I have been wanting to read this book since it got published and was quite happy the day I could lay my hands over it. The story felt in sync with what was happening in social media nowadays. A semi nude photo of 16 year old Lyla with a racist remark was circulated on Snapchat, it reached the parents of both the boy who took such a pic, Nina and Kirk and the father of the girl, Tom. And the story followed their reactions and repercussions.
My first book by Emily Giffin, the story quite captured me due to its relevance. I kept finding myself getting angry over the injustice of it all, even more than the main characters. I loved the gamut of emotions I went through while reading this. The husband Kirk and boy Finch had this outlook that boys under the influence of alcohol do silly things, as if this could be classified as silly, which enraged me absolutely. They had skewered views about people. I wanted them annihilated.
I liked Nina, I felt the author has depicted her as a woman with a core of strong morals. She was the only one who wanted her son punished for what he had done. BTW the son Finch appeared to be a complete sociopath, the father Kirk came a close second, drunk on the power of new money. At the end, she did what was right for her. The girl’s father Tom was understandably angry. He couldn’t understand his daughter’s reaction, and neither could I.
My niggles came swiftly down the book, the story lacked emotions from the characters. They all feel bad, but the depth of pain and anger was not shown. Secondly, it may be totally my outlook. I wouldn’t be so blasé about a semi-nude photo being circulated amongst school mates and say – everyone does it, like Lyla was. She even started dating Finch and had sex with him because he was soooo good-looking. Do they? I don’t know. The ending felt a bit rushed.
Overall, the book gripped me completely because I was caught up in my own sense of justice and righteousness and rushed through the pages as I wanted to know if the perp would be caught and made to pay. Ask me if the right person was caught!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Random House UK, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be read here
Emily Giffin is the author of eight internationally bestselling novels: Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You’re With, Heart of the Matter, Where We Belong, The One & Only, and First Comes Love. A graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.
Everyone’s seen the compromising photo of Lyla, a scholarship kid in a prestigious private school.
Everyone knows that Nina’s son, expensively prepared for success since childhood, took the photo.
And everyone thinks they know who to blame.
As events spiral out of control, Nina and Lyla – both outsiders in the elite social circle they inhabit – are drawn together in an unlikely bond of friendship.
Because this photograph is forcing them to question who they really are – and who they are becoming.
48 Responses
I haven’t read the book but even I don’t understand Lyla’s decision to hook up with Finch. Glad this was a captivating read for you. Great review, Shalini.
I was shocked… She said nude pics happen and most girls go through it and it was common for it to be circulated via Snapchat amongst friends
I love Emily Giffin, I have been dying to read this one!
I hope you get to read it soon. This was quite exciting ❤️
Great review Shalini! I also really enjoyed this one!
Yayy.. That’s great… I want to read more such books
I need my characters to have depth for me to like a book.
I do too. The emotions could have been so much deeper
I really enjoyed this too! Wonderful review, Shalini!
I saw that. I think it was last year, right?
I think books like this are so great for the current time, since it shows lessons that relate to how our world is today (i.e. cyber bullying and what not). I might have to actually pick this one up. Great review!
It was really a fun read, captured me totally. I just wanted some believable reactions. But I am not 18 and I don’t like my nude pics taken
LOL! Yeah … I’m not either and never did that when I was 18 😛 But I have cousins in that age range and they talk about how this happens a lot with people they know … it’s sad, really.
Omg no idea whether I should be sad or okay about it
Fantastic review! I think I have this on audio somewhere.
Yayy I hope you like it too
Fab review! I’m definitely intrigued by this one.
This was a fun read and so relevant
Great review! Did they get the right guy?
Unfortunately no… He was let go
Ugh.
I agree took him years to understand what he had done… Too little too late
That’s the way she goes…
Yeah
I think I watched a movie about a similar situation. I don’t think I ever read Emily Griffin books though, and this sounds very interesting and also important to our community as it is at the moment. Really loved your review!
Also that 200 reviews NetGalley badge ❤ How far are you from the 500 one?
43 books more 🙈
That’s amazing!!! Wow!
It just happened… Even I am shocked 😲
This was really a fun book. Which movie was it?
I tried googling the concept to see if I could find it, but no luck. Lol. If I ever remember the name, I’ll let you know!
Cool
Ugh. Nude pics and then dating the guy.. cuz ‘everyone does it’??? That would drive me crazy to read. Lol
Exactly… I don’t know what is the new normal with kids anymore… 🤷♀️🤦♀️
I have this one but just haven’t gotten to it yet. You have me curious
It is fun and brings out all emotions. Some you want to slap them silly 😂😂
Terrific review!! I’m glad you enjoyed this one too. I was enraged at times while reading this too! Such a gripping read. ❤
I agree this brought out all my emotions.. I wanted to protect the young girl, she wanted to date him.. Sheesh
Annihilate LOL love that! Love you review and I love this book!
I loved the book too. Some days brain pops up good vocabulary 💕
I love emotions in my characters. Wonder why author didn’t manage to capture that in her book. And did the right person get caught??
I also like deeper emotions too… No he got scot free
Great review, for a very interesting story, as crazy as this one is. Thank you very much, Shalini! Best wishes, Michael
Thank you Michael ❤️