Book Review: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

The facts
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Published March 10, 2005

The summary
Rachel and Darcy have been best friends since, well, forever. The book starts out with Rachel remembering looking up the days of their thirtieth birthday in the fifth grade. They just recently had their birthdays -- Rachel's on a Wednesday, Darcy's on a Friday. Rachel relishes in the fact that her thirthieth birthday will be on a Sunday, while Darcy's will be on a Monday. Thus, giving us the backdrop of Rachel and Darcy's relationship. Darcy constantly outshines Rachel. Their friendship is a competition -- and Darcy always comes out on top.

Fast forward twenty years. It's Rachel's thirtieth birthday, and Darcy is still taking the spotlight. Darcy put together a "surprise" birthday party for Rachel at a local bar. But really, it's all about Darcy. As Darcy gets incredibly drunk, her fiance, Dexter, persuades Darcy to go home -- she's had quite enough tequila. Once Darcy leaves, the party dissapates, leaving Rachel with Dex. Rachel and Dex end up going to a few more bars. One thing leads to another, and Rachel finds herself in bed with Dex the next morning.

At first, Rachel is horrifed that she slept with her best friend's fiance. Slowly, Rachel realizes that maybe it wasn't such a horrible mistake. Throughout the book, Rachel poses the situation as if on trial (she went to law school and is now a lawyer). She puts forth to the reader the wrong-doings of Darcy, and how sleeping with Dex is justified. Rachel waffles often though, thinking about the times Darcy was actually a good friend. And they've been best friends forever. Regardless of this fact, Rachel and Dex continue to see each other behind Darcy's back. Rachel finds herself falling in love with her best friend's fiance. Two of Rachel's good friends whom she confided with urge her to make a decision with Dex: either he leaves Darcy, or she leaves Dex. Rachel keeps on putting off the big discussion as the wedding date gets closer and closer. As Rachel delves into her past, trying to grapple with her situation, she realizes how much of a push over she was and how she let Darcy win. Rachel doesn't want Darcy to win anymore. Dex is Rachel's soulmate. Now, the question is, who will he choose?

The verdict
I enjoyed reading this book, however, I felt a little uneasy with it. Firstly, Rachel is having an affair with her best friend's fiance. Don't ever have affairs with your best friend's fiance. Not a good idea. And not only is Darcy her best friend, Rachel is also the maid of honor. Oy. Secondly, this affair goes on for MONTHS without any decisions made. The book really makes you feel uncomfortable and on edge with Rachel and Dex with Rachel's flashbacks to her childhood with Darcy and then the way Rachel is so deceptive with Darcy. I kept on flip flopping between who I wanted to win -- Darcy or Rachel. Thirdly, Rachel seems way too obsessed with Darcy. Like Notes on a Scandal obsessed. It's a little unsettling.

Anyhow, moral lessons and weird obsessive behavior aside, this was a pretty good read. It definitely pulls you in. I like the transformation of Rachel from a quiet, closed-off push-over to a more assertive, independent woman. It's kind of an underdog story -- Darcy is certainly painted in an unkind light for most of the book, and you do end up rooting for Rachel. Though she still sort of acts like a push over. And you do sort of feel like screaming at a fictional character to grow a pair and do something. But, SPOILER ALERT, Rachel does end up winning at the end. But at the cost of a lifelong friend.

I kind of wish Rachel dumped Dex. Sheesh.

Grade:  B