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Available
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Publication
St. Martin's Press (2010), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. HTML: "Giffin excels at creating complex characters and stories that ask us to explore what we really want from our lives."�Atlanta Journal-Constitution 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's Heart of the Matter 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..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member verka6811
Heart of the Matter was my first foray into reading Emily Giffin’s books; I’ve previously listened to Baby Proof on audio.
Heart of the Matter is narrated alternatively by the two leading female characters, Tessa and Valerie. Married to a brilliant plastic surgeon, Nick Russo, Tessa gave up her
A freak accident leaves Charlie with serious burns over his face and arm, bringing the duo into Nick’s path. As he works to repair the damage, Nick’s concern for the patient and his mother evolves into something more than simple professional courtesy. Long room visits turn into daily phone calls; when Charlie is discharged from the hospital, Nick finds reasons to visit him, and Valerie, at home.
The quiet dissatisfaction Nick has with his marriage finds an outlet when he’s around Valerie, while Tessa is left to contend with Nick’s increasingly long “work” hours. Much of the novel grapples with Nick’s ultimate decision of whether or not to give into his growing affection for Valerie, and the potential ramifications of his choice on Tessa and their family.
Reading Heart of the Matter was akin to having a crush, and hoping that the other party felt the same way. The anticipation of mutual affection in real life and in Giffin’s novel was one and the same. In Heart of the Matter, she created the perfect combination of knowing what’s right, and still being able to sympathize with the side that’s wrong. While I felt for Tessa and understood that Nick’s actions were wrong, I also felt for Valerie and could not help but want her’s and Nick’s relationship to work out in some way.
Heart of the Matter is narrated alternatively by the two leading female characters, Tessa and Valerie. Married to a brilliant plastic surgeon, Nick Russo, Tessa gave up her
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teaching career at a local university to be a stay-at-home mom to the couple’s two young children. Valerie, an attorney and single mom, has dedicated her life to raising her son Charlie and little else.A freak accident leaves Charlie with serious burns over his face and arm, bringing the duo into Nick’s path. As he works to repair the damage, Nick’s concern for the patient and his mother evolves into something more than simple professional courtesy. Long room visits turn into daily phone calls; when Charlie is discharged from the hospital, Nick finds reasons to visit him, and Valerie, at home.
The quiet dissatisfaction Nick has with his marriage finds an outlet when he’s around Valerie, while Tessa is left to contend with Nick’s increasingly long “work” hours. Much of the novel grapples with Nick’s ultimate decision of whether or not to give into his growing affection for Valerie, and the potential ramifications of his choice on Tessa and their family.
Reading Heart of the Matter was akin to having a crush, and hoping that the other party felt the same way. The anticipation of mutual affection in real life and in Giffin’s novel was one and the same. In Heart of the Matter, she created the perfect combination of knowing what’s right, and still being able to sympathize with the side that’s wrong. While I felt for Tessa and understood that Nick’s actions were wrong, I also felt for Valerie and could not help but want her’s and Nick’s relationship to work out in some way.
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LibraryThing member Citizenjoyce
This book starts out being a very interesting discussion about the choices a woman makes for her life. Does it make sense to get your doctorate and achieve high status as an educator then abandon your career to stay at home and take care of 2 children while your doctor husband devotes himself to
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his career? At one point the husband complains about women who exhaust themselves doing projects that are of no benefit to the world, or stay at home Martha Stewart Wannabes. At this time when there's a debate going on about Anne Romney and her role as the rich stay at home mom of 5 boys, that seems a worth while discussion. (Have you seen the nearly professional quality booklets some stay at home moms send out as Christmas cards?) Unfortunately the book ends with an interminable discussion of the evils of infidelity with the man grovelling and practically flagellating himself. Enough already. He didn't rape anyone, he didn't abuse anyone, he didn't steal anyone's life savings. A little perspective could have made for a much more realistic ending and more stars from me. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookaholicmom
Heart of the Matter is told from two very different viewpoints. Tessa, the stay at home mom and wife of pediatric surgeon Nick Russo, and Valerie, a single mom and attorney. On the anniversary of Tessa and Nick a terrible accident occurs involving Valerie's son, Charlie. Nick is called in the treat
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Charlie not knowing that all of their lives are about to change forever. Valerie finds herself drawn to Nick's kind and gentle way with her son while Tessa finds Nick growing distant from her. All three are caught up in a terrible triangle in which there can be no winners. I appreciated how Emily Griffin didn't make any one character out to be the good guy or the bad guy. I actually found myself liking both women even thought they were both so different. I could see both sides of the issue and wondered what would I do in each character's shoes. I found this book hard to put down as I couldn't for the life of me predict how it would end. It was an excellent read and I highly recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member TBRetc
I was disappointed by this book. It's the old story of a man- Nick that cheats on his wife- Tessa. The author did a good job of presenting the "other woman"- Valerie in a way that makes her likable. She's not a woman who set out to be a home-wrecker, she's a single mom who believes she's fallen in
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love. As many other reviewers cited- the male lead Nick was very unlikable and the female leads were weak. This book made me sad. I am a big fan of her other books, mainly because I liked the characters so much. I really would skip this read. Show Less
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
Heart of the Matter is the story of two women in love with the same man. Tessa is Nick's wife and the mother of his two children, and is slightly unsatisfied with her role in life. Valerie is the mother of a young boy who has suffered a terrible burn and is being treated by doctor Nick.
The story is
The story is
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alternating points of view, and the technique really works well here. We really come to understand both Tessa's and Valerie's hearts here; no one is the villian. I do think the story would have been even stronger if we knew more of Nick's perspective, though. Even so, I read this book pretty rapidly as I was absorbed in Tessa's and Valerie's lives, and really wanted to find out how it would end. Show Less
LibraryThing member michelle_bcf
At the heart of this story are two woman, Tessa and Valerie. Valerie Anderson is a single mother, whose world changes when her son Charlie is involved in an accident. His burns are treated by Nick Russo, and her relationship with him soon starts to develop into one of friendship, then beyond.
Tessa
The story itself is nothing new, and has probably been tackled in a number of books. For me though, what made this stand out were the characters, and how they were written. They are all flawed and realistic, and Emily manages to write them in a way which makes their actions understandable. Whether or not you agree on what they do, or the choices they make, you are given an insight as to why.
The 'blurb' focuses more on Charlie and his accident, rather than the infidelity which is the heart of the story. If it had been written differently, I may not have picked up this book, because it's the kind of content I usually avoid. That would have been a shame however, as the subject is so well handled.
Tessa
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is Nick's wife, wondering if she made the right decision to give up her career to be at home with their children. She's aware that their marriage isn't perfect, but she can never imagine her husband being with someone else. The story itself is nothing new, and has probably been tackled in a number of books. For me though, what made this stand out were the characters, and how they were written. They are all flawed and realistic, and Emily manages to write them in a way which makes their actions understandable. Whether or not you agree on what they do, or the choices they make, you are given an insight as to why.
The 'blurb' focuses more on Charlie and his accident, rather than the infidelity which is the heart of the story. If it had been written differently, I may not have picked up this book, because it's the kind of content I usually avoid. That would have been a shame however, as the subject is so well handled.
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LibraryThing member FemmeNoiresque
The character of Nick is one of the most loathsome I have come across - he belittles his wife, who has given up her job to raise their toddlers and is having difficulty acclimating to suburban life. He is the most popular surgeon at his hospital, handsome and modest, but sates his ennui by ditching
The character of the mistress is far more complex than the married couple, but just as foolish in her actions.
Giffin is a good writer - her sentences are sharp, her characters and their milieu is thankfully not silly and lacking in disorganized, simpering girlishness - but this book was a disappointment.
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his family at every opportunity to play white knight to an emotionally fragile woman and her injured son. And he is also the kind of Italian mama's boy who will unfailingly out argue his wife and force her to experience his guilt.The character of the mistress is far more complex than the married couple, but just as foolish in her actions.
Giffin is a good writer - her sentences are sharp, her characters and their milieu is thankfully not silly and lacking in disorganized, simpering girlishness - but this book was a disappointment.
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LibraryThing member reneebooks
I was happy to snag this book from the Early Reviewers program since I have read and enjoyed three other books by Emily Giffin (Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Love the One You're With). I normally don't read these chick lit or women's fiction types of books but Giffin's writing and
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storytelling ability is so good, I find them hard to put down. In Heart of the Matter the character development really shines and I came to care about Tessa and Valerie, both very sympathetic characters. However, I have to agree with one reviewer about Nick, the Cheating Husband. Couldn't stand him. It's hard for me to understand this type of person and because this book is told from the point of view of Tessa and Valerie, we really don't get inside his mind. But maybe Giffin did this on purpose. In any case, the realization that either Tessa or Valerie were going to be seriously hurt left me very sad. I enjoyed it nonetheless and this book is worth a read. Show Less
LibraryThing member bribre01
Another great book with relatable characters from Emily Giffin. However, I would like to see her move away from the "cheating husband/boyfriend/wife/girlfriend" theme in her next book. I love her writing style and the way she develops her characters, but the topic is getting a bit redundant.
LibraryThing member tipsister
Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffin is one of those books that is completely frustrating and yet completely readable. The story is a triangle of sorts, two women, one man.
Tessa and Nick have been married for years, with two small children. By all accounts, they have a satisfying, happy marriage.
The reader is treated to two views. We see the story through Tessa's eyes as she begins to doubt her husband's faithfulness. We see the story through Valerie's eyes as a woman who is falling fast for the good looking doctor. Personally, I liked both women. That's what made it all so difficult. I also kind of liked Nick despite him being a cheating husband.
I've read a few other books by Emily Giffin and recognized some of the characters from past books. I always enjoy those little connections. Heart of the Matter is a solid read with believable characters and a believable situation. I recommend it.
Tessa and Nick have been married for years, with two small children. By all accounts, they have a satisfying, happy marriage.
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Nick is a surgeon and works odd hours, something the family is used to. When Nick meets Valerie, the mother of a young boy in his care, he is instantly attracted. The reader is treated to two views. We see the story through Tessa's eyes as she begins to doubt her husband's faithfulness. We see the story through Valerie's eyes as a woman who is falling fast for the good looking doctor. Personally, I liked both women. That's what made it all so difficult. I also kind of liked Nick despite him being a cheating husband.
I've read a few other books by Emily Giffin and recognized some of the characters from past books. I always enjoy those little connections. Heart of the Matter is a solid read with believable characters and a believable situation. I recommend it.
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LibraryThing member khager
I completely adored this book. It's about two women who have very little in common. One (Tessa) is married, and a stay-at-home-mom to their two kids and the other (Valerie) is a single mom who works as a lawyer. But there's one common link--Tessa's husband, Nick, is getting increasingly involved
The thing is, it'd be so easy to hate Valerie, but she's pretty awesome. And so is Tessa (who goes by Tess, a name I love). The only character in the story I didn't like was Nick (but I guess that's pretty obligatory, right? You tend to not like the cheater).
Such a good, fun book. And I'm happy because Emily Giffin's starting to release books every year.
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with Valerie.The thing is, it'd be so easy to hate Valerie, but she's pretty awesome. And so is Tessa (who goes by Tess, a name I love). The only character in the story I didn't like was Nick (but I guess that's pretty obligatory, right? You tend to not like the cheater).
Such a good, fun book. And I'm happy because Emily Giffin's starting to release books every year.
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LibraryThing member scoutlee
From the outside looking in, Tessa and Nick have a good marriage. Tessa gave up her successful career to be a stay-at-home to their two children Ruby and Frank. Nick is a prestigious plastic surgeon. I think both husband and wife would say their marriage is solid.
An unfortunate accident at a
The Heart of the Matter is Ms. Giffin’s latest book. Told in alternating voices, the novel explores what happens when two women have feelings for the same man. Tessa comes from a family where her dad repeatedly was unfaithful to her mother and ended up marrying his mistress. Their history will impact Tessa as becomes aware of the relationship Nick has with Valerie.
Valerie, on the other hand, is a single, working mother who comes to realize the significance of not having a father is to Charlie. So when Nick enters the picture, it’s a relief that someone is there for both Charlie and herself.
Fans of Ms. Giffin will enjoy this novel. Familiar characters will resurface and it’s like catching up with old friends. I found this novel hard to put down. My hope is Ms. Giffin will bring back Nick, Tessa, Valerie and their families in a follow-up novel.
An unfortunate accident at a
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child’s party brings Nick and Valerie together. Valerie’s son Charlie suffers severe burns and Nick is his surgeon. During Charlie’s extensive hospital stay, Nick and Valerie become close. What starts innocently enough as a doctor trying to calm his patient’s mother, turns into feelings that neither Valerie nor Nick can deny.The Heart of the Matter is Ms. Giffin’s latest book. Told in alternating voices, the novel explores what happens when two women have feelings for the same man. Tessa comes from a family where her dad repeatedly was unfaithful to her mother and ended up marrying his mistress. Their history will impact Tessa as becomes aware of the relationship Nick has with Valerie.
Valerie, on the other hand, is a single, working mother who comes to realize the significance of not having a father is to Charlie. So when Nick enters the picture, it’s a relief that someone is there for both Charlie and herself.
Fans of Ms. Giffin will enjoy this novel. Familiar characters will resurface and it’s like catching up with old friends. I found this novel hard to put down. My hope is Ms. Giffin will bring back Nick, Tessa, Valerie and their families in a follow-up novel.
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LibraryThing member shadiphoenix
So It wasn't until after I finished this book that I realized that I knew the characters of Dex and Rachel from Emily Giffin's first book, "Something Borrowed". That gave me some better context for this whole story, as it is Dex's sister's story, but reading Giffin's earlier book or books isn't
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needed to understand this one. First there is Tessa, the wife of surgeon Nick Russo and mother to Ruby and Frank. There is Nick, himself, a specialist in children's plastic surgery. And there is Valerie and her son Charlie, whose accident is the catalyst for what happens next. Told interesting enough in the first-person by Tessa and every-other chapter told in the third person with Valerie, this is a novel of cheating, of love, of affairs, and affairs of the heart. It is about two women, so different and yet so similiar, who for one fateful year have their lives intertwined. This book is about what it means to be in love and the fact that there are no easy answers, no pat solutions to the various problems of life. However it points out the shallowness of existence for some, the search for meaning where there is no meaning for others, and the generally bad impulses that lead to bad decisions and bad consequences for everyone. Of course if it weren't for the shallowness of their lives and the bad impulses, Emily Giffin wouldn't have a book. But I can't help but think that if Nick and Tessa had just once totally talked about how they were feeling and thinking, that some of what happened could have been averted. And if Valerie hadn't pushed so many people away in her life, she wouldn't have been so vulnerable.Yet it's hard not to empathize with them all, at one point or another. Yes Tessa could have been a little less whiny and resentful, Nick could have been more open about how he was feeling and more involved in his family's lives, but for the most part you could agonize with them and wonder "What would I do in this situation?". So if you're looking for a good read with dysfunctional characters this might be it. But be prepared to cry and to occasionally hate each character in their turn. Isn't that life anyways? Show Less
LibraryThing member drhusnafadzil
This book will have you going between 2 women, Tessa and Valerie. Tessa is a married mother of 2, not sure where she fits in this world. Motherhood is demanding, n being a wife of a surgeon who works long hours has left Tessa wondering if this is what it is supposed to be like. Then comes Valerie,
However, Nick Russo n Valerie start spending too much time together n one thing leads to another.
It gets so good in this book, u can't possibly put it down the last hundred pages so u can find out if Nick chooses his family or Valerie n her son n what happens when u make such decisions.
Love, loss, anger, all these emotions are present. U'll find out what Tessa will do when Nick tells her the truth n find out how they all come to terms with the truth!..(^^,)v
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a single mother, who has worked hard to be everything to her son. However their lives mix when an accident at a slumber party leaves Charlie scarred physically n his savior Dr. Russo enters.However, Nick Russo n Valerie start spending too much time together n one thing leads to another.
It gets so good in this book, u can't possibly put it down the last hundred pages so u can find out if Nick chooses his family or Valerie n her son n what happens when u make such decisions.
Love, loss, anger, all these emotions are present. U'll find out what Tessa will do when Nick tells her the truth n find out how they all come to terms with the truth!..(^^,)v
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LibraryThing member Luvmytrio456
I have absolutely loved all books from this author. I found this particular book a little different from her previous 4. I thought it was interesting that Emily Giffin wrote from 2 different women's perspective. I found it very interesting.....kept me wondering what Nick's perspective was and why
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he made the choices he made. As a mother and a wife, i found it a little disturbing but still i enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone. Just keep an open mind. Show Less
LibraryThing member bachaney
Heart of the Matter follows Tessa and Valerie, two women with young children living in Wellsley, MA. Tessa is married to Nick, a pediatric plastic surgeon. Valerie meets Nick when her son is in a tragic accident, and is under Nick's care. As the two women's lives are pulled together, they have to
Giffin is an excellent storyteller who always does a great job of getting into the head of her female characters. Heart of the Matter is no exception--and she does a great job shifting the narration back and forth between her two female protagonists. There is great emotional depth to this novel, and even though it is a fairly quick story, I think you will find yourself pulled in.
I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Cynthia Nixon, who did a fantastic job of portraying both women. She used her voice to capture all of the different characters, which really made this novel fun to listen to.
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consider what lies at the heart of the matter--and what will ultimately be best for themselves and their children. Giffin is an excellent storyteller who always does a great job of getting into the head of her female characters. Heart of the Matter is no exception--and she does a great job shifting the narration back and forth between her two female protagonists. There is great emotional depth to this novel, and even though it is a fairly quick story, I think you will find yourself pulled in.
I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Cynthia Nixon, who did a fantastic job of portraying both women. She used her voice to capture all of the different characters, which really made this novel fun to listen to.
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LibraryThing member lewislibrary
This book is told by the viewpoint of two different women who are in love with the same man. I was a very emotional book.. you could really feel the emotions of both women as they told their "side" of the story. I enjoyed how it also incorporated characters (in a minor role) from some of her
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previous books. I have read all of her books, and this one is my favorite yet. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Before I continue, I will confess that I did not read the synopsis very well before I purchased this book. This is one instance where marketing and buzz completely influenced my purchase. Had I been paying closer attention, this would have been a book for which I would have thought twice before
To put it bluntly, I did not like this book at all. The narrator did not help. I adore Cynthia Nixon and have since she was the maid in Amadeus. She was one of the reasons why I chose this audio book over thousands of others. Imagine my disappointment when her voice grated on my nerves and she wrung emotion out of every single sentence, even where none existed. As a narrator, she had a way of trailing off at the ends of sentences, as if to soften the blow of the words, that quickly grew annoying. Had there been another narrator, one who could tell the story without adding extraneous emotion, this might have been a decent audio. Unfortunately, while Cynthia Nixon may be a decent actress, she is not meant to be a narrator for audio books.
Another large failure of the book was my reaction to Tessa, Valerie, and Nick. I felt no real sympathy for any of them and often found myself wanting to slap them upside the head for their inability to remove the blinders. I was particularly discouraged by Ms. Giffin's portrayal of Tessa as a stay-at-home mom and Valerie as a single mother. Both characters are presented as caricatures with dangerous messages. Tessa finds herself lost and unhappy as a stay-at-home mom and reflects on how much she enjoyed working. Valerie is so focused on her job and her son that she fails to establish healthy, normal relationships with other adults. Both of them support and feed into the social competition to attend the right school, have the best decorations, be the perfect mother, be the perfect hostess, and so forth. It is disconcerting to see this represented in print because it a) is not an accurate portrayal of a majority of society and b) involves social norms that do more harm than good.
I was completely disgusted by the selfishness of each character. Each acted according to his or her own wishes and failed to consider the consequences. However, each parent managed to scold his or her child(ren) at one point in the novel for the very same behavior. I often felt that the children acted more like adults than their parents did, as at least they were willing to take responsibility for their actions. The adults did not.
As for the adultery, this is what sent me through the roof. Hour after hour of justification, turning a blind eye, and other excuses for adultery literally turned my stomach. I felt that Ms. Giffin was putting the onus for the adultery on the wife, as if it was her fault her husband strayed. Maybe my picture of adultery is too black and white, but this was truly one area of the novel that upset me to my core. At one point in time, I questioned whether Ms. Giffin were actually defending adultery, and that is, unfortunately, my personal moral line in the sand. Call me naive, call me old-fashioned, but I cannot condone adultery, and this is why I had such issues with Heart of the Matter.
Thankfully, Heart of the Matter ended on a much better note than I expected. For myself, I cannot help being disappointed; I had such high hopes for the novel but feel like I am letting down Ms. Giffin for not having the "correct" reaction. All I can do is chalk this one up to a massive learning experience and move on from there.
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paying money for it. I might have been willing to read it or listen to it for free, but even then, the topic is one about which I have very strong feelings, so I tend to avoid books with this theme of adultery. I am not the target audience of this book and will most likely be in the minority for opinions and feedback. To put it bluntly, I did not like this book at all. The narrator did not help. I adore Cynthia Nixon and have since she was the maid in Amadeus. She was one of the reasons why I chose this audio book over thousands of others. Imagine my disappointment when her voice grated on my nerves and she wrung emotion out of every single sentence, even where none existed. As a narrator, she had a way of trailing off at the ends of sentences, as if to soften the blow of the words, that quickly grew annoying. Had there been another narrator, one who could tell the story without adding extraneous emotion, this might have been a decent audio. Unfortunately, while Cynthia Nixon may be a decent actress, she is not meant to be a narrator for audio books.
Another large failure of the book was my reaction to Tessa, Valerie, and Nick. I felt no real sympathy for any of them and often found myself wanting to slap them upside the head for their inability to remove the blinders. I was particularly discouraged by Ms. Giffin's portrayal of Tessa as a stay-at-home mom and Valerie as a single mother. Both characters are presented as caricatures with dangerous messages. Tessa finds herself lost and unhappy as a stay-at-home mom and reflects on how much she enjoyed working. Valerie is so focused on her job and her son that she fails to establish healthy, normal relationships with other adults. Both of them support and feed into the social competition to attend the right school, have the best decorations, be the perfect mother, be the perfect hostess, and so forth. It is disconcerting to see this represented in print because it a) is not an accurate portrayal of a majority of society and b) involves social norms that do more harm than good.
I was completely disgusted by the selfishness of each character. Each acted according to his or her own wishes and failed to consider the consequences. However, each parent managed to scold his or her child(ren) at one point in the novel for the very same behavior. I often felt that the children acted more like adults than their parents did, as at least they were willing to take responsibility for their actions. The adults did not.
As for the adultery, this is what sent me through the roof. Hour after hour of justification, turning a blind eye, and other excuses for adultery literally turned my stomach. I felt that Ms. Giffin was putting the onus for the adultery on the wife, as if it was her fault her husband strayed. Maybe my picture of adultery is too black and white, but this was truly one area of the novel that upset me to my core. At one point in time, I questioned whether Ms. Giffin were actually defending adultery, and that is, unfortunately, my personal moral line in the sand. Call me naive, call me old-fashioned, but I cannot condone adultery, and this is why I had such issues with Heart of the Matter.
Thankfully, Heart of the Matter ended on a much better note than I expected. For myself, I cannot help being disappointed; I had such high hopes for the novel but feel like I am letting down Ms. Giffin for not having the "correct" reaction. All I can do is chalk this one up to a massive learning experience and move on from there.
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LibraryThing member traciragas
I don’t think this story had any real winners. It is a story of deceit, honesty, love, and forgiveness. At times, you love the characters and other times you want to shake them and tell them to wake up. This was a truly sad story. It was balanced, told as all the other reviews point out, by both
Some of the supporting characters (April and Romy) were superficial to the millionth degree. Rachel and Dex made appearances again (Dex is Tessa's brother). And I couldn't help but look past what Valerie was doing and somewhat understand. I don't know what this says about me, I couldn't identify with her pain, but I can understand she was in a hard spot. Tessa at the end, redeems herself, with a level of grace, I've never seen. Like Giffin's other books, it is real and without pretense.
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the wife and the “mistress”. It was well written, I enjoyed the story, but it was still a very sad subject.Some of the supporting characters (April and Romy) were superficial to the millionth degree. Rachel and Dex made appearances again (Dex is Tessa's brother). And I couldn't help but look past what Valerie was doing and somewhat understand. I don't know what this says about me, I couldn't identify with her pain, but I can understand she was in a hard spot. Tessa at the end, redeems herself, with a level of grace, I've never seen. Like Giffin's other books, it is real and without pretense.
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LibraryThing member Books007
Tessa chose to quit her job and stay-at-home with their children while her husband Nick, a ped. plastic surgeon, supported them. Valerie, a single mother, let her child attend a slumber party where a campfire accident left her child, Charlie, burned. Nick becomes Charlie's doctor. Soon, Nick and
Wish the book would not have ended when it did. I'm not convinced at the resolution that happened but it is what it is.
I can't say this book was one of the my favorites by Emily (I found it hard/sad to read about the relationship crumbling) but it was realistic and worth reading.
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Valerie become close friends and Tessa suspects Nick is having an affair after signs of their marrage crumbling become more and more obvious. Not going to go any farther as to what happens (don't want to spoil the book.)Wish the book would not have ended when it did. I'm not convinced at the resolution that happened but it is what it is.
I can't say this book was one of the my favorites by Emily (I found it hard/sad to read about the relationship crumbling) but it was realistic and worth reading.
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LibraryThing member raidergirl3
Who's fault is it when there is an affair in a marriage? The other woman? The husband? The wife? Heart of the Matter takes a very balanced look at an affair and shows how messy and hurtful it is for everyone involved.
Alternating chapters between the wife, Tessa and the other woman, Valerie give
I didn't realize until after that two of the characters, Tessa's brother Dex and his wife Rachel are from Giffin's first books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue. It's been a long time since I've read those books, but I remember Giffin writing an affair story that makes the reader again question whose fault is it in an affair. Those books also played with point of view as Something Blue retells Something Borrowed from the other character's point of view. Maybe affairs and point of view are Giffin's trademark storytelling style, and I shouldn't be bothered; I should just go with it and know to expect that from now on.
My other concern in the story was that the characters are all quite perfect in their reactions. They all seem to be straight out of a therapist's chair, with mature dealings, for the most part, and good analysis of their actions. However, I am nitpicking here, because I read this book quickly, quite absorbed in the story. The characters were real, yet flawed, doing the best they can in an awful situation. It's like watching a train-wreck because people are definitely going to get hurt, but since I watch Big Brother, I am a train-wreck kind of girl. It's a chick lit type of book, but I never really like that label - how about 'great read with women as characters dealing with real life since books about emotions and women (who read a lot of books) are just as important as war might be'?
Alternating chapters between the wife, Tessa and the other woman, Valerie give
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both sides of the story so neither is the wrong one although poor husband Nick doesn't get to give his side of the story. I found this aspect interesting (and somewhat confusing) because Tessa gets to tell her story in first person, but Valerie is relegated to third person, even though both were written with the same level of insight into their thoughts. I thought they should have been either both first person, which it essentially was, or stay a little further from Valerie's viewpoint, a little less omniscient. If I am supposed to know Valerie's thought process, let me hear it from her first person. I really got distracted by this point of view issue, as it kept jarring me as the chapter would change, and I was wondering what the purpose between the different viewpoints was. It kept taking me out of the story, which was too bad, because Giffin writes a great bookI didn't realize until after that two of the characters, Tessa's brother Dex and his wife Rachel are from Giffin's first books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue. It's been a long time since I've read those books, but I remember Giffin writing an affair story that makes the reader again question whose fault is it in an affair. Those books also played with point of view as Something Blue retells Something Borrowed from the other character's point of view. Maybe affairs and point of view are Giffin's trademark storytelling style, and I shouldn't be bothered; I should just go with it and know to expect that from now on.
My other concern in the story was that the characters are all quite perfect in their reactions. They all seem to be straight out of a therapist's chair, with mature dealings, for the most part, and good analysis of their actions. However, I am nitpicking here, because I read this book quickly, quite absorbed in the story. The characters were real, yet flawed, doing the best they can in an awful situation. It's like watching a train-wreck because people are definitely going to get hurt, but since I watch Big Brother, I am a train-wreck kind of girl. It's a chick lit type of book, but I never really like that label - how about 'great read with women as characters dealing with real life since books about emotions and women (who read a lot of books) are just as important as war might be'?
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LibraryThing member Jenners26
Story Overview
Tessa is happily married to dashing pediatric surgeon Nick Russo. With their two kids and lovely home in Boston, Tessa's life seems perfect. Although she recently gave up her job to focus on being a stay-at-home mom, she's finding the adjustment a little difficult. Her new "mommy"
Valerie is a single mom whose life revolves around her six-year-old son Charlie. With her brother as her primary support system and a successful career as a lawyer, Valerie tells herself she is content with her life. But when Charlie is injured in an accident, she finds herself drawn to Charlie's surgeon, Dr. Russo. Not sure if her attraction is just the result of gratitude for his care of her son or something more, Valerie suddenly feels the lack of romance in her life. But Dr. Russo is a happily married man. So why does he seem like he wants to be more than just friends too?
My Thoughts
Ack. What to say about this book? I so wish that Giffin hadn't chosen adultery as her theme to explore because—DARN IT—she makes both Tessa and Valerie likable and sympathetic characters. In some ways, that is the "twist" of this book. Giffin makes you sympathize with the "other woman" and the wife. Both are good women struggling; you want both of them to be happy.
However, I think this is the big problem with the book. The adultery theme just messes it up. First of all, Nick is a bit of a cipher. He's described mostly in terms of his good looks and his professional skills. He never really registered for me as a well-developed character. Because the book is told alternately from Tessa's point of view and Valerie's point of view, we get inside their thoughts and they came alive for me as women. But I never quite got a fix on Nick ... or why he made the choices he did. I think the book would have been much stronger if we'd gotten three points of view: Nick, Tessa and Valerie.
As it is, we are given these likable women characters and they are forced to agonize over a man. Ugh. This was my first experience with Emily Giffin's writing (Note: I cannot tell you how I struggle not to write "Griffin" instead of "Giffin" each time I type the author's last name.) I've seen her books around for ages but never really felt compelled to read them. So when I had the chance to check out her latest book, I thought "Well, why not? Everyone enjoys a good chick lit book every now and then." (For that is what these books always seemed like to me.) The thing is: I think Giffin is a decent writer. I related to a lot of Tessa's struggles as a stay-at-home mom. This particular excerpt particularly rang true to me:
EXCERPT: "It occurs to me that a pretty easy fix would be to eat the French toast myself and make a fresh piece for Ruby, but there is something so thoroughly maddening about her expression that I find myself silently reciting the advice of my pediatrician, several how-to books, and my stay-at-home mother friend: do not surrender to her demands. A philosophy that runs in marked contrast to the parenting adage I normally subscribe to: choose your battles—which I confess is secret code for hold your ground only if it's convenient; otherwise, appease the subject in order to make your life easier."
So, the thing is, I enjoyed reading this book but, at the same time, I disliked the plot and the choices that Giffin made for her characters. Does that even make sense? In some ways, I wish Valerie and Tessa could have each had their own book and weren't forced to agonize over Nick. (He just didn't seem worth fighting over.) Or, if Giffin had given Nick a voice, perhaps this book would have worked for me. As it is, it felt like one critical character was missing from this love triangle, and his absence weakens the book. That said, I enjoyed Giffin's writing enough that I would be willing to check out one of her earlier books.
My Final Recommendation
Although I enjoyed Giffin's writing, this book felt like it was missing the presence of a key character, which kept it from working for me. If you're a Giffin fan, I imagine you'll read this one regardless. If, like me, this was your first exposure to Giffin, it was still good enough to make me want to check out her other books, despite this one having some problems. She seems to have a skill at writing women characters, but I'd love to see if she could write from a man's point of view as well.
Tessa is happily married to dashing pediatric surgeon Nick Russo. With their two kids and lovely home in Boston, Tessa's life seems perfect. Although she recently gave up her job to focus on being a stay-at-home mom, she's finding the adjustment a little difficult. Her new "mommy"
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friends are ridiculed by Nick for being shallow, but Tessa finds that they fill a need. Besides, Nick is often missing in action—called to the hospital for an emergency during their anniversary dinner, visiting his patients outside of rounds. Yet Tessa is proud of what Nick does, even if it seems to use up most of his energies. But lately Tessa is feeling that something is a bit off. Not sure if it her imagination or something real, she begins to see cracks in her perfect life and marriage.Valerie is a single mom whose life revolves around her six-year-old son Charlie. With her brother as her primary support system and a successful career as a lawyer, Valerie tells herself she is content with her life. But when Charlie is injured in an accident, she finds herself drawn to Charlie's surgeon, Dr. Russo. Not sure if her attraction is just the result of gratitude for his care of her son or something more, Valerie suddenly feels the lack of romance in her life. But Dr. Russo is a happily married man. So why does he seem like he wants to be more than just friends too?
My Thoughts
Ack. What to say about this book? I so wish that Giffin hadn't chosen adultery as her theme to explore because—DARN IT—she makes both Tessa and Valerie likable and sympathetic characters. In some ways, that is the "twist" of this book. Giffin makes you sympathize with the "other woman" and the wife. Both are good women struggling; you want both of them to be happy.
However, I think this is the big problem with the book. The adultery theme just messes it up. First of all, Nick is a bit of a cipher. He's described mostly in terms of his good looks and his professional skills. He never really registered for me as a well-developed character. Because the book is told alternately from Tessa's point of view and Valerie's point of view, we get inside their thoughts and they came alive for me as women. But I never quite got a fix on Nick ... or why he made the choices he did. I think the book would have been much stronger if we'd gotten three points of view: Nick, Tessa and Valerie.
As it is, we are given these likable women characters and they are forced to agonize over a man. Ugh. This was my first experience with Emily Giffin's writing (Note: I cannot tell you how I struggle not to write "Griffin" instead of "Giffin" each time I type the author's last name.) I've seen her books around for ages but never really felt compelled to read them. So when I had the chance to check out her latest book, I thought "Well, why not? Everyone enjoys a good chick lit book every now and then." (For that is what these books always seemed like to me.) The thing is: I think Giffin is a decent writer. I related to a lot of Tessa's struggles as a stay-at-home mom. This particular excerpt particularly rang true to me:
EXCERPT: "It occurs to me that a pretty easy fix would be to eat the French toast myself and make a fresh piece for Ruby, but there is something so thoroughly maddening about her expression that I find myself silently reciting the advice of my pediatrician, several how-to books, and my stay-at-home mother friend: do not surrender to her demands. A philosophy that runs in marked contrast to the parenting adage I normally subscribe to: choose your battles—which I confess is secret code for hold your ground only if it's convenient; otherwise, appease the subject in order to make your life easier."
So, the thing is, I enjoyed reading this book but, at the same time, I disliked the plot and the choices that Giffin made for her characters. Does that even make sense? In some ways, I wish Valerie and Tessa could have each had their own book and weren't forced to agonize over Nick. (He just didn't seem worth fighting over.) Or, if Giffin had given Nick a voice, perhaps this book would have worked for me. As it is, it felt like one critical character was missing from this love triangle, and his absence weakens the book. That said, I enjoyed Giffin's writing enough that I would be willing to check out one of her earlier books.
My Final Recommendation
Although I enjoyed Giffin's writing, this book felt like it was missing the presence of a key character, which kept it from working for me. If you're a Giffin fan, I imagine you'll read this one regardless. If, like me, this was your first exposure to Giffin, it was still good enough to make me want to check out her other books, despite this one having some problems. She seems to have a skill at writing women characters, but I'd love to see if she could write from a man's point of view as well.
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LibraryThing member SissyCa
I was a huge fan of Something Borrowed and Something Blue, but her last few books have been good reads but nothing special. After reading the cover synopsis I questioned whether or not I actually wanted to read this book, but one night at 8:00 I started for a lack of other things to do. A chapter
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into it I was still not sold and started leafing through the pages and noticed Dex and Rachel’s names. I kept on reading and ended up reading the entire book that evening because I couldn’t put it down. This story centers on Dex’s sister Tess and her marriage to a prominent pediatric surgeon and the struggles they endure when their love for one another is tested. This is a wonderfully written story that made it hard to find fault with the flawed characters. I enjoyed the book very much and would highly recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member JDove
Emily Giffin has a great way of taking a topic that many people feel very strongly about and helps you see it from all sides. I like the way that each chapter switched from Tessa to Valerie. It truly is a sad story with a message that regardless of the outcome everyone is going to have hurt and
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issues that need to be resolved. I loved how Dex and Rachel were wound into the story and liked reading about them again. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend reading it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nikkiroo
Heart of the matter was definitely an interesting book. The heart of the matter is about a couple that lives in the suburbs of Boston the husband is a plastic surgeon, then one woman named Valerie a single mother. Valerie son has an awful accident and the plastic surgeon becomes his doctor. Then
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the rest of the book is seeing how one side the marriage is falling apart while on the other side Valerie and the husband are becoming more close. I was surprised by how much I felt torn between the two women wanting them both to end up with Nick. I like the author’s way of developing the characters and style of writing but I don’t think this would be my top book to recommend. Show Less
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
384 p.; 9.48 inches
ISBN
0312554168 / 9780312554163