First Comes Loves by Emily Giffin

I hate to admit it, but this is my first Emily Giffin novel.  I'm sorry to all of her adoring fans, I just have never been a "chick lit," "chick flick" type of girl.  I have watched the movie adaptation of Something Borrowed with Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin.  I enjoyed it, but it's not one of my top 50 movies I've ever watched.  For that reason, I just haven't tried any of Giffin's #1 New York Time's best selling novels.  Please accept my ardent apology for never giving her the time of day before; I have learned my lesson.  First Comes Love was a lovely little novel that I just adored.  It was light, funny, and had just the right amount of cutesy love that I can handle.

The key players in this novel are Josie and Meredith, sisters who lost their brother, Daniel,  in a car accident 15 years ago.  Josie is somewhat of a loose cannon: unmarried, swearing-off dating, looking for a donor to help her start her journey as a single mother.  As a first grade teacher, she's ready to move on with her life after her ex-boyfriend's daughter is placed in her classroom.  She's known to her family as being impulsive and outgoing, never letting her emotions show or get in the way of what she wants to do.

Meredith, on the other hand, is regimented, over-thinking, and (how fitting) a lawyer.  Meredith lives in her old family home with her husband, Nolan, and daughter, Harper.  She seems to have the perfect life, living in her childhood home, keeping the memory of her brother alive.

The two sisters are like oil and water and do not get along.  Their relationship was only exacerbated by the death of their brother.     Even more interesting is that Nolan, Meredith's husband, was Daniel's best friend.  How does this affect their relationship?  You'll have to read to find out.   

We meet everyone as the 15th anniversary of the death of Daniel is looming over their heads.  Everyone's world is turned upside down in one way or another, and it seems it's all connected to their reactions to Daniel's death.  Each sister, in turn, examines how her life choices has brought her where she is today, and has affected the women's tumultuous relationship with each other. Meredith's perfect life might not be so perfect after all, and Josie's worst fear about her brother's death may be true.

The novel is told in alternating perspectives, with each sister taking a turn as narrator every other chapter. I really enjoyed hearing the story told back to back in this way.  It gave me more to work with as a reader, especially since the sisters are so different in their view of the world.  I could understand their perspectives easier, and it was fun to read what each was thinking about the other.  Griffin does a great job of separating the two personalities because they are so distinct.  

​Each sister has to deal with how to take ownership of her actions, which is something that we all could use a reminder about.  It was an emotional, beautiful story, but it's wasn't a heavy read.  It was light and fun as well!  Really, it was the perfect blend of emotion that makes me want to read all of Giffin's other works.

This will definitely be a lovely little page turner for you. I stayed up until 2 am finishing it because I just had to know if Josie decided to go through with her plan to find a random donor to help her with motherhood, and if Meredith decides to uproot her perfect life in search of a new one.   There are plenty of hijinks in this one too.  Josie's birthday party, Josie going on her last date ever, Josie's date giving the Heimlich maneuver to her ex-boyfriend...the list goes on!

TL/DR: First Comes Love is a light, yet emotional read about two sisters learning to take ownership of their actions and accepting that love is possible, even if it doesn't come in the form you thought it would.  

Rating: 4 stars