggy L. (
13 member(s) found this review helpful.
Haunting....Jodi Picoult is genius at writing about the deepest and darkest emotions. Don't be fooled by the title, this is not some fluffy love story.
Tracy T. (
11 member(s) found this review helpful.
The second of Picoult's books that I read, the first being the excellent My Sister's Keeper. She does a great job portraying families in crisis, and also making the court cases convincing, so you wonder whose side is really right. The characters were well-drawn, though there were some predictable elements, and I do wish there had been some more flashbacks to Emily and Chris' youth. Overall, though, a wonderful book.
Janis K. (
11 member(s) found this review helpful.
I would suggest "The Pact: A Love Story" to anyone who enjoys a mystery & love story intertwined...Ms. Picoult really captured the love between two people and developed the characters in the book so that I felt as if I knew them personally.
L. G. (
10 member(s) found this review helpful.
Ugh. I couldn't make it past page 30. Banal and contrived, complete with exceptionally cheesey dialogue. Another example of Picoult's schlock produced for the masses. I am puzzled by this author's popularity.
9 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was the first of Jodi Picoult's book I read, and it won't be the last. From the beginning I was hooked on her writing style and ended up ordering and placing all of her books on my wish list.
The Pact is a beautifully haunting story about true love and what one will do for love. It kept me guessing till the very end, a real page turner. The ending isn't quite the way I would have wanted however, maybe she will have a sequel. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I really, really loved it!
6 member(s) found this review helpful.
What a tragic and thought provoking book. What does it mean to truly love someone? What is the truth? Who are your friends-do you really know them? All kinds of questions are addressed through this tragic, beautifully written story.
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
I have read several of this authors work. This one seems to take her from "beach read" novelist to something more literary. It is a controversial topic about teen suicide where a couple make a Pact One lives one dies. The story weaves back and forth from the past to the present. It is a book to invoke thought. Not a read to be taken lightly. I found it wonderfully done and real for a topic so difficult.
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book was so hard to put down. I couldn't wait to see what happened next, and to find out what the truth really was...
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Another good book by Jodi Picoult. As a Mom it really makes you think about how well you know your child. Very moving.
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
My first Picoult book, extremely powerful. I cannot want to read more of her. I work with adolescent psych patients this book offered incredibly insight into an all too common teen problem.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I am not a big Jodi Picoult fan; I read 2-3 of her earlier novels because of a recommendation from a friend/avid Jodi Picoult fan, and while those were compelling enough to finish, the very predictable formula to her writing became boring. The predictable plots were like watching CSI or Cold Case - each episode has a different crime and characters but follows the same formula.
Someone gave me 8-10 of her books, all of which I look forward to trading here.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is the first Jodi Picoult book I read and from then on I was hooked. Great story and as with all her books, a really thought provoking story line. I first read this about 8 years ago. I had lent my copy out and it never came back. I bought it recently and re-read it and loved it more.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Another great book by Jodi Picoult. This book makes you wonder about your own life as a teenager. Now as an adult I look back and can see many area's where this book would hit home. I recommend this book.
Kathryn M. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is the kind of book I love -- it makes you THINK. It is well written, with deeply developed characters. While the subject matter might be disturbing, that should not be a reason for anyone to reject it. I recommend it to all, but especially parents of teenagers.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I gave this 4 stars because it was well written and the ideas were imaginatively (sp?) thought out. It was sad, I had to use tissues occasionaly.
It really affected me, which is probably what the writer intended. I had to really think about some of my reasons (or rationalizations) about why I do certain things, and if they are counter productive to my well-being. And if they are, are they harmful to those I love?
Sometimes it is fun to read a book just to read it, but sometimes it is good to read a book that helps you to change your life, or at the very least, makes you WANT to change your life.
Amber S. reviewed on 5/2/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great story! Will keep you guessing till the end.
Franchesca M. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
As usual, Jodi Picoult takes us on an emotional rollercoaster with her writing. Very touchy content, as this book deals with teen suicide, but well worth it if you can get past the subject matter. This author simply cannot disappoint me with her books. Loved it.
Danielle W. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is the first Jodi Picoult book I have read. I am amazed at the depth of her writing. You feel the characters' emotions, their grief, pain, joy, you feel everything. This was truly a love story. I had to read this over several days as it is intense in some parts and sometimes I just needed time to ponder. The Pact goes from the present to the past and Jodi Picoult does an amazing job marrying the past and the present and presenting it in a way that you aren't confused and haveing to go back and re-read to find out where you were or what was going on. Read with a lot of tissues!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was a very heart wrenching story. Once again Picoult makes you see the shades of gray between right and wrong. The story about 2 teenage lovers that grew up closely as nieghbors and friends, ends with one dead and the other accused of the crime. Does loving enough to let go include killing? I recomend this book to anyone who is a fan of Picoult. It is my favorite so far.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Once I got through the first 2 chapters, I could not put this book down. A great read.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Jodi Picoult has done it again! I swear I am going to read every one of her books. This book was awesome, a real page turner! While reading it, I could imagine being the characters in the book because it was so detailed and made me feel as I was there. It was a love story in the form of Romeo & Juliet style only in modern times. The ending will make you cry and your heart will pour out to the survivor of this love story. It is a must read!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I don’t know how to feel about this book. It’s an inside view of a tragic situation from many different angles. The story kept me interested and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended; but I also could not wait for it to be over, it was very depressing. Like another reviewer said, I think the main character made the wrong choice in his decision and the reasons for his decision did not convince me that it was the only one he could have made.
Crys B. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I absolutely despised this book when it was a mandatory read in a Sr English class, I thought it was ridiculous and a total eye roll version of a book. But, much against my initial mood towards it, I decided to read it again, for myself. Lo, and behold, it was still a book not worth reading again, but I did find some of the lines to be noteworthy. Especially the comparison to chicken pox and adolescence. Although I did not come to enjoy it, I do recommend this for a mature reader. Maybe you'll take something away from this book that I didn't. The best of luck to you on that quest.
Monica (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I normally read Christian Fiction, but this book was very good!! There are a few "F" words in there, but not so much that it was offensive. I could hardly put this book down, because I just had to know what would happen next!! It flashed between the past and the present, but not in a confusing sort of a way. :)
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
As a parent and a teacher of young students-this book is real and scary and true-and impossible to put down. I have read all of her books, this one and Nineteen Minutes is a must read for teachers. We need to be aware of their emotions and all the stuff we don't see. I highly recommend this book.
Julie C. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I thought this was the best of the her books. I couldn't put it down.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
When I read a Jodi Picoult book I usually think they are pretty average. Although she tackles different story lines and topics, the books are predictable and have the same tone. This is by far my favorite Picoult book. I couldn't put it down. The emotions from the teenage main characters in the book were so biting. It's been a few years since I was a teenager, but it brought that raw age right back into my mind. I would have appreciated a little more to the ending. It seemed to leave the reader hanging, but overall it was a great book.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I must say I usually love Jodi Picoult books, and don't get me wrong it had classic Picoult signs there but to call something "A Love Story" there has to be love. As far as I was concerened there was not an ounce of it between the two main characters. Truly the first disappointment as far as picoult goes.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Could not stop reading this one. disturbing and sweet at the same time.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
What a great book. It hooks you at the beginning and hooks you until the end!!!!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Somewhat predictable but a good, fairly quick read. Easily keeps the reader engaged.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I enjoy this author, but would not recommend this book...
Christine L. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I could not put this book down. I wanted to get to the end and find out what had really happened. The characters are well drawn and you begin to feel like you know them. Not a happy, fluffy love story, but is definitely worth reading. It makes you realize that you may not really know the people that you love.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really didn't think this was a love story, per say. From the first couple pages I could not put this book down. I thought it was well written and kept you guessing till the end.
I really liked her writing. This is the first book I have read of hers, now I think I will go back and read all hers.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read this book in a week. I never to that! It just keeps you on the edge of your set.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Good book. Great story about teenage love and pressure.
Joyce B. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Other Jodi Picoult books left me shocked in the end, this one didn't. But I still found myself wanted to hurry to get to the end to find out what would happen. Story of teen suicide. Which is hard to read, especially if it's something you've dealt with in your life. As always Jodi Picoult has written another emotional book.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
AMAZING!! I LOVE everything she's written so far but honestly this might be the best! Definitely in the top three! I recommend this to everyone in every book club and swapping site I belong to (along with her others) and haven't heard a bad review yet. Not sure why L.G. feels how he does, no examples were brought forth so I can't say anything there but please, no one go by that review, look at ALL THE REST! Picoult is ONE OF THE BEST authors of our time!
Jennifer W. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com
Chris and Emily have been good friends since they were born. Their parents have always been friends, and they were destined to become a couple once they entered their teenage years. They are always together and are seemingly very in love.
Until Emily ends up dead, and Chris was the only other person there when she died.
What happens? Will the kids that always seemed so happy rip these families apart? Did Chris really kill Emily? What really happened the night of her death?
Too much cannot be said without giving away the ending of the story. This is another book from Jodi Picoult that makes you think. There are a few predicable scenes, but still enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. A good read for someone who is curious about how lives that seem so perfect can change so fast.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
As always, Jodi Picoult does a great job with the development of her characters. Although not my favorite of her books, it is still a page turner . Just like her other books, the author forces the reader to look at the situation at hand from various viewpoints. I found myself rooting for someone I would not have if the situation were real to me. This book is a love story not only between two young people, but also between their families. A good mystery is mixed in too not unlike her other books.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Another powerful, engrossing book from one of my newfound favorite authors. Hard to put down--I love how she tackles big, sometimes dark, issues and allows you to see into the heart of the people affected by them. Definitely a must read!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I love Jodi Picoult and have read several of her books. This is the first one I've been disappointed in. It just wasn't the page turner that her other books are. Plus, I kept having this feeling I've read the same scenario before.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great Book Club book - questions in back generate lots of discussion. Very moving book about 2 teenagers who make a pact to commit suicide - one lives, one dies. Jodi Picoult always writes with moving story lines.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Wow - what a story!! Two young lovers who had a suicide pact?? Fascinating story with some unexpected twists and turns, but very realistic portrayals of families, spouses, teens, and others. The reader is privy to the inner feelings and motivations of the characters. I could hardly put this book down until I finished.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Utterly sad. If I could go back, I wouldn't have read it.
Irene N. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Good story. Thought provoking - as her books usually are.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was the second book I have read by Picoult and again I found myself wrapped into the story after page one. This book challenges you to see a situation from many points of view. The author takes a subject such as suicide and allows you to see into the mind of everyone involved. Great book!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was a great book. I couldn't put it down. I bought this after having read My Sister's Keeper, and plan to keep reading books by this author.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read this book in two days. I simply couldn't put it down. It is difficult to say I enjoyed this book though because some parts were just plain hard to read (ie painful situations, awkwardness between families) but there was a raw honesty to it that drew you in, even if you seemed to know what was going to happen next. There were many underlying issues that would make this a great book for a book club where many topics could be discussed. I would recommend this book and I look forward to reading more from this author. Be prepared for an emotional ride.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
OK I couldnt put this down. Very compelling. Truly another Picoult best!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is the first Jodi Picoult book I ever read and I've been hooked since!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Good book- my second Jodi Picoult. Parts were a little predictable, but I enjoyed the book overall.
LINDA S. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I LOVED this book... What a GREAT/Sad story
Book that I am posting is a well read copy
In fair condition
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I loved this book. A sad tragedy but a book that you can not put down.A fantastic read.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I found the language to be too stiff and formal to be believable for modern characters and modern fiction. Also, the use of certain terms and phrases I'd consider more British English than American English distracted me - especially since the story is supposed to be set in New England. If I didn't have friends from the UK, I'd have gotten lost at some points.
Probably a very good book, but I just couldn't get into the story enough to finish it.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a very contemporary story...you have a sense that the characters could exist and the action in this book could be unfolding, just as it's written, somewhere right now, while you read. The relationships between the characters are outlined in realistic terms, as if you are eavesdropping on their lives instead of floating above them, knowing more than they do. Just as in life, the resolution isn't neat and pretty...many things go unsaid or unknown. This is what I love about Jodi Picoult's writing.
I had a bit of trouble keeping track of which parent belonged to which child in the beginning, but that happens to me sometimes when more than three characters are introduced at a time. Other than that, it was a fairly engrossing story and I finished it quickly. Hopefully "Second Glance" is just as good....anyone have a copy? =)
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A wonderful love story between two teenages who have loved each other from birth. An apparent suicide pact between them tears their families apart. A book that makes you question yourself, just like Picoult's books always seem to do.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Characters are fully developed and Picoult once again gets into the mind and spirit of not only the teens but their parents. Wonderful book by a great author.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great book!! Sweet and heart-breaking story that keeps you captivated until the end. You will love this book.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
amazing story, I couldn't put it down! I loved how the author gave glimpes of the characters' childhood, you really got to know them. The story took so many twists and turns, my feelings about the characters had completely changed by the end of the book. Such a heartbreaking story of love and pain, makes you feel like you're really there!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I enjoyed the dynamics between all of the characters. This is one of the Picoult's better books.
Debra R. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This story had a pretty good premise in its format, a then and now structure,deconstructing assumptions all along. However, in the second half this structure becomes a bit predictaable and did not hold my attention very well. Characters are about 2 layers deep and I don't know if I am as compelled to finish it as I thought I would be. It's not exactly one of those books where you have to come up for air. It's ok, but I would have liked to be more engrossed.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Sad, moving but wonderful at the same time
Jennie B. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A beautifully written tale of loss, not only death but the kind of paradigm shift that sends you spinning loose from all you thought your life was about. Picoult describes emotions with subtle, honest complexity. I look forward to reading more from this brave author. Don't miss this book.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The only problem with reading books by this author is after the first 50 pages I can't put it down. For anyone parenting a teenager this is must reading. For anyone who has loved someone who committed suicide this is must reading. This author makes the point poignantly that the most self act is suicide. But then who among us hasn't acted selfishly at some time in our lives.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
My first Jodi Picoult book and I have to say that I can't wait to read more. Excellent.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
another powerful unforgettable Picoult novel...a must read.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Until the phone calls came at three on a November morning, the Golds and their neighbors the Hartes, had been inseparabl. It was no surprise when their teenage children, Chris and Emily, began showing signs that their relationship was moving beyond that of lifelong friends. But now seventeen year old Emily is dead, shot with a gun her beloved and devoted Chris pilfered from his father as part of an apparent suicide pact - leaving two devastated families desperate for answers about an unthinkable act and the children they never relly knew. This book was truly awesome -
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
An engrossing book with an illuminating look into teen suicide. Couldn't put it down!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Sad, but good story. Well written. If you've read any other Jodi Picoult books-you'll love this one as well.
Melissa E. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was my first time reading a Jodi Picoult book, but it won't be my last. The book was written "movie style" with a lot of flash backs. In some books, flash backs slow the plot, but it really worked for this novel. The story was heartfelt and even disturbing on some levels. I wasn't surprised by the book's ending, but I wasn't sure what would happen either. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. On the down side, there were several editing mistakes that jerked me out of the story back to reality -- which wasn't much fun.
Janet B. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book was written in th same gendre of Jodi Picoult other stories
it was a great read and every page you turned you were forced to
read on..
This was a very interesting story. The characters are well developed and the world in which they live is also very believable. More importantly, the story is gripping, compelling, and shocking. It is a good look at love and family, including the families we choose, our friends. Definitely a page-turner.
Very moving story. I didn't like the end, but the rest of the book was great!
Kelly B. (Like all of Jodi Picoult's other stories, this one hinges on the relationships between families and friends. Picoult is an excellent writer, and manages to interweave the chapters and stories beautifully. However, I was disappointed that many of the subplots involving the families did not flesh out. In fact, several questions that were clearly meant to engage the reader were never answered. Picoult seems to rely more on the relational details of the two teenage characters, rather than developing a strong plotline.
But I still love you, Jodi!
Love this book!!! I could not put this book down until I was finished!! I highly recommend this book to everyone!!!!
This book is a must read. After reading the back of the book, I was unsure if I would make it through this whole book or not, but it is truly amazing!
This is one of those books that hooks you from the beginning and you can't put it down. I loved it!
Page Turner! Couldn't put it down- it keeps you in suspence until the very last chapter. i wish there was a sequel!
I love this author!
Until the phone calls came at three o'cock on a November morning, the Golds and their neighbors, the Hartes, had been inseparable. It was no surprise to anyone when their teengage children, Chris and Emily, began sowing signs that their relationship was moving beyond that of lifelong friends. But now seventeen-year-old Emily is dead- shot with a gun her beloved and devoted Chris pilfered from his father's cabinet as part of an apparent suicide pact - leaving two devastated families stranded in the dark and dense predawn, desperate for answers about an unthinkable act and the children they never really knew.
First book of hers I've read. I'm now looking forward to reading the rest of hers.
loved this novel!! Picoult did an amazing job with all the characters! a must read!
Good book. Fast read. Very down to earth, especially if you have teens.
This book is a compelling story of teenage suicide and its effect on the families of the victim. A powerful study of families in anguish and friendships ripped apart by the resulting circumstances. It was hard to put the book down once I started reading it.
This is the first Jodi Piccoult book I read, and from the first page, I was a committed fan of this author.
She has a way of taking a subject matter that you think you have an iron-clad opinion on, and introduces another side to the issue. You will want to read all of her books after this one!
This is one of those books that you just can't put down. It's a heartfelt story about the love of two children who knew each other from the day they were born and the life that that brings. Wonderful story that keeps you guessing until the last page!
Although I was disappointed by the ending, it was an enjoyable read.
Shannon M. (The only thing I can say negative about this book is that you cannot put it down. It is fantastic from start to end. I read it in 2 days. It is fantastic!
A riveting novel about families and how their lives are torn apart by their teenage children. A book that's hard to put down.
Not as good as My Sister's Keeper. The story itself is interesting, but the characters are not as complete and the ending isn't as satisfying. Perhaps a bit formulaic. However, My Sister's Keeper was so good that maybe my expectations were unreasonable. It's a good book, but not a great one.
Jackie T. (Another great Jodi Picoult novel: I couldn't put this one down either!!!
A very interesting love story...with a definite twist. A story worth reading.
This author's style takes a little getting used to, she jumps around in this one from present to past back to present, etc., it takes a little getting used to but it puts the story into perspective at the right time.
The first I've read by Picoult, a quick read. Fairly disturbing subject matter, but I like the way she writes and will certainly look for other books of hers.
One of the best books I've ever read. Its about a romance gone totally suicidal with a beloved 17 year old dead and another one alive
two families start deteriotating.
Another great Jodi Picoult novel about two modern families whose lives are changed forever by their children.
Another great book by this author...she never disappoints!!!!
This was a really good book, kept me guessing till the very end.
Melissa M. (<< Back to Book Details of " The Pact A Love Story"