Comments on: Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin – Book Review

By: Jennifer (Crazy-for-Books)

Jennifer (Crazy-for-Books) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:13:27 +0000

I just got this one in the mail from Paperbackswap. I have all of Giffin’s books in Mt. TBR as I have heard good things about them, but I have yet to read one! It will be interesting to see how I like this one, because cheating is a touchy subject, although I don’t necessarily mind reading about it in books. Thanks for the review!

By: Beth F

Beth F — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:41:57 +0000

I think I would have difficulty with the reactions to the cheating.

By: Marg

Marg — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:21:49 +0000

I have had hit and miss experiences with Emily Giffin. I really didn’t like Something Borrowed, but really enjoyed Something Blue, which is very strange given that there are crossover characters.

I haven’t decided whether I am going to go out of my way to read this one or not.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:23:52 +0000

See, I did enjoy Love the One You’re With. Giffin does a pretty good job of showing all sides of the story, and as we all probably know through ourselves or friends, there is always two sides to cheating. I appreciate the fact though, that you issued words of caution in your review. This is one topic that can really get people going (probably good for a book club, huh?)

By: devourerofbooks

devourerofbooks — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:52 +0000

I totally agree. The fact that Nick was her son’s doctor would have made the whole situation wrong even if he hadn’t been married, so it really just made it much, much worse.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:17:03 +0000

I really enjoyed both Something Borrowed and Something Blue but loathed Love the One You’re With.

By: Shonda

Shonda — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:48:41 +0000

Sounds like I’m in the minority. I loved Heart of the Matter. Not only as a married man, but Nick should not have pursued Valerie bcuz he was also the doctor to her son – his patient! Like you I wanted a chapter or two that Nick narrated. I hope Giffin brings back these characters in a future novel. I’m curious to know where they are now.

On a separate note, I’m starting to notice more and more that infidelity is a common theme in books. Since reading Heart of the Matter in May, I’ve read three or four books that involved an extramarital affair. Quite honestly I had to put down one book bcuz I just couldn’t read another book dealing with an affair even though I enjoyed reading it. I think I’ll pick it up again at a later date.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:38:02 +0000

I’ve never picked up a book of hers before because of the covers too! I started listening to this on audio but I just couldn’t get into it. I might return to it later.

By: devourerofbooks

devourerofbooks — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Well, I think Nick was more at fault than Valerie. What both of them are doing is wrong, but what Nick is doing is made worse by the fact that he has taken vows. Yes, Valerie should have put her foot down, but she shouldn’t have needed to, particularly because Nick pursued her more than the other way around.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:48:59 +0000

I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who felt that Giffin made the affair Tessa’s fault. I also felt that Valerie did nothing to stop what she was doing, even though she knew it was so wrong. When she had to tell her son that Nick wasn’t coming back, that was the line in the sand for me. She’ll do anything to keep her son safe but seems to have forgotten that part when she refused to end her relationship with Nick. Yes, Nick is to blame too, but I suspect that if Valerie had put her foot down, he would have left her alone. As for Tessa, her so-called friends made me want to cringe. They are the very women I try to avoid at all costs!!