June 12, 2006 12:20 pm
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By Melissa Soria
Pharos-Tribune lifestyle writer
Emily Giffin was a lawyer for many years before she decided that writing was her passion and destiny. A good thing she did because she has since written two best-selling novels.
“Something Blue” is the first book I’ve read from the lawyer-turned writer. This is her second book and an continuation of “Something Borrowed,” which I have not read.
“Something Blue,” the novel, centers around Darcy Rhone, a well-to-do New York City socialite who believes she is the best thing that has happened to everyone surrounding her, including her best friend Rachel and fiancé Dex.
Darcy pretty much has everything anyone would ever want in life: A handsome, smart and wealthy boyfriend, a best friend who would do anything for her and a wealth of good luck, along with a great wardrobe and money-making public relations job.
She even has a passionate fling with Dex’s friend and groomsman, Marcus, and doesn’t think a thing about it except for how much fun she had.
Karma is something Darcy does not quite understand as she prances around New York City pretty much blind to what is going on around her.
What really is going on is Marcus, a bachelor who doesn’t seem to want to settle down anytime soon, isn’t really into Darcy and her snooty behavior.
Later in the story, Darcy finds out that her innocent best friend Rachel and her boyfriend Dex have been having an affair behind her back. Rachel, a lawyer, set Dex, another lawyer, up with Darcy seven years ago. They are now planning on getting married.
Also, Darcy doesn’t have any friends besides Rachel who aren’t superficial and using her for her status.
The story twists and turns as Darcy finds out that she’s pregnant with Marcus’ child. Not knowing yet that Dex and Rachel are fooling around behind her back, she tells Dex, or actually Dex tells her, that the wedding is off. She then goes to share with Rachel the bad news and to also cry on her shoulder, something Darcy is good at doing, and finds Dex semi-naked in Rachel’s apartment.
Darcy is shocked by what is happening to her. In her eyes, she has done nothing wrong (by cheating with Marcus). But she has been wronged unlike any other.
This is different then what she has done, Darcy thinks, because it is her best friend doing the cheating on her boyfriend. However, Darcy did steal Marcus from Rachel. Darcy began pursuing Marcus after Rachel and Marcus had gone out on a few dates together.
Now Darcy is pregnant and stuck with Marcus whom she thinks is less than perfect. But Marcus thinks less of her and breaks up with her.
Darcy is not talking to Rachel anymore and when her other New York City socialite friends find out that she is pregnant, she is forced to climb right back down the social ladder.
So Darcy decides that she has had enough of her now not-so-glamorous life. She moves to London for a “few weeks,” which ends up being a few months and more. She lives with a childhood friend, Ethan, who is also a friend of Rachel’s. He is a freelance writer in London.
Ethan, at first, is not so happy about the arrangements. When Darcy moves to London, she arrives as her New York City-self — the shopping-diva, selfish, nothing is good enough for her — the individual she forgot to leave behind her. Soon Ethan tells Darcy what he really thinks of her. She is a bad friend (to Rachel), has been a horrible mother-to-be (all she does is shop and is not saving money for the baby) and thinks way too highly of herself.
Darcy is shocked by what he is telling her, but from then on is determined to change for the better. She begins to look for a job — doing something charitable. She thinks about her actions more. She finally goes to a prenatal appointment in London.
What I like about the book is observing Darcy as she changes from a snooty New York princess to someone with character. I also like Ethan’s character, although it is underdeveloped. I think Giffin should write a book featuring Ethan, maybe in his early days, before Darcy came to live with him in London.
“Something Blue” is a book that many will thoroughly enjoy. It contains a love story and many life lessons we sometimes forget about. You will not be able to put this book down.
Melissa Soria may be reached at 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com
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Photos
'Something Blue' by Emily Giffin