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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Marian Caldwell is a
thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York
City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has
convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she
wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . .
only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past
that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby
appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her
very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and
memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that
has come to define her.
For the precocious and determined Kirby,
the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across
the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and
future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a
journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to
recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find
ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that
the heart remembers forever.
Review:
I borrowed this book from my dear friend, who obviously understands what I like in books. I loved Where We Belong, by Emily Giffin. With an enjoyable narrative style, strong characters, and a gripping story line, this is a compelling book.
What I Liked:
Narrative Style:
There are really two stories here, so I liked the alternating points of view between Marian and Kirby. This helped me see how each character approached the delicate situation of a meeting between a birth parent and their offspring. Both people have so much at stake. This also widened the story to all the people in the lives of Marian and Kirby. Clearly, Marian's choice so long ago had a ripple effect.
Characters:
Although Kirby has good adopted parents, she still feels like an outsider among them. Kirby is the only one in her family who shows a talent for music, which sets her apart from her family. But, part of this is her own fault, as I think she makes excuses for some of her actions by thinking, "Well, I'm adopted, so who knows what my birth parents are like". But she also picks up on subtle ways her parents also make that same assumption.
Marian is a woman with a wonderful career, a handsome boyfriend, and a bucketful of regrets. She becomes pregnant right before she is set to leave for an Ivy-league college. She can't deal with how keeping a baby would upset all her plans. But she also can't deal with how she feels about the boy who got her pregnant. If she allows herself to keep the baby, she will also be tying herself to this young man who is so different from her (and her parents) life. Is Marian selfish or selfless? It's hard to say. I think this could become a heated debate in any book club who takes this book on!
Marian's boyfriend, seems at first to be just two-dimensional. But, as the story progresses, I began to understand some of his actions. But, is her right for Marian? Or is she still pining for the boy from so long ago?
Story:
I love how the book leisurely gives up it's secrets. At first you're not sure what the circumstances are surrounding Kirby's birth and adoption. As with most things, it's complicated. And, when you think you have it all figured out, there is a twist that made me want to reconsider my feelings about Marian. For a book with pretty straightforward plot, I was on the edge of my seat!
What I Didn't Like:
via GIPHY
Rating:
Release Date: July 24th, 2012
Genre: General fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Length: 372 pages
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback book
Recommendation: A perfect book club selection, this book will lead to some deep discussions of adoption, and the life choices we make.
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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Thirty-three-year-old
Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college
town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares.
Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s
legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown
team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a
job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she
has remained for more than a decade.
But when an unexpected
tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable
world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is
really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out
on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the
people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront
her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.
Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only
is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart,
and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the
one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.
Review:
While I was looking for a fun romance to delve into a friend graciously let me borrow this book. This was just the ticket. The characters were compelling, and unique, and the setting (college football) was new to me. And it was very romantic, as well.
What I Liked:
Characters:
Shea Rigsby is a fun-loving woman who is not desperate to find a husband and start a family. I found this to be so refreshing! She does have relationships with men, but she is just enjoying her life. I love how smart and strong Shea is, as she questions some of her safe life choices. But she does have her faults. For a woman in her thirties, she seems to behave more like a college student, getting drunk several times in the book. This leads to some situations that I feel are far-fetched, given how mature Shea is.
I found the Coach to be more than a stereotypical man's man. He works hard and has many people looking up to him. But being stuck standing on that pedestal is lonely. He sees in Shea an opportunity to relax and be himself. He is also not perfect. As the head coach of a major college football program, he may have looked the other way when some of his players have done unethical things. But why? And does that automatically make him a terrible person?
Domestic Abuse:
I thought the author handled this difficult issue very well. She showed how easily the victim (and even bystanders) makes excuses for the abuser. If the person is someone well regarded in the community, most people will choose not to see the obvious. She also shows the aftermath of how the victim blames herself, and how the abuser promises and promises to change.
Romance:
At first, I was put off by where I thought the book was going in the romance department. But I think my discomfort was actually beneficial to my reading experience! What happens when you are attracted to someone you know all of your friends and family will object to? Do you have the courage to follow your heart? Does that person also have the guts to let the chips fall where they may, and stand up for love? That uncomfortable dread I felt was what the character felt, and it made me empathize with her.
Sports:
Shea is the ultimate football fan. She memorizes stats, playbooks, and even all the Heisman trophy winners! Reading about her obsession is contagious, and makes me want to pay attention to college football in the future!
What I Didn't Like:
TMI:
I am not a fan of explicit sex scenes in books, and there are one or two of these in this novel. I didn't find them too offensive, but I think if you are looking for a "clean" romance book, you should look elsewhere. Which is a shame. I don't think these scenes added much to the story. Thankfully, they were not a frequent aspect of the book, so that is why I am only subtracting half a star from my rating.
Rating:
Release Date: May 20th, 2014
Genre: General Fiction
Trigger Warning: This book does have scenes of domestic abuse.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Length: 432 Pages
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Recommendation: This is a fun romance that will keep you entertained, especially if you enjoy football!
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