I hadn’t read anything by Emily Giffin and chick lit is not my usual fare. From the description on GoodReads, it sounded like it had potential to be an intriguing character study (along the lines of The Casual Vacancy). Full disclosure: I didn’t realize this novel would be chick lit. Upon reflection, I think it was more like “I can’t look away from this drama unfolding before me”. I think that’s why I initially rated it three stars on GoodReads – “If I read 400 pages in one evening, it must be good on some level!”. Normally, I would take that as an indication that a book is good. I haven’t done that for a very long time. It’s not uncommon to ask yourself when reading Giffin’s books: “How would I handle this?” “What would I do?” However, this latest novel, though also about relationships, is longer – and at times darker – than those other books.I read this book in one sitting. Not all of her discoveries are welcomed by those around her. She begins to question her path in life, and admits truths she had never allowed herself to see. Shea is hit hard when Connie Carr, the matriarch of the Carr family, dies from cancer. In this way, she’s the antithesis of Lucy, who was more girly girl than sporty. She has always had a special bond with coach Carr because of her passion for football and her encyclopedic memory of football stats. Shea, whose parents are divorced, found stability in the Carr family when she was growing up. She works for the local university, which has a strong football team that is coached by Clive Carr, the father of Shea’s best friend Lucy. The story follows 33-year-old Shea Rigsby, a small-town Texan who lives for football, especially college football. Her latest novel, “The One & Only” (Ballantine), is also about relationships, but it is longer – and at times darker – than her earlier books. In her best-sellers, including “Something Borrowed,” “Something Blue” and “Baby Proof,” she has tackled themes such as betrayal, adultery and heartbreak while keeping her characters relatable, albeit flawed. NEW YORK – Emily Giffin’s specialty is writing about relationships, especially when they are messy and complicated.
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