Something Blue: A Novel

Written by Emily Giffin

Narrated by Christine Marshall

From the New York Times bestselling author of Something Borrowed comes a novel that shows how someone with a ‘perfect life' can lose it all—and then find everything.

Darcy Rhone thought she had it all figured out: the more beautiful the girl, the more charmed her life. Never mind substance. Never mind playing by the rules. Never mind karma.

But Darcy's neat, perfect world turns upside down when her best friend, Rachel, the plain-Jane "good girl," steals her fiancé, while Darcy finds herself completely alone for the first time in her life…with a baby on the way.

Darcy tries to recover, fleeing to her childhood friend living in London and resorting to her tried-and-true methods for getting what she wants. But as she attempts to recreate her glamorous life on a new continent, Darcy finds that her rules no longer apply. It is only then that Darcy can begin her journey toward self-awareness, forgiveness, and motherhood.

Emily Giffin's Something Blue is a novel about one woman's surprising discoveries about the true meaning of friendship, love, and happily-ever-after. It's a novel for anyone who has ever, even secretly, wondered if the last thing you want is really the one thing you need.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Aug 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781427212184

Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin is the author of Something Borrowed, her smash-hit debut novel that was made into a major motion picture. She is also the author of Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You’re With, and Heart of the Matter. Giffin is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.

Reviews for Something Blue

[sva7 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Slightly better than the first book. Still slightly less entertaining than a root canal.

[emhromp2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The sequel to Something Borrowed. I liked it a lot. Yes it was predictable, and yes, Darcy meets a whole lot of rich people that I just never seem to bump into, but there are also some realistic sides to the story. I finished it in almost one go.

[magemanda · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the sequel to Something Borrowed, and brings Darcy centre stage. From the first book, we know that she is self absorbed, selfish, fairly deluded and expects perfect things to happen to her. I must admit, I was more reluctant to pick up this book having come down firmly on the side of Rachel in the first novel, but Giffin's writing pulled me in and I found myself completely entranced by the story of Darcy.The book is almost split into two parts. The first deals with Darcy's life immediately after she finds out of the betrayal by Rachel and Dex. We watch as she tries to make a new life with Marcus, but she soon realises that she was suffering very much from a 'grass is greener' attitude and that Dex might have been the better option. We suffer through a toe-curlingly embarrassing scene as Darcy tries to win Dex back. Her lying and insufferable attitude to relationships and imminent motherhood create the Darcy we loved to hate from Something Borrowed.However, in the second part of the book Darcy moves to London to try and make a new life, and moves in with Ethan, her childhood friend. It takes an explosive scene between Darcy and Ethan to make her realise that she is about to become a mother and needs to make some changes to her life. I loved the fact that Darcy really changed over the course of this book, and learnt that appearances really aren't everything. She was still the Darcy who loved luxurious things, and the Darcy who would explode in a temper, but she mellowed hugely and became a true mother.Sure, there are a number of imperfections in the book. It does provide a fairytale ending, and Giffin clearly wasn't concerned with the accuracies of moving to a different country to live, but I feel these are minor gripes. The course of the book deals with maturity, motherhood and coming to terms with a new life. The main character had a true epiphany and became a better person for it.When all is said and done, it's still a chick lit book, but definitely more honest and revealing than most. It says a lot that, having read both Something Borrowed and Something Blue, I am now going out to pick up the other books written by this author. Quality work.

[deesirings · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book picks up right where Something Borrowed left off. I knew it would be a companion book to Something Borrowed, told from Darcy's perspective, but I thought it would re-tell the same events from Darcy's perspective (and maybe go on from there). But in fact, it picks up exactly where the first left off.I had two problems with this book, both related to the realism of Darcy as a character. Let me prelude this with how the plot begins. Darcy starts off pretty much as the Darcy you'd expect, given Rachel's description of her in the first book. Rachel was not overly mean about Darcy's flawed personality. So we get a pretty superficial but lots of fun Darcy, indignant at what others have done to her. And that's all fine and good, because that gels with foreshadowing. So this is pregnant Darcy, whose just broken up with her fiance, Dex, with whom she'd been for seven years. She is now with Marcus, and carrying his baby. And Darcy remains Darcy and Marcus gets fed up and breaks up with her. By then, she's told her mother about the pregnancy and had a falling out with her. This is soon to be followed by a falling out with her newly-promoted-to-best-friend so-called friend, Claire.So Darcy finds herself pregnant and alone. She turns to her old friend, Ethan, who lives in London and convinces him to agree to having her visit. Most of the book thusly takes place in London. My first problem with Darcy is that despite losing all these people whom she was close to (or believed that she was close to), her entire network of people, including a life-long best friend and a man she was with for SEVEN YEARS, she feels no long term heart break. Or sure, there is the initial drama and some anger and resentment. But very little on-going sadness. It's great that she's decided to move on and never look back, but shouldn't that decision present a challenge? Shouldn't she have some crying fits, some endless days where the heartbreak feels like it might kill her, even if these moments are few and far between? That's problem one.Problem two comes after Darcy had been selfish and insensitive for several weeks in London and Ethan calls her on it. He gives her a pretty realistic assessment of her flaws. And Darcy is hurt and in denial for about 2 minutes. Then she realizes Ethan is right and makes a list of seven or so chances she wants to make in her life to be a better person and then she becomes this new person.Yup, that's right, she decides to be an entirely new person and she does it. No problem. No looking back. No special challenge. No real difficulty in doing a total personality makeover in one day. (Incidentally, this must make it much, much easier for Giffin to write Darcy's story, since Darcy decides to no longer be Darcy and successfully makes the change, effortlessly at that.)Having said that, I still really enjoyed the book and devoured it very quickly. Having described the flaws, they seem pretty significant, but they weren't as flagrant during my actual reading of the book(suspension of disbelief, I suppose).And since I'm a sucker for a happy ending, I really liked how this all turned out.

[marlene9nl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What an excellent idea to write a prequel with the view of Darcy. Of course if it would have been the same story it would be boring, but this was great. Darcy moving on. The only negative thing I have to say is that to me this book should have been a bit bigger. Why? Because Darcy changes too quick. I really wanted at least some more change and the reason why she changed. Now it seemed she only changed because Ethan told her the truth, and she changed too quickly.
I do like the books of this author and I was told by a friend on goodreads she has more good books out.
3.9

[justjenniferreading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book follows Darcy, the best friend of Rachel from Something Borrowed. This book picks up after Darcy discoverers Rachel and Darcy's fiance Dex had an affair and after Darcy's own affair leaves her pregnant with her fiance's best friend's baby.I didn't like Darcy after reading the first book, and even after reading this book I'm still not a big fan of Darcy's. But this book was still pretty good. I liked that the story picks up where the first one left off. We're not left to wonder what happened in the time between, because there is no time between.The characters are still as great as they were in the first book. They are well rounded and I still felt like I knew them.Darcy tries to make a turn-around but I still felt that she was self-absorbed. I have to admit that I like her more at the end of the book than I did at the beginning, but she's still mot my favorite person.Even despite the fact that I didn't like the main character I would still say this was a really good book. Emily Giffin is great writer for her genre. She knows how to write Chick Lit and does it well.

[sunfi_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the two book series following Darcy and Rachel, two best friends, whose friendship is tested with infidelity, age, and maturity. I enjoyed this one more than the first one, Something Borrowed. Watching the characters progress and grow was much more satisfying than just reading about their emotional shallowness. Even though the book finished with a happy ending, the story and meaning were clear and it was fun trip to end up here.

[stephxsu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At the end of SOMETHING BORROWED, Rachel’s life seemed to be on the upswing, while her ex-best friend Darcy’s was going downhill fast. Darcy was pregnant with Marcus’ baby, while she found out that Dex, her ex-fiancé, had been having an affair with Rachel—that traitor!—for the whole summer. It’s enough to give any girl used to luxury, comfort, and coddling (like Darcy is) a major migraine that even a shopping spree won’t help. Darcy intends to marry Marcus and raise their baby together, but when Marcus refuses to have anything to do with her, Darcy, panicked and out of options in what once was the opportunity-filled New York, decides to go stay with her childhood friend Ethan in London. So she packs up most of her clothes and toiletries and jets over to Ethan’s tiny basement flat, sharing his bed with him.At first, Darcy is having a blast in London, what with all the new shopping that she can do and all. Who needs Rachel and Dex anyway? But a big fight with Ethan opens her eyes to all her faults. Despite his stinging words, Darcy realizes that he has only spoken the truth, and vows to turn her life around, for herself, her unborn baby, and Ethan.And changing herself turns out to not be very difficult at all. She finds a gynecologist, Geoffrey Moore, but very soon switches doctors after she and Geoffrey start being an item. Geoffrey is everything Darcy had ever wanted in a man: handsome, rich, smart, caring. The perfect gentleman. Which is just as well because Ethan has started to see someone too.But although life in London is turning out just as she imagined—finding the perfect man to take care of her and her child—something is just not right. Darcy can’t seem to pinpoint it out, until, over her baby’s security, she realizes that maybe she was with the wrong man. That maybe she had never been in love before until this moment, and that the man she loved was right next to her and just might love her back.As always, Giffin does an envious job creating real, complex characters and helping them grow into better people. In SOMETHING BORROWED Darcy was the me-me-me girl who wanted and got everything and who got on your nerves, but here she is a genuine heroine who you can grow to love and cheer for.

[df1a_sarahg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a really good book. It was interesting to read about things from Darcy's point of view, instead of Rachel's. At first I was definitely on Rachel's side but I started to like Darcy more as I read it. The ending was really cute.

[moonriver_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this one! I thought it was an excellent sequel to her first book. Very interesting and fast read.

[jencey_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked something Blue. I found Darcy to be a difficult character sometimes.

[jdy_26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great book by Emily Giffin. When I first started reading, I wasn't so sure that I'd want to know Darcy's side after being so "in" to Rachel's story in Something Borrowed. But, in the end, I loved this book just as much as the previous one. Another great job by Giffin. Well done.

[taromilk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is the sequel of Something Borrowed told from the point of view of Darcy. I didn't start liking her until the 2nd half of the book. The first half of the book was a little slow but it got better. I didn't think she can be any more pathetic though. Overall it was pretty good but I wanted to know what happened to Rachel and Dex.

[bribre01 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Even though I didn't like Darcy at all in the first book, Something Blue ended up being my favorite of the two books. It was a great read!

[schatzi_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was a little doubtful that I would enjoy this book, since the character of Darcy was so unlikeable in Something Borrowed, but I actually found myself liking this book a little more, even though Darcy is spoiled and self-centered. Still, it was interesting watching her grow up as the book progressed.

[katymelrose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this on audiobook. I did not read/listen to Something Borrowed, so this was my first introduction to these characters. When I could remember not to hate Darcy, I found her extreme lack of self-awareness hysterical. I definitely had some points where I had to remind myself she could be funny if not taken too seriously though.Overall, it was a great car book - it wasn't so involved I problems paying attention to the road, but made a long trip enjoyable.

[kikianika · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I, like so many others, loved Something Borrowed. Emily Giffin has a tendency, as far as I can see, to write about not really likeable characters. I didn't much care for her last heroine on a connection level, and this time, the tale is about the last novel's antagonist. While it was certainly a good book and I read it in one sitting, it wasn't very satisfying. yes, the evil woman reforms in the end and gets the nice guy, but I don't know. There was something missing for me. it reminded me a little bit of Sophie Kinsella.

[kikilon_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I, like so many others, loved Something Borrowed. Emily Giffin has a tendency, as far as I can see, to write about not really likeable characters. I didn't much care for her last heroine on a connection level, and this time, the tale is about the last novel's antagonist. While it was certainly a good book and I read it in one sitting, it wasn't very satisfying. yes, the evil woman reforms in the end and gets the nice guy, but I don't know. There was something missing for me. it reminded me a little bit of Sophie Kinsella.

[amanda_anders_614865 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A shocking sequel to Something Borrowed - this story follows Darcy from her betrayal from her fiance Dex and her best friend Rachel.She is now pregnant and decides leaving to go see her friend (although we don't see him as being much of a friend based on the first novel) across the pond.This book had the ability to switch my sympathies and witness a complete change of character and growth in Darcy.I loved this book and was sad to see that Giffin's third book was not another sequel.

[jasonlf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ostensibly a sequel to Something Borrowed, this is really a continuation. The two together form a single, excellent novel. I had planned to wait several months before reading this but after sampling the first page or two I could not restrain myself from continuing on and on and on. Which was actually the right way to read it.Something Borrowed was very good. It told the story about a smart, serious, woman named Rachel who steals her best friend's fiance. It was told in the first person by Rachel.Something Blue, the continuation, is in the first person by Rachel's best friend Darcy, a New York publicist who is beautiful, superficial and selfish. The first quarter of it retells Something Borrowed from Darcy's perspective, which is wittier and, given the largely unsympathetic narration, more interesting than Rachel's version. The bulk of the book is about Darcy's self-inflicted adversity, her learning to overcome it, and a satisfying conclusion that really ties together both books. The form of Something Blue was a less conventional love story / chick lit / romantic comedy, but in retrospect one can see that is what it was all along.Highly recommended.

[tkanz79 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't enjoy this as much as Giffin's first novel in this series "Something Borrowed". The story line seemed to be unrealistic to me. It is a good read, but not her best.

[ldrumm16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I dove into this book after devouring it's predecessor, Something Borrowed. Maybe I should have taken a break between the two. It's not that I didn't like Something Blue, but I think it was just...too much. Too much Darcy (who is the personality type that I loathe) and too perfect of an ending - everything works out beautifully and is all wrapped up with a bow. I mean, I'm all about happy endings, but how about a little dose of reality? Darcy certainly didn't get one by any means.Overall, I enjoyed the story that was told in both books and I cannot wait for the movies to come out. I will definitely read more by Emily Giffin.PS: Don't skip this book based on my review. If you read Something Borrowed, you just have to read Something Blue to find out what happens to everyone!

[librarian52 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite chick lit books!

[jayde1599_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: This book picks up where Something Borrowed left off. Rachel's ex-best friend Darcy is now the lead character, and the book opens with Darcy finding Dex in Rachel's closet. Darcy pouts and argues her way through the first half of the book, looking for sympathy and casting blame on everyone but herself. She winds up all alone, so she moves to London with Ethan to try to turn her life around. After a blow out with Ethan, Darcy has a revelation and begins to try to turn her life around, looking for a "happy ending."Pros and Cons: This book was not nearly as good as the first book, however, the author still managed to suck me into the story. I give Emily Giffin props to her writing style. However, the book tend to be over the top, full of stereotypes, and just plain silly. The characters are one-dimentional and the plot is unbelievable. As with the first book, Something Blue needs to be taken for what it is - fluff reading. Just not as great as the first fluff.

[eurp_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I really like Emily Giffin's books, but I hated this. Being a sequel of 'Something borrowed', I expected a lot more. 'Something Blue' talked about Darcy and her life after Rachel and Dex, but I couldn't quite get into the book. I believe that this book meant for Darcy to redeem herself in the end, but I don't feel that . I don't feel that she has matured much, and in my (very humble) opinion, I don't believe she deserves Ethan. I think for me, 'Something Blue' would have received a better review from me if Darcy did not end up with Ethan in the end. Her worst book to date, I believe. It's a good thing I only read this after I finished her other 3 books, otherwise I might be put off for life.

[redpandabear · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly I liked this book better than it's predecessor, "Something Borrowed." It was truly heartwarming seeing Darcy's character evolve. I have to admit, I got a little teary toward the end. Maybe it's because her character was that atrocious to begin with. Compared with the first book, Rachel's evolution wasn't as drastic. She was pretty annoying in the beginning, making me really appreciate how much she changed by the end. The book wasn't incredibly original, but it moved at a good pace. Quick, fun read!

[hopingforchange · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Giffin's best novel, in my opinion. Darcy, who we are taught to nearly hate in Something Borrowed, becomes our protagonist. At first, I could barely stand "listening" to Darcy's insipid inner monologue. Again, though, Giffin manipulates the reader, pulling him or her right into the story. Before I knew it, I was rooting for Darcy--hoping that she would find happiness and become the kind of person she had always wanted to be. The ability to take the reader on an emotional roller coaster, whipping and snapping them whichever way she pleases, is definitely Giffin's strong point. Somehow, she pulls out the good in even the most irritating, trite characters and asks us to sympathize, to see ourselves in them, and we do.

[rachelann_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Nice easy reading. It started out a little slow, but once it got going it was tough to put down. Just a nice, easy read for a winter day. It was fairly predictable, but still had some nice surprises.

[r · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fluffy but not funny. All the ends tied up too well

[pinkladies_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Can you believe it – Darcy is furious with Rach for stealing her fiance, Dex, even though she cheated on Dex by sleeping with his bestfriend, Marcus. She is every bit the ungrateful, selfish, spoiled and mean villain in the first part of this book and I thought she finally got her comeuppance when Marcus dumped her while she was alone and pregnant. But the author presented us with a twist. And you may be a little surprised at the ending. Overall, this two-part story is a fabulous and entertaining read. It shows the writer’s depth and good storytelling skills.