"Giffin excels at creating complex characters and stories that ask us to explore what we really want from our lives."--Atlanta Journal-Constitut...
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May 18, 2011
Cooper
rated it: 
The formula for HOTM:
Weak women characters + Cheating scandal + Blaming parents for the way they are + Forgiveness on the woman's part = $UCE$$. Let's review.
I am getting very frustrated with the cheating scandal that seems to plague all of her books. Haven't we seen this before?
The story begins with Tessa and Nick, a seemingly perfect couple who have it all. A high powered career, 2 beautiful children, rich friends, yet there are cracks in their foundation. More...
Weak women characters + Cheating scandal + Blaming parents for the way they are + Forgiveness on the woman's part = $UCE$$. Let's review.
I am getting very frustrated with the cheating scandal that seems to plague all of her books. Haven't we seen this before?
The story begins with Tessa and Nick, a seemingly perfect couple who have it all. A high powered career, 2 beautiful children, rich friends, yet there are cracks in their foundation. More...
2 comments
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(25 people liked it)
Jun 15, 2011
Carol
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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3 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Oct 14, 2011
Kristilyn
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 16, 2012
Virginia
rated it:
I am mortified to have to spend precious reading-time on this junk which was inexplicably selected by my book club. Guess we let somebody slip this in without much vetting.
The characterization is lazy and boring.
The men in Tessa's family, though as beautiful as models, are somehow also in 'finance- Goldman Sachs' (oh cool, money) and 'the best pediatric surgeon in the world' (oh cool, money AND he loves children, calling George Clooney)-- and they live in regular suburbs More...
The characterization is lazy and boring.
The men in Tessa's family, though as beautiful as models, are somehow also in 'finance- Goldman Sachs' (oh cool, money) and 'the best pediatric surgeon in the world' (oh cool, money AND he loves children, calling George Clooney)-- and they live in regular suburbs More...
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Dec 27, 2010
Shani
rated it: 
I love the author's style of writing and would have given this book 5 stars if it had an alternate ending option.
*Spoilers* YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
Maybe it's just me, but I was unsatisfied with the way the story ended. It wasn't because the story didn't turn out for the characters the way I had hoped, but the fairytale ending was extremely predictable and bothersome. I know the theme of the story was forgiveness, but sometimes things just need to end. Who goes to a d More...
*Spoilers* YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
Maybe it's just me, but I was unsatisfied with the way the story ended. It wasn't because the story didn't turn out for the characters the way I had hoped, but the fairytale ending was extremely predictable and bothersome. I know the theme of the story was forgiveness, but sometimes things just need to end. Who goes to a d More...
2 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Jun 18, 2010
Sarah
rated it: 
I remarked to someone over the weekend that all of Emily Giffin's books are about cheating. But they aren't. Not really. Just like cheating isn't usually the cause of a relationship breaking up; it's a symptom of a relationship that is already broken. Cheating is the plot of these books, but it isn't what the books are about. They're about choices. They're about growth. And here, the "heart of the matter" is forgiveness.
In this novel, Giffin skillfully tells the story about More...
In this novel, Giffin skillfully tells the story about More...
6 comments
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(25 people liked it)
Apr 13, 2011
Pamela
rated it:
Read for my April bookclub. First, I have to disclose that this is not my preferred genre and the only reason I read "Heart of the Matter" was because it was chosen by my book club. Now...why the three star rating? I couldn't put the book down but I absolutely hated it. What a weird paradox. Giffin sure writes well and she knows how to pull you into a story but I just found the main characters incredibly frustrating. Although they all had their good characteristics, Giffin surely highl
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(9 people liked it)
May 12, 2010
Tina DC
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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5 comments
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(5 people liked it)
Jun 23, 2010
Kristi
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When I began reading this book, actually my first Giffin novel, I had not a clue what it was about. I refused to read reviews, allowing the book's jacket to be my only insight. A wise move since the anticipation simmering page by page and the unpredictability of what lay ahead in the pages of the first two-thirds of this book were terrific.
Therefore, I will do the same; I won't reveal the "heart" of this book. I will only say that Emily Giffin is a gifted writer, as you More...
Therefore, I will do the same; I won't reveal the "heart" of this book. I will only say that Emily Giffin is a gifted writer, as you More...
5 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Aug 20, 2011
Aliyyah
rated it:
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 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
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Aug 05, 2011
I was tremendously disappointed in Giffin's latest book. I am generally a huge fan, and have handed copies of Something Borrowed and Baby Proof to friends who want an entertaining, but realistic and well written novel. One of the most serious problems was the dual point of view. I never found Valerie to be a sympathetic or well-developed character, and thus was jarred whenever leaving Tessa's world. Perhaps Nick would have presented a more interesting point of view, but I found him to be
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Jul 21, 2010
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 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
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6 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Feb 19, 2012
Shifali
rated it:
Honestly,
I didn't feel sorry for Tessa. I thinks he deserved what she got. Yes. I get that she was frustrated with her marriage and Nick's lack of activeness in their marriage and taking care of the kids, but I think somehow she was more responsible for what happened with her.
She was bittersweet. Yes, she loved her family, she loved Nick, her kids and had the heart to forgive him for what he did but at the same time she didn't understand him. And I get why.
She More...
I didn't feel sorry for Tessa. I thinks he deserved what she got. Yes. I get that she was frustrated with her marriage and Nick's lack of activeness in their marriage and taking care of the kids, but I think somehow she was more responsible for what happened with her.
She was bittersweet. Yes, she loved her family, she loved Nick, her kids and had the heart to forgive him for what he did but at the same time she didn't understand him. And I get why.
She More...
Jan 12, 2012
Stephanie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 09, 2011
Books-treasureortrash
rated it:
Book Review; 3 Treasure Boxes
The Russos have the perfect marriage, or so it seems from the outside. A young boy is badly burned. Each family is facing a crisis and how they deal with it determines their true character.
Emily Griffin has written five books and they all fall into the chick-lit genre. Matters of the Heart is told in a first person narrative alternating between the two main protagonists. Tessa Russo is the wife of a prominent pediatric surgeon. Valerie Anders More...
The Russos have the perfect marriage, or so it seems from the outside. A young boy is badly burned. Each family is facing a crisis and how they deal with it determines their true character.
Emily Griffin has written five books and they all fall into the chick-lit genre. Matters of the Heart is told in a first person narrative alternating between the two main protagonists. Tessa Russo is the wife of a prominent pediatric surgeon. Valerie Anders More...
Nov 11, 2011
Maria
rated it:
This was my first Emily Giffin book. I was feeling in the mood for a light, "chick lit" story. I enjoyed Emily's writing, she does inner-dialog very well. I love introspective writing like that. However, I agree with a lot of the other reviews in that there were no redeeming qualities in any of the characters for me. Characters should be flawed, because that's realistic and what makes us relate to them. Despite the flaws, you need to be able to feel a bit of compassion for them t
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Aug 15, 2011
Rach
rated it:
Okay holy s*** this was Emily's worrrrrrst work everrrrr. I usualy love her work but this was just pitiful. The women characters were soooooo weak, and the book essentialy gives the message that cheating is completely forgivable if your husband looks at you with his pretty eyes and says he's sorry, and that it won't happen again, and that it only happened "once" (I personally consider every flirty moment, kiss, and touch cheating).
Not to mention the fact that he doesn't eve More...
Not to mention the fact that he doesn't eve More...
2 comments
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Aug 02, 2011
EParkinson
rated it:
Heart of the Matter is a genuine story of love, betrayal, and growth in relationships. Tessa Russo seems happy as a stay-at-home mother. Her husband, a very intense pediatric plastic surgeon, appears loving towards Tessa and their children, but is also very attached to his job. Valerie Anderson is a single-mom who protects her son from the rich, snobby children and families of the school he attends. Tessa and Valerie, although their children are in the same class, know nothing about each oth
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Jul 19, 2011
Laura
rated it:
This is the second book by Emily Giffin I've read (first was Something Borrowed). I can't say I always enjoy them until I'm almost to the end. Her stories don't have the neat happy endings we're accustomed to in most chick lit.
Giffin tells the story of two women - one married, the other falling in love with her husband. The book alternates between the two women with each chapter told from a different perspective. One is told in first person, the other in third person. I found this m More...
Giffin tells the story of two women - one married, the other falling in love with her husband. The book alternates between the two women with each chapter told from a different perspective. One is told in first person, the other in third person. I found this m More...
Jul 11, 2011
Karah
rated it:
I love Emily Giffin's easy, quick books--they are just perfect for summer reading. "Heart of the Matter" takes place in Boston and follows the life of a pediatric plastic surgeon. His wife has recently quit her job to stay home with the kids and seems to be falling into the stereotypical "housewives" trap. It's clear she is conflicted about her new full time role, and while she doesn't want to worry and care about the perceptions of other wives, she does.
When More...
When More...
Jul 11, 2011
Christine
rated it:
Heart of the Matter revolves around Tessa, a SAHM who recently quit her job to stay home with her two rambunctious kids, Nick, Tessa's pediatric surgeon husband, Charlie, the little boy who tragically finds himself in Nick's care, and Valerie, Charlie's single mother who is still a little broken from her breakup with Charlie's father; a man named Lion who doesn't even know Charlie exists. Their lives become intertwined when Nick and Valerie's relationship goes much farther than doctor/patient (
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 11, 2011
Leighton
rated it:
Spoilers in review!
Sooooo, we're supposed to believe that this renowned surgical attending at Mass Gen (one of top hospitals in the nation) had all this free time to sit around and chat it up and get “friendly” with a patient’s mother and nooooooooobody noticed! Not the nurses, not his interns, residents, NOBODY noticed. He didn’t have any other patients?
The characters got on my nerves, especially Tessa’s friends. Who really does brings wine to a waiting room in a hospi More...
Sooooo, we're supposed to believe that this renowned surgical attending at Mass Gen (one of top hospitals in the nation) had all this free time to sit around and chat it up and get “friendly” with a patient’s mother and nooooooooobody noticed! Not the nurses, not his interns, residents, NOBODY noticed. He didn’t have any other patients?
The characters got on my nerves, especially Tessa’s friends. Who really does brings wine to a waiting room in a hospi More...
Jun 11, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 11, 2011
Kim
rated it:
As usual, this was another great book by Emily Giffin. Not quite as good as the others I have read, but great all the same. The story seems to be a little bit different from the ones I have already read but you can always count on her books to be a great read.
In this book, Tessa has become a stay-at-home mom to her two children, while her husband is a well-renown, good-looking, pediatric surgeon. But Tessa is not worried about his fidelity because it was love at first sight for both More...
In this book, Tessa has become a stay-at-home mom to her two children, while her husband is a well-renown, good-looking, pediatric surgeon. But Tessa is not worried about his fidelity because it was love at first sight for both More...
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May 02, 2011
Machel
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Although I did not agree with the overall storyline and the way it ended, I found myself reading this book without taking breaks, actually reading it in less than a day. I liked the narrative between the two characters, Tessa and Valerie. Honestly, I just wish there would have been more of a completion for Valerie's story. It implies she is going to contact the biological father, which I know will then be the 'real father figure' Charlie needs. I felt the depiction of the women in this novel was
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May 01, 2011
Hannah
rated it:
Blah! The ending was lame. (Serious Spoilers) Shockingly enough, I would have had more respect for Nick had he have of chosen Valerie. It seemed as if he stayed with his wife only because it was the "right" thing to do, not because he truly loved her. Hell, he tells Valerie he wants to take her home and "just be with her" and that it scares him because he will always love her then goes directly home and tells Tessa how he wishes he could take it back! LAAAME! I don't se
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(5 people liked it)
Apr 29, 2011
Romancing the
rated it:
OK... fair warning, there are spoiler alerts in this review. So if you don't know what happens, you might just want to skip the next paragrah. :)
My biggest problem with this book was that it was dealing with Tessa's husband's affair with Valerie. Besides being unfaithful, he was also breaking medical ethics. I totally understand that things like this happen, but I prefer not to read about it. I think the final straw for me was in the end when Tessa forgave her husband and reconciled More...
My biggest problem with this book was that it was dealing with Tessa's husband's affair with Valerie. Besides being unfaithful, he was also breaking medical ethics. I totally understand that things like this happen, but I prefer not to read about it. I think the final straw for me was in the end when Tessa forgave her husband and reconciled More...
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(1 person liked it)
Apr 07, 2011
Dana
rated it:
OK - I have to say - not what I expected at all. From reading the book flap I thought I was getting one of those heart-wrenching stories about dying children and heart transplants. I was wrong. When I started this blog, I made myself a promise to avoid spoilers as much as possible. Because of that promise, I'm not going to tell you what I was wrong about. Sorry.
Heart of the Matter is written, in alternating chapters, by two women, Tessa and Valerie. It is the story of how their lives i More...
Heart of the Matter is written, in alternating chapters, by two women, Tessa and Valerie. It is the story of how their lives i More...
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Apr 03, 2011
Kimberly
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I am a huge fan of Emily Giffin's first two books (Something Borrowedand Something Blue) and I've read every one she has written since then. None of them have lived up to the first two and Heart of the Matter is no exception. I usually find books about cheatings spouses where I as a reader am supposed to feel some sympathy for "the other woman" obnoxious. I really did feel for Valerie in this book though and I found Nick to be the obnoxious one. Why two women both wanted him is bey
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(1 person liked it)
Mar 30, 2011
Michelle
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Tessa Russo has recently given up her career to be a stay at home mom to her two children and is the wife a well known pediatric plastic surgeon. Life seem to be going well for them just as she had hoped.
Valerie Anderson an Attorney and single mom to a six year old Charlie, has given up on love after disappointment and heart ache. Even though the both live in the same Boston suburb there lives have never crossed. Then one night a tragic accident causes there paths to cross and both lives a More...
Valerie Anderson an Attorney and single mom to a six year old Charlie, has given up on love after disappointment and heart ache. Even though the both live in the same Boston suburb there lives have never crossed. Then one night a tragic accident causes there paths to cross and both lives a More...
