Book Review | Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Posted by: on Wednesday, June 11, 2008
10 responses
3 stars

41AK37WGMGL SL160  Book Review | Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed – Buy this Book [US] Book Review | Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Rating

3.5 stars – would keep you occupied on the beach

Description

Something Borrowed tells the story of Rachel, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl – until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend, Darcy, throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy’s fiancé.

Why did you choose to read this book

It’s been sitting on my TBR shelf for a long time and the Chick Lit challenge seemed to be a good enough reason to dust it off and read it!

The Book Review

Something Borrowed is Emily Giffin‘s first novel – and the exclamations from other authors printed on the cover set the bar high. According to Marian Keyes she read it in two sittings as she loved it and couldn’t put it down. I too read this book in two sittings – a train journey to a meeting and then a train journey home – but I can’t say that I loved it. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a good book – with a story line that makes you think about friendship, relationships and betrayal – but I have a feeling that if I hadn’t been a captive audience I might have got a little bored.

This book came in a bundle with Something Blue – the sequel – which I think is the same story told from the perspective of the cheating boyfriend – I’ll give that one a try next month and let you know what I think.

Have you reviewed this book?

If you have reviewed this book on your site please fill in the boxes below to link me up to your review – don’t forget to link to the specific post to make it easy to find:

 Book Review | Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

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  1. Kristen
    Reply

    Hi! I completely agree with your review — and actually liked Something Blue better. My absolute Giffin favorite is Baby Proof, though. With Somthing Borrowed I had a hard time getting past the infidelity and the idea that what the “hero” did was supposedly justified by the fact that Darcy was “difficult” and didn’t belong with her fiance. Cheatin’ is cheatin’ no matter how you try to explain it away! :) Great review, though!

  2. Mrs S
    Reply

    Hey Marg – I read your review – you covered all the points I would have if I’d taken time to write a proper review – the book just didn’t inspire me enough to spend the time!

    Kristen – I think that’s why it didn’t sit quite right – the people doing the cheating had the happy ending and that’s not right! Over on Marg’s blog I confessed that I’d rather the ending hadn’t been a happy one and that Rachel’s first cooked dinner was interrupted by a policeman arriving at the door to announce an accident of some sort!

  3. raidergirl3
    Reply

    Somthing Blue is from Darcy’s point of view, but it also continues the story. It’s not just a side by side of the events of the first book. I actually preferred Something Borrowed

    raidergirl3s last blog post..Welcome

  4. Mrs S
    Reply

    Hi Raidergirl3 – I realised that myself yesterday when I picked the book up to relegate it to the TBR someday probably never pile! Having found that it is not the same story from another viewpoint I’ve decided to give it a go after all – though I would have been happier if you’d have preferred blue!

  5. Amy
    Reply

    I absolutely loved both books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue. I think the book is absolutely realistic and captivating. Life is messy, complicated and unexpected. One cannot control the heart or the feelings involved. Cheating may not be a respectable act nor pretty in any way but more importantly, it is really never understood unless you’re in that situation where your heart is telling you something different than your mind. And when it comes to life, no matter how ugly it gets, if you give it time… it all works out just as it did for both Darcy and Rachel. The books were amazing as I’ve read them multiple times, betrayal and all. Can’t wait for the movie… Just hoping its as good as the book!

  6. Heizel
    Reply

    Though a light read, this is one of the most moving books I’ve ever read in my entire life. Finished it in one day. I felt all the emotions the book required my to feel. I even cried at the end when darcy read rachel’s letter. And talk about love. That’s real love what Ethan did. Accepting darcy for who she is, along with her twin boys who aren’t even his. A great book. :)

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Meet the author:
Clare Swindlehurst

I love to read books - and only wish that I had more spare hours in the day to devote to this wonderful hobby. When life gets tough you'll find me with my nose stuck in a book, escaping from reality. Blue Archipelago is my reading journal, feel free to have a browse around and see if you discover something new to read, or rediscover a book that you have loved in the past.

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