What a ride! In her latest novel, Emily Griffin takes us on a rollercoaster of life, love, tragedy and more. While some of the story was a bit unbelievable, The Lies That Bind was another interesting and well written book by one of my favorite authors.

In The Lies That Bind, we meet Cecily, a Wisconsin transplant to NYC, who’s pursuing her dream of living in the city and working as a journalist. There’s also Matthew (lawyer and ex boyfriend), Grant (finance person and mystery man) and Scotty (her gay best friend from home and one of my favorite characters). Some of the characters were better developed than others. For example, there was a lot more I would have liked to know about Matthew that would explain why Cecily loved him. And would Cecily, as a journalist and internet savvy twenty something really not research Grant’s background/history on line?

Kudos to Griffin for effectively tackling two difficult/sensitive issues: 9/11 and a terminal illness. There’s pros and cons to using 9/11 as a key part of a story and not many authors are willing to do so. I thought the author did an excellent job of picturing NYC on 9/11, from the weather that day (I’ll never forget that clear blue sky) to the nature and emotional tone of the city for days after the attacks. For me, the sections centering on 9/11 and its aftermath were some of the strongest writing of the book. Griffin so poignantly captures the emotional highs and lows of that time.

In terms of a second difficult theme, terminal illness (and not wanting to reveal any spoilers), I’ll just say that she put an important spotlight on a disease that could use the attention.

The Lies That Bind comes out on 6/2/20 and should be a part of your summer reading list! Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read The Lies That Bind in exchange for an honest reviews!

I wish to thank Net Galley and Random House - Ballantine Group for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is quite a story. It begins strong , hooks you in and never disappoints. This is not a typical romantic novel and has lots of ups and downs as the main character deals with her deep emotions and trust issues. Just when you think you know where it is going it changes directions dramatically. I loved all the characters in the book and could not wait to turn the page to find out what happens next. I strongly recommend it as a book with which you can escape your everyday woes or as a beach read.

I look forward to reading more of Emily Griffin’s books. She is a great author.

Fantastic book by Emily Giffin. I usually read thrillers/mysteries but this one was like a mystery finding out Grants story. Definitely recommend. Lots of twists and turns throughout.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the romance portion. I did feel like the summary shouldn't have given away the Sept 11 angle, as it doesn't happen immediately. I liked the ending and there middle mystery of where Grant is and who was he really?

Like many other readers, I really enjoyed the author's first books, "Something Borrowed," and "Something Blue." However, as I get older, and having read most, if not all of the author's other books, I realize that I never really care for the characters in her books. There are always lies and secrets. This book is no different except that many of the characters were living with secrets and lying to other.

Cecily meets this guy late one night in a bar, just as she is about to call the ex that she broke up with a month before. There's connection, a deep connection and few magical dates. But then he has to go away to London for the summer, and then 9/11 happens. Where did the magical guy disappear to? Up until this point, the book was flowing and pulled me in. But then it stopped. The rest of the book was filled with way too many coincidences and occurrences that made me say "what???" out loud. I guess this could have happened, but it all just seemed a little too contrived and unrealistic.

I had higher hopes, but this was a quick read and I will move on to the next book in my TBR pile.

Once again, Emily Giffin delivers a novel that I could not put down. First of all, if you’re over 30 you’re going to love the trip down Memory Lane with all the 90’s references. Also, if you’re old enough to have lived through 9/11, you’ll instantly be transported back through time to all the feelings that day brought. If you’re not, you’ll get a glimpse into not only the fear and anguish of that day but also the unity and brotherly love that rose from the ashes.

The author wove a perfect tapestry of human emotions. Mistakes, regret, wonder, fear, love—all of those constantly things loom over Cecily’s head as she tries to figure out her feelings for Matthew and Grant. Many will relate to her struggle to say true to her small-town-girl-heart while living the dream in NYC. The twists and turns in this novel make it impossible to put down because you just have to know what happens next!

I fell in love with Emily Griffin after All We Ever Wanted, but this book feels true to her older style of Something Borrowed. The beginning of this book is riveting and really draws you in, but then something happens. The last part of the book was far-fetched and the ending just had me upset.

I was very much connected to the story, but after the ending, I’m not sure where I stand with it.

I have to start out by saying that while reading this I had a niggling that I have already read this book before, and then it hit me it really really reminds me of the author's book Something Borrowed. In fact we see some of those same characters show up in this book.

The Lies That Bind centers in the year 2001, up to and including the World Trade Center bombing. Like all of Emily Giffin novels, I had a hard time putting my Kindle down. The author is excellent at drawing her readers into her storylines. I believe it's her characters that do it, they're always relatable and usually quite likeable. Plus her plot development and themes are wonderful. The only thing I really didn't care about the main character is I felt she was so wishy-washy. She had trouble dealing with making decisions, other than that I think it's a fantastic book and I totally recommend it. It'll be a great Beach read.

I would like to thank Emily Giffin, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I generally read a lot of thrillers. Like a lot. But in between, I like to mix it up a bit with books of different genres. Some books and their blurbs and premises just call out to me begging to be read.
Some are hits and others misses. But I enjoy the little break from my thriller reads.

This book's blurb was so intriguing. I wanted to know more about where the story would end and how the playout would be.

'It's 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York's East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she'll ever make it as a reporter in the big city--and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, "Don't do it--you'll regret it." Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours--and shots of tequila--the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn't be worse--Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can't seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn't who he seemed to be?'

This book, unfortunately, ended up being a big miss for me. The premise had it all and yet somehow it somehow did not translate into the story. The plot ended up being a little silly especially with the way the protagonist Cecily behaves. I mean it beggars belief. I don't want to get into the details of her behaviour but suffice it to say her actions made my eyes roll more than they have in my life. The twists seemed contrived and the characters lacked depth and nuance.
The ending just made me roll my eyes for a good 5 minutes. That's how absolutely unbelievable it is.

Yes, this book definitely did not work for me.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge Emily Giffin fan but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. Thank you for the change to read it.

I am a huge fan of Emily Giffin! I have read all her books and I have to say hands down this is my favorite book of hers ever!!!! The fact that this books takes place durning the scary days of 9/11. Emily does an amazing job with reliving those tragic days with such respect.

The Lies that Bind is a must read that will have you glued to every word and will leave you sobbing.

Another great story by Emily Giffin. Cecily and Matthew seem as though they have it all. A young couple in love with a bright future ahead, so it seems. Then Cecily meets Grant, and everything she thought she knew to be true unravels. Set during the events of September 11, this is a wonderful story about love, friendship, loyalty, and being true to yourself. I love all of Emily Giffin's books!

Emily Giffin delivers again with a story that doesn't stop turning and twisting until the last page. Set around 9/11, Giffin's meticulous attention to detail will have readers feel like they are back in that frightening and uncertain time. Cecily, a Wisconsin born writer now living in NYC, tries to drown her post break-up sorrows at a bar when she meets a man who seems too good to be true. Soon after, the 9/11 terrorist attacks change the course of many of Cecily's relationships. Giffin introduces characters that readers will both love and hate at different points throughout the story; Scottie will become a beloved BFF character for many. At a time when everyone needs an escape, The Lies that Bind will whisk readers away in a story that is entertaining, thoughtful, and surprising. I inhaled this one in twenty four hours.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Publication date is set for June 2, 2020.

The is the best book Giffin has ever written. The realness, the drama, the character development. There were so many times I kept having to put it down because I couldn't believe what I was reading. I wanted to look away like a bad accident but I couldn't. I think the tragic events of September 11th were handled with grace and that it really pushed the story forward and wasn't just used for fanfare. I so badly wanted the truth to not be what it was but ultimately, it was right for the story. I highly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone.

Thanks so much to Random House and Netgalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this book and provide my unbiased review.

Cecily wanted the same as any young girl in her 20s , To meet a nice young man that appreciated her for who she was and in time maybe even get married. She dated a very nice man named Matthew who loved her , however when time came to committing to marriage he just couldn't take that step
Cecily broke up with Mathew, and shortly after met a man named Grant who simply swept her off her feet. She fell head over heals in love with him and him with her. She followed him to Paris where their romance blossomed more.

After she got back, their were tragedies, and lies, and Mathew back in the picture...then more deception and confusion....then finally after all truth comes out in the end all works out.

Its a good story that goes back and forth and it gets a bit frustrating, at least it did for me....hey girl make up your mind!!! But I did love it to the end, and so will you.

I just couldn't get into this book and that's a shame because I normally enjoy Giffin's writing, but this one failed to grab my attention. Gave up about one-quarter of the way through.

This story felt like the old Emily Giffin and I couldn't be happier! I loved the 2 main characters, Grant and Cecily''s, chance meeting in a bar late at night and from there both their lives were changed. Cecily was trying to forget her recent breakup with who she thought was the love of her life when Grant walked up behind her.....that's really all there is to know as the plot unfolds in surprising - very surprising- ways that just go to show the skill that Giffin has in crafting a plot that cruises right along with drama, romance, humor, angst etc only to then drop a little bomb when the reader least suspects it. That's fantastic writing! Add in a little love triangle I didn't see coming and this story really had all of my favorite elements. I will say in terms of a small criticism that I found parts, especially in the second half to be a little slow and drawn out. I've read some reviews knocking the ending but I personally loved it. In fact, the last fourth of the book had me rapidly turning pages to find out what happened. In the age of coronavirus, this has been the only book that's kept my attention and pulled me out of the day to day worry for awhile. I think this will make a great summer read.

This book was both more predictable AND more surprising than I was expecting -- overall, I really enjoyed it and it was a super quick read that definite his its stride about halfway through. Especially great during this period of social distancing and quarantine, where I was able to completely immerse myself in the story.
Protagonist Cecily is reeling from a breakup with longtime boyfriend, Matthew, who wasn't ready to commit to marriage; while drowning her sorrows at a bar, she meets Grant and they begin a whirlwind romance. But shortly after meeting, 9/11 occurs and Grant disappears -- and Cecily is left to assume he died. In the weeks that follow [small spoiler], she reconnects with Matthew and the two get engaged - but more than that, she discovers secrets about Grant that upend everything she thought she knew. Despite the passing of time, Cecily cant quite get over Grant.
I thought the plot was a little outlandish and a bit predictable, but completely enjoyed it and was happy to read along for all the ups and downs of Cecily's life. I appreciate how Emily Giffin is able to share so many different characters with us and paint them not as "good guys" or "bad guys" but show there's a little good and bad in everyone and there's nothing wrong with that! The ending was of course a bit cheesy but that's what we all come for! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 -- I definitely liked All We Ever Wanted more (and this one didn't even make me tear up!), but this was a great read that I flew threw in 3 short days.. Thanks for NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book!

I have always been a fan of Emily Giffin- ever since the Something Borrowed days. I wasn’t a fan of the books that came out after that series, but then felt like she blew me away with All We Ever Wanted. It was such a change or genre and was just SO GOOD. So I was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley. What would Giffin’s newest story be like?

The positive- I finished it in a day. It was entertaining and an easy read. The negative- it converted back to the less thoughtful writing of Giffins (totally my opinion). This story had so many plots that were just surface level and the story was so unbelievable that none of the characters felt real or able to be identified with.

This is Emily Giffin at her finest. I love everything she writes, and how each story is familiar and comforting while all still being fresh and original. This book really hit home when the story came to the events of September 11, 2001. Having been a teenager at the time, its something that is so real that reading about it cannot help but dredge up emotions that are specific to that day. I also loved how, in true Giffin fashion, this is a love story, with a happy ending, but not the love story you expect, and not the happy ending you see coming. THAT is what kept me up all night, reading this book in one sitting. I loved it.