Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed is a top-notch slice of chick lit from an author who writes very clearly and vividly about two friends and a summer where everything changes for them.

Rachel is a lawyer working in New York - hates her job, approaching thirty, no man in sight. She is best friends with Darcy, who has travelled through a charmed life - has a high-paid PR job she loves, still has a summer of being in her twenties and is about to be married to Dex, to whom she was introduced by Rachel. For Rachel's thirtieth Darcy arranges a party and proceeds to get royally drunk. When she is taken home, Rachel and Dex embark on a series of events that will have far-reaching consequences.

A lot of chick lit deals with infidelity, but this book takes you to the core of the issues. Should you tell? Do you actually love the guy? Why are you doing it? Should you/do you feel guilty? The story is told from a first person perspective and so we 'hear' Rachel's thoughts as she agonises over her actions. Consequently this book has a lot of depth and really causes you to identify with Rachel, despite the fact she is doing something she really shouldn't.

I simply could not put the book down - the story was told simply, with excellent choice of words to keep driving the plot along. There were light-hearted moments, and I really enjoyed all of Rachel's memories about her friendship with Darcy when they were both school children. I particularly identified when Darcy sends a note to a boy asking him to check the box of which girl he would like to be with!

Rachel and Dex were both wonderful characters to read about, and Darcy was brought to fascinating life. I think many girls have a friend who seems to be more beautiful, luckier, gets the guy everyone lusts after, and so it becomes easy to take Rachel's side - especially when Darcy drops her shocking bombshell in the climax to this story.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy Marian Keyes.