I started this book in March 2020, just as the Coronovirus pandemic was ramping up in the U.S. It was surreal and refreshing to read a book about before and after 9/11. Reading and in a way re-living the experiencing and knowing that at the time it felt scary and life changing but we made it through, stronger was a bit of uplift for me.
Now on to the story. A love story started on a lie. That unravels and changes.
The initial story is riveting for readers of romance. I am not a fan of that genre and was starting to getting little antsy as Cecily and Grant’s love story grows. I couldn’t help but fill that something was missing and I kept waiting for Cecily to figure it out but that suspense is what kept me reading and turning the pages.
I really enjoyed how the story unfolded. No perfect endings, but the messy complex stuff that human life is made of. I think that is Emily Giffin’s gift- taking some situation we swore we wouldn’t be in or that we would act differently and making us rethink and fall in love with the villain/unsung hero.
I love the glimpse of other book characters, but it was confusing because I forgot about the time shift, but otherwise, its always fun to catch up with “old friends”.
This book kept me intrigued and my alliances ever changing- do I really hate Mathew or do I feel for him? In the end, I think made my own piece with decision and I really enjoyed the ending. Another enjoyable Emily Giffin novel.

Cecily is in a major funk. She has broken up with her boyfriend because she feels he’s not all in regarding their relationship. To get out of her own head, she heads to a bar where she meets a handsome stranger. They fall into conversation and Cecily is amazed by the ease of it. As she gets to know Grant, she feels he is meant for her. She’s puzzled but also pleased by his taking the relationship slowly. But as the title hints, there are lies. Some were grant’s, but Cecily finds herself spinning a web of her own. She and Grant are not the only ones avoiding the truth. Emily Griffin takes all these different threads and weaves them into a compelling story.

Emily Giffin remains the queen of taking real life situations and stories, and going just the right amount deeper into them to really make the reader think and reflect on the book and the larger message she’s trying to get across. I have read everyone of her books since she started publishing, and this is just another winner in her collection.

Once again Emily Griffin comes through with an amazing romance novel again!!! She keeps you guessing until the end to figure out what happens and who falls in love and stays in love with whom. You will fall in love with the characters right away and then hate certain ones the next chapter.

Wow, what a ride! The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin was absolutely incredible. I haven’t read a book that I enjoyed so much, and was unable to put down in quite some time! This story contains a multitude of twists, turns, and surprises that I never saw coming. A web of lies, deceit, and crazy coincidences take this plot and the characters in it to the next level. I totally loved the premise of this book, and highly recommend it to all!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for a fair review.

This book was difficult to finish. I wasn’t invested in any characters and found them all unlikeable. And not because they were flawed. I’d take flawed any day. They were just...not deep. The 2001 references were so over the top it was comical. The emails and dialogue were juvenile. I’d still read Emily Giffin books but this one isn’t one I’d recommend.

I really wanted to like this book as I usually like Emily Giffin’s work. Sadly, I was disappointed in this trite semi-love story in which two grown adults try to find out if they really love each other. They carry on like lovestruck teenagers, each thinking they love the other and each backing away when the fear of commitment overwhelms them. I found the characters flat, immature, and downright dull. Perhaps they are in love with the idea of being in love, but that generally doesn’t translate to a meaningful relationship.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

This was a great read..finished in one day because it was hard to put down. I was in college during 9/11, so this whole setting of the book appealed to me. The story was good as well. Highly recommend! Another great book by Emily Griffin!

Emily Giffin is a talented author. I know this for a fact because I'm a hard reader to consistently please, and she does it. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster and when I finished I had so many emotions swirling through my body. I love how Emily can bring about so many feelings in her readers and this book does just that! If you enjoyed Something Borrowed (one of my favorite books of all time) then this should be your next binge read!

Another best seller for EG. I could have finished this in 1 night but at 4 am I needed to sleep. I really enjoyed the characters and storyline.

Emily Giffin’s books are always emotionally charged and character-driven and her latest, The Lies That Bind, is no different. The story follows Cecily post-break-up with a long-time boyfriend as she meets a new man in a bar late one night and explores the new love. While the main relationship was predictable in it’s complications and events, I still found the story overall to be touching and dramatic. Giffin’s cast of characters fit wonderfully with one another and into the story to create believable relationships and dialogue. (Besides the twist with the boyfriend, but I don’t want to give that away.) I was a little disappointed by the ending because it felt too far-fetched and like it wrapped up such a complicated experience so easily, but I can understand why Giffin wrote it that way for her readers. I think most would be disappointed otherwise.

I was also impressed by how she tacked the emotionally traumatic experience of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. She captures the fear, chaos, and camaraderie post-attacks in New York delicately and very well. Through this storyline and setting she woke in me so many memories and nostalgia from that time period and I’m sure will do the same for others. It was a bold choice to include such a traumatic event in her writing as it could, however, directly turn others off from reading because of sensitivity or lasting PTSD.

Set against the backdrop of 9/11, The Lies That Bind is a must read for Giffin fans! Mostly because the story is good, but also because Darcy and Rachel and Ethan make appearances! I read this one lightning-fast and now I wish I had savored it a little bit more. I really enjoyed this one.

Wow I hate to give a such negative review to an ARC but every character in the book was an appalling human being. I really felt like this book was disrespectful to people who were affected by the 9/11 tragedy. I guess you could say I couldn’t put it down but I kept reading just to see if the plot where go where I horrifically thought it would and unfortunately it did.

Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors for a reason: she writes really compelling stories about characters caught in complex moral situations. The Lies That Bind continues in this tradition and highlights Emily Giffin's intelligence, creativity, and giftedness as a writer.

Cecily has just been dumped, and after a night of drinking alone at a bar, she is ready to call up her ex-boyfriend. However, she is stopped by a mysterious stranger named Grant. The two begin to spend more time together, and quickly fall in love, despite the secrets Grant seems to be keeping. Then 9/11 happens, and Grant disappears. Suddenly, Cecily is alone again and forced to put her life back together, even as the secrets from Grant's past begin to pop-up at every turn.

The plot of this book moved quickly and constantly kept me guessing about what would happen next. The characters were interesting and Giffin's portrayal of 9/11 and life in NYC afterward was thoughtful and well-written. My only complaint was that it sometimes felt like the character's shifted too quickly. It was hard to decide who I should be rooting for. One minute I would like a character and then suddenly something would change and I would hate them. This speaks to Giffin's talent for creating complex characters, but as a reader, the ending left me feeling a little disappointed and confused. That being said, overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting contemporary fiction read.

I have read the majority of Emily Giffin's book and found this to be in the top two, falling short of only "Love the One You're With." The characters were strong and complex, their story lines well developed, and the narrative made the story flow quickly - in major part because I couldn't put it down, finishing it in one sitting. The author was able to immerse the reader into well-painted scenes of the 9/11 era.

Griffin is always a treat!

I have not met one of Ms. Griffin's books that I disliked. In fact, I've enjoyed each one more than the one before it. This book had everything that I needed at the moment. Excellent character development, an in-depth plot, and writing that never disappoints. In addition, there were secrets and lies. Of course there were LIES! Look at the title. Need I say more? I am always a fan of a good betrayal (in a story of course!) The bigger, the better! I guess I just like to read about drama. This was an intense, dramatic read. I'm also a fan of the Real Housewives franchise. Need I say more?

This was an excellent read. Perfect for escaping the current situation we are in.. and very well-done.

I have loved all of the authors previous books and was so excited to hear she released a new one! It was good - but the twist was TOTALLY out of left field. Still processing it... I just finished about an hour ago and just had to rush over to write the review. Would definitely recommend to friends with the caveat that its a bit heavier than expected!

I so loved sections of this compelling read but other left me a bit incredulous to say the least. Not the first “amazing guy is not as wonderful as he seems” read but the twists and turns and revelation after revelation keep me reading. Loved the setting for the book...NYC during 9/11. That certainly helped some of the unbelievable appear believable. Such an emotional time for this country, and the main character, Cecily. Her relationship with Grant seemed perfect, especially when they met, until... she ended up back with Matthew. Her relationship with Amy was just too much of a stretch, especially once Matthew’s family connection was revealed. Have to admit that I didn’t care for the ending. Keep writing Emily Giffin! This one will be well received upon its publication in June. Many thanks to Emily Giffin, Doubleday, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this compelling read.

Giffin does it again. The Lies that Bind is written in her conversational, yet relatable tone that readers can relate to because it is like they are back with an old friend. Cecily's story is told in direct relation to 9/11. Her tale is simialr to many who lived in NYC during that time and embraced the "love the one you are with" rather than the one you thought you lost. Grant, the man of mystery emerges as the classic anti-hero, but manages to change Cecily for the better (even though he was lost) and Giffin gives her readers a very satisfying happy ending.

I don't want to give anything away but I will say I love and hate this book at the same time. I received this ARC for my honest opinion and boy let me preface this with the fact that Emily Giffin has been one of my favorites for so long. When I recommend one of her books I tell my friends/family "you know that line in the sand that so many don't cross....not Emily. She messes with your mind and makes you question what is wrong and right" I wouldn't have it any other way. This story was gripping and made you feel all of the emotions and fall in and out of love with the cast of characters. I loved it and know this will be another best seller for Emily Giffin. Thank you for taking me on this amazing journey.