Giffin, Emily 1972-

PERSONAL:

Born March 20, 1972, in Baltimore, MD; married; children: Edward, George. Education: Wake Forest University, B.A., 1994; University of Virginia, J.D., 1997.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Atlanta, GA. E-mail—emily@emilygiffin.com.

CAREER:

Writer. Winston & Strawn (law firm), Litigation Department, attorney, 1997-2001.

WRITINGS:

Something Borrowed (novel), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2004.

Something Blue (novel), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2005.

Baby Proof (novel), St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Writing began as a hobby for Emily Giffin, who as a small child amassed a collection of books she made herself. Throughout high school and college she continued to write, earning several awards and keeping an ongoing journal. Giffin ultimately graduated with a law degree and moved to New York City to pursue a career as an attorney. After five years as a litigator, Giffin became disillusioned with her career choice and made the bold move to quit her job and relocate to London, England, where she began to write full time. During her two years in London, before eventually settling in Atlanta, Georgia, Giffin completed a first novel that was rejected by a number of publishers, wrote a second novel (Something Borrowed) that was picked up by St. Martin's Press, got married, and began work on another book.

Something Borrowed was published in 2004 and reached the New York Times best-seller list. The novel's protagonist, Rachel, is a "good girl" who, on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, is faced with a dilemma: one night's indiscretion has made her realize she is in love with her self-absorbed best friend's fiancé. Bookreporter.com contributor Melissa Palmer concluded: "Giffin's writing style is excellent, and she has a good grasp on characterization. In a growing market, she will stick around for quite a while." Kristine Huntley remarked in a review for Booklist: "Gif- fin's compelling debut truly stands out.… A genuinely winning tale." Entertainment Weekly contributor Clarissa Cruz found Something Borrowed to be a "page-turning, heartbreakingly honest debut."

In her second published novel, Something Blue, Giffin continues the story from Something Borrowed, but from the point of view of the best friend, Darcy, whose own cheating ways have left her pregnant and second-guessing the direction of her life. Booklist reviewer Huntley described the novel as "warm and engaging; readers will find themselves cheering for Darcy as she proves people can change in this captivating tale." Norah Piehl wrote of the book's "charming plot and witty writing style" in a Bookreporter.com review.

Giffin next released Baby Proof, a novel about a couple whose relationship falters when the husband has second thoughts about their pact to remain childless. The book was strongly influenced by Giffin's own experiences as a new mother. Huntley commented in a Booklist review of Baby Proof: "Giffin once again proves she's one of the best chick-lit writers in this thoughtful, layered, and wholly original story." In a review for Bookreporter.com, Sarah Rachel Egelman wrote that the novel is "readable, witty, sometimes quite insightful, and a good balance of humor and seriousness" and Giffin's "prose is light and entertaining. Think of it as Chick Lit with a twist of depth."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 15, 2004, Kristine Huntley, review of Something Borrowed, p. 1596; May 15, 2005, Kristine Huntley, review of Something Blue, p. 1636; April 1, 2006, Kristine Huntley, review of Baby Proof, p. 6.

Entertainment Weekly, June 11, 2004, Clarissa Cruz, review of Something Borrowed, p. 132.

ONLINE

Bookreporter.com,http://www.bookreporter.com/ (November 22, 2006), Melissa Palmer, review of Something Borrowed; Norah Piehl, review of Something Blue; Sarah Rachel Egelman, review of Baby Proof.

Emily Giffin Home Page,http://www.emilygiffin.com (November 22, 2006).