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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I’m not sure if I was frantically hate reading it or it’s crack or both
**umm...what just happened?**
**SPOILERS!!**
The Lies that Bind by Emily Giffin
1.5/5 Stars
Read September 2024
The Lies That Bind was a somewhat unrealistic depiction of how lies can twist relationships and lives, but also how forgiveness and honesty is important to healthy relationships.
Positive messages: 1.5/5
Characters learn the importance of forgiveness, family, and honesty. Although they make many mistakes and have mostly ungodly beliefs and views, there are some positive relationships and friendships shown.
Positive role models: 1.5/5
Cecily goes through many difficult circumstances and drama and is involved in ungodly relationships, but she is a good friend and learns the importance of forgiveness later in the novel.
Matthew is honest (for the most part) and seems to be a good man in terms of the world. He, too, makes bad decisions but is respectful.
Scottie is a gay man, but he is there for Cecily when she needs a friend.
Cecily’s other friends and family members stand around her, loving her no matter what. They are an example of what family should do: give good advice and wisdom to difficult topics in LOVE.
Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 3/5
The first scene in the book takes place at a bar, where characters take shots for relief and get drunk (briefly described, no symptoms). Characters have hangovers.
Language: 4.5/5
‘S**t,’ ‘bulls**t,’ ‘f**k,’ ‘bastard,’ ‘hell,’ and ‘damn’ are used.
Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 2.5/5
9/11 takes place during the book setting, but no deaths are graphically described. You can tell that characters struggle with decisions and heartbreak—mentally and physically hurting.
Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 4.25/5
Characters share a bed together on the first ‘date’ or technically time meeting each other but there is no sexual/intimate scene. Lots of kissings, touching inappropriately, and intimate relationships. When scenes get heated, I recommend skipping because there are some sexual scenes. A gay guy talks about wanting to hook up with another guy.
What Parents (And YOU) Should Know:
**SPOILERS!!**
The Lies that Bind by Emily Giffin
1.5/5 Stars
Read September 2024
The Lies That Bind was a somewhat unrealistic depiction of how lies can twist relationships and lives, but also how forgiveness and honesty is important to healthy relationships.
Positive messages: 1.5/5
Characters learn the importance of forgiveness, family, and honesty. Although they make many mistakes and have mostly ungodly beliefs and views, there are some positive relationships and friendships shown.
Positive role models: 1.5/5
Spoiler
Grant lies to Cecily and a few others characters throughout the novel, but understands and owns up to his mistakes and what he did wrong.Cecily goes through many difficult circumstances and drama and is involved in ungodly relationships, but she is a good friend and learns the importance of forgiveness later in the novel.
Matthew is honest (for the most part) and seems to be a good man in terms of the world. He, too, makes bad decisions but is respectful.
Scottie is a gay man, but he is there for Cecily when she needs a friend.
Cecily’s other friends and family members stand around her, loving her no matter what. They are an example of what family should do: give good advice and wisdom to difficult topics in LOVE.
Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 3/5
The first scene in the book takes place at a bar, where characters take shots for relief and get drunk (briefly described, no symptoms). Characters have hangovers.
Language: 4.5/5
‘S**t,’ ‘bulls**t,’ ‘f**k,’ ‘bastard,’ ‘hell,’ and ‘damn’ are used.
Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 2.5/5
9/11 takes place during the book setting, but no deaths are graphically described.
Spoiler
Grant’s brother is very sick. A character tries to commit suicide.Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 4.25/5
Spoiler
Affairs, lying about relationships, getting pregnant outside of marriage, and other mature topics are talked about and lived out.What Parents (And YOU) Should Know:
3.5 stars. Predictable, but then again isn't that why I read her books?
Ok, this book was wild and not realistic at all, but I found it highly entertaining
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Predictable plot, uncomfortable use of the traumatic events of September 11th, way too happily ever after when it should NOT have been. However, I liked certain characters and was curious enough to finish it.
I cannot believe I basically finished this in a day. The main character is CORNY, the men are not as great as the author is trying to make them sound, don’t think I didn’t notice the “sassy” gay best friend and Black best friend tropes happening (two different people).
HOWEVER. You stay for how ABSOLUTELY BONKERS the plot is. The twists!!!!!!!!!!! This is how I binged it in a day. It’s sort of worth it weirdly enough.
HOWEVER. You stay for how ABSOLUTELY BONKERS the plot is. The twists!!!!!!!!!!! This is how I binged it in a day. It’s sort of worth it weirdly enough.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great read with some surprising plot twists. Likeable characters with complicated lives. An enjoyable read.
3.5 ⭐️
cecily and grant meet on an unexpected whim after cecily has parted ways with her ex, matthew. grant absolutely takes cecily by storm (read: lovebombs her) and cecily is infatuated and head over heels for grant (read: a victim of manipulation). or that’s what it felt like anyway. since this isn’t a romance genre book, i won’t be so hard on the toxic love dynamic between cecily and grant, but i think their relationship was glamorized and misrepresented.
the overarching meaning of this book seems to be about how we truly decide who ‘the one’ is, and what basis that really means for all of us. another integral part of the plot is how much we lose ourselves in strong emotions such as love and grief.
i enjoyed most of the story but i really hate that the two love interests (that the lesson kind of relies on) are 1) a liar and a cheater, and 2) one that never prioritizes cecily and treats her as a backup plan. maybe that was part of the point of the story, that cecily felt the need to settle for the lesser of the two evils. but it’s not lost on me that often women feel the need to choose the lesser of evils amongst men in real life, rather than men just being better people. i digress
cecily and grant meet on an unexpected whim after cecily has parted ways with her ex, matthew. grant absolutely takes cecily by storm (read: lovebombs her) and cecily is infatuated and head over heels for grant (read: a victim of manipulation). or that’s what it felt like anyway. since this isn’t a romance genre book, i won’t be so hard on the toxic love dynamic between cecily and grant, but i think their relationship was glamorized and misrepresented.
the overarching meaning of this book seems to be about how we truly decide who ‘the one’ is, and what basis that really means for all of us. another integral part of the plot is how much we lose ourselves in strong emotions such as love and grief.
i enjoyed most of the story but i really hate that the two love interests (that the lesson kind of relies on) are 1) a liar and a cheater, and 2) one that never prioritizes cecily and treats her as a backup plan. maybe that was part of the point of the story, that cecily felt the need to settle for the lesser of the two evils. but it’s not lost on me that often women feel the need to choose the lesser of evils amongst men in real life, rather than men just being better people. i digress