The One & Only

A Novel

By: Emily Giffin

Narrated by: Sofia Willingham

Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In her eagerly awaited new novel, beloved New York Times best-selling author Emily Giffin returns with an extraordinary story of love and loyalty - and an unconventional heroine struggling to reconcile both.

Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas - a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.

But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most - and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.

Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself...the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.

©2014 Emily Giffin (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Giffin's writing is true, smart, and heartfelt." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"A dependably down-to-earth, girl-friendly storyteller." ( The New York Times)

"When it comes to writing stories that resonate with real women, best-selling author Emily Giffin has hit her stride." ( San Francisco Chronicle)

What a Christmas Tree and a Man Have In Common...

I am so glad I took a chance on this book because I greatly enjoyed it, especially the storyline. For me, Emily Griffin's books always have interesting scenarios that start out really good. Then she can't stop herself from herself. Her chic-lit bushwah cup just flows over at times, to the point that I start skipping over the endless monotonous conversations, repetitive banter and that tiresome pondering that chic-lit protagonists routinely do. This time the author was able to rein that in, much better. There is one point, though, in this book where Shea and the love of her life are stealing themselves away. As they are moving to another room, offhandedly he mentions that he needs to tell her something later. Now in real life, that would be the end of it till later. Shea, on the other hand, spends FOREVER wondering what he might say... an INSANE GREAT LENGTH........ I think a whole chapter was devoted to her pointless wondering... It felt like she got out a yellow legal pad to number the possibilities. I was screaming out loud at Ms Griffin once again for her wasting my time. Thankfully, she pulled it together and before long had me laughing out loud, guessing at the direction she was going, and physically crying. It's rare anymore that I physically cry over a book, like I did this time.

I like where she ended this novel. I thought the author pointed the direction HER characters were going nicely, then allowed me the opportunity to wonder a scenarios of my own. I don't need to see May/November go to ugly in January.

The lives of the characters in this book revolve around football, thus this book is about football. If you do not have a general knowledge of collegiate football and the game in general, you may not enjoy this book. The other thing that will make or break this book for you is to ask yourself if you can enjoy a story about an unconventional nontraditional relationship.

I rarely am critical of the narrator, but I would be lax if I did not mention Sofia Willingham's performance. It's distractingly irksome to the point of making the listener weary. I listened to her previous work, after finishing this book, this was not her normal speech. She must think Texans speak incredibly slow and sleepily while half whispering.

Oddly Great

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A good story that pulls on all your emotions and makes you really feel what all the characters feel.

What did you like best about this story?

You don't know the story really ends, not until the last page.

What does Sofia Willingham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

You really the emotions through her story telling, more so than when you read the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A love that grew only because a tragedy happened.

Football abs Romance; what more can you ask for

This was a well written book. I loved the pace and tone of it. If you like football as well, as a sappy romance this is a must read.

Not her best work

Too much football talk. Especially college football. Ugh. Additionally, rape in college is a big deal considering 1 in 4 women are raped. Could've used the book to emphasize that platform for young women.

Compulsive!

I listened to the preview and nearly ordered the kindle edition instead because I wasn't sure I could live with the accented narration. But I went ahead with the audiobook and in the end it really grew on me.

I found the storyline compulsive and have stayed up late to listen to the ending. Some other reviewers found the Shay/CCC relationship uncomfortable and it could have gone that way for me too .. but actually I was rooting for them and I thought the author handled it just right. Although the actual timeline says it's less than a year since Connie's death the way the story plays out it feels like more, which is a good thing.

As another reviewer mentioned - the story ending was a little abrupt - I wanted to hear at least what happened that evening. Also the narrative ended very quickly. I felt the last paragraph was a little rushed and barely a breath pause before going into the audible standard closing speech. It felt a little jarring.

Overall great book and I had tears at several points. Sequel please!

Third time is a charm

I was so excited to listen to this book when it first came out, but upon starting yet I quickly lost interest. The narration is so slow, I had to listen to the entire story at a one and a half speed. It is a sweet, although transparent, story. Many might call it brain candy, but I enjoyed it.

Excellent

Highly recommend. My favorite Emily Giffin book yet. The narrator also did a fabulous job.

Texas female football fans only

Is there anything you would change about this book?

A little less cheesy

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Expected maybe

Which character – as performed by Sofia Willingham – was your favorite?

Shay

What would have made this romance irresistible?

It is a little far reaching

Any additional comments?

Setting, places, events are in Texas around Waco and Dallas. It was fun because it connected those things with my life.

Dragged out

I did enjoy the book, but felt like it dragged on during some parts of the book.

My favorite Emily Giffin book!

I have read all of Emily Giffin's book and this one by far is my favorite! The story kept me listening and the characters were fascinating. I'm from the south and can relate to the football frenzy. Worth a listening for sure!