The Anti-Marriage Pact: A Novel by Lindsay MacMillian
I love stories that take place in New York City, so I was immediately curious about The Anti-Marriage Pact by Lindsay MacMillan. It tells the story of EJ and her three roommates, who consider themselves to be feminists and rebels. Their biggest fight is to subvert the expectation for women to want to become wives and mothers.
The reviews on goodreads are mixed, but I thought this was a great book. Keep reading for my full book review of The Anti-Marriage Pact by Lindsay MacMillan.
What is the Anti-Marriage Pact by Lindsay MacMillan About?
Four friends. One pact. Zero compromises… Until now.
When EJ and her three roommates swear off marriage and motherhood with their infamous “Anti-Marriage Pact,” they think they’ve got life figured out. No white dresses, no baby fever, no losing themselves to societal expectations. Just fierce friendship, creative ambitions, and the gritty freedom of Brooklyn.
But the bonds that once felt unbreakable start to fray as one friend and then another begins to find love. Meanwhile, Chris walks into EJ’s life—a buttoned-up tax accountant who dares to question everything she believes about love, commitment, and what it really means to live on your own terms. Now EJ finds herself caught between loyalty to her sisters-in-arms and the terrifying prospect of opening her heart to something she’s spent years rejecting. As her carefully constructed world begins to crack, EJ must confront the possibility that maybe, just maybe, she’s been wrong about everything.
A wickedly funny and brutally honest exploration of modern feminism, female friendship, and the courage it takes to rewrite the rules of your own life. (from Amazon.com)
They make a pact to never get married, but as they age and work to grow their careers, they also experience new people and experiences. EJ is disgusted as her friends move on to live the lives that they always fought against.
My Thoughts
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book at first. EJ is a very opinionated and judmental character, and that’s not always pleasant to read about. But for me, it was easy to empathize with her. I felt that the reason why she was being so hard on everyone was because she felt insecure with her own life. And unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get through to people like that.
This book takes place over a couple of years and I felt that the pacing worked well. There were some cringey moments (because EJ says a LOT of wildly inappropriate things to pretty much everyone) but it also felt like an honest look at how confusing things are in your twenties. As critical as she is, EJ’s inner monologue is wildly funny. And I think that made for a very entertaining story!
