I don’t want to be the kind of person that says “I liked Emily Giffin before she was cool”, but I remember reading “Something Borrowed” and just falling in love. I love the way her books read like “chick lit” but actually go much deeper.

This book hooked me and I finished it so quickly after receiving it. Although the ending wasn’t my favorite or what I wanted, I respect writers that don’t just wrap things up as neatly or as easily as the reader would expect.

I did roll my eyes a few times at how men seem to just be completely enamored with Cecily. I do love how Darcy, Ethan, and Rachel were there, no matter how far-fetched it might seem.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

Cecily has been dating Matthew long enough, feeling it is time to think about marriage. Matthew is not ready and Cecily breaks up with him. Not wanting to wallow in her grief, she goes to a bar. While contemplating dialing Matthew’s number, a handsome man walks up and tells her not to do it. They begin a conversation that leads them into a relationship. Grant is very mysterious about himself but the times they have together feel so right. When 9/11 occurs, Grant is believed dead. Once alone again, Matthew enters the picture. The lies in the story bind the characters together. Cecily lies to her parents about her relationships, Grant lies about his other life, Cecily lies to Matthew about her relationship with Grant. I loved the characters and the twists and turns throughout the book. The reader sympathizes with all parties as the lies unfold.

This felt like a return to the author's earlier books, in a very fun way - an interesting premise, a lot of twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion (although I think one that people will debate!) make this a great one for some quarantine or summer reading.

Loved something borrowed. There’s something about this author that makes you believe love is out there and there’s one person for each of us! Couldn’t put it down!!

You probably know Emily Giffin as the New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed. She's got another hit on her hands. I loved this book so much I woke up at 3am, planning to read "just one more chapter" and finished the whole book.

Cecily Gardner is trying her best to not think about her ex... but the incessant checking of her phone is making that nearly impossible. So she leaves the phone at home and heads to the bar. She's about to break, though, and her finger is hovering over the last digit of his number on the bar's landline when a mysterious voice behind her says "Don’t do it—you’ll regret it.." She spends the evening taking shots with mystery man - Grant Smith- and in a very un-Cecily-like fashion, invites him home. She's surprised when Grant is the perfect gentleman... not even the attempt of a kiss.

Over the coming weeks, Cecily and Grant fall head over heels in love, vowing to stay together despite the distance that's about to keep them apart when Grant heads overseas to take care of some family business.

He returns to the US on September 10, leaves Cecily's apartment the morning of the 11th... and after the Twin Towers are hit, Cecily is unable to get in touch. When she sees Grant's face staring back at her from a missing person's flyer, the reporter in Cecily takes over. She needs to know who's looking for him -- the answers she finds will cause her to question just how well she knew the man she loved.

***I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
⭐⭐⭐💫
The Lies That Bind By Emily Giffin is an interesting story that takes place around 9/11. Cecily find herself in a bar after breaking up her long time boyfriend, Matthew. As she's about to call Matthew she hears a voice tell her not to do it. Grant seems perfect and everything is so comfortable between them. Grant has a complicated life and they can only see each other a few times over the summer but Cecily is head over heels. Cecily writes for a newspaper in New York. After 9/11 Cecily sees a missing poster with Grant's face. Her friend calls the number and Grant's wife answers. This send Cecily into a tailspin. Where is Grant? Was he in the towers when they fell? Who is the woman on the phone? Is she really his wife and if she is then what does mean for Cecily?

This is an interesting concept around 9/11 with the chaos and confusion of so many missing people. The story is told from Cecily's point of view. I loved the relationship between Cecily and her best friend, Scottie. He was my favorite character in the book. Everyone should have a friend who always has your back. I struggled with connecting to Cecily. She has a great family and great friends but wasn't very happy. Then all of her happiness was wrapped up in a person she had just met.

This book seemed to be slow in getting the story started but as a long time Emily Giffin fan I enjoyed this book and feel it is worth reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

General Fiction (adult)
Women's Fiction
Release Date: June 2, 2020

When I first started this book I was sure I would be reading till the end. I’m glad I stuck with it. In the beginning when Cecily was feeling sorry for herself at a bar, by herself I never would have guessed how her life would turn out. Taking Grant home without even knowing his name made me think “what are you doing girl, this isn’t going to end well”. As the story goes along I was rooting for Matthew, not his family that’s for sure. I’m reading this during the quarantine of 2020 and when 9-11 is brought up, it made me very emotional. I’m glad I read to the end because I never would have guessed how the story finished.

I love Emily Giffin so I was so excited to preview The Lies That Bind. This book did not disappoint at all. It had love, humor, and twists and turns that all kept me hooked!

Cecily falls in love pretty quickly with Grant after meeting him in a bar and then life happens and tears them apart. When they are finally reunited 9/11 happens and once again they are separated and the mystery unfolds. It's called The Lies That Bind for a reason and boy will it keep you guessing!

I had no idea how this story was going to end and the end did surprise me very much. I love stories that are not completely predictable and Giffin's books never are.

I recommend buying The Lies That Bind if it are an Emily Giffin fan bc it will be right up your alley!!

I loved this book, just as I love all of Emily Giffin's books. But because I love her books so much, I hold her to a bit of a higher standard. This plot was a little too far-fetched for me, but it was very readable and I tore through it in days!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for sending me an advanced copy of The Lies That Bind in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big Emily Giffin fan and while there were parts of this book I liked, there is still something holding me back from loving this book. The beginning unfolds where Cecily meets Grant one night at a bar right after she broke up with her boyfriend and they have a whirlwind romance. She wakes up the morning of September 11th and her life immediately changes.

Giffin's descriptions of September 11th are raw and real and those emotions/writing were some of the best parts of this novel.

I struggle a little with the ending and the last 2/3s of the book as it all wrapped up a little too nicely, but still would recommend it!

I am a huge fan of this author and this book while a little confusing in the beginning , I’m glad I stuck with it , is one not to be missed

The Lies That Bind takes you in from the 'very beginning even though you know there is more to Grant 's story than has been told . But we all want a meaningful 'relationship with love and acceptance no matter what the heartbreak..Emily Giffin is right on target again with anovel full of passion and suspense..I loved it.

** spoiler alert ** This book was just all over the place. The beginning was like a cheesy romance novel. The middle held my interest but the Amy/Cecily resolution was so silly. Amy was an appealing character & then wham she turns superficial & cold. The Matthew/Grant/Cecily mess made my head spin but not in a good way. Not her best novel!

Ugh, I LOVE Emily Giffin.

Reading The Lies That Bind made social distancing so incredibly easy. Giffin's books always give me all the feels.

This story was beautiful, then heartbreaking, then beautiful again. I loved the timeline. This story was complicated, but so is life. This is not a fairytale novel and that is why I loved it so much.

I loved Cecily and her love for Grant. I appreciated the history and feelings her and Matthew had and I admired the acceptance her family had for her at the end of the book.

I will be impatiently waiting for Emily's next amazing novel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Emily Giffin for providing me with this ARC. This book has me absolutely stymied. I flew through it compulsively but found myself completely perplexed with the "shocking" twists and overall storyline. The first part of the book had me, but by about the 75th percentile, I was just feeling "Oh no, NO!!!!!". I don't want to give anything away, but I think the last quarter of the book just went beyond the pale and having some of it stem from a 9/11 storyline just made me feel icky. I have read everything written by Emily Giffin and will continue to do so, but this one was a miss for me.

I always look forward to a new book from Emily Giffin! The Lies That Bind is a love story an out what the head wants versus what the heart wants, with the question of trust and honesty thrown in. The story takes place during 9/11 and brings back memories of how the world was then. And, which man is right and whose baby is it? As a bonus, I enjoyed that Rachel and Darcy from Something Borrowed made a cameo appearance.

#netgalleyreview #arc #emilygiffin #theliesthatbind #tearjerker literally just finished and people I have got ALL the feels 😭 to say it's currently an emotional time is an understatement. But. Phew. If you need a feel good read to cry too this is one you will want to pick up. This is a story that dives in to #truelove❤️ or being with someone whose #goodonpaper but #notthosetruelovefeelings. From Cecily telling her story of Matthew and Grant. Sigh. Emily Giffin has done it again. Gosh. I am just .... These characters will be with me for a while. #bookhangover #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #ballantinebooks #randomhouse #penguinrandomhouse #preordernow

The Lies That Bind is a wonderfully written story filled with thoroughly designed, lovable characters and an ever changing and captivating plot. I enjoyed every single minute as I frantically turned the pages to see what would happen next. The story was complicated, but in a believable and humanizing way.

Ugh. This book was awful. I feel no sympathy for any of the characters and the writing itself was atrocious. I'm never reading another novel by Giffin again.

kind of hard to review this book, i loved the first part, right away got into it, identified with her, loved the connection they had and the 9/11 stuff both brought back many memories, made esp strong by the forced lockdown we are in Ca. but then it became like a different book, the sharpness of the writing, the plot just felt flatter and none of the relationships were believable, nor the outcome which i guessed but where was the attention to the intensity of the feelings that all those relationships deserved, felt like it was rushed through or written by someone else so............. hmm disappointed i guess after i was so invested