Review/Giveaway: Emily Giffin - Where We Belong

Emily Giffin - Where We Belong

• Pub Date: July 24, 2012
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Format: Audio book 11hr 1min
• Age Range: Adult

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.

For the precocious and determined Kirby, the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.

I love Emily Giffin, and I was really glad that this dealt with such a difficult topic to even fathom. It's strange and hard on many levels - adoption vs. abortion and finding and meeting biological parents/child. This book opens with Kirby Rose on the doorstep of Marian Caldwell. They're mother and daughter, but they've never met. Oh yeah. And it only gets crazier - baby daddy doesn't know he has a child! And he was the love of Marian's life, and vice versa. What nutty thoughts! How bizarre! And it's a great tale. Giffin spins a great web of confession and closure.

I really liked the fact that this is told from both Kirby's and Marian's point of view. And it's first person, present tense. LOVE that, of course. But you really get to see both sides of this story when it's told this way. Kirby is so determined yet slightly shy and pretty vulnerable. Marian is overwhelmed and full of regret. They're both very nervous women, and it shows! I love the way Giffin writes, and this book is a great example of how she works. It also bridges a gap between young adult and adult literature. Kirby's POV is much younger, with teen tales of school dances, fights with friends, and first kisses. Marian talks of adult things, like a well-to-do career, possible marriage and kids, etc etc.

The narrator does a fantastic job of doing the different voices. She's great as both Kirby and Marian. Every time I got in the car I looked forward to listening to this book. I didn't want it to end, and I definitely wanted more before it finished. I won't give anything away, so that's all I will say.

Bottom line: Definitely check this out if you like emotional chick reads that unite YA and adult literature in a great way.

Rating:

4/5 book sharks

Giveaway Alert!!

I received two copies of WHERE WE BELONG in the mail, so I'm giving one of the audio books away! Like I mentioned above, this is a great listen. I really enjoyed the whole book, so I'm hoping that one of my readers does too. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Ends 10/6/12. US only for shipping costs. Questions? Email me at imabookshark at yahoo. Thanks and good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway