Synopsis for Love the One You’re With (from Goodreads):
The New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof delivers another captivating novel about women and the choices that define them. This is the story for anyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I’m with when I can’t forget the one who got away?Ellen and Andy’s first year of marriage doesn’t just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she’s living is the one she’s meant to live.
Love the One You’re With is a powerful story about one woman at the crossroads of true love and real life.
Review:
Again, this is another one of those books that I read much to early in life–though in all honesty I think I wouldn’t enjoy it later in life either.
I don’t enjoy stories featuring love triangles and by far the worst type of love triangle is one featuring an affair. While cheating is the main premise of Something Borrowed I had a better grasp of why it was occurring more than why it was here. It doesn’t mean I condone it in anyway, but the story was written in such a way that you sided with Rachel when all was said in done.
But here, I really couldn’t care less what happened and that was because the characters were dull. I didn’t really like anyone and I just never connected with them.
This was the fourth Emily Giffin book I read–and the last. While I can appreciate her taking realistic issues as the main focus of her books, I just wish she would follow-through with realistic plotlines or plotlines with characters that have some depth to them. I’m tired of reading Chick Lit books with selfish heroines who don’t think clearly in anything that they do. Where have all the strong heroines gone and how do we get them back?
Conclusion:
Another miss from Giffin I think. It just fell flat in everything it tried to do. Pass!
Rating: 2.5/5
Shorthand Stats:
Genre: Chick Lit, Women’s Fiction, Romance, Drama, Contemporary
Recommended for: 30+ women
Heat Rating: cool
Similar Reads: Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin (Darcy and Rachel Series #1); Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella