Description:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this irresistible novel from the author of All We Ever Wanted and Something Borrowed, a young woman falls hard for an impossibly perfect man before he disappears without a trace. . . .

It’s 2 A.M. on a Saturday night in the spring of 2001, and twenty-eight-year-old Cecily Gardner sits alone in a dive bar in New York’s East Village, questioning her life. Feeling lonesome and homesick for the Midwest, she wonders if she’ll ever make it as a reporter in the big city—and whether she made a terrible mistake in breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew.

As Cecily reaches for the phone to call him, she hears a guy on the barstool next to her say, “Don’t do it—you’ll regret it.” Something tells her to listen, and over the next several hours—and shots of tequila—the two forge an unlikely connection. That should be it, they both decide the next morning, as Cecily reminds herself of the perils of a rebound relationship. Moreover, their timing couldn’t be worse—Grant is preparing to quit his job and move overseas. Yet despite all their obstacles, they can’t seem to say goodbye, and for the first time in her carefully constructed life, Cecily follows her heart instead of her head.

Then Grant disappears in the chaos of 9/11. Fearing the worst, Cecily spots his face on a missing-person poster, and realizes she is not the only one searching for him. Her investigative reporting instincts kick into action as she vows to discover the truth. But the questions pile up fast: How well did she really know Grant? Did he ever really love her? And is it possible to love a man who wasn’t who heseemed to be?

The Lies That Bind is a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant exploration of the never-ending search for love and truth—in our relationships, our careers, and deep within our own hearts.

Review

Praise for Emily Giffin

“Giffin is a worldwide best-selling author because she gets under your skin—by creating relatable characters wrestling within believable situations.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Giffin [has a] trademark ability to capture the complexities of human emotions while telling a rip-roaring tale.”—The Washington Post

“Giffin’s talent is pretty much unparalleled when it comes to the modern woman’s story about life, love and family.”—Redbook

About the Author

Emily Giffin is the author of nine internationally bestselling novels: Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You’re With, Heart of the Matter, Where We Belong, The One & Only, First Comes Love, and All We Ever Wanted. A graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

chapter one

May 2001

It is sometime between one and two in the morning, and I am sitting alone in a grungy, graffiti-covered dive bar in the East Village. The vibe is mellow, the crowd as eclectic as the jukebox—a blend of rock and metal, punk and hip-hop. At the moment, Dido is crooning “Thank You,” the ballad I loved, then overplayed and tired of, which now just fills me with aching lonesomeness.

As I finish a pint of stout, I make eye contact with the bartender, a middle-aged, gray-haired man who is pleasant but not chatty. “Would you like another?” he asks with a hint of an Irish accent I didn’t notice before.

“Yes, please,” I say, then, against my better judgment, ask if they have a pay phone.

He tells me they do, but it’s out of service. I feel a wave of relief, until he hands me a cordless phone from behind the bar and says I’m welcome to use it if it’s not long distance. I stare down at the receiver, thinking that this is precisely why Scottie, my best friend since the first grade, told me to stay in and not drink. Batten down the hatches, he had coached me from our hometown of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, explaining that I wasn’t ready to be tested by a buzz.

I initially followed his advice, hunkering down on my secondhand slipcovered sofa to eat Thai takeout and watch the shows I’d been videotaping all week: Will & Grace and The West Wing, Frasier and Friends, Survivor and The Sopranos. Television, I’d discovered in the week since Matthew and I had broken up, had the numbing effect of alcohol without the obvious pitfalls, and it eventually lulled me to sleep, one step closer to the elusive promise of time healing all.

But sometime around midnight, after transferring from my sofa to my bed across my four-hundred-square-foot studio apartment, I snapped wide awake to a disjointed but decidedly R-rated dream featuring Matthew and Jennifer Aniston—or to be more precise, Rachel Green, who also happened to be cheating on Ross. Staring up at a water stain on my plaster ceiling, I told myself that it actually wouldn’t be cheating in our case—we were broken up, not “on a break”—but I still felt irrationally pissed, imagining Matthew with someone new, moving on before I could. Of course, the opposite could also be true. He could be staring up at his ceiling, missing me, too. Maybe he’d even caved and called me.

I reached for my cellphone on the nightstand, flipping it open, checking for a voicemail or even a missed call. Nothing. I got up, stumbled over to my desk, and stared into that damn red eye on my answering machine, taunting me with the reminder that I had No. New. Messages. The last step was to turn on my computer and check my AOL email and Instant Messenger—the portal where Matthew and I once communicated throughout our workday. Still nothing. That’s when the panic set in. Panic that I’d never be able to fall back asleep; panic that even if I did fall asleep, all that awaited me was a lonely Sunday morning; and most of all, panic that I would look back at this fork in the road as the biggest mistake of my life. That Matthew would become my One Who Got Away. The one I pushed away simply because I had no guarantee of a future with him.

Like an alcoholic holding a bottle of vodka, I ran my fingers over the keyboard, craving the familiar, asking myself what it would really hurt to say hello. I told myself not to do it. Not only because of pride, but because I didn’t want to go backward. The first week was surely the hardest. It had to get easier. I had to be strong. And that’s when I made the split-second decision to leave my apartment, get some fresh air, move away from my electronic instruments of self-destruction.

Within seconds, I was brushing my teeth, running a comb through my hair, and stripping off my T-shirt and ancient plaid flannel pajama pants. I rifled through my open hamper, pulling on a baby-doll dress and a black cardigan. Both pieces were wrinkled and smelled faintly of the greasy diner on Lexington Avenue where I’d eaten earlier that day, but I put them on anyway, figuring there was no point in wearing anything nice—or even clean—for a late-night stroll. Strategically leaving my cellphone behind, I grabbed my purse, threw on my Steve Madden platform slides, then headed out the door, locking up with keys attached to my University of Wisconsin nylon Velcro wallet, a vestige from grad school that Matthew once told me was “cute” and “so you”—which I now saw as a backhanded compliment. A you’re-not-quite-good-enough-to-marry kind of comment.

I walked down the narrow gray corridor, past neighbors I would never know, bypassing the claustrophobic elevator that I took only when carrying groceries—and almost never without imagining being trapped inside and slowly suffocating. The thwaps of my footsteps echoed as I descended four flights of the concrete stairwell to a doorman-less lobby so hideous that it should have been a deal breaker when I was apartment hunting. Three of the walls were covered in a trippy orange wallpaper; the fourth was smoke-mirrored—and not in a cool deco way, but in a depressing, dated way. I caught a glimpse of myself, the word frumpy coming to mind, a tough feat at age twentyeight. But I looked on the bright side: My current appearance would serve as an insurance policy against “running into” Matthew—say, at the doorstep of his apartment.

Then I was outside, in the no-man’s-land between Gramercy and the East Village. As I inhaled the warm night air, I felt the slightest bit better, almost hopeful. After all, this was New York, the city that never sleeps. The possibilities were endless, and summer was coming. It was the feeling I’d had when I moved to the city four years ago—before I’d become jaded. How was it possible to be jaded in your twenties?

I headed east, in the opposite direction from Matthew’s Upper West Side apartment, but with no destination in mind. I considered stopping by the bodega on Second Avenue, which has the best selection of candy and magazines, but kept going, past Stuyvesant Square, then onto Fourteenth Street. Along some of the sketchier blocks, I contemplated digging into my purse for my pepper spray, but there were too many people out and about for me to really worry. It was a concept my parents didn’t grasp, their view of New York rooted in the seventies, back when the city apparently turned into a gauntlet of criminals after nightfall.

When I reached Avenue B, I couldn’t help but think of Rent, the musical that takes place in Alphabet City. It is an impossible ticket to come by—and ridiculously expensive—but Matthew had made it happen for my birthday. I felt a sharp pang of nostalgia and the beginning of a downward spiral, but I told myself to stay the course, literally and figuratively, just as I spotted a bar on the corner of Seventh and B, with Tudor-paned windows and a red castle-arched doorway. It looked promising—soothing even—and I ducked inside, taking a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar.

And that’s how I got to this moment, staring at a cordless phone, nursing my second pint, listening to Dido go on and on about the best day of her life. My willpower crumbling, I pick up the receiver and begin to dial Matthew’s number. I get through all the digits except the last before I hear a deep voice behind me saying, Don’t do it.

Startled, I look over my shoulder and see a guy about my age, maybe a little older, staring down at me. He is tall—basketball player tall—with a five o’clock shadow and strong, dark features.

“What’d you say?” I ask, thinking I must have heard him wrong.

“I said, ‘Don’t do it.’ Don’t call him.” He is stone-faced, but something in his brown eyes looks amused.

Too dumbfounded to issue an outright denial, I say, “What makes you think I was calling a him?”

He shrugs, takes the stool next to mine, and says, “Well? Am I right?”

I shrug, fight a smile, and tell him yeah, he’s right.

“Who is he?”

“My ex.”

“Well. He’s your ex for a reason. Onward.”

I stare at him, speechless, thinking that it’s almost as if he’s a secret agent hired by Scottie to spy on me. Or maybe he’s my personal guardian angel, like Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Meanwhile, the bartender returns, and my new stool mate orders a Jack and Coke while gazing up at the wall of liquor partitioning the bar. “And . . . let’s see . . . two shots of Goldschläger.”

“Goldschläger?” I say with a laugh. “Didn’t see that coming.”

“I’m full of surprises,” he says. “And you look like you need it.”

I shake my head and tell him I don’t do shots.

“That’s a lie right there,” he says, smiling at me.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Beginnings

B.A. · May 12, 2025

I loved this book. A breakup, a new development, and a wedding. What’s not to love? But all is not what it seems. An easy to read romantic, however difficult story of forgiveness and forever. Surprises galore. I highly recommend reading this book! I read Emily Giffin books earlier in her career as a writer, and she has only progressed in her writing abilities. I actually cried more than once throughout the story. Enjoy!

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Beach Read with Lots of Twists & Turns

R.B. · June 30, 2020

Cecily had given her boyfriend Matthew an ultimate after several years of marriage. Unfortunately it doesn't go as she hoped. One night she can't sleep so she decides to head to a Dive Bar where she meets the mysterious Grant. They embark on a whirlwind romance until Grant needs to head to Europe for family reasons.Cecily tells Grant she will wait for him over the summer. Matthew reappears but too little too late. Grant returns right before 9/11. 9/11 happens & Cecily hits the ground running as she is a reporter.While covering 9/11 stories, she comes across a missing person poster of Grant. She realizes someone is missing him & he has only 1 brother so she decides to investigate his life. While continuing to investigate she gets some unwelcome surprises. She further infiltrates his life to get answers to her questions.She decides to reunite with Matthew. After a while he proposes. She accepts & is surprised by a new life. Will this surprise cause them to break up?Twists & turns continue to happen to all the characters. I like Emily Giffin for this reason but this book they are unrealistic. This is the reason I gave it 3 stars. It was a quick easy read if you are looking for a beach read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Read in almost one sitting!

S.K. · June 6, 2020

It has been a while since I read an Emily Giffin novel (or any novel that isn’t directed to first graders #teacherlife because I’m too tired to read for myself at the end of the day) during this quarantine I have rediscovered my love for Emily’s novels.I INHALED this book in one night. I started it last night and fell asleep reading only to wake back up at 4 am unable to go back to sleep until I read more.Emily has this knack of making some flawed characters likable (Cecily, Grant), as well as making some of my favorite supporting characters (Scottie I want you to have your own novel because I adored you).This book kept me guessing the whole way through and like I said I could NOT stop. I have always had a love affair with NYC and I was a Freshman in college at Indiana University (here’s to you Darcy and Rachel) when 9/11 happened and the experience is so forever engrained in my memory. This was a poignant backdrop for the events of this book made me reminisce the good and bad of this time.The love affair I have with NYC and ultimately the love Cecily finds for herself may make this one of my favorite novels of Emily’s.Emily... here’s to you. I also inhaled “All We Ever Wanted” in a day during this quarantine. You have a knack for weaving a world I can’t and don’t want to leave.

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read

B. · February 25, 2025

I really liked this book because it was so different than Emily Giffin’s other books.The plot really held my interest as did the characters.

3.0 out of 5 stars Frustrating, Tiresome & Overwrought

S.M.B. · July 14, 2020

For the book to work, the reader has to willingly suspend belief, credibility and common sense. Integrity, too. It is well-written, but so implausible. We find Cecily, the often-irritating, late-twenties heroine, frustrated by Matthew’s lack of commitment. They break up. A month later, she embarks on an impulsive, swooning fling with Grant, the gorgeous l’ve-never-felt-this-way-before guy, who quickly takes Matthew’s place. Matthew is indignant when Cecily abruptly moves on, but she is oblivious, giddy and preoccupied with Grant. We then discover that Grant has a terminally ill twin and unexpected tragedy strikes. Mystifyingly, soon thereafter, Cecily returns to Matthew, and they become engaged. Improbably, Cecily befriends Grant’s wife and considers not telling Matthew that their baby may not be his... Yes, plot twists abound, and the story is an ever-changing soap opera. Nothing is as it seems. Yet, at the center of all of this self-induced chaos and lack of communication, is Cecily, perpetually shallow, immature and seemingly incapable of making adult decisions and choices. Maybe I’ve outgrown Giffin’s books or perhaps her writing has changed. What was once well-crafted, complex, compelling drama, now just seems childish and over-the-top. The story arc does eventually see Cecily becoming wiser, more reflective and self-reliant, but her initial lies and deception make her a difficult character to consistently root for. I wanted to like this book, but found it to be frustrating, tiresome and overwrought. Not a favorite.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing to go back in time with The Lies that Bind

Y. · July 29, 2020

LOVED THIS BOOK! The Lies that Bind takes you back in time to NYC 2001. It is a time capsule of a complicated love story filled with feelings and happenings before and after 9/11. With vivid imagery and thoughtful descriptions, Ms. Giffin brings NYC, London, and Wisconsin to life and into our homes in this mesmerizing novel that I could not put down. You can't help but smile when the author references things like blackberry phones, Pretty in Pink, the hot doctor Luka from ER, Liz Phair, AC/DC and wearing Clinique Happy. Totally relatable! And then she reignites all the emotions when she describes the World Trade Center getting hit on 9/11. So many unexpected twists and turns followed by many loud gasps on my part! You are drawn in to the lives of these characters and are rooting for all of them to succeed. This book is just what I needed to escape today's reality and jump back into 2001. One of my FAVORITE EMILY GIFFIN BOOKS!!

Für mich überschätzt - viel Blabla - Grant ist irgendwie nur eine Nebengeschichte

J. · May 16, 2021

Nach dem Lesen der Beschreibung hier bei Bolo habe ich eine Geschichte erwartet, in der dem verstorbenem Ex-Lover so richtig auf dem Grund gegangen wird. Also ermittelt, was da passiert ist, was er getan hat, wer er war und wie alles abgelaufen ist.Nun ja, das hätte so eine richtig spannende Geschichte werden können.Tatsächlich strickt sich das Buch so:45% sind die Geschichte mit ihr und Grand nachdem sie Matthew verlassen hatab 60% der Geschichte kommt sie der Idee sich mit Grant näher zu befassen (was so ungefähr 20 Seiten drüber nachdenken sind und vielleicht 3 Seiten Aktion)die letzten 35 % befassen sich mit allem Drumherum und ein wenigen Gedanken zu den VorfällenKurz: Das hätte man mit einer Kurzgeschichte erzählen können.Das ganze Larifari ist viel Lärm um nichts. Es ist aufgeblasen bis zum Gehnichtmehr - doch in einem schönen gut lesbaren Schreibstil.Nein, ich würde es nicht wieder kaufen - ich habe es zu Ende gelesen, weil ich dachte, da kommt noch irgendeine wahnsinnige spannende Geschichte - nö- gab es nicht.

Lots of potential but fell short

D. · September 4, 2020

I’ve read all of Emily Giffen’s books and consider myself to be a fan, which is why I purchased this book. I’m a big fan of chick lit and am very accustomed to the fact that most chick lit books generally end with a semi-predictable ending.I read this book over two days and was quite excited when I started reading it as I hadn’t read anything that kept my interest in a while. I was really enjoying the book until about 3/4 into the book when the plot just started unravelling and became more and more ridiculous. I didn’t expect a serious ending but <<<<<SPOILER ALERT>>>> found a character having faked their death to avoid the FBI, a love child, convenient reactions to cheating and a slap dash post- jail reunion a bit much to stomach. I’m particular disappointed given how much I was enjoying the book up to that point.On another note, this book was only available in hardback, which meant it was probably double the price of the average paperback. While I like the author, I don’t think this book was worth hardback pricing.

The Lies That Bind: A Novel

A.M. · September 12, 2021

Te atrapa y no puedes parar de leer. Ideal para las personas que gustan de las novelas románticas con un twist. Sigue todo el estilo de las novelas anteriores de la autora, pero es igualmente disfrutable.

Me encantó!

C.d.A. · July 9, 2020

Uno de los mejores libros de EG, pudiera decir que es mi favorito de todos o al menos en el top 3.

Emily delivers again

K.G. · October 9, 2020

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book due to the reviews but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a bit slow at first but really umped up. I enjoyed it immensely

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The Lies That Bind: A Novel

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Rating: 4.4 (11 reviews)

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Visit the Ballantine Books Store

The Lies That Bind: A Novel

Product ID: U039917897K

Condition: New

4.4

Type: Paperback

^AED86²⁴

Price includes VAT & Import Duties

Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

Description:

Review

About the Author

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Beginnings

B.A. · May 12, 2025

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Beach Read with Lots of Twists & Turns

R.B. · June 30, 2020

5.0 out of 5 stars Read in almost one sitting!

S.K. · June 6, 2020

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read

B. · February 25, 2025

I really liked this book because it was so different than Emily Giffin’s other books.The plot really held my interest as did the characters.

3.0 out of 5 stars Frustrating, Tiresome & Overwrought

S.M.B. · July 14, 2020

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing to go back in time with The Lies that Bind

Y. · July 29, 2020

Für mich überschätzt - viel Blabla - Grant ist irgendwie nur eine Nebengeschichte

J. · May 16, 2021

Lots of potential but fell short

D. · September 4, 2020

The Lies That Bind: A Novel

A.M. · September 12, 2021

Me encantó!

C.d.A. · July 9, 2020

Uno de los mejores libros de EG, pudiera decir que es mi favorito de todos o al menos en el top 3.

Emily delivers again

K.G. · October 9, 2020

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book due to the reviews but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a bit slow at first but really umped up. I enjoyed it immensely

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Books

Literature & Fiction

Genre Fiction

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