SBBC - Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (ISBN 9780312321192)
Book Genre: Chick Lit
Summary: Meet Rachel White, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl – until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy’s fiancé. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from.
Swap details:
I've set the sign-up date for two weeks from now to give folks time to pick up a copy and read it a bit (if you wish) before you decide to join this swap, but you can start reading whenever you'd like. Once the sign-up date has closed, I will also create a discussion thread in the group forums, which anyone who is in the group will be able to add to. This will give everyone an additional opportunity to discuss the book (even while you are reading).
You can either hand-write or type and send (via post) the answers to your questions. Please use your best judgment. If it elicits a yes or no, please answer it with at least one complete sentence. I would say most questions should be answered with a minimum of a few sentences. The purpose is to create a dialog, a discussion about the book - with your assigned partner, perhaps you will be in touch via e-mail, or private message or through the forum as part of a larger group, or you just want to see what someone else thinks about what we've read. If you only answer yes or no, it doesn't really leave room much room for a discussion.
Category 1 (answer all 7 of these questions for your partner)
1. Have you ever read this book before?
2. Did this book fall in the usual genre of books you read?
3. As an overall experience, how did you feel about this book? Did you enjoy it, hate it, did it make you irritated, angry, sad, did you find it easy to read or did it take you a while to get into, was it entertaining, annoying or something else entirely?
4. Did you have a favorite part of the book? Describe what it was. If you didn't like the book, please tell more about why.
5. Would you recommend this book to others?
6. On a scale of 1 to 10 (one being low and 10 being high), how would you rate this book?
7. Does this book remind you of others you have read? if so, recommend a book that has some likeness in your opinion (even if the likeness is not apparent). Please include the title, and author and a brief description about the book, or why it reminded you of this one.
Category 2
Please pick 6 of the following questions (below) to answer with the above questions. These questions are taken directly from the book’s reading group guide. Please be honest in your answer and use constructive criticism. You can choose to answer more questions below, but you must choose a minimum of 6. If there is something not asked in the questions that you'd like to share, please feel free to discuss that too.
1. What do you think was the real impetus behind Rachel’s decision to sleep with Dex after her birthday party? Was it about her desire to break out of her good girl persona? Was it about a long-standing resentment toward Darcy? Or was it both?

1. How do you view Dex? How would you describe Dex and Rachel’s relationship? What drew them together? Did you root for them to be together? Do you think they have true love?

2. Is anything about Rachel and Darcy’s friendship genuine? Do you believe it has changed over time? Why does Rachel defend Darcy against attacks from Ethan and Hillary? Compare and contrast Rachel’s friendship with Hillary and Ethan to her friendship with Darcy.

3. Do you think Dex and Darcy would have married if it weren’t for Dex’s affair with Rachel? Why did he stay with Darcy for so long?

4. How did Rachel’s flawed self-image contribute to the dilemma that she faces? What do you see as her greatest weakness?

5. Was Rachel’s moral dilemma made easier because of Darcy’s personality? Would she have acted on her attraction to Dex if Darcy were a different kind of person and friend? If Rachel had fallen love with Julian, would she have pursued the same course of action? How does Rachel rationalize her affair with Dex?

6. What risks does Rachel take when she pursues her relationship with Dex? What is the biggest moment of risk for her? How does Rachel grow and change in the novel?

7. Disloyalty is a major theme in this novel. How differently do men and women view cheating on a friend? Why is Darcy so indignant when she catches Dex and Rachel together when she has been having an affair of her own?

8. Under what circumstances is it justified to choose love over friendship? How important is it for women to stick together? Have you ever been in a friendship like Darcy and Rachel’s?

9. This novel is told from Rachel’s perspective. How do you think Darcy would tell the same story? How do you think she would describe Rachel? How do you think she views their friendship?
   And finally: Group rules apply in order to join. If you sign-up for the swap, please be prepared to make the commitment. If you flake or don't rate, you will be removed from the group and not permitted to join in future group swaps.
   Please understand that people can be very passionate about a book they read and as such, their opinions may differ from your own. When you rate, or discuss the book, please use constructive criticism and be polite. Your rating should reflect that your partner answered the questions (with more than a yes or no answer), and not on their opinion, please.
   Any questions should be directed to the swap host.
   Happy reading and swapping!