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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I loathe everything about this book. I hate every character, and the plot twists are as predictable as they are absurd. It is obvious that Emily Giffin is nostalgic for the charmed late 90s and earl 2000s. So many of us are. It is also not Giffin's fault that I don't love reading 9/11 based fiction, but I have liked all but two of her books and loved several, so I thought I would try. I can honestly say that I found using 9/11 as a backdrop for these inane characters and ridiculous story actually offended me as a reader. I would have hoped that an author who clearly loves New York would do better.
Giffin's books have gone steadily down hill but this one is rock bottom. I only recommend it if you want to complete your set.
Giffin's books have gone steadily down hill but this one is rock bottom. I only recommend it if you want to complete your set.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spoiler
Good about woman who thinks she loses boyfriend in 9/11. Better than the last few of her books.
I was so happy when I finished this book. Happy I was done reading the most ridiculous book ever. The story was unbelievable and the characters were unlikable. Really didn’t like that it was also in the same world as Darcy, Rachel, and Ethan. Even that didn’t help at all.
A bit of a slow start but once all the 9/11 stuff happened this really turned into a page turner for me! I really enjoyed this read but my one complaint is that I feel like you didn’t get to really know any of the characters on a very personal level. The ending was so wholesome!!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
title: the lies that bind
author: emily giffin
edition: paperback
pages: 335
total read time: 8h 3m
avg pg/hr: 41.61
basic info
- genres: fiction, contemporary, romance, adult, new adult
- tropes: insta-love, love triangle, grief
- pov: first person
initial rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
ratings
- plot: 4
- world building: 4
- main characters: 3
- side characters: 3
- writing: 4
- pacing: 4
- originality: 4
- romance: 3
- ending: 3
- emotional impact: 3
- overall enjoyment: 4
final rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
additional info
- spice: 🌶️.5
- epilogue: yes
- cliffhanger: no
- happy ending: yes
I'm a little bias on my review because I'm a fan of Emily Giffin's books in general. I have read all her books, some I liked and some I loved. The Lies that Bind I loved. I was hooked on Cecily and Grant's love story from the get-go. I wanted to be single again and experience finding your soulmate all over again. Then something happens and I was not happy with how things were turning out...by the time I finished the book, I was loving the ending.
Thanks Emily Giffin for another beautiful book, NetGalley and RandomHouse for my advance reader copy.
Thanks Emily Giffin for another beautiful book, NetGalley and RandomHouse for my advance reader copy.
After a recent breakup, Cecily meets what seems like the perfect man, Grant. They quickly fall in love and things are going great until he tragically disappears in the 9/11 disaster. She sees his face on a missing poster and realizes she isn't the only one looking for him. After calling the number on the poster, Cecily soon finds out she knows nothing about the perfect man she thought she knew.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a reader, perhaps I should have considered that a book with lies in the title was going to be a plot literally built around lies. And it's not that I can't handle that. It's just that the lies in this one were so egregious, and then, the truth was also a lot to take. I didn't connect with any of the characters given so many of their choices involving said lies and truths, so this one just wasn't for me at all.