Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am split on this book. It was well-written and kept me entertained. But it seemed like two completely different books. The first half seemed like a fluffy romance without much real conflict. Then it took a turn into a soapy, unrealistic drama. None of the characters were likable (except maybe Scottie, the friend), and everyone did some pretty awful and unforgivable things. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.

Looks like people either loved or hated this book. Count me in the loved category. This book reminded me of Giffin's early books Something Borrowed and Something Blue. Giffin takes flawed characters-sometimes I'm hit and miss on them but I really enjoyed Cecily even if she was a nitwit sometimes-and then throws all kinds of punches at them. This book had so many twists and turns that it kept me turning the pages and staying up late. Sometimes I could kind of see what was coming but I really didn't see the ending. I'm not sure that I liked it but it felt honest to the characters. The 9/11 tragedy is central to the plot and the way that it was used made me mad -that's my only criticism. Other than that, the writing brought that day all back to me which was kind of hard to read. For Giffin fans, there is a cameo by past characters Rachel, Darcy and Ethan. It made me want to read the two aforementioned books again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC in return for my honest review.

LOVED this book. SO twisty & nuts but I couldn't put it down. I think you have to suspend a bit of belief, but that's what fiction is for. Juicy & fun!

Thank you thank you thank you for an ARC of The Lies that Bind. During this pandemic, I've found it hard to find a book that actually keeps my attention, and I can't put down. This was definitely one that did both! I loved the twists. It kept me reading to figure out how the story ended up.

Another 5 star favorite from Emily Giffin who became an auto-buy author for me after reading “Love the one You’re With” and the “Something Borrowed” series. Emily is incredible at writing about difficult topics and complex characters that are easy to love and hate and love again because they’re just so human. The Lies That Bind is a love story mixed with tragedy and a couple of twists that you might see coming but still thoroughly enjoy the journey to unravel them. As an added bonus we also get to see an old beloved friend from another of her books along the way.

This story opens in NYC in May of 2001. Cecily, a broken-hearted twenty something, takes herself out for a drink in NYC after a breakup with her long time boyfriend. Just as she’s about to use the bar phone to call her ex a charming man walks up to her and says “Don’t do it.” I can’t tell you how many times I could have used that advice form a stranger in my own life. The charmer turns out to be Grant Smith and he and Cecily quickly fall head over heels in love. Their falling in love feels like every hopeful date I ever went on and a just a little bit more. However, we all know what happens next as we reach September of 2001. This is where the story really picked up for me as the truth about Grant and Cecily begins to come to light. I could not put this book down.

The Lies that Bind is gut wrenching and touching as well a frustrating and enraging.
The last two novels by Emily Giffin have been a disappointment. I couldn’t bring myself to care about the main characters and the magic of her previous novels were gone. The first half of this book goes back to her classic books that brought in readers: an engaging story and anxiously waiting to see what happens when the other shoes drops. But unlike some of her earlier novels, the other shoe drops in such a way that it turns you off of the book as a whole.
Even without reading summary of the plot, readers know as soon as they see the book is set in 2001, that 9/11 will be a prominent feature in this story. As the romance builds, the reader is anxious to see what happens when the story clashes with this real life event. Giffin creates a juicy story that bucks every expectation.
Unfortunately, the twist doesn’t follow through in depth. The characters make bad choices, you can see one twist coming, and may other plot points are just thrown in without any real depth. By the end of the book you like none of the characters and I was just pissed off such potential was wasted in the drivel that was the ending.
Over all, The Lies That Bind is at once classical Giffin mixed with the lesser work she has done of late. I wanted this book to bring me back into her fold, but at this point, I’m getting to the point where I leave her books behind.

I was really enjoying this one but I didn’t realize that 9/11 plays a huge part in the story (I didn’t read the synopsis before starting it). As a New Yorker, I honestly can’t read anything that involves it. I stopped reading at this point. I don’t want to give it a rating since I DNF’d it because of my reading preferences and not because the story was bad. The writing was excellent and I did enjoy what I read.

This book was given to me at no charge by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love being able to review books, but I always feel a little trepidation reviewing authors that I admire—what if this is the book that isn’t so great? No fears, this book did not let me down. It has so much happening in it and I had a hard time putting it down to work and sleep. The story twisted towards the end and wasn’t at all what I expected. Highly recommended.

I loved Emily Giffin’s book, All We Ever Wanted, so I was looking forward to reading this new book. But the lead character in The Lies That Bind was just too hard for me to overlook. Cecily is a naive simpleton, weak-hearted, weak-willed, and it’s just amazing she doesn’t get sexually assaulted while she’s out strolling the streets of New York at all hours of the night.
One late night at the local dive bar, Cecily meets Grant who turns out to be the love of her life. She already knows this the next morning when she wakes up and dreamily looks at him. Yes, your math is correct, count the hours, maybe 6-8 and he’s already too darned good to be true. But wait! It doesn’t stop there! He suddenly moves overseas to save his brother who has a terminal disease. And she follows along for a quick hook-up after just 4 weeks of knowing this hunk of burning love. I kept waiting to learn that he was full of lies, he’s married with seven kids, he’s an ax murderer, anything other than what I’m being told is the truth.
But alas, instead I am told that (wait for it) he dies in the 9/11 attack the day after he gets back to America. Through Cecily’s investigative reporting (I’m being catty here) she does uncover some inconvenient truths about Grant and I have to admit, I was flipping pages as quick as I could to get to the bottom of things. So even though I strongly dislike the character of Cecily, I still enjoyed portions of the book and I stuck with it until I was done. And I’m still a big diehard Emily Giffin fan, through and through.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for making it available.)

I have been a fan of Emily Giffin since her first book. The Lies that Bind reminded me of the first few books that Giffin wrote, Cecily Gardner is the main character who has just broken up with her boyfriend who refuses to commit to her. She meets a man in a bar and immediately becomes infatuated with him. Grant Smith is sexy and so attentive that Cecily invites him back to her apartment but they don't have sex. She continues to fantasize about him but he has a twin brother who is dying. He also has lost his parents as well. Cecily is sure she is falling in love with him but he disappears in the horror of 9/11. Cecily is certain he is dead but she finds his picture on a fence post with a phone number included. She calls the number and discovers that Grant was married. Cecily becomes friends with his wife and reunites with her former boyfriend. Whee she discovers she is pregnant, Cecily is not sure who is the father, her future husband or Grant. The story, which included some of the horror of the days following 9/11 in New York, was wonderful.

Oof I didn't care for this one too much. I saw a mix of reviews, some good some bad, and I definitely can relate to why people are rating this low and high.

Without revealing too much, it just wasn't like her old books that I loved. I might be in the minority, or maybe it was the time frame of when I was reading it, but it wasn't for me. I didn't like the 9/11 aspect.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I had been waiting for a new Emily Giffin book and this one did not disappoint! I could not put the book down, as it progressed there were so many shocking revelations that i needed to know more about. Cecily, a young writer in NYC who recently went thru a breakup decides to hit up a local bar to get out of her house. While there she meets a man and takes him home, something so out of character for her. They had an instant connection and continue progressing their relationship very slowly....then red flags and a terrorist attack change things. Cecily is frantically trying to learn the truth while dealing with personal changes.

“The Lies That Bind” is classic Emily Giffin. It was everything I hoped it would be and more! I cannot give a proper synopsis of this book without giving away spoilers, so I will just say that if you are a fan of Emily Giffin, you will absolutely love this book! The characters are well developed and the plot is full of twists and turns until the very end, it’s just so good. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer because now I have to wait until her next book is released. If I could give it 10 stars I would!

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 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.

OMG another 5 star bestselling Emily Giffin book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this story sooooo much!!!!!!! I devoured this book in 2 days and loved every minute of it. This book has Ms Giffin's signature style and plain amazingness.
In this story we have Cecily, one night sad about her latest break up she goes to a bar to drown her sorrows and has a chance meeting with a man~ Grant. Cecily and Grant click right away and start dating. Everything is great for a few mths, then 9/11 happens. Cecily can't get ahold of Grant in any way. She doesn't know if he's alive, hurt, has amnesia, or what. You have to read to find out all about their love story and how it ends up. Thank you to Netgalley Random House for my honest opinion/review.

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors that never disappoints and The Lies That Bind in no exception. This is the perfect summer read that will tug at your heartstrings. Loved the story, the characters and the ending! I will be recommending it to everyone! Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

I'd forgotten I'd read other Emily Giffin books when I requested this one; as I've been twice before-I was terribly disappointed.

4.5 stars! I finished this book in less than four hours—I couldn’t put it down! Emily Giffin’s latest novel is incredible and I’m so thankful for the chance to read it early thanks to Netgalley and DoubleDay❤️

This is an epic romance novel that has so many good twists and turns at the same time. It takes place in NYC during 9/11 and honestly was so emotional and easy to relate to. I can’t recommend this enough!! For all my lovers of THE LIGHT WE LOST, you will for sure love this one too. So similar and both great pieces of work!

I will admit that I was a huge fan of Emily Giffin's novels Something Borrowed and Something Blue back in the day, and although I have liked her recent work, nothing has stood out to me as much as those two novels, until The Lies that Bind. The Lies that Bind is set in New York City the summer before 9/11 when Cecily Gardner breaks up with her boyfriend Matthew and meets the handsome Grant who sweeps her off her feet. She goes home with him that night, and her life is forever changed. They have a summer romance in the city and long-distance because Grant has to go to London. When he returns on September 10, Cecily believes they will have a lifetime together, then 9/11 happens. She does not hear from Grant, and her fears are a reality when she sees his face on a missing poster. This story definitely sucked me in, and it even had a few surprise guests from some "old friends" thank you, Emily Giffin! If you are an old school Giffin fan, you will love the surprise.

The ups and downs of following Cecilys relationships were funny, emotional, and easy to be swept away.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Is there ever perfection in a relationship?

Full of drama and heartache, this story still leaves the reader optimistic of love and fate, and things working out exactly as they should.

Great story!