Something borrowed

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"Borrowing" Things From Friends can get Sticky!,

June 18, 2008

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Best friend backstabs best friend by sleeping with her fiancé. Sides are drawn and of course, the "stealer" is the bad girl, right? Not necessarily...The characters in this book surprise you by not meeting the typical expectations. You're introduced to Rachel White, a NYC midtown attorney that has always followed the rules and has earned a "safe" and good life for herself, albeit a little boring. She has managed to keep her childhood friendships alive, including her "best friend" Darcy Rhone, a pretentious and pretty PR representative. Throughout all the years of their friendship, Rachel has fooled herself into thinking that Darcy is the "lucky" one - better looking, better job, better personality and that she deserves and usually gets everything she wants.

As the book progresses, you see Rachel slowly coming to realize that Darcy has been manipulating and subliminally putting her down for years and that, just like Darcy wanted, she thinks of herself as "second best". Enter Dexter Thaler, a handsome and successful financial analyst, who happens to be Rachel's former classmate from law school. Even though she's attracted to him in the beginning, she introduces him to Darcy because she feels he's "out of her league". Sure enough, Darcy and Dex hit it off and become engaged. Rachel's fine with this and accepts her place as "maid of honor". Then one night, things change forever when she connects with Dex as never before, both emotionally and physically - behind Darcy's back and Rachel goes from "best friend" to "back stabber".

As the story unfolds, you learn more about the connection that has always existed between Rachel and Dex and how much they have in common. But Dex is a "stand-up" guy and would never leave his fiancée for her best friend, right? And Rachel knows this and besides, she would never want to hurt Darcy either, right? It's fun to read along and find out! Emily Giffin is great at telling this tale from Rachel's perspective as she gradually learns about herself and realizes what she wants. She just has to decide if she deserves it and can handle the pressure in order to get it. The reader learns along with Rachel what her friendship with Darcy may have been costing her and what she is and is not willing to give up, just to give Darcy what she wants. Sometimes a girl has to think about herself, right Rachel? It's enlightening to travel along the road of self-discovery as Rachel develops and learns from her actions. Another nice thing about the way that Emily Giffin writes this book is that you see the pitfalls that Rachel puts herself through while she makes the decisions that will affect her whole life.

The other characters in this book compliment the main players nicely. At one point, Rachel is paired with Marcus, a friend of Dexter's - a groomsman in the wedding, no less; wouldn't it just be easier for them to fall in love? As the wedding date approaches, we're caught up in the details of just what's happening to them, inside and out. This book is fun to read and hard to put down. You just might find yourself thinking about the characters and wondering what you would do in their place. As the story winds down, loyalties are tested and lines are crossed. Will Darcy find out about the infidelity? What happens with Marcus - will he win Rachel's heart in the end? We find out and are surprised and mesmerized until the very end.

The nice thing about this novel is that there is a "Part-Two". "Something Blue" tells the story from Darcy's perspective and I'm half way through it and enjoying myself immensely!

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