Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Tessa has a successful life with her two children and her pediatric plastic surgeon husband, Nick. She just never feels like it's enough though! She is jealous of her brother Dex and sister-in-law Rachel's relationship and she feels that hers will never measure up.



Valerie is a single mom to adorable Charlie. Valerie's law experience does not prepare her for the accident that will threaten a friendship.



Nick and Tessa should be out happily celebrating another anniversary together. His cell phone rings and there is an emergency at the hospital. Perfect timing?



This book focuses on yet another scandal in the love lives of the characters. Keeping to true Emily Giffin form, characters become tangled up in webs of lies and infidelity. This is a quick read and one that can be enjoyed after a long week of work!



The characters will leave the reader with all different emotions. My favorite character in this book is Charlie. He seems to be the only level-headed person in the whole book! It's amazing the pull a child can have on another person and the way they make us put our lives in perspective!



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Review: Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ellen and Andy are a newlywed couple loving life in the Big Apple. Ellen's best friend, Margo, is also her sister-in-law. Ellen and Margo are inseparable, even though Ellen's lifestyle is very different from the upscale one of her husband and sister-in-law/BFF.  That is until one fateful day while Ellen is sitting in a diner and HE walks by. Is it really him? After all these years?


When Ellen's ex offers her the job of a lifetime, can she pass it up? What will her family think if she takes this job and then they find out about it? Decisions, decisions, decisions...


I have enjoyed all of Emily Giffin's books so far and this one does not disappoint either! This book focuses on entirely different characters than her previous three (some of them have overlapping characters but only for brief moments). These are stand-alone reads but it's also fun to read them "in order" to see the author's progression in her skills. I look forward to reading Heart of the Matter as this was a common phrase throughout this book. I would love to see the author write a book connecting all of her characters together too!


For those who regularly read my blog, I will warn you that this book does have strong language and very adult themes. I do enjoy reading all genres of work and wanted to put that out there for those of you who regularly read what I write in case this one isn't for you.


Happy Reading!


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Review: Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


How important is it to know your future spouse before saying "I Do"? Is it ok to change after those vows? Baby Proof focuses on Ben and Claudia. They are happily married and have no plans to have children. All of their friends are supportive but don't necessarily understand their choice. However, everything changes when an announcement is made. Claudia can no longer stand the pressure and chooses to leave Ben. She doesn't like to see him with other women (well, one woman in particular) but it's ok for her to date around. Can they both continue to live this way?



This book is in a series but can also be read as a standalone. There is only one character (Ethan) from previous novels that makes an appearance in this one.



I do believe this one to be my favorite of them all so far!



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Review: Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Darcy is still reeling over the fact that her life is upside down (I don't want to be specific in case you haven't read Something Borrowed yet. She is definitely looking for a way to get back at those who have caused her so much pain. She's dealing with her newest life situation when another bombshell is dropped on her. How much more can Darcy take? She moves to England to live with Ethan and learns more about herself than she can ever imagine. Will Darcy ever change and be able to forgive others? Will she ever get past her own self-absorbed lifestyle?



It's been a couple of years since I read Something Borrowed but it easily came back to me during the first few chapters of this book. I have not seen the movie yet, but I have heard it's great and that there is talk of a movie for this book! This is a great chick-lit read that takes a few short hours.



Readers of my blog may want to know that this is a contemporary chick lit book that does include some strong language and intimate scenes. I do not recommend this book for those under the age of eighteen.



Now, onto Baby Proof!



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Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

Here's what was in my box this week:

To Review:
The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos (Thanks Valerie and Hatchett Books for this review copy!)
Jillian Dare by Melanie Jeschke (Won on Goodreads!)

Purchased Books:
A Daughter's Inheritance by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
A Promise to Believe In by Tracie Peterson
The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist
Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik
A Lady of High Regard by Tracie Peterson
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen
Baby Proof by emily giffin
Too Good To Be True by Trish Perry
The Guy I'm Not Dating by Trish Perry
Final Exam by Pauline Chen (required reading for this year's HOSA competition)
Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart (read my review of this wonderful read here)
Whole New Light by Kim O'Brien
Hearts on the Road by Diana Lee Brandmeyer
Beacon of Love by Darlene Franklin
A Promise Kept by Cara Putman

I'm currently reading The Enclave for a blog tour. What else should I pack in my vacay bag for the week? Suggestions?

Mailbox Monday

This has been a good week for my mailbox. Most of these books were purchased and a couple of them are from the publisher for reviews.

Books to Review

1. Vanish by Tom Pawlik
2. Enclave by Karen Hancock

Books I Purchased to Read
I bought this set of books because I enjoy the show "Legend of the Seeker".
These are the books that the series is based on. All of the books are written
by Terry Goodkind

1. The Pillars of Creation
2. Naked Empire
3. Chainfire
4. Temple of the Winds
5. Soul of the Fire
6. Faith of the Fallen
7. Wizard's First Rule
8. Stone of Tears
9. Blood of the Fold
10. Confessor
11. Debt of Bones
12. Phantom
    

This next set of books I purchased to complete my set of Sookie Stackhouse
(Mainly by request of DD#2). All these are by Charlaine Harris and are
based on the TV series "True Blood" (which I have not seen)

1. From Dead to Worse
2. Dead and Gone
3. Many Bloody Returns (also written by Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong and others besides Charlaine Harris)

I bought the next two books, written by Emily Giffin, because I really
enjoyed the first book of hers that I read (and happened to win on
Goodreads) called "Something Borrowed)

1. Something Blue
2. Love the One You're With

My last two purchases were mainly because I've heard too many good
things about them and I had to check them out.

1. Rules by Cynthia Lord
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
   

What came in your box this week?

Book Review: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Grab a copy of this book and then meet your girlfriends for a book study!! Wow, this book was amazing! I loved the story (not fond of what the characters did) and found some similarities in my life (without the affairs!!) Something Borrowed reminds me a lot of [movie: My Best Friend's Wedding] and I have read similar reviews that say the same.



This was my first real chick lit book and I loved it from the first sentence! Emily Giffin has a witty way of drawing her readers into a what could very well be a real life story. I envisioned this, as I was reading, being played out in a movie. I think I would want to see Matthew McCaunaghey play the part of Dex, with Julia Roberts as Rachel (she's got to get some [movie: Pretty Woman] kicks!), Jennifer Aniston as Darcy and Robert Pattinson as Marcus. I might change my mind if I saw them all together but this is how I envision it now.



I feel a strong urge to call one of my besties just to talk about this book. It brings back some memories of high school and life afterwards. While I didn't have a situation entirely like the characters in this book, I had something close and similar to some respects. Nothing like looking back and talking about some of the stupid things you do as a younger person!! This book helped me to realize that all the high school stuff is just that...high school stuff! I am still friends with my best friend since 3rd grade (Love ya Val) and have forged other great friendships since college.



Something Borrowed is a very fitting book for a discussion, especially considering there are great review questions in the back of the book. If anyone would like to discuss this one, feel free to leave comments!!



Be truthful to your bestie(s)!!! :)


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