First Comes Love

A Novel

By: Emily Giffin

Narrated by: Emily Foster, Catherine Taber

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A pair of sisters find themselves at a crossroads in this dazzling new novel from the author of Something Borrowed, Where We Belong, and The One & Only. First Comes Love is a story about family, friendship, and the courage to follow your own heart—wherever that may lead.

Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious, relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing, Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes, their delicate bond splinters.

Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and this close to swearing off dating for good. What she wants more than the right guy, however, is to become a mother—a feeling that is heightened when her ex-boyfriend’s daughter is assigned to her class. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.

On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. A successful attorney, she’s married to a wonderful man, and together they’re raising a beautiful four-year-old daughter. Yet lately Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms, and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover that they need each other more than they knew—and that in the search for true happiness, love always comes first.

©2016 Emily Giffin (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“An engaging story of sisterly love . . . Illuminating and engrossing.”—People

“Giffin delivers another emotionally honest work. . . . First Comes Love is a heart-stirring novel about the many layers of sibling rivalry.”—Associated Press

“Kudos to Giffin for it takes a talented and resourceful writer to create a wealth of characters and have them all be fully described for the reader to understand and enjoy. . . . Two years is too long to have to wait for a new Emily Giffin book, but First Comes Love brings her back with a vengeance. Tales of sisters have been at the core of other great novels, but Giffin turns that relationship upside down and makes her view a fascinating one.”—Huffington Post

Good Story Line

Always enjoy Emily's Griffin books! This one was more serious than others she has written.

Love this book

I could not stop listening! The characters suck you in just as much as the story does.

I loved this book!!

Family love and forgiveness are one in the same!! I truly loved this book!! Thank you Emily!!

Chick lit at its finest.

My review might be slightly skewed, as it comes on the heels of finishing a different sister-centric novel that was truly ho-hum. This one, however, has everything any good audiobook should have: relatable, well-developed characters, an engrossing storyline, and authentic narration (though I did prefer the narrator for Meredith over the narrator for Josie.) It's worth the credit!

Good story

A very good story. Reminds me of my relationship with my own sister. Although I as Josie am the younger sister and my sister as Meredith is the older sister. Sisters can have complicated relationships.

Easy read except the voices

Nice easy read/listen. The voices drove me nuts! When they would do the kids voices it was like nails to a chalkboard. The story was predictable... But that is the style of these kind of books. If you are looking for a no-brainer, easy, fun read go for it!

Really enjoyed

I liked the characters and the plot. The book flowed really well, and kept me reading. I am a huge Emily Giffin fan. I did not like her last book, but this was another winner.

Mediocre

Was disappointed in this novel. Expected to love it but had a hard time finishing it. These sisters are hard to like and care about. The story jumps around and seems to lead the reader down several dead end story lines. If you're looking for "something borrowed" or "something blue" this isn't it!

Good but story drug on...

Good but the story drug on and on and on... not my favorite Emily Giffin book

Sorry didn't like this one.

I didn't like this as much as her other books. It ended very abruptly and I didn't think it came together well. Where is the epilogue or something to let you know what happened with each character? Is she trying to get a sequel out of this?