Something Borrowed — Emily Giffin
Is it wrong to like a character that carries on an affair with her best friend’s fiance and falls in love with him? Because that’s what’s happened here.
Growing up, Rachel had expectations about turning thirty. She always pictured herself celebrating the big day with her handsome husband in a nice restaurant with their beautiful kids in the care of a responsible babysitter. Now, the big day has arrived and here she is, only there are no children and no husband. Not even a boyfriend.
Her best friend Darcy throws her a birthday party at a trendy bar, and Rachel is determined to have a good time. Normally, Rachel would be described as the quintessential good girl. She’s kind to everyone, helps out family and friends as much as she can, and is always the responsible one watching out for everyone else when they go out to the bar. But at her birthday party, she decides she’s going to let herself have fun and not think about anyone else. She accepts every drink passed her way, and eventually she’s drunk and one of the last people left at the party. Many of her friends have gone home, including her best friend and Dexter, Darcy’s fiance.
Then Dex is back to retrieve the purse Darcy left behind and decides to stay for a few more drinks and hang out with Rachel. He may be Darcy’s fiance, but he and Rachel went to law school together, and have been friends for many years, even before Rachel introduced him to Darcy. Now the sit together, catching up on their own friendship, as they toss back a few more drinks and reminisce. When the bar closes, Dex decides to escort Rachel safely home to her apartment. And somehow he ends up in her bed.
The next morning, Rachel is mortified. She’s slept with her best friend’s fiance. And even more mortifying, for some reason she’s not feeling very guilty about it. Then, because that isn’t shocking enough, Dex admits to her that he wasn’t that drunk and he knew what he was doing when he got into bed with her.
Of course, it’s a horrible situation. They’ve committed what is probably the ultimate betrayal that can be made to your best friend or your fiancee. So why is it that I still like these characters and hope they stay together? It’s because Emily Giffin is a great story-teller. She brings you right into the minds and motives of each character in the story. She demonstrates through examples and dialogue the type of friendship Rachel and Darcy have without having to tell you about it outright. She even helps you understand what a good person Dex is, even when he cheats on his fiancee. Maybe all this is possible because you can relate to each character in this story and recognize them from the people in your own life. Everyone knows a Rachel, Darcy, and Dex. You probably have the type of friendship Rachel and Darcy have with one of your own friends, or know people in the kind of relationship Darcy and Dex have.
Over all, this is a fun novel about friendships, relationships, loyalties and common sense. It’s a quick read, and when you’re finished, you’ll be happy to know there’s a sequel to follow it up because you know you’d like to spend some more time reading about Rachel, Darcy and Dex.
I saw this when I was looking for the author’s web site, which I think is down! I totally agree with you. I loved this book so much, just finished it on Sunday and I am going out to get her new one, Something Blue. I fell in love with these chareacter’s and hope that she writes more about them!
Comment by Christa — November 1, 2005 @ 12:58 pm
I found this book in the library, and like Christa, finished it in a day or two. I totally enjoyed it. Rachel is such a believable character, like so many young women who are actually beautiful and talented but think they are so much less than their friends. I’m ready for the next Giffin book…
Comment by Lynn — August 7, 2006 @ 7:54 pm
Welcome, Lynn!
Oh you’re going to love Something Blue. I didn’t think I’d like a book about Darcy, but she made for a good story. I hope you enjoy it too :)
Comment by Kristina — August 7, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
I absolutely loved both Something Borrowed and Something Blue. However, I have to say I don’t hate Darcy, not even in the first book. Rachel let her walk all over her — like a co-dependent.
Dex, I think, is a dog. I’m sorry, but he still has feelings for Darcy when he starts up with Rachel. I know it’s complicated, yada yada, but come on. He’s a few months away from marrying Darcy and he starts up with Rachel… if he were really carrying a torch for her he would break up with Darcy ASAP, but no… he keeps on like this for months. I’m sorry, but that’s low!
Comment by pinkcat — October 17, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
I agree with you that it was pretty shocking for Dex to be so willing to sleep with Rachel when he was engaged and then to admit he knew what he was doing and didn’t even regret it. That is pretty bad for a guy to do. But at the same time, he matured from that point on, don’t you think? The fact that he figured out he didn’t want the trophy wife in Darcy, and that he stuck by Rachel because he has genuine feelings for her and he took the ridicule and faced the gossip. I think the only reason I can like him is because Darcy was made to look so self-centered.
Comment by Kristina — October 18, 2006 @ 12:18 am
[...] love Emily Giffin’s books, particularly her Something Borrowed and Something Blue novels, so I was looking forward to reading this latest of hers. I liked the [...]
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