You never forget where you were when you read your first Emily Giffin novel. She has reenergized the chick lit genre, infusing her stories with a freshness and glamour that has proved irresistible to scores of women. In her sixth novel, Where We Belong, Giffin's writing has matured like a fine wine, and she takes her readers to a much deeper and richer place.
In this poignant tale, mega-successful television producer Miriam has it all until a surprise visitor appears on the doorstep of her lavish Park Avenue apartment--the daughter she secretly gave up 17 years ago. Kirby was adopted by a loving family, but the underachieving teen with a penchant for drumming and hoodies has always felt like a misfit. Giffin traces the (birth) mother and daughter's awkward dance toward (and away) from one another. The details of Miriam giving up baby Kirby are slowly, heartbreakingly revealed through flashbacks as the pair assess what kind of a relationship, if any, they can have in the present.
Giffin works her magic in such a way that you'll call in sick in order to keep devouring the book. The characters, as usual, are so superbly written that they feel like cherished friends. You're invested. And Giffin seems to be making a point about adoption: it's a choice that provides as much anguish as it does joy. As the story artfully reveals itself, you will adore Giffin's latest bittersweet escape into what is, what was, and what could have been. --Natalie Papailiou, author of blog MILF: Mother I'd Like to Friend