***4-4.5 Stars ***
Publication Date: June 2, 2020

Ahhhh.. I'm conflicted. The reviews have been so mixed on this and I can see why but I still really enjoyed this read. First let me start with saying I love Emily Giffin, she is a wonderful story teller that really has a way of pulling you into the story.

Alright lets get into it. Cecily the main character, is a journalist/reporter in NYC and I really loved her. Easy to relate to, just got out of a serious relationship because she felt that he wasn't ready for long term commitment. So she's at this dive bar at 2AM, having a drink feeling sorry for herself, when what appears to be the most perfect man, Grant, starts talking to her. Grant's twin brother has ALS, doesn't have long to live he's all over the place trying to get him into clinical trials and help him. Cecily is so understanding of his situation. Fast forward and 9/11 occurs and Grant goes missing. From here things become quite convoluted and seriously far fetched in my opinion but I still couldn't stop reading.

Now... the negative reviews say how 9/11 was described is insensitive and I get that. I'm struggling to fully give an opinion on how I felt about the writing because this is such a sensitive subject. Its one of if not the worst tragedy to ever occur in the US. So my thinking is because she wrote about it "in real time" as people were trying to process what was actually happening, now that we know what happened, it seems insensitive.

So bottom line.. was the complicated dramatic story line far fetched? YES. Did I eye roll at times? YES. But I also couldn't stop reading and loved Cecily so much I really enjoyed this book. Hence 4-4.5 star rating.

*** Special Thanks to NetGalley and DoubleDay for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ***

I have enjoyed all of Emily Giffin's novels. Her something borrowed series was a fun series and I enjoyed it. This novel is not even in the same ballpark. This story follows Cecily who is not a likable character. She's a journalist who has broken up with her boyfriend of 3 years. One night she heads to a bar to drown her sorrows and find Grant. Sparks fly and they instantly connect. Grant sweeps Cecily off her feet. Then 9/11 happens (a long lengthy chapter covering the towers and how the morning of 9/11 happened) A plot point that in my opinion did not need to be included AT ALL. It was distracting and sad to relive those moments in history.

Cecily was unrelatable. She did not connect with me and never felt really loved by Grant or Matthew. The ending was completely silly and wrapped up too neatly and was just unbelievable.

I loved this book! The characters were so real - with faults and unrealistic expectations. When I thought I knew what would happen, the author surprised me, and it worked our well. The decisions made didn’t seem contrived at all. I definitely recommend this book!

Not my favorite from her. A little predictable and I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. If you like romance, you’ll probably like this book.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I loved the character development, and I heavily related to all the descriptions from the early 2000’s that she used. As for the plot, just when you think there can’t possibly be any more surprises, here Emily Giffin goes throwing another one in the readers path. I loved this book!

NetGalley ARC | One of my most anticipated book releases of June 2020, Giffin's The Lies That Bind offers a quick, engaging romance set against the more intense backdrop of 9/11.

If you are looking for a book club book that will leave you with thought-provoking questions, The Lies That Bind forces you to examine and ask whether or not the truth can really set us free. Is love ever pure and untainted, and is love still love even when mixed with false realities?

Find the full review on The Uncorked Librarian: https://theuncorkedlibrarian.com/june-2020-book-releases/

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Emily Giffin has always been one of my favorite authors so I was beyond excited to read this book before it was published. She has a writing style that draws you in right from the beginning and will keep you engrossed until the very last sentence. This book has several twists and turns throughout that take you back to past events such as 9/11. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

I like how THE LIES THAT BIND is a fast-moving page turner. I was anxious to see what would happen next. Giffin treats the 9/11 tragedy with great sensitivity and respect. I didn't rate this book higher b/c I had such a difficult time connecting to the characters. Cecily in particular seems so immature and I didn't necessarily sympathize or understand her world view and her desperate need to be with a man. For a reader who can connect with Cecily, the novel's treatment of the theme of forgiveness is handled nicely.

I just feel like Emily has lost her ability to get the reader to bond with her characters and this one is so no different. I miss the something borrowed author and hope she can find her way back to that writing style.

This book is giant roller coaster. First, I think the book description says way too much and spoils a lot of the twists. It’s pretty obvious what is coming and would have been much more powerful had some of the earlier twists been more surprising. I did think the way the author described the immediate aftermath of 911 from the characters’ perspectives to be incredible powerful. It was a quick read that I couldn’t put down, but the ending was shocking and all wrong in my opinion. It will however make for a great book club discussion!

This book was incredibly strange and, I felt, slightly disjointed. It gave me the dualing feelings of dislike of the novel and needing to keep going to figure out what exactly was going on. I felt like characters were unlikable and one-dimensional, the story was incredibly far-fetched, and the overall tone came off as judgmental and preachy. There were also too many religious overtones for my taste. I was not a fan.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was not what I expected. I will try to write a review without giving any spoilers for those interested. I was hooked into the story right from the start. I liked the couple meeting over a cheesy pick-up line used to stop her calling her ex. I liked the new romance excitement as they get to know each other, in someways taking it slowly and in others feeling like they're ready to start a future together. It was cute and fun and I was enjoying it. And then the unexpected, the lies entered and the story went downhill for me. It was interesting, but also frustrating and annoying. I found the second half of the book much less enjoyable to read.

Emily Giffin's latest novel had me hooked from the get-go. Cecily is out for a drink alone in Manhattan late one night, lamenting her recent break up and the direction her life is moving. As her sadness grows, a handsome stranger, Grant, strikes up a conversation with her. They spend the whole night together, talking endlessly about anything and everything. They begin to become closer and closer over the next few weeks.....and then September 11, 2001....the day that changed everything. Grant disappears in the aftermath of the tragedy, and Cecily is left wondering how everything could have gone so wrong. As Cecily mourns the loss of Grant, she soon realizes that Grant may not be who he seemed. Grant had another life entirely....a life that Cecily knew nothing about.
Cecily struggles to come to grips with the fact that the man she thought she knew was not, in fact, the real Grant. She struggles to move on and look for love in other places....until she is faced with the shocking realization that Grant may not actually be gone. Cecily is soon left at a major crossroads in her life, pinned between the safe and comfortable existence that she knows, or the idea of a future that is completely unknown and unpredictable.
I really enjoyed this book. It definitely made me realize that so many things in life are not just black or white, but that gray areas are far more common that one might think. Beauty often lies in these gray areas that bind us together.

I enjoyed this book as a whole, but I was incredibly disappointed to see the author's comments regarding Megan Markle. I have always thought of Emily Giffin as a writer of fun and engaging women's fiction, but it is hard for me to want to recommend this book to others when I now feel that the author is not a woman who supports female empowerment. My rating is based on the book alone, but I would not hand sell this title or subsequent titles unless there is a marked change in the author's online presence.

Emily Giffin has taken her story telling to a new level with this novel. Set mainly in New York, she paints a vivid picture of life in the city. Cecily has moved to the city to find her dreams, her dream job, her dream man and her dreamed future. She thinks she knows what she wants. Cecily wants the fairytale, but what she gets is far from Prince Charming. This is a story of a woman who has to decide if settling is enough. This is a story of a woman who has to make choices that no one should have to make. This is a story of a woman that must decide when the lies become not lies that bind, but lies that break. Giffin is a master storyteller who once again captivates her readers with a story that is hard to put down. This book is due to come out this summer and would be the perfect beach read. If you love contemporary fiction, chick-lit or rocky romance this is a book for you. I give it 4 stars. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lies That Bind by Emily Griffin was a captivating page turner with twists and turns in every chapter. I loved the humanity of each character and seeing those exposed throughout. I think I have read all of Emily Griffin's books and this one made me appreciate her even more as a writer.
Thanks you NetGalley and Random House for such an interesting and fun book.

I really tried to go into this book with an open mind, especially given the controversy around the author recently and the mixed reviews. However, I just found the entire plot ridiculous and far-fetched. I do agree with reviews that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were used solely as a plot point and not handled in a sensitive manner. It was completely glossed over, with very little regard to the devastation it had on NYC and the country as a whole. Also, the characters were all exceptionally unlikable, and not intentionally so. The message at the end was not one that I would be proud to write as a woman (no spoilers, but UGH!).

Thanks to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first 80% of this book was great... the beginning of the book sucked me in and made me want to sit and keep reading until I was done with it. The scenes where Giffin describes the aftermath of 9/11 gave me chilling goosebumps. Everything with the book was going great -- I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. BUT (and this is a big BUT) the last 20% kind of ruined this book for me. I didn't like the ending AT ALL. However, since I got my ARC back in February (publication date is set for June 2), I'm kind of hoping that some of the things I majorly disliked somehow ended up getting changed, even if it would mean a complete re-write of the ending. Not likely....but who knows. Initially, I'd have given this book 4.5-5 stars, but if I had to just rate the ending, it would probably be 2 stars.

I'm a huge fan of Emily Giffin's books, and I absolutely LOVED her previous book, All We Ever Wanted. I'm still looking forward to what she has to offer in her future books, but this one was just so so disappointing.

A fast paced story of a young woman whose current love life takes many twists and turns. From small town America to the bright lights of New York City, we are lead on an unusual journey. A very quick and suspenseful read,

I have read some really bad reviews about this book and was very worried starting it, I am in the minority because I enjoyed it a lot! This is Ms. Giffin’s best book yet, in my opinion, a beautifully crafted story of love, loss and second chances. This book is an incredibly emotional read, taking you on a journey through life, love and the grief which descends when having to say goodbye to someone close. If that sounds depressing, let me assure you it is so much more than a tear jerker as it’s both a celebration of love and the ups and downs we experience through a life shared.

You'll read about the happy, the sad and the hurtful parts of relationships. As you continue, you'll see the grief evolve and play out. This is a very touching and skillfully written book. This is a great read and a reminder to say the things that need to be said while you can and enjoy life now because the future is promised to no one.