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Meant to Be by Emily Giffin – a Review

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Meant to Be by Emily Giffin – a Review

 

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Description:
The Kingsley family is practically American royalty, beloved for their military heroics, political service, and unmatched elegance. When Joseph S. Kingsley III is born in 1960, he inherits the weight of that legacy. Growing up with all the Kingsley looks and charisma, Joe should have no problem taking up the mantle after his father’s untimely death. But he is also a little bit reckless, and can’t seem to figure out how to channel the expectations of an entire country.

No one ever expected anything of Cate, on the other hand. She, too, grew up in a single-parent household—just her and her mom scraping by in their small apartment. As a teenager, though, Cate is discovered for her looks. Modeling may be her only ticket out of the cycle of disappointment that her mother has always inhabited. Before too long, her face is everywhere, though she is always aware that she’d be a pariah in her social circles if anyone knew her true story.

When Joe and Cate’s paths cross, their connection is instant. What remains to be seen is whether their relationship will survive the glare of the spotlight that follows Joe everywhere. And just as they find themselves in the make-or-break moment, the tragedy that seems to run in Joe’s family right alongside all that privilege will repeat itself.

In a beautifully written novel that recaptures a gilded moment in American history, Emily Giffin tells a story of a love that may or may not have the power to transcend circumstances that seem arrayed against it . . . and the difficulty of finding your way to the place you belong.

 

 

Review:

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin is a wonderful standalone novel that is loosely based on the Kennedy family; especially John Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.  Meant to Be is centered on the Kingsley family, with young Joe Kingsley, who has grown up as part of American royalty (similar to the Kennedy family), always in the public eye.  His grandfather being a philanthropist, his grandmother a famous suffragist, and his famous father, who was an astronaut, but heading to politics, until his tragic death, when Joe was 3 years old.  Joe knows about the expectations of following his family legacy, being pressured by his mother and best friend, Berry (like an adopted sister). Much to his mother’s dismay, Joe enjoyed going out with his friends, and girlfriends; as he was a hunk and very popular; then he meets the girl of his dreams.

Cate Cooper, our heroine, also lost her father at the age of three, with her mother struggling to make ends meet, until she meets and marries a cop; who Cate hated, as he was abusive to her mother. In high school, Cate was discovered by a modeling agency for her beauty, with her step father taking most of the money.  Cate leaves her home and school to a successful modeling career; with her becoming extremely famous as her face was everywhere.    

One day during a photo shoot on a beach, Joe who is walking his dog, Thursday, sees the group taking pictures and immediately introduces himself to Cate.  He gives her his phone number, but time will pass until they accidently meet again, and they both feel the strong connection. When they become exclusive, will Cate be able to handle the paparazzi who constantly follows Joe; putting the glare of the spotlight on both of them, as they were always hounded.

What follows is a beautiful romance that continues to build, with both Joe and Cate having their own family issues; such as Joe’s mother and Berry not feeling Cate was right for him; and Cate’s stepfather being very abusive to her mother. I really did love Cate and Joe together and with a few obstacles, I rooted hard for them to get past them.  I also really did like so many of the secondary characters that we got to enjoy throughout the book.

Meant to Be was a heartwarming, captivating, romantic novel that had me unable to put the book down.  The last quarter of the book was amazing and intense at times, but I did love the epilogue.  Meant to Be was so very well written by Emily Giffin.  You need to read this wonderful story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin – a Review

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The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin – a Review

 

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Description:
It’s 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city–and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it–you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours–and shots of tequila–the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse–Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who he seemed to be?

The Lies That Bind is a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant exploration of the never-ending search for love and truth–in our relationships, our careers, and deep within our own hearts.

 

 

Review:

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin is a standalone novel.  We meet Cecily Gardner, our heroine, immediately as she sits in a bar; despondent about her job as a reporter, homesick, as well as her recent breakup with her boyfriend.  Though it is in the wee hours, she decides to call her ex, but out of nowhere, a stranger sitting near her calls out “don’t do it”; to her surprise, they start a conversation and both start drinking tequila shots, and shortly thereafter, he walks her home. The next morning, they each learn each other’s name and a romance begins to build; as Grant is very charming and sexy and Cecily slowly begins to fall in love with him.  The chemistry between them is sizzling, but how much does she know about Grant? 

Her gay friend, Scottie, warns her careful of Grant, as he is away a lot; introduces her to others as a friend; but Cecily is too enamored with Grant to pay attention.  He does tell her about his sick brother, and that he needs to take him for treatment, and will be away for a while.  Cecily and Scottie take a trip to visit Grant, where she meets his sick brother, and spends time with Grant.  After her return home, she waits patiently for his return, and then tragedy strikes.  This is where a surprise element is added, where Grant dies in the 9/11 tragedy.

What follows is Cecily trying to cope with Grant’s death, and in her grief begins to spend more time with her ex Matthew.  She will also learn that Grant was married, and meets his wife, Amy, who eventually becomes friends with Cecily, though she keeps her relationship with Grant a secret.  Just when Cecily accepts her happy ever after with Matthew, she learns she is pregnant, and everything changes.  Who is the father, Grant or Matthew?

Emily Giffin throws us a number of surprises and twists in the last half of the book, which I will not tell, as it would be spoilers.  I did have some mixed feelings about these surprises, but the last third of the book was a bit mind boggling. The ending was not what I expected.  The Ties That Bind was an interesting story, with a bit of everything; friendship, love, dark, family, with betrayals and lies. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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