A few years ago, I started noticing the pastel covers of Giffin's books circulating through the airports- pink, blue, green, and yellow. I thought they were probably just a leisurely beach read, but when my good friend Rachel started raving about them over and over, I decided to give them a try.
I started with the first book Giffin wrote, "Something Borrowed," which is actually the first of a two book series. From the first chapter, I was hooked. I couldn't believe I was actually rooting for the main character, Rachel, who was having an affair with her best friend, Darcy's, fiance. Also, Rachel was the maid of honor in the upcoming nuptials.
Giffin's writing is so real, so raw, and as in life, things aren't always black and white. It's important not to judge because we never completely know what's happening or what has happened in our friend's relationships. I found myself thinking about many different friendships of mine throughout this book. Giffin's writing is so real, and it's comforting to know that feelings I've had throughout my life others have too. For example, even though I love all of my close friends dearly and want nothing but the best for them, there are still a few friends that I feel like we are constantly competing over things in life. These things can be big like who has the better job or who gets married first, or small like who wears a smaller size or has better clothes. In this novel, Rachel and Darcy's friendship has been this way their whole lives.
The end of this book is jaw dropping, and that night I was up until 11:00 finishing it. For those who know me well, this is saying a lot on a school night!
The second book in the series, "Something Blue" picks right up from where "Something Borrowed" ended. However, in this book, the story is told from Darcy's point of view. I don't want to give too many details that would ruin the first book, but it's amazing how by the end of this book, I felt completely in tune with both characters. I understand Darcy and I understand Rachel. In this book, a lot of personal growth occurs on Darcy's end. It was refreshing to read a novel about how someone with a "perfect life" can lose it all and then find everything.
I read both of these books in the last two weeks and am very excited to recommend them to everyone, especially to people who feel like it might be a transitional time in their lives. I know my life has changed so much in the past year and will continue to change in the coming year, so these books helped me with these changes.
Next up with Emily Giffin: "Love the One You're With," "Baby Proof," and the newly released, "Heart of the Matter."
