Heart of the Matter

By: Emily Giffin

Narrated by: Cynthia Nixon

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie - a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance - and even, to some degree, friendships - believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

©2010 Emily Giffin (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Giffin excels at creating complex characters and stories that ask us to explore what we really want from our lives." ( Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

"Giffin’s talent lies in making her characters believable and relatable, and readers will be enthralled by this layered, absorbing novel." ( Booklist)

GREAT BOOK

This was the first novel I have read/listened to by Emily Giffin - I am hooked. I loved this book and her writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone over 18.

Captivating and Poignant

Really loved this book. Felt so much empathy for Tessa. Loved how the story was told from her point of view and 3rd person for Valerie. Had a hard time seeing Valerie's point of view. Her choices don't give her the right to destroy another family. Loved the questions this story posed and wondered if I were in Tessa's position what I would do?? I will listen to this one again.

Pretty good read

Enjoyed the characters and story. Ending could have been stronger.

loved every minute, sad it is over...

once again, a hot from one of my favorite authors. great narration by Nixon, also.

my favourite from Giffin

Believable characters and good pace. Giffin has a true talent for wrapping a difficult topic (this time it's adultery) into an enjoyable story with sad elements yet never getting pathetic.
Narration was excellent.
Highly recommendable if you like chick-lit with some thoughtfulness.

excellent narration, well-handled subject

A well-written and thoughtful novel about infidelity. Cynthia Nixon's narration is superb. While some characters - particularly the married doctor and the injured child - are drawn a little too broadly, the novel gives the reader a sympathetic and believable portrait of both the wife and 'the other woman.'

Predictable

It was nicely narrated by Cynthia Nixon, which is why I wanted to listen to it. It is a nice story, too, but so very predictable. Good brain candy, but that's about the extent of it.

Another Good Read

Giffin does a great job of writing real life events that readers can relate to. This book was a bit different than her others because it was a story based on only two characters lives. Typically her stories involve multiple characters and their life stories intertwined with the main characters but this one was really focused on just the two women.

Cynthia Nixon always does a wonderful job with narration!

Heat of the Matter

Very entertaining, a bit long in the middle. I enjoyed the read!

Wonderful Narrator

An insightful book about a love affair from the points of view of both women - the wife and the "other woman" - made even better by the narration of Cynthia Dixon.