Many of you may have already noticed this book on the library shelves or just in the shopping places. I got to know this author about two years ago, so seeing the latest book and having a chance to read it thoroughly

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It might come as a surprise, but yes, I do sometimes take a break from my regular diet of blood, graphic violence, and disturbing content. Sometimes one just needs to lighten the mood and feel a bit girly for a while, and this book was the perfect choice for that. I fell in love with Emily Giffin's strong characters (stubborn and real), biting wit, and adult humor when I read Something Blue (even though I accidentally skipped Something Borrowed - oops). I immediately went out and devoured the rest of her books as quickly as I could. My favorite Giffin book is Heart of the Matter, but I was very disappointed with her last book, The One & Only. It wasn't a badly written book, just completely different from all her other works, and I thought I was done with her for good. However, this one was right back on track with her previous work, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

First Comes Love: A Novel introduces us to sisters Josie and Meredith Garland. These two couldn't be more different, which has led to a loving but stormy relationship that sometimes seems to hang by a thread. Something traumatic happens to their family, causing the girls to go their separate ways. Fast forward 15 years, and both women are pushing 40 and living very different lives. Josie is single and an elementary school teacher who is more concerned with becoming a mother than finding Mr. Right, but she feels society doesn't approve of that order of life. Meredith is a Type-A perfectionist with the "perfect life": a successful job as a lawyer, a beautiful daughter, and a great husband. But why does Meredith secretly wonder if she made the right choices in life?

I loved how the central theme of this novel was a combination of taking ownership of one's actions and forgiveness. Giffin's novels aren't just about romance; there are usually other forms of love explored as well, and I love all the different dynamics she can bring to the story without it becoming confusing or off-putting. I would even go so far as to say she is the Harlan Coben of the women's fiction genre, as she can take multiple seemingly unrelated storylines and weave them together to create a form of perfection that is hard to find in fiction. This is a true gem of a read that would be just as perfect for the beach as it is in the comfort of your own home. Either way, you'll be transported into another story that will touch your heart.

I would say that it was truly a good read. The book is structured in such a way that each chapter represents the unique thoughts and opinions of a sister regarding the current happenings in their lives. It offers a fascinating glimpse into their individual perspectives, emotions, and experiences.

As you progress through the chapters, you get to know each sister better, understanding their hopes, dreams, and fears. The author has done an excellent job of presenting these diverse viewpoints in a vivid and engaging manner.

Whether it's dealing with family issues, relationships, or personal growth, the sisters' thoughts and opinions provide valuable insights and food for thought. It makes you reflect on your own life and the choices you make. Overall, it's a captivating read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

2.8 This book was extremely lackluster. It is, without a doubt, my least favorite among all of Emily Giffin's books. I purchased it without even having a clue about what it was all about, being overly confident that I would thoroughly enjoy it since I had never been disappointed by Giffin in the past. However, after reading this story, I don't think I'll be mindlessly buying her novels anymore. I simply couldn't establish any connection with any of the characters, and they just didn't seem likable at all. The relationship between the two sisters was on the verge of being that of enemies, yet there was no real obvious reason for it. I have never actually experienced a real tragedy myself, but usually, I can sense a connection with the characters I read about who go through such hardships. This story, though, was a different story altogether. It just felt poorly written and lacked any real heart. There was something that was simply missing, and perhaps if the main characters had been written in a different manner, it could have been a great book.

I was in search of some lighthearted chick lit when I happened to pick up this particular novel. However, to my great disappointment, it turned out to be quite the opposite.

This is the tale of the relationship between two sisters who are constantly at odds with each other. Moreover, they are still grappling with the death of their brother, which occurred a whopping 15 years ago. The story got overly depressing as it progressed. The characters became extremely annoying with their continuous bickering and unlikable traits. What's more, the plot became so predictably over-the-top that it lost all its charm.

I had been hoping for some exciting plot twists that would add a touch of surprise and excitement to the story. Sadly, those twists never materialized. All in all, it was just an okay read. It wasn't the worst thing I have ever read, but it definitely didn't meet my expectations either.

A girly beach read that offers a few unexpected twists and turns. It's a pity that Meredith and Josie come across as conceited and unlikable characters.

Nevertheless, I am always eager to give any book that incorporates infertility treatment in its plot a chance. And this particular one had me completely engrossed, unable to stop turning the pages.

The story seems to have a certain allure that keeps pulling me in, despite the flaws in the main characters. I find myself curious to see how the plot will unfold and what challenges the characters will face in their journey related to infertility treatment.

Maybe there will be some redemption for Meredith and Josie, or perhaps their unlikable traits will lead to more interesting developments. Only time will tell as I continue to delve deeper into this beach read.

First Comes Love is an extremely engaging fictional narrative that delves into the lives of feuding sisters fifteen years after a tragic event has forever changed their family.

As the story unfolds, each sister takes turns narrating in alternating chapters. This unique structure allows the reader to truly feel connected and able to relate to both sisters and their individual viewpoints.

The novel's greatest strength lies in its well-developed characters. They are so vividly portrayed that I found myself completely invested in sharing their journeys. I was truly captivated and didn't want the story to end. In fact, I'm left hoping for a sequel to continue their tales.

I am deeply grateful to netgalley.com for providing me with an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This has been a truly enjoyable reading experience.

I haven't revisited Giffin's work ever since the delightful duology Something Borrowed and Something Blue.

I obtained this book at Book Expo America and, fortunately, managed to get it autographed by the gorgeous and timeless Giffin. Side note: Her complexion was truly impeccable.

Here's an overused yet accurate simile - I devoured this book like candy. The characters felt astonishingly real, and the personality disparities between the sisters (and consequently the courses of their lives) were magnified due to a family tragedy. It also centered on the differences in the grieving processes, even when the depth of love is identical. Anyone with a sibling can identify with petty arguments, competitiveness, and general exasperation from time to time. Giffin infuses humorous and idiosyncratic dialogue into our often ordinary real life, which results in a truly enjoyable novel. Even though she doesn't avoid sadness, I value the author's optimistic perspective on our most significant life relationships.

This book is a wonderful exploration of family dynamics, grief, and the power of love and relationships. It keeps the reader engaged from start to finish and leaves a lasting impression. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking read.

So worth staying up until 4 am to finish. So worth it.

I've always been a huge fan of Emily Giffin's novels. I've devoured every single one of them. I've gotten to know each character she creates so well, falling in love with some, getting angry at others, and simply adoring them all.

And she has done it again with this latest book. I love these characters with all my heart. They feel so real to me, like they're part of my own family. This has become my absolute favorite book of hers. I just couldn't put it down. The story was engaging from start to finish, filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story with well-developed characters and a touch of romance. It's truly a gem.

I don't know what to say about this book other than it was a total waste of time.

It involved two of the most incredibly selfish, annoying, unpleasant, and self-absorbed main characters in recent memory.

Emily Giffin's characters are always flawed and somewhat deluded about their shortcomings, as real people so often are.

However, Meredith and Josie seemed to be competing for who needed a good slap and counseling more.

I think Meredith came out looking worse since she actually HAD been seeing a therapist for years and was still a completely sanctimonious and uptight idiot.

She acted so put-upon when she was the root cause of all her own misery.

The story failed to engage me on any level.

The characters' actions and decisions were often frustrating and made me want to throw the book across the room.

I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read.

It was a disappointment from start to finish.

It's truly a challenge to engage with a book when you have such intense dislike for the main characters. And that's precisely the case with Josie and Meredith.

Josie and Meredith are sisters who, even 15 years after their brother's death, are still grappling with the aftermath. Some "women's fiction" stories about sisters feature a complex love/hate dynamic. But this one is more of a hate/hate relationship. They are constantly at odds, and for the most trivial of reasons. Right from the start, I was weary of their never-ending bickering, which persists throughout the entire narrative.

Meredith is especially exasperating. I loathed how she was portrayed as the typical miserable shrew wife. She denies her husband sex, is angry at everyone, and constantly compares herself to other moms. I'm aware that such women exist, but I resent how mothers and wives are so often depicted in this negative light in these kinds of stories. Meredith takes offense at everything. Nothing ever meets her standards. Moreover, she is extremely self-involved. One might think that getting inside her head for part of the story would endear her to me, but I nearly abandoned the book at 90% because I was so repulsed by her. And the way she treats her husband, Nolan, is almost unforgivable. She fails to communicate her needs to him and comes across as cold and unfeeling to the point of callousness.

Josie is marginally better, but still irritating. She too is self-centered, although she is somewhat more likable when the reader is privy to her thoughts. However, there are still issues with her part of the story. I felt that her relationship with Gabe, her platonic best friend, was inconsistently presented and at times, downright perplexing. I also found her relationship with Pete, the nice guy who seemed desperate and overly agreeable, to be strange and not in a good way.

What bothered me the most about this story was the author's tendency to introduce a plot thread and then simply abandon it. For instance, the storyline with Will, Josie's ex, was built up and up, only to lead nowhere. Why invest time and effort in introducing it if it's not going to lead to anything? It felt unresolved. The same goes for the plot element of Gabe's girlfriend. She was initially a source of tension between Josie and Gabe, but then she fades into the background. The same fate befalls the storylines of Josie and Meredith's father's drinking and girlfriend, as well as the persona of Daniel, the dead brother. So many aspects of this story were left underdeveloped.

I had higher expectations from Emily Giffin, whom I remember fondly from my days of reading women's fiction. However, either my tastes have changed dramatically or I simply have no interest in reading about miserable people making each other even more miserable.

**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**

Repeat after me... "Wilder women don't wed and they don't run." Got it? Okay, so keep reading. Page 50... okay, I said I got it. Page 75... really, it sunk in. Page 100... honestly, I may be forgetful but I think I remember that. Page 150... do you want me to tattoo it on my butt? Page 200... I wish that damn Wilder woman would wed or run already! Page 250... Oh good lordy you can't be serious. Page 300... slamming head against fence post.

Get my drift? I think I would have liked the book more if we weren't constantly reminded of that. Honestly, I may not be quick but I did figure that out in the first 50 pages and could have done without the repetitiveness. That's what finally did me in and I couldn't wait to finish this one just so I wouldn't have to hear about it anymore. Really thought the premise was cute, but the book just didn't do it for me.

Sorry! JMO! I understand that the author might have wanted to emphasize this point about the Wilder women, but it was overdone. By the time I reached page 300, I was so tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. It made the reading experience less enjoyable for me. Maybe if the repetitiveness had been toned down, I would have had a different opinion of the book. But as it is, I just couldn't get into it.