Love The One You're With By Emily Giffin.
As I've said, unlike other book clubs, I have NOT read the books before the viewers. The books often come as a suggestion, but other that recommended reading, I do not know much about the books before reading them. After this selection, maybe I should reconsider.
Initially, I was very enthusiastic about the idea of reading Love The One You're With. Primarily because it seemed like a "beach read"; an easy read, a book for chicks, and a looooove story. Mmmm.. my favorite. So, I was very positive going into this read. Being in the news business, I like a good non-fiction biography, and I also enjoy a suspense thriller, but to me, there is nothing like a GREAT love story. I guess I am saying all of this beforehand because.. ultimately, I was disappointed in the novel.
If you're reading this blog, you probably know that it's the story of Ellen, a happily-married 30-something who happens to run into an old flame in a train depot several years after college named Leo.
Something I liked about the book: I do feel like Ellen's character and I had a lot in common. She's heavily driven by her career, she and I are about the same age and in the same place in life, and she has the same basic conflicts and discussions with her friends, family and in her intimate relationships (well, to a certain extent!). So, I liked reading about Ellen. I liked reading how she handled different situations. It often had me thinking "is that what I would have done?"
The author had me laugh a couple of times, particularly when it came to depicting the Georgia suburbanites. In one chapter, Ellen was getting constantly annoyed by one woman's over use of "super cute." While I could relate to Ellen's distaste, I also tend to use the phrase "super cute." (Am now looking for an alternative).
Here's what bothered me about the book: it is an age-old love story. Did you let the love of your life get away? Did you marry the right person? If an author is going to tell such a classic tale, they need to bring something new to the table. I got all the way to the end, and never got that sense of excitement or tingle up my spine when something happens in a story that you didn't expect. Love stories are, on some level, predictable as they stand. There has to be something else there that has me saying "YOU have to read this!!"
I'm ready for Wicked.