Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. Reviewed by Louise Hilton
Ooh la la, it’s Valentine’s Day! For this much-lauded occasion, I’ve chosen to review Emily Giffin’s debut novel Something Borrowed. The book follows Rachel and Darcy, two best friends who couldn’t be more different: Rachel is the self-effacing wallflower while Darcy is always the life of the party. By the end of the first chapter, 30-year-old birthday girl Rachel shocks herself (and the reader) by falling for Darcy’s fiancé Dex. The feelings are mutual, and as the story progresses, you will find yourself rooting for Dex and Rachel to find a way to be together. It is a testament to Giffin’s writing that, although the protagonists are involved in admittedly reprehensible behavior, you grow to care for the main characters and become emotionally invested in the story.
Though perhaps not the most obvious choice for a romantic read, trust me on this one, Something Borrowed is a doozy. With complex, well-developed characters, the exciting backdrop of Manhattan, and a surprising, yet satisfying, ending, it is a must-read. While I normally cringe at the label “chick lit”, in which category Giffin’s books could arguably fit, the genre should be so lucky to have all of the books in it this entertaining and well-written.
The movie version of Something Borrowed starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson is available on DVD at the Library, as are Giffin’s other books, including Something Blue (the sequel to Something Borrowed), Baby Proof, and Heart of the Matter. Giffin’s latest offering Where We Belong comes out in July 2012, so be sure to check your local library branch for it.
For those looking for a less romantic and more sardonic take on the holiday, try these titles about the mishaps and misadventures in these authors’ quests for love: I Don’t Care About Your Band: And What I Learned from Indie Rockers, Trust Funders, Pornographers, Faux Sensitive Hipsters, Felons, and Other Guys I’ve Dated by Julie Klausner, Talking to Girls about Duran Duran: One Young Man’s Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut by Rob Sheffield, and Hilary Winston’s My Boyfriend Wrote a Book about Me: And Other Stories I Shouldn’t Share with Acquaintances, Coworkers, Taxi Drivers, Assistants, Job Interviewers, Bikini Waxers and Ex/Current/Future Boyfriends But Have.