Book Review: The Last Death of the Year (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, #6) by Sophie Hannah

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The Last Death of the Year (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, #6)  by Sophie Hannah and Agatha Christie  opens with Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool arriving on the island of Lamperos in Greece on New Year's Eve in 1932. Poirot has been requested by the leader of a religious community to investigate the threat against one of its members, but just a short while later, another resident is found dead after a New Year's game threatened this member's life. I'd like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this mystery. I've been a long time fan of Agatha Christie and her Hercule Poirot series, so learning I'd receive a copy of Sophie Hannah's new book based on this series made me absolutely giddy. A digital copy was provided to me in exchange for my honest review. Sophie Hannah has done a fabulous job of recreating Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series and keeping a similar style of writin...
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Book Review: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

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The Running Bibliophile's Chick Lit Book Review of Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Something Borrowed by New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin is a fast-paced, emotionally charged story about friendship, love, loyalty, and impossible choices. Set in Manhattan, the novel follows Rachel White, a hardworking lawyer who has spent her life living in the shadow of her best friend, Darcy Rhone. 

From childhood, Rachel has always been the Watson to Darcy’s Sherlock ... the reliable sidekick to Darcy’s dazzling, larger-than-life personality. But everything changes when Rachel unexpectedly confesses her true feelings to Darcy’s fiancé, Dex. To her shock, she discovers that he feels the same way. As Darcy’s wedding day approaches, Rachel finds herself facing an impossible decision: should she steal the man she loves from her best friend, or walk away from him forever? 

From Movie Trailer to Must-Read Novel 

When the movie trailer for Something Borrowed was released, I knew instantly that I wanted to see it. At the time, I had no idea the film was adapted from a novel, nor had I ever heard of Emily Giffin. It wasn’t until a book club meeting that I learned about the book and its author, when several members passionately discussed both the story and Giffin’s writing style. 

After enjoying the movie so much, I decided to read the book, and I’m glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Something Borrowed has a sequel, Something Blue. While it’s disappointing that Something Blue was never adapted for the big screen, I imagine there were various factors that influenced that decision. 

A Controversial Theme That Sparks Emotion 

The biggest issue I had with Something Borrowed is its central theme: cheating and emotional betrayal. Cheating is never okay and never will be. Yet, if we’re being honest, it’s something that happens in real life more often than we’d like to admit. 

What makes this novel so compelling is the way it’s written. Despite the morally questionable situation, you find yourself rooting for Rachel. Why? Because Darcy is portrayed as self-centered, selfish, and completely unlikable. She is the embodiment of the “mean girl,” and it becomes hard to want her to end up with Dex. 

If you somehow don’t know how the story unfolds, you’ll have to read the book or watch the movie to find out. 

Emily Giffin’s Strength as a Storyteller 

Emily Giffin does a fantastic job of showing how someone could realistically fall into such a complicated emotional situation. She captures every feeling involved ... guilt, anxiety, nervousness, anger, longing ... with striking authenticity. The story feels real, relatable, and emotionally honest, which is a testament to Giffin’s skill as a writer. 

Final Thoughts: A Light Yet Thought-Provoking Read 

Despite its off-putting topic, Something Borrowed is a light, engaging read that’s hard to put down. As a classic chick lit novel, it’s perfect for vacation reading, especially for a beach trip or relaxing getaway. The emotional drama keeps you turning pages, while the accessible writing style makes it easy to dive into. 

Overall, I gave Something Borrowed four out of five stars. If you enjoy contemporary romance, complex friendships, and emotionally driven stories, this book is definitely worth adding to your reading list.

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