Thursday, November 24, 2011

Jessi Reviews Love the One You're With

Title/Author: Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
Publisher/Year: St. Martin's Press, 2008
Where I got it: Picked it up at a used bookstore
Why I read it: I'm a big fan of Emily Giffin, and this was one I hadn't read


Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof delivers another captivating novel about women and the choices that define them. This is the story for anyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with when I can't forget the one who got away? 

Ellen and Andy's first year of marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she's living is the one she's meant to live. 

Love the One You're With is a powerful story about one woman at the crossroads of true love and real life. 

Review: I don't know about the rest of you, but as for me, I love a good chick lit every now and then. And oh guuurrrl, does Emily Giffin write good chick lit. 

Her books are smart, first and foremost. Many people disregard chick lit as pure fluff, but I think Emily Giffin definitely breaks that mold. Whether it's a girl in love with her best friend's fiance (Something Borrowed) or a married woman given the chance between her fairy tale husband and the "one who got away," Emily Giffin tackles very interesting moral dilemmas. I swear, every time I read a synopsis of one of her books, I sit back and think, "Oh, that's easy--she should do this." But, just like life itself, Emily Giffin shows the answer is not always as easy as one may think. 

Another thing I adore about Emily Giffin is her writing style in general. Her books are so readable. I found myself reading huge chunks of this book at a time. And she writes dialog and people so well. Conversations between characters were never stilted or awkward. People spoke and acted like people actually speak and act. 

I felt so much towards each of the characters while reading, too, which is always a plus. I felt like these people were actually a part of my life. Even though I couldn't relate to everyone, I was able to at least understood them. I found Ellen's story the easiest to relate to, surprisingly, because I thought I would have the hardest time with her. 

As for the plot itself, it was definitely believable, never hokey. At one point towards the end (as I was flying through pages), I felt myself anxiously thinking, "No, no, no! Say it isn't so, Emily!" But never fear--this story ended how I felt it should, while keeping me guessing up until the end. Absolutely incredible. 

For those people who actively dismiss chick lit, or for those looking to try it out, I want to push Emily Giffin's boks into their hands and urge them to give them a try. In my personal opinion, she's one of the best chick lit authors out there. 

7 comments:

  1. I'm glad to see this one is good! I agree with what you say about Giffin's writing. Despite chick lit's "fluffy" reputation, Giffin writes smartly and addictively. I've read Something Borrowed and Something Blue and this one is sitting on my shelf. Now I am more eager to read it!

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  2. you have described Emily Giffin's books and writing SO well! I LOVE her books and feel people do not appreciate her writing as much as I do.

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  3. I read Something Borrowed and Something Blue and loved both of them. You are correct in saying that Giffin writes smart chick lit. Her books are just fluff. They make you think and feel for the characters who definitely face interesting and difficult dilemmas. I will keep this one on my radar. I sounds fantastic.

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  4. I loved this book too! I am not huge on chick lit but I find her books smart, and they make me think. Some issues are not black and white and I think Giffin likes to make that point.

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  5. I'm a huge Giffin fan & I agree that she writes SMART chick lit. I do think that Baby Proof and Something Borrowed were her best. I really thought this one was going to be up here too but I hated how the ending just sped up and ended. I think as a reader, I deserved to hear more about the consequences of her actions and not just how everything ended up. We needed to ease into the ending a bit more.

    None the less, I really related to this book and there are just so many great quotes in there.

    I'm anxious to read Emily's next book... I've read everything she's done so far and I hope she can get back to her Something Borrowed flair.

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  6. I agree with you 100%, both about Emily Giffin as an author and about this book in particular. She has a new book coming out this year - I'm so excited!

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  7. This looks like it might be the perfect place to start with Emily Giffin - I've been wanting to read something of hers. I normally like my chick lit fluffy though, this looks like it could be saddddd!!

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