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Where We Belong: A Novel
Written by Emily Giffin
Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy
Book Actions
Start Listening- Publisher:
- Macmillan Audio
- Released:
- Jul 24, 2012
- ISBN:
- 9781427221735
- Format:
- Audiobook
Description
The author of several blockbuster novels, Emily Giffin's Where We Belong delivers an unforgettable story of two women, the families that make them who they are, and the longing, loyalty and love that binds them together.
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.
A Macmillan Audio production.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Where We Belong: A Novel
Written by Emily Giffin
Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy
Description
The author of several blockbuster novels, Emily Giffin's Where We Belong delivers an unforgettable story of two women, the families that make them who they are, and the longing, loyalty and love that binds them together.
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.
A Macmillan Audio production.
- Publisher:
- Macmillan Audio
- Released:
- Jul 24, 2012
- ISBN:
- 9781427221735
- Format:
- Audiobook
About the author
Related to Where We Belong
Reviews
Second time was the charm. I read this book the first time and thought it was boring. I don't know what was different about this time, but clearly SOMETHING was. The words she wrote were the same, but this time I felt what was going on in my gut.
It was so real. It's so tempting to expect an adoption story to end with everyone one big happy family or the complete opposite--everyone coming away from the meeting with nothing in common and no desire to be part of each others' lives.
I think I read one of the earlier reviews as saying that the book provided a negative look at adoption. I didn't see it that way at all. Kirby got what she needed, and Marian and Conrad as the adults figured out their lives the best way they could. However, I do wish Marian had been honest with Conrad at the beginning.
This isn't my favorite of Giffin's work, but it also isn't my least favorite. (That honor belongs to Heart of the Matter.) I like the basic idea of this story and even liked the alternating viewpoints. What I didn't like is related to the characters themselves. I didn't particularly like Marian or Kirby. That wouldn't have been so bad if some of the supporting characters were developed a tad more. The potential to like some of the other people in their lives was there but I can't say whether or not I truly liked them because they seemed so flat to me. I will say though that I was thrilled to see a cameo by Claudia from Baby Proof! I LOVE when authors manage to weave in and connect their other works.
Overall, it was a little hard for me to get through this book, but it's not the worst.
Kirby is adopted and when she turns 18 she gets the name of her birth mom and heads to New York to meet her.
As this relationship starts and grows Kirby is then interested in her birth dad.
This story is told in Chapters by Kirby and her birth mom, Marilyn.
I think it is well done and we learn a lot about how adoptions can be a positive experience.
Most books that I have read make the birth mother always regret giving the child to a family that was ready when they were not. I give Emily huge kudos for that. As a person that has this story in my life it was good to see it in a positive light.
Emily Giffin has continued her collection of novels about love, relationships, and the power of decisions.
Beautifully written….the characters you fall in love with (loved Conrad..yum! Could see a sequel and definitely can envision who could play Conrad ( hot and sexy with a great heart). I fell in love with Kirby, Marian, and of course the fathers. I could not put it down as started it on Thurs and finished it on Friday. It was “real and raw”….a story which will leave you smiling and crying at the same time. I cannot wait for a continuation of Marion/Conrad and possible Philip/Kirby…This is a winner – highly recommend!!!!
As I said I was prejudiced about the story, because the main theme in the book is the relationship between and adopted girl and her birth mother… but I also thought I more or less liked all previous novels from this author so, why not?
And I was right, Emily has a way to get you into a story, and keep you there, whether you like it or not.
It kept me on my toes from the start to the end.
I also enjoyed the choice of writing style… you have one paragraph from the viewpoint of the mother, Marian, and the next from the viewpoint of the daughter, Kirby, and it works. When you want to know more about Marian the narration brings you to Kirby and vice versa, so you basically can never put the book down.
The only thing I am not sure about is the end. It left me wanting more; I wasn’t completely satisfied with it. So it is actually 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Then I picked Love the One you're with which I also gave 4 stars. Heart of The Matter was next. Not my favourite so I gave it 3 stars.
A few weeks ago I read Baby Proof and I did not like that book at all. Such a unrealistic book and it annoyed me how the main character gave up all her values for a guy who let her go so easily.
So I gave that 2 stars.
Well I guess I am on a downhill spiral cause this book is going to get 1 star only.
So far I have read 50% of this book and I am going to call it quits. To be honest, I could not care less what happens with the 2 main characters, they are both so unlikable. Not only that but this is another book where what happens is so unrealistic. Sure adopted girl takes greyhound to find her birth mum. She finds her that same day. Birth mum is gorgeous, smart, rich and has a great job, blablabla.
She is immediately allowed to stay and is treated as a guest.
Birth mum has never told anyone about her secret, but because she is forced by her boyfriend she is telling everyone now. (And I have read a spoiler which makes me glad I have quit)
I think it is fair to give any book you have tried to like but decide to stop reading, 1 star.