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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

  1. 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.

    Reply

    1. 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

      Reply

  6. 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!

    Reply

    1. 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

      Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  15. 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??

    Reply

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