Something Borrowed
by Emily Giffin
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Book Reviews of Something Borrowed
Book Review: another nice girl and her vanilla triumphs
Summary: 3 Stars
"Something Borrowed" is the story of a bride and her maid of honor as they prepare for a large and fancy wedding - only the maid of honor is doing some borrowing of her own, and the "something" is the groom.
Rachel, a consummate wallflower, has always lived in the shadow of her best friend Darcy. But when she has a drunken one-night-stand with Darcy's fiance, Dex, she finds herself feeling less guilty than confused, and she and Dex embark upon a relationship. As the wedding approaches and Rachel's feelings for Dex deepen, her complicated friendship with Darcy and her desire to finally have things her own way are at odds.
There is a lot of good in this book - it's funny and vivid and well-written - but a lot of good not in it as well. Although both of the female leads are given a lot of entertaining (but highly stereotypical) development, and even the minor female characters are well-drawn (and, actually, a lot more interesting than the principals), all of the men are flat - particularly Dex. There is little attention given to this man's charms, which must be plentiful, or to his interaction with Rachel, which must be potent. Even worse, the author fails to give the reader an understanding of what he might see in either of the women he is with, which makes his actions as the wedding nears unpredictable and uncompelling.
In fact, Dex is not really a character at all; he is a set piece in the much-told chick-lit story How the Nice Girl Goes Bad and Makes Good. The novel is neither original nor particularly well-plotted; it is simply an addition to the Self-Actualization of Nice Girls subgenre. However, it is witty and moderately entertaining and possessed of a few witty and powerful if preachy monologues about getting a spine; it's among the better of its ilk.
Book Review: Something Blue is A LOT BETTER!
Summary: 3 Stars
2.8 Stars...
I couldn't put this book down despite the fact that so many things about it made me sick. Darcy and Rachel are bestfriends but I rather have the devil as my friend than any of these two women. If you read the summary of the book and other reviews you will be convinced that Rachel is a victim of Darcy's undeniable beauty and popularity and charm. The truth is that the things that these two main characters dare do to eachother is unspeakable.
I have to say Emily Griffin was great at developing the characters and the history between them! This is what is great about the book. She gives so much detail about them that you truly start feeling these people and their struggles are real.
This book is about Rachel and the fact that she is in love with Darcy's fiancee. Darcy has been going out with him for SEVEN years and in all those years Rachel never even squeaked to Darcy or him that she had a problem with their relationship. Infact she introduced them and encouraged the relationship, oh but Rachel being soooooo great of a best friend, at the last minute, months before the wedding, decides that she loves him and goes for it.
What bothers me about the character and even made me sick, was that she is full of excuses. She sits there blaming Darcy for everything when her real problem is that even though she is unhappy about every single detail in her life she refuses to do ANYTHING about it... If I had to describe this character at all in two words it would be EXTREMELY PASSIVE!
"Something Blue" is a much better book in terms of the story. Emily Giffin's ability with the characters is not any less attractive in the second book. I would recommend reading this book (Something Borrowed) firsr, though, because thats where the back story is.
Book Review: Good, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
I did really like this book. It was well-written and heartfelt. However, I found the message to be lacking and more than a little twisted. Since when is it okay to throw away a childhood friendship over a guy? I just really didn't find it justifiable that Rachel got so heavily involved with Dex, no matter how she felt about him. Not even when the author began to portay Darcy as an unsympathetic character did I believe that Rachel's affair with Dex was justifiable. It's not okay to "go" for your best friend's significant other, ever, no matter the circumstances. Just like it's not okay to deceive your best friend for your own satisfaction. So what if Darcy was slightly snotty and kind of a pain? Rachel should have grown a spine and learned to stand up to her, instead of embarking on a secret relationship with her fiance and working out all of her Darcy aggression that way.
I also didn't think of Dex as a compassionate character. If he was so miserable with Darcy and so interested in Rachel, then he should have broken up with Darcy and pursued Rachel. I really never felt sorry for him at any time in the story. He played the part of having been kind of forced into his relationship with Darcy, and when he realized it wasn't what he wanted, moved on to Rachel without the slightest concern about the outcome of her friendship with Darcy.
I didn't think of Rachel as particularly brave or risk-taking because she fell for Dex when he was with Darcy and carried on with him in secret. Instead I felt like all this story really proved is that a girl will always choose a guy over a friend.
I will be interested to see what happens in the sequel, but will never describe this book as wonderful or incredible. It was good, but that's it.
Book Review: WHAT A FUN TALE........!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Rachel and Darcy have been the best of friends all of their lives....even leaving their home state of Indiana to pursue post-college excitement and lives in the Big Apple. Their lives and friendship have always been status quo...with Darcy being one of the Beautiful People, and Rachel her less-glamorous and intelligent friend....Darcy the taker, Rachel the giver...and Darcy the drama queen, with Rachel being the more logical and level-headed, even maternal, of the two. Now that the BFFs are in New York, things haven't changed much. Darcy has a fabulous job at a PR firm where she makes loads of money doing very little work, and Rachel is an attorney at a firm she loathes doing a job that she hates. And of course, Darcy is engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in Manhattan....where Rachel settles for Darcy castoffs or blind dates. But on the eve of Rachel's 30th birthday, there is a shift in the universe....and Rachel finds herself not only in bed, but shortly thereafter completely in love with Darcy's fiancee, Dex. Even more shocking, the feeling appears to be mutual. What is a best friend to do? Will Dex choose to remain and follow through with his wedding to the shallow and selfish Darcy? Or will he follow his heart? And what of Rachel? Will she once again allow her own needs and feelings to take a back seat to those of her best friend....or will she finally throw caution to the wind and allow herself to get what she wants....not matter what the consequences?
Full of drama, readers will find themselves rooting for the character who would typically be touted as the villain in most novels. Giffin's message is clear....in that the heart wants what it wants...we cannot choose who we love. An excellent read.
DYB
Book Review: Best OF THE BEST!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a new favorite author, and her name is Emily Giffin. I absolutely LOVED this book. I read on average, a book a day, so know whereof I speak. It has been a long time since I literally could not put a book down...this book was one of those. What's funny is I usually won't read a book written in the first person. I had no idea this was written that way until I received it in the mail. I set it aside in a snit, but later read it cos I had nothing else I wanted to read. I am so glad I did.
Rachel and Darcy have been BFF since grade school. Virtually inseperable till college. Now they are in they're late 20's, and living in New York City. Darcy has orchestrated a 30th BD party for Rachel. The biggest surprise actually happened after the party though, when Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fia`nce. His name is Dex and Rachel had actually introduced him to Darcy years before. She's also set to be the maid of honor at Darcy and Dex's upcoming wedding.
What follows is a summer long affair between Rachel and Dex. With each day they fall more in love with each other. Rachel feels guilty, Dex...not so much.
What I liked about the book is that the people and situations were so real. Normally, I would not be rooting for the best friend who is a cheating, back-stabber. Nor would I like the guy who was doing the cheating. I mean, I've actually been known to boycot movies that star people who have cheated on their spouses. I'm totally anti-cheating. And yet I found myself rooting for Rachel and Dex. Can't say much more or I'll give the surprises(yes, there's more than one) away. I definitely recommend this book, even if you don't like books written in the first person. Great, fast read.