A great light read!  Although there is not much character development that I was looking for as they all seem rather weak, the characters are much like regular people and you can easily relate to them.  No happily ever after here but something learned!

Family dysfunction is the main theme throughout the book. As someone who found herself in a bad marriage I could relate to a lot of the book. Even with the dysfunction the family were able to come together when circumstances called for it.
Not one of her romantic comedy books, definitely a deeper novel that stretched her writing.

I really enjoy Giffin's writing, and how she her characters seem vibrant and realistic. I liked Josie and Meredith's voices and they felt distinct and real. BUT, I didn't care about the story. I didn't care about their family relationship and the fallout from their brother's death. Meredith's reactions to Josie may have been realistic but weren't interesting to me. I was interested in each woman's story individually and I would be interested in finding out what happens next, but the two sisters' stories didn't provide insight into each other or enhance each other. 

I may be being to harsh because Something Borrowed may be my favorite book, but I doubt that this will stick with me.

It was a good book - not Giffin's best, but a huge step up from The One and Only, her most recent book before this one.  I enjoyed reading it but the characters and plot were not particularly memorable.  Probably not one I will be purchasing.

Good read. Interesting characters. Liked the story flow and story itself. Liked the characters and following their respective journies through life and the choices they each make. Hard to put down. Captivating reading. Highly recommend!

Another hit for Emily Giffin!  I just couldn't put this fast paced love story down.  Gabe was a loveable main character as well.  Definitely a swoon-worthy read that will keep you hooked.

Anything by Emily Giffin is Great! Love her books!!! I have them all!!

Full disclosure: I DNF'd this book at 25%.  It actually started strong, I enjoyed the first couple of chapters.  However, as it went on, I found myself extremely annoyed.  The sisters were so cruel to each other.  I didn't connect with either of them.  They both really bothered me.  And not in an ok way.  I didn't want to spend the rest of the book reading about them fighting and from what I had heard, it doesn't stop.  So, I'm good.

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The story begins with a wonderful man having an untimely death. He was someone that truly understood the important things in life, that love and family comes before everything. He was going to be a doctor and save lives. After he dies, the people he leaves behind keep wondering all the what ifs, but you can’t go back in time and change the course of your life. Life happens, whether we want it to or not.

The story goes back and forth between Josie and Meredith, Daniel’s two sisters. The story is based around one ugly part of their past, and it has wrapped itself around almost every aspect of their lives. There are so many interconnected parts to the overall story of their lives. Life isn’t always perfect, and neither is love. Yet love is this wonderful constant in so many aspects and areas of our lives. It is so precious and wonderful, and is the most important thing in life.

Above all, the most important thing in life is love. Love for your friends, your spouse, your children, your family. Loving one another, supporting one another, and being there for one another through good times and bad is vitally important. Learning to overcome the bad stuff in forgiveness and find love is not always easy, but it’s worth it.

This was a great story and is one that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys women’s fiction.

I found both of the main characters a little annoying, and the big secret just seemed like not that big of a deal. I never felt invested in any of the characters, to be honest. It was kind of fun to hear all the real life Atlanta place names mentioned, but I wonder how much that means to people not from the area.

The whole family in this book needs therapy and should go as a family. 15 years ago a tragedy strikes the family and instead of talking it all out there are secrets. Josie and Meredith are sisters and they can't seem to get along/ Meredith sees Josie as impulsive and selfish. Meredith is a bitter person and not happy in her life. There is a lot of emotions in this book. Sadness, grief, happiness, and overwhelming.

Normally, I can't put an Emily Giffin novel down. Not as much with this one. I picked it up and put it down several times before finally finishing. Parts of the overarching plot were resolved at the end, but other parts seemed to still be dangling a little bit. I like it ok, although both Meredith and Josie seemed to hate the other without much provocation and it irritated me.

I love Emily Giffin's books, but this one was disappointing.  I love stories about sisters but the characters were self involved and hard to relate to.  The book ended abruptly.  I hope her next one is better!

This was an enjoyable and thought-provoking novel.  Fifteen years ago, Josie and Meredith lost their brother, Daniel, in a car accident.  While their lives have moved on, the tragedy of their brother's death has colored their lives.  Josie has never properly grieved her brother's death and has been holding onto a secret about the events of that fateful night.  Meredith seems to have coped better, but in some ways the choices she has made consciously or unconsciously have been worse for her.  The book focuses on how their lives (and the lives of their parents) have changed over the years.  With the fifteenth anniversary fast approaching and their mother wanting her and the girls to travel to New York and meet up with Daniel's girlfriend at the time of his death, Sophie, both Josie and Meredith are forced to rethink their lives and what they want for their respective futures and they are forced to confront the events of the past, including how their brother's death has affected their relationship as sisters.  Not only is this a well told story with plenty of drama and surprises, but the author has created characters with considerable depth.

I was so excited to dig into Giffin’s latest book even though her last one was one that I had abandoned. First Comes Love really brings the charm that Something Borrowed had captured in her writing as she explores the complexities of a relationship between sisters.

When their brother is tragically taken from them, Meredith & Josie’s lives pull into two different paths following his death. Meredith seems to have it all with the perfect marriage, a great career, and a child. Josie remains single, after her first love has moved on, and decides to take her life down a different path to raise a child in a less conventional way. Of course, neither story is as it fully seems and Josie carries around a secret that threatens her (already) failing relationship with her sister about the night of her brother’s accident.

This one is a satisfying read from start to finish and a pleasure to read! I absolutely loved it!

This is the story of two sisters, Josie and Meredith, and the complicated relationship they share. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline kept my attention.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book tells the story of two sisters, Josie and Meredith, who after a family tragedy have chosen very different paths for their lives. Their relationship while growing up was loving but never very close, they have always been polar opposites. Josie was impulsive and free spirited, while Meredith was thoughtful, serious and hard working. As they've gotten older, they've grown more and more apart as their lives have taken them in different directions; Meredith is a married lawyer with a young daughter, while Josie is single and an elementary school teacher.
As the anniversary of the family tragedy looms closer, each sister starts to rethink their lives and what it is that they really want. Secrets will be uncovered and will force both Josie and Meredith to confront their issues with each other and learn the true meaning of forgiveness and family.
Overall this was an interesting story, but I could not stand Meredith at all. I found her to be rigid and selfish and it made it hard for me to care about her part of the story. Fortunately the rest of the story was engaging enough to keep me reading.

I sometimes feel like I live under a rock. Granted, it’s a nice, comfy rock, and there are plenty of books to keep me company and the light is surprisingly good, but I cannot deny missing the boat on some popular trends. I picked this Emily Giffin book because how can you not know her name? Her books are beloved bestsellers, and when I saw this one on NetGalley I thought, she certainly does not need me to help her sell them — how nice of her to offer them to us!

But this book was just not for me. As a mother who came to that in the traditional way, but also as a woman who has been lucky enough to pursue her passion in work, I could not relate to these women and their many regrets. The courses they pursue seemed unrealistic and contrived, sometimes for shock value alone. I will admit, the book was well-written and, in some ways, compelling, but the characters just did not appeal to me. I will take issue with the blurb I read — I was promised “dazzling”, “emotionally honest and utterly enthralling”, but these are not the words I would have chosen. But hey, almost 24,000 people on Goodreads feel differently than me on this one, so clearly this was just a miss on my part. If you are a fan, don’t listen to me, just have at it and I’ll catch you next time.


For Goodreads:

Why I picked it — Giffin’s books are extremely popular
Reminded me of… Elin Hilderbrand, Nancy Thayer and Mary Kay Andrews’ books
For my full review — click here

Not my favorite by this author, who's earlier work I really love. The last two that I've read by her have had a different tone. But I'll always read something by her! She won me over early on.