Although certainly a page turner, I really didn't like or "get" Rachel. She is so weak! She continued to be weak and only got her happy ending because she continued to do nothing but wait. her passive agressiveness wins the day, way to go Rachel. ( )

I won this books from Goodreads and it sat in my To-Read pile for a couple of months. SHAME ON ME! It is my favorite guilty read of 2009. Emily Giffin had me sucked in by the first chapter. Within the 322 pages, Giffin made me feel emphathy, annoyance, anger, and joy toward Rachel White. I never once felt indifference.

Rachel has always followed the rule-book. That is until her 30th birthday. When she breaks a rule, she does it big...she sleeps with her best friend's fiance. That's just chapter one.

Giffin allows us to follow Rachel through her summer and her relationship with Darcy (Rachel's best friend) and Dex (Darcy's fiance). Giffin really made me see that everything isn't black and white and sometimes you have to put yourself first. I'm looking forward to reading Something Blue.

About the author from the back cover:

Emily Giffin graduated from Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She practiced law in New York City for several years before moving to London where she began writing full time. She now lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons.

I couldn't help but wonder if there was any autobiography in this. I also hope that Ethan (Rachel's friend living in London) makes some appearances in the novels to come. I really liked him. I found myself rooting for him and Rachel at one point. ( )

Brilliant book. I felt myself getting drawn into Rachel's life from the very beginning, and experiencing her emotiions as if I were part of her. I've never been in Rachel's situation, but surprisingly, I could relate to her feelings. It's not just a simple chick-lit, issues were explored (I never thought that I could sympathise with someone who sleeps with her best friend's fiancé), and it leaves you feeling bittersweet.

I don't own this book (yet), but it's the first book on my 'to-buy' list! ( )

This is a top-notch slice of chick lit from an author who writes very clearly and vividly about two friends and a summer where everything changes for them.

Rachel is a lawyer working in New York - hates her job, approaching thirty, no man in sight. She is best friends with Darcy, who has travelled through a charmed life - has a high-paid PR job she loves, still has a summer of being in her twenties and is about to be married to Dex, to whom she was introduced by Rachel. For Rachel's thirtieth Darcy arranges a party and proceeds to get royally drunk. When she is taken home, Rachel and Dex embark on a series of events that will have far-reaching consequences.

A lot of chick lit deals with infidelity, but this book takes you to the core of the issues. Should you tell? Do you actually love the guy? Why are you doing it? Should you/do you feel guilty? The story is told from a first person perspective and so we 'hear' Rachel's thoughts as she agonises over her actions. Consequently this book has a lot of depth and really causes you to identify with Rachel, despite the fact she is doing something she really shouldn't.

I simply could not put the book down - the story was told simply, with excellent choice of words to keep driving the plot along. There were light-hearted moments, and I really enjoyed all of Rachel's memories about her friendship with Darcy when they were both school children. I particularly identified when Darcy sends a note to a boy asking him to check the box of which girl he would like to be with!

Rachel and Dex were both wonderful characters to read about, and Darcy was brought to fascinating life. I think many girls have a friend who seems to be more beautiful, luckier, gets the guy everyone lusts after, and so it becomes easy to take Rachel's side - especially when Darcy drops her shocking bombshell in the climax to this story.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy Marian Keyes. ( )

I received this book through the GoodReads first reads program.

It's the story of Rachel White, a young attorney in Manhattan. Darcy, her best friend since childhood, is engaged to Dexter, who went to law school with Rachel. Rachel thinks Darcy is tall, slim, beautiful and charismatic, always feels mousy and insecure next to her, and has resigned herself to being in Darcy's shadow. Darcy is really loud, brash and arrogant, and treats Rachel almost like Cinderella.

The story begins on Rachel's thirtieth birthday. A group including Rachel, Dexter and Darcy is bar-hopping. Darcy overdoes it and goes home, while Dexter and Rachel go to "one more place". Rachel is surprised when Dexter ends up spending the night with her. She and Dexter then have to figure out how to keep their tryst from Darcy, who, they are certain, would react very badly were she to find out.

The remainder of the book follows the friends through the summer as they rent a beach house together. Rachel tries to be a dutiful maid of honor, at the same time as she is wracked with guilt.

Under normal circumstances, I would be horrified by Rachel and Dexter's behavior. But Darcy is an incredibly arrogant prima donna, and frankly, I identify with Rachel, having been the "mousy friend" most of my life.

The ending completely surprised me, although it probably shouldn't have. Giffin is a pretty good writer and I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. ( )