I was over the moon when I first heard about "First Comes Love" by Emily Giffin. I already owned all seven of her previous books and was eagerly anticipating this new release. When I learned that she would be signing copies at BEA, I made it my goal to obtain a print copy to add to my collection. She was warm and kind, and even complimented my brightly colored hair. It's always a pleasure to meet an author you admire and find that they exceed your expectations.

"First Comes Love" delves deep into the complex relationships that form a family. The story explores the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of family life. Josie and Meredith are part of a seemingly perfect family, with doting parents and an all-American older brother. However, a car crash forever alters the dynamics of their family, and each girl copes in her own unique way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of "First Comes Love." The slow disintegration of a family and the various responses to a tragic event made for a captivating read. Emily Giffin's writing was一如既往地出色. She managed to infuse the story with genuine emotion and depth. She also has the ability to make even the most unlikable characters understandable. While I didn't particularly care for Meredith, I was able to empathize with her and understand her motives. Josie was a relatable character, and I enjoyed seeing her come to terms with her past. Although the pacing had a few weak points, it didn't detract from the overall story. The world Giffin created was vivid and easy to imagine.

I will admit that "First Comes Love" is not my favorite Emily Giffin book. That honor goes to "Where We Belong," which was an emotional powerhouse. However, I have found that I enjoy all of her books, and this one is no exception. Giffin's talent shines through in her eighth book, just as it did in her first.

Favorite lines - "And it is in this despondent, desperate moment that I think of the one person in the world whom I love without condition. The one part of this tragic story that is beautiful and perfect and untouched by regret or what-ifs."

Biggest cliché - "If you just did what I told you to, your life would be great."

Have you read "First Comes Love," or added it to your TBR list?

This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This review, and many more, was originally posted on 125pages.com

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Emily Giffin is back!

In full disclosure, Love the One You're With is the last book of Emily Giffin's that I devoured. The others, while well-written, didn't appeal to me as much. I'm happy to say that First Comes Love reminds me of Love the One You're With and Baby Proof in style and I LOVED it.

What I enjoyed the most, besides the story, were the characters. Giffin is a master at creating real characters with flaws. I didn't like Meredith much during the book, but it didn't matter. Because I understood that she was human and I don't like every human I meet. But it doesn't mean they aren't interesting people :)

The dynamic between the sisters was believable, although very sad at times. The romantic story lines were unpredictable, which I liked. And the ending was uplifting and happy without being saccharine or all tied up in a pink bow.

I particularly appreciated the tie-in with Ellen and Andy from LTOYW. I didn't make the connection right away, but actually went back and read those parts again because LTOYW is my favorite of the author's books.

This book had everything - humor, heart, romance, pop culture. It was light without being fluffy and had depth without being boring.

I would absolutely recommend this book to Emily Giffin fans, past and present, as well as all fans of women's fiction and chick lit. It's a wonderful read that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Ugh,

Not since Cinderella's evil stepsisters have I encountered such horrid siblings.

They are vapid, completely lacking in any depth or substance. They are self-absorbed, only caring about themselves and their own needs. They are selfish, always putting their own interests above those of others. And they are judgemental, quick to pass harsh and unfair judgments on those around them.

It's as if the author was deliberately checking off a list of traits that are most disliked in a female and then decided to make these the characteristics of her so-called 'heroines'. It's truly令人失望. It makes it difficult for the reader to have any sympathy or connection with these characters, and it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the story.

I have always been a huge fan of Emily Giffin's books. Among all of them, this one is likely my absolute favorite.

It is so much more than just typical chick lit. This story is filled with love, lies, secrets, and regrets.

The book revolves around two sisters, Josie and Meredith, who are completely different from each other, like night and day. When the girls are in their late teens or early twenties, a tragedy strikes their family, which is truly devastating for everyone involved.

Fifteen years later, Meredith is "happily" married to the best friend of her deceased brother Daniel, and they have a daughter. Josie, on the other hand, is a single teacher, longing for a family and still waiting for Mr. Right.

This book explores how, even after fifteen years, none of them have really dealt well with the tragedy. They need to come to terms with it in order to move on and live their lives. The secrets that have been kept cause various issues, and there are numerous conflicts that unfold throughout the book.

I initially found myself more drawn to Josie than Meredith, but by the end, I was rooting for both of them!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A raw, compelling, and emotionally honest portrait of sisterhood

is presented in this remarkable work. With the easy eloquence of a master storyteller, Giffin skillfully shines a searing spotlight on family, forgiveness, and the bonds that unite us. The novel takes the reader on a journey that is both hilarious and poignant by turns. The characters are so vividly drawn that they seem to leap off the page, and their relationships are complex and nuanced. As the story unfolds, we are drawn deeper and deeper into their lives, sharing in their joys and sorrows. By the time we reach the end, the novel has left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds, resonating long after we have finished reading. It is a testament to Giffin's talent as a writer that she is able to create such a powerful and moving work of fiction.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of Emily Giffin's work for some time now. So, when I got the opportunity to read this one, I was really excited. However, it turned out to be quite a challenge to like this book as I despised both of the main characters.

Let's begin with what I did like. The setting of Atlanta was great. Since I grew up outside Atlanta, I really loved the references. One of my favorites was when they talked about Cracker Barrel and Meredith ordered the chicken dumplings. As Meredith described, they are indeed a bowl of starch, but they are incredibly good. Seriously, just thinking about their chicken dumplings and butter biscuits made me start drooling. It was amazing. I also liked that Josie decided to take charge of her own life and try to have a baby on her own, even without a man. She was really independent and went after exactly what she wanted. That was one character trait I really loved about Josie. Additionally, I liked the portrayal of the friendship between a straight girl and a straight guy (Gabe). Their friendship was great and it is so rare to see that kind of friendship in books where the man and the woman genuinely have no attraction towards each other.

On the other hand, Meredith and Josie really drove me crazy. They fought about everything. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I have a sister and our relationship is far more complicated than Meredith and Josie's. My sister is actually very selfish, but we have learned to be civil to each other and sometimes even have fun together. One thing we don't do is start a fight with every single conversation. God, these two women acted like children every time they were together. Even Josie saying something as simple as, "I guess I'll let you go" on the phone was enough to bring out a bitchy response from Meredith.

Then there was Josie's decision to have a baby on her own. Meredith was so judgmental and said that Josie was selfish for making that decision. Another thing I didn't understand was Meredith's claim that Josie's baby would eventually become her burden and that Josie wasn't ready to be a mother because she wasn't responsible at all. I have no idea where that came from. Josie had her own job, supported herself, and didn't seem to make any selfish decisions. So, where was this idea that Josie was totally irresponsible coming from? It was from Meredith's insane jealousy.

Josie wasn't as irritating as Meredith, but she came close. I didn't understand her very first date with Pete. She just decided before going in that it would be her last date ever because she wanted a baby and refused to even give him a chance. Seriously? Okay, have a baby if you want, but to completely dismiss Pete after one conversation was a bit much, especially since they had a lot of great banter going on. But of course, he ended up sticking around (kind of), so it was okay.

The whole brother dying thing was just overdone and I felt no emotion from it. Their brother, Daniel, died fifteen years ago. I understand that losing a brother would be hard, but it was fifteen years ago. It seemed like Meredith and Josie used his death as an excuse for every bad decision they ever made and I didn't buy it. They also got pissed off that his girlfriend at the time didn't spend her entire life mourning him. There were also a couple of subplots that never really went anywhere. First, there was their dad's alcoholism. They first said he started drinking a lot more after Daniel's death, but then they said he was already an alcoholic before that. But they never really did anything with his alcoholism, so I don't understand why it was mentioned. Then there was Josie acting like a brat about Gabe's girlfriend, Leslie. Leslie didn't even do anything and Josie was acting like a jealous girlfriend or something with all of her cattiness. But that jealousy disappeared as quickly as it came and no one ever did anything with that either. So, what was the point?

I really wish I had liked this book more.

The four stars are awarded for the moral lesson. Otherwise, it is indeed a well-written story about siblings. There is a nice one and a rather judgmental bitchy one. Since the story is told from both of their points of view, we are supposed to root for both of them. However, if there is one thing that is worse than a judgmental person, it is a judgmental person with a shitty life.

This story seems to explore the complex relationship between siblings and the different personalities they possess. The nice sibling may serve as a contrast to the judgmental one, highlighting the flaws and insecurities of the latter.

By presenting the story from both perspectives, the author gives readers a more comprehensive understanding of the characters and their motives. It also makes it easier for readers to empathize with both siblings, despite their differences.

Overall, this is a story that not only entertains but also offers a valuable moral lesson about the importance of being less judgmental and more understanding of others.

This book took me an incredibly long time to finish. In fact, it's the longest it has ever taken me to complete a book. To be honest, I lost interest in numerous aspects of it.

I felt that the arrangement of the story was rather abstract and seemed to be all over the place. It lacked the coherence and logical flow that I usually expect from a well-written book.

Unlike Emily Giffin's other books, this one did not have the exciting dramatic effect that would keep me on the edge of my seat. The plot didn't build up the kind of tension and anticipation that I was hoping for.

However, there was one thing that I did enjoy about the book, and that was the last sentence. It was a profound statement that I could comprehend on multiple levels: “..not only does love come first, but in the end, it is the only thing that remains.” This sentence really made me think about the importance of love in our lives and how it can endure through all the challenges and difficulties.

Overall, while this book had its flaws, that one sentence was enough to leave a lasting impression on me.

I won an ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway.

To be honest, my experience with this book was far from pleasant. In a nutshell? Ugh. I am so sick and tired of reading about emotionally immature characters. They are absolutely selfish, unable to move on after a tragic event in their lives, and fail to recognize that others have also faced hardships. Instead of taking responsibility, they play the blame game and exhibit major control issues and inflexibility. Seriously, if you've been in counseling for years and still haven't learned that if what you're doing isn't working, you should change it, then there's a big problem.

This book is better to skip. It's a disappointment coming from a gifted author. I had high expectations, but unfortunately, they were not met. The characters' flaws were so prominent that it was difficult to connect with them or care about their story. I hope the author will consider these issues in future works and create more relatable and well-developed characters.

I can always rely on Emily Griffin to provide an effortless and captivating reading experience. Her characters are not only relatable but also flawed, which makes them more realistic. The story features realistic conflicts that keep the readers engaged from start to finish.

The point of view in the book alternates between Sisters Josie and Meredith. Meredith is the responsible one. She is a lawyer, a wife, and a mother. On the surface, she seems to have it all. However, she is not happy with her marriage or job. The only thing that gives her true joy is her four-year-old daughter.

Josie, who is a couple of years older than Meredith, is a first-grade teacher. She lives with her best male friend, Gabe. Her world is turned upside down when the daughter of her former love, Will, ends up in her class. This event makes her question her choices in life. Josie is in her late 30s and desperately wants to be a mother. She worries that her chance for a husband and a traditional family has passed her by.

The addition of a budding romance and secrets about what happened the night 15 years ago when their brother died adds just the right amount of drama to the story. It keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, eager to turn the pages and find out what happens next.

Meredith and Josie are sisters who couldn't be more different. One fateful night, the unthinkable occurred. Their brother Daniel, who was home for Christmas, died in an accident, and that single event changed everything for them. In some families, such a tragedy might bring them closer together, but that wasn't the case for theirs.

Fifteen years have passed. Meredith has married Daniel's best friend, Nolan, and they have a daughter she adores. However, she is now questioning everything in her life. She has a job that is her second choice and doesn't even like it. She wonders if she ever truly loved Nolan or if that was the biggest mistake of her life.

Josie, on the other hand, is a first-grade school teacher. She lives with her best friend Gabe, who has always been there for her. With the arrival of her ex-boyfriend Will's daughter Edie in her class, she hears the biological clock ticking and desperately wants to have a baby. But she doesn't have anyone to have one with. So, she decides that artificial insemination is the way to go and begins the hunt for a baby daddy.

The story is alternately narrated by Josie and Meredith, which works well. The sisters are so distinct, and understanding both of their perspectives and feelings gives a believable slant to the story. No one is portrayed as all good or all bad. We see the sisters as they are, with all their flaws and issues. Some reviews mentioned that people had a hard time liking the sisters and couldn't connect with them, but I found the way the story was told to be more realistic. We see them for who they really are, and it helps us understand why they are the way they are.

I would have liked the story to go a little further. I wanted to know what was in store for Meredith and Nolan's relationship and whether Josie's plan would succeed. Under the circumstances, I thought Josie's plan was a bit unrealistic, and I could see many problems ahead. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book. It's an easy read, and I have always liked this author's work. It's a bit fluffy in a good way, but it also has serious undertones and deals with many issues such as marriages and divorces, death, relationships between couples and siblings, parenthood, and secrecy. I became engrossed in the life of this family and read the last half of the book in one sitting. I definitely recommend this one.

Read this in one sitting!

It truly felt like a classic Emily Giffin work that I have a deep love for. The story is so engaging and captivating that once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

I can't recommend this book enough. It's going to be a must-read when it comes out in June. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Emily Giffin or just looking for a great summer read, this book is sure to satisfy. So mark your calendars and get ready to be swept away by this amazing story.