Once again, Emily Giffin delivers a novel that I could not put down. First of all, if you’re over 30 you’re going to love the trip down Memory Lane with all the 90’s references. Also, if you’re old enough to have lived through 9/11, you’ll instantly be transported back through time to all the feelings that day brought. If you’re not, you’ll get a glimpse into not only the fear and anguish of that day but also the unity and brotherly love that rose from the ashes.

The author wove a perfect tapestry of human emotions. Mistakes, regret, wonder, fear, love—all of those constantly things loom over Cecily’s head as she tries to figure out her feelings for Matthew and Grant. Many will relate to her struggle to say true to her small-town-girl-heart while living the dream in NYC. The twists and turns in this novel make it impossible to put down because you just have to know what happens next!

I fell in love with Emily Griffin after All We Ever Wanted, but this book feels true to her older style of Something Borrowed. The beginning of this book is riveting and really draws you in, but then something happens. The last part of the book was far-fetched and the ending just had me upset.

I was very much connected to the story, but after the ending, I’m not sure where I stand with it.

I have to start out by saying that while reading this I had a niggling that I have already read this book before, and then it hit me it really really reminds me of the author's book Something Borrowed. In fact we see some of those same characters show up in this book.

The Lies That Bind centers in the year 2001, up to and including the World Trade Center bombing. Like all of Emily Giffin novels, I had a hard time putting my Kindle down. The author is excellent at drawing her readers into her storylines. I believe it's her characters that do it, they're always relatable and usually quite likeable. Plus her plot development and themes are wonderful. The only thing I really didn't care about the main character is I felt she was so wishy-washy. She had trouble dealing with making decisions, other than that I think it's a fantastic book and I totally recommend it. It'll be a great Beach read.

I would like to thank Emily Giffin, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I generally read a lot of thrillers. Like a lot. But in between, I like to mix it up a bit with books of different genres. Some books and their blurbs and premises just call out to me begging to be read.
Some are hits and others misses. But I enjoy the little break from my thriller reads.

This book's blurb was so intriguing. I wanted to know more about where the story would end and how the playout would be.

'It's 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York's East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she'll ever make it as a reporter in the big city--and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, "Don't do it--you'll regret it." Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours--and shots of tequila--the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn't be worse--Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can't seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn't who he seemed to be?'

This book, unfortunately, ended up being a big miss for me. The premise had it all and yet somehow it somehow did not translate into the story. The plot ended up being a little silly especially with the way the protagonist Cecily behaves. I mean it beggars belief. I don't want to get into the details of her behaviour but suffice it to say her actions made my eyes roll more than they have in my life. The twists seemed contrived and the characters lacked depth and nuance.
The ending just made me roll my eyes for a good 5 minutes. That's how absolutely unbelievable it is.

Yes, this book definitely did not work for me.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge Emily Giffin fan but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. Thank you for the change to read it.

I am a huge fan of Emily Giffin! I have read all her books and I have to say hands down this is my favorite book of hers ever!!!! The fact that this books takes place durning the scary days of 9/11. Emily does an amazing job with reliving those tragic days with such respect.

The Lies that Bind is a must read that will have you glued to every word and will leave you sobbing.

Another great story by Emily Giffin. Cecily and Matthew seem as though they have it all. A young couple in love with a bright future ahead, so it seems. Then Cecily meets Grant, and everything she thought she knew to be true unravels. Set during the events of September 11, this is a wonderful story about love, friendship, loyalty, and being true to yourself. I love all of Emily Giffin's books!

Emily Giffin delivers again with a story that doesn't stop turning and twisting until the last page. Set around 9/11, Giffin's meticulous attention to detail will have readers feel like they are back in that frightening and uncertain time. Cecily, a Wisconsin born writer now living in NYC, tries to drown her post break-up sorrows at a bar when she meets a man who seems too good to be true. Soon after, the 9/11 terrorist attacks change the course of many of Cecily's relationships. Giffin introduces characters that readers will both love and hate at different points throughout the story; Scottie will become a beloved BFF character for many. At a time when everyone needs an escape, The Lies that Bind will whisk readers away in a story that is entertaining, thoughtful, and surprising. I inhaled this one in twenty four hours.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Publication date is set for June 2, 2020.

The is the best book Giffin has ever written. The realness, the drama, the character development. There were so many times I kept having to put it down because I couldn't believe what I was reading. I wanted to look away like a bad accident but I couldn't. I think the tragic events of September 11th were handled with grace and that it really pushed the story forward and wasn't just used for fanfare. I so badly wanted the truth to not be what it was but ultimately, it was right for the story. I highly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone.

Thanks so much to Random House and Netgalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this book and provide my unbiased review.

Cecily wanted the same as any young girl in her 20s , To meet a nice young man that appreciated her for who she was and in time maybe even get married. She dated a very nice man named Matthew who loved her , however when time came to committing to marriage he just couldn't take that step
Cecily broke up with Mathew, and shortly after met a man named Grant who simply swept her off her feet. She fell head over heals in love with him and him with her. She followed him to Paris where their romance blossomed more.

After she got back, their were tragedies, and lies, and Mathew back in the picture...then more deception and confusion....then finally after all truth comes out in the end all works out.

Its a good story that goes back and forth and it gets a bit frustrating, at least it did for me....hey girl make up your mind!!! But I did love it to the end, and so will you.

I just couldn't get into this book and that's a shame because I normally enjoy Giffin's writing, but this one failed to grab my attention. Gave up about one-quarter of the way through.

This story felt like the old Emily Giffin and I couldn't be happier! I loved the 2 main characters, Grant and Cecily''s, chance meeting in a bar late at night and from there both their lives were changed. Cecily was trying to forget her recent breakup with who she thought was the love of her life when Grant walked up behind her.....that's really all there is to know as the plot unfolds in surprising - very surprising- ways that just go to show the skill that Giffin has in crafting a plot that cruises right along with drama, romance, humor, angst etc only to then drop a little bomb when the reader least suspects it. That's fantastic writing! Add in a little love triangle I didn't see coming and this story really had all of my favorite elements. I will say in terms of a small criticism that I found parts, especially in the second half to be a little slow and drawn out. I've read some reviews knocking the ending but I personally loved it. In fact, the last fourth of the book had me rapidly turning pages to find out what happened. In the age of coronavirus, this has been the only book that's kept my attention and pulled me out of the day to day worry for awhile. I think this will make a great summer read.

This book was both more predictable AND more surprising than I was expecting -- overall, I really enjoyed it and it was a super quick read that definite his its stride about halfway through. Especially great during this period of social distancing and quarantine, where I was able to completely immerse myself in the story.
Protagonist Cecily is reeling from a breakup with longtime boyfriend, Matthew, who wasn't ready to commit to marriage; while drowning her sorrows at a bar, she meets Grant and they begin a whirlwind romance. But shortly after meeting, 9/11 occurs and Grant disappears -- and Cecily is left to assume he died. In the weeks that follow [small spoiler], she reconnects with Matthew and the two get engaged - but more than that, she discovers secrets about Grant that upend everything she thought she knew. Despite the passing of time, Cecily cant quite get over Grant.
I thought the plot was a little outlandish and a bit predictable, but completely enjoyed it and was happy to read along for all the ups and downs of Cecily's life. I appreciate how Emily Giffin is able to share so many different characters with us and paint them not as "good guys" or "bad guys" but show there's a little good and bad in everyone and there's nothing wrong with that! The ending was of course a bit cheesy but that's what we all come for! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 -- I definitely liked All We Ever Wanted more (and this one didn't even make me tear up!), but this was a great read that I flew threw in 3 short days.. Thanks for NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book!

I have always been a fan of Emily Giffin- ever since the Something Borrowed days. I wasn’t a fan of the books that came out after that series, but then felt like she blew me away with All We Ever Wanted. It was such a change or genre and was just SO GOOD. So I was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley. What would Giffin’s newest story be like?

The positive- I finished it in a day. It was entertaining and an easy read. The negative- it converted back to the less thoughtful writing of Giffins (totally my opinion). This story had so many plots that were just surface level and the story was so unbelievable that none of the characters felt real or able to be identified with.

This is Emily Giffin at her finest. I love everything she writes, and how each story is familiar and comforting while all still being fresh and original. This book really hit home when the story came to the events of September 11, 2001. Having been a teenager at the time, its something that is so real that reading about it cannot help but dredge up emotions that are specific to that day. I also loved how, in true Giffin fashion, this is a love story, with a happy ending, but not the love story you expect, and not the happy ending you see coming. THAT is what kept me up all night, reading this book in one sitting. I loved it.

It is always a great day when Emily Giffin has a new release! Set in New York City’s 9-11, girl meets boy in a seedy bar. I loved how the couple’s initial attraction was based on genuinely “clicking” and not in a physical way. An unexpected twist makes for a great hand-sell for booksellers to easily put in people’s hands for the beach.

I have been an Emily Giffin fan since 2005, which I totally judged a book by its cover. It was a simple pink cover with the words “Something Borrowed”. I fell in love with the book, and the author. I had read every book she has written since. I was so excited to be chosen to read her newest novel “The Lies That Bind” to review for NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and are in no way influenced by NetGalley.
Emily Giffin is the author of ten novels, Among her resume are “Something Borrowed” which was turned into a move, “Something Blue” “Heart of the Matter” and “First Comes Love”. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.
Giffin’s style of writing is more than just chick-lit. While her stories revolve around love and relationships there are also underlying themes of betrayal and enough suspense to keep your turning the pages. She has a unique writing style that allows for the story to flow.
The setting of the story is predominately New York 2001. The setting is described in enough detail to allow the reader to be involved in the story, but not so much detail that you feel dragged down and distracted from the overall plot.
The plot seems like something out of a soap opera, but in a good way. The story had several twists and turns, but also remained believable. In this story, we meet Cecily Gardner. She has just broken up with her boyfriend, Matthew, and drowning her sorrows in a bar. She meets Grant, a handsome man whom she has a strong attraction to. Through getting to know Grant, it is clear they have a mutual attraction, which is complicated by the fact that he is planning to move to London to help his twin brother.
Grant returns to New York, the day before the infamous 9/11 attacks. Cecily seems him on the night of the 10th, and then learns that he is among the lost. However, with his death comes the truth -- that she never really knew him at all.
So, before I give my review, let’s talk characters. There are several to discuss. All the characters are likeable -- even Grant, who we learn a lot of unfavorable things about in the aftermath of 9/11. She has such a connection to him that you can’t but be drawn to him.
My favorite character depends on the timing in the story; however, I absolutely love her best friend, Scottie. He is witty, charming, funny, and most importantly always has her back. My least favorite character is Cecily herself. She is wishy-washy and goes back and forth between what she wants.
The character that showed the most growth would be Matthew, the ex. In the beginning, we learn he doesn’t want to move too quickly. Yet, as the story unfolds, he begins to grow and mature in a way I didn’t expect. Although, there is one part of the story that made me want to kick him in the shin. Aside from that, he showed the most growth.
I go back and forth on the rating of this story, between a 4 and a 5. I loved the story line, but there are a couple of parts that had me a little off-put.
There are several sensitive aspects to this novel to discuss. The first, and most obvious, is the story surrounding 9/11. There are parts that are described in enough detail that would make someone with a personal connection to 9/11 triggered. There are elements of adultery, sickness, suicide, and other aspects that cannot be discuss without giving away the overall story.
“The Lies That Bind” will be released on June 2, 2020. It is available as a hardcover pre-order through Amazon for $19.69.

I am a huge Emily Giffin fan and The Lies That Bind didn't disappoint! I loved this book.

Maybe it is because I was the same age as the main character in 2001. Or maybe it was because I too was a New Yorker who had a very similar reaction to when the first plane hit the towers. But regardless, I found this story and the characters incredibly relatable. There were numerous twists and turns and I struggled to put the book down. Also, I loved the way some fan favorite characters made a cameo appearance in the novel...

Another hit for Emily Giffin! I was a bit hesitant through the beginning of the story - the writing and plot felt a bit juvenile and I actually had to check the book description thinking maybe Emily Giffin was trying her hand at YA. But as the story progressed, the writing tightened up and the characters became more developed and flawed. The backdrop of 9/11 was powerful and so descriptive - I went back to that time and felt those same feelings described in the story. And I loved the nod to some familiar faces for fans of the author.

The Lies That Bind
A Novel
by Emily Giffin
Read an Excerpt
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Ballantine Books
General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 02 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 31 Aug 2020

I am not a regular reader of chick lit but this one held my interest and it was a good read.
Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for sending me the ARC. Loved the mystery in this book about Grant.