After the death of his grandfather, known as "Pops," Crew Smith can't seem to move on from his grief. His final college football season suffers as do his grades. When he comes home for winter break, Crew finds that Pops has left him instructions he is to follow that include a trip to Germany with a mysterious traveling companion. His childhood friend, Hazel, turns out to be the companion, and they set off together, directed by a series of letters, packages, and reservations all planned out by Pops prior to his death. The journey leads Hazel and Crew to more than just places on a map.

The Romantic Pact is not a sports story, as the cover would suggest, but is a road trip romance through idyllic Germany at Christmas time. Also, serious topics are raised including loss and grief that the characters must face as well as their complicated feelings for each other. Through the majority of the story, the reader experiences the sights, sounds, and tastes of Germany in great detail with Crew and Hazel. The real conflict comes near the end of the book when the trip is over, making the pacing feel a bit uneven. Overall, The Romantic Pact has moments of fun and exploration grounded in the real life problems the characters must face. ( )

Hazel and Crew childhood friends lost someone very close to them. This story is about a journey that person sent them on to tour Germany and recreate one of his most cherished vacations.
I would categorize this a new adult story and it felt very much like it. Two people a little unsure of what life has in store for them. After a few years of not talking, they really reconnect over this trip
The story is very sweet overall. I had a few issues with the emotional manipulation orchestrated by the person who sent them on the trip. I also felt Hazel was emotionally manipulative a bit and had a very hard time connecting with her point of view. After some reflection, I realize it's not a problem with the book at all. It is part of their journey. I connected so much more with Crew's point of view I think because I saw myself in him a little. The issues and difficulties between Hazel and Crew could have easily been solved with some true, honest communication. Neither one of them really knew how to communicate their feelings and how to listen to the other's feelings. That is part of being as young as they are.
I loved the narration by Tim Page and Kelsey Navarro. They make a great duo. ( )