LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH by Emily Giffin
Is it possible to enjoy a book even though you really dislike the lead character of the story? That was my quandary with Emily Giffin’s latest novel LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH. The main character is a woman who gets married and then a year later has some regrets because she happens to encounter her old boyfriend, the one that got away. She spends the rest of the novel trying to figure out what she really wants out of life.
Ellen Graham is a photographer living in New York. She is married to an attorney named Andy who is the brother of her college roommate. Andy comes from a wealthy family and he and they adore Ellen. She seems to have a charmed life but everything is not as it seems.
Ellen was once in love with a guy named Leo. She thought they had a wonderful relationship right up to the time he dumped her. It took her a while to get over him but then Andy came along and her heart seemed to heal.
One day after she and Andy have been married for about a year she bumps into Leo crossing a street in New York. They have coffee together and this meeting sets off a series of doubts in her mind. It seems she isn’t over Leo as completely as she thought she was.
Emily Giffin is amazing at being able to get inside a character’s mind and letting us see the dark thoughts that linger there. She is also to be commended for being fearless in creating characters who are flawed; and not just mildly flawed, but enough to make us dislike them completely. I didn’t find anything about Ellen Graham I really liked but I couldn’t put down the pages of her story.
In fairness to Ms Giffin I feel her book is aimed mainly at a female audience. Women will probably respond to Ellen’s actions and thoughts in an entirely different way than this male did. I identified with the male characters – mainly with the long suffering Andy. Leo – well not so much!
Giffin’s book is worth reading because of the skill and style the author uses in getting her story told. She makes it all come to life and refuses to let the reader shy away from any ugly part of the relationships. As I said, she is one brave author.
Emily Giffin has always been an edgy writer. If you don’t believe me read SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE and BABY PROOF. They weren’t easy reads for me either. But one thing is for sure, her talent always shines through. You may not agree with what she writes but you will always be fascinated by it.
LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH is published by St Martin’s Press. It contains 352 pages and sells for $24.95.