Author: Emily Giffin
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: June 28th, 2016
Source: Recieved for review from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this dazzling new novel, Emily Giffin, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed, Where We Belong, and The One & Only introduces a pair of sisters who find themselves at a crossroads.
Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing; Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes their family, their different responses to the event splinter their delicate bond.
Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and this close to swearing off dating for good. What she wants more than the right guy, however, is to become a mother—a feeling that is heightened when her ex-boyfriend’s daughter ends up in her class. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.
On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. A successful attorney, she’s married to a wonderful man, and together they’re raising a beautiful four-year-old daughter. Yet lately, Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.
As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them, but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover they need each other more than they knew . . . and that in the recipe for true happiness, love always comes first.
Emotionally honest and utterly enthralling, First Comes Love is a story about family, friendship, and the courage to follow your own heart—wherever that may lead.
WHAT I LIKED:
- I absolutely love how messy and real Giffin's characters are. You hate them, but you love them. They are endearing, but they piss you off. And with messy characters, you get messy relationships.
- The Alternating POV's between Meredith and Josie. They are sisters and they have a ton of baggage. It was nice having that back and forth to shed light to all the tension between them.
- The mindlessness of it all. While there were issues that were dealt with, there wasn't a sense of urgency. It's not packed full of action. It's mainly based on the relationships and the drama that ensues. This might sound like a negative, but for me it wasn't. It was the exact reason I snatched it up on NetGalley, because it's a part of Giffen's writing that I've come to adore. Sometimes you just need an adult book that isn't full of fluff and sex. (Deep enough to keep my interested without too much thought)
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- Hmmm. There isn't anything that I really didn't like per say, but I guess some more closure would have been good. Maybe an epilogue. It wraps up well enough, but I always like to read what happens down the road.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
- First Comes Love wasn't my favorite Emily Giffin book, but I did really enjoy it. I think fans of her work will enjoy it as well. It's hard to beat Something borrowed and Something blue. Those two are still my faves.
About the author:
Emily Giffin is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia
School of Law. After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time. The author of seven New York Times bestselling novels, The One & Only, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love The One You're With, Heart of the Matter, and Where We Belong, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.
Find Emily:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
I haven't read an Emily Giffin book in so long. I loved Something Borrowed and liked Something Blue and they definitely made me want to read more by her. But I rarely read Adult anymore. I haven't even read Rainbow's adult books yet (EEK!!!). But I'm probably due and this one sound good! Glad you liked it!
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