Welcome to Shelf Life, ELLE.com’s books column, in which authors share their most memorable reads. Whether you’re on the hunt for a book to console you, move you profoundly, or make you laugh, consider a recommendation from the writers in our series, who, like you (since you’re here), love books. Perhaps one of their favorite titles will become one of yours, too.
All of Emily Giffin’s 12 novels, including her latest, The Summer Pact (Ballantine), are NYT bestsellers, and 5 have been optioned for film or TV. The film adaptation of her first novel, Something Borrowed, came out in 2011, starring Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and John Krasinski and produced by Hilary Swank and Black Label Media. Giffin had a cameo role in the movie and has also appeared as herself in “As the World Turns.”
The Naperville, IL-raised author practiced litigation (she attended the University of Virginia School of Law) before moving to London to write a book; has twin sons, a daughter, and two dogs, Dolly (golden retriever) and Hank (beagle mix rescue); was named for the doll in A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (her librarian mother named her sister after the main character, Sara); and was the editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper.
Fan of: the British royal family (she recently met Queen Camilla); Taylor Swift (and Travis Kelce); and Caitlin Clark.
Passionate about: College sports (she managed the nationally-ranked men’s basketball team at Wake Forest); politics; photography; typefaces and fonts.
Did you know: She has prosopagnosia aka facial blindness disorder, and once failed to recognize herself.
Good at: Keeping secrets.
Bad at: Driving and directions, though she recently resumed driving on highways again after a 28-year hiatus. Ramp up your reading with her book pics below.
The book that…
…I recommend over and over again:
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer. A gem of a memoir by the ghostwriter of my all-time favorite biography (Open by Andre Agassi).
…shaped my worldview:
The Bookseller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad was a revelation about the plight of Afghan women and the realities of daily life in Afghanistan.
…made me rethink a long-held belief:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The book further opened my eyes to the perils of being a Black man in America.
…I read in one sitting:
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. And then I was given the absolute honor of blurbing it.
…I will pass on to my children:
My autographed copy of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. A 40th birthday present from my mother.
…has the best title:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni. Not only is the imagery incredible, but the title rolls off the tongue.
…has the best opening line:
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. I would quote it here, but I think everyone already knows it.
…has the greatest ending:
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel GarcÍa Márquez. The reunion of Fermina and Florentino is an ode to the power of love and its ability to withstand time and overcome any obstacle.
…broke my heart:
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. The ending crushed me.
…features a character I love to hate:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I will never forgive Amy for burning Jo’s manuscript and then marrying the love of her sister’s life.
…should be on every college syllabus:
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. It’s life-changing.
…I’ve re-read the most:
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. My sister and I were named after the young girl in the book (Sara) and her doll (Emily).
…I never returned to the library (mea culpa):
My mother was a librarian; I always returned my books.
…inspired me to donate to a cause:
One Nation under Guns by Dominic Erdozain.
…makes me feel seen:
Nora Ephon’s I Feel Bad About My Neck. Enough said.
Bonus questions:
If I could live in any library or bookstore in the world, it would be:
The literary organization/charity I support:
Room to Read donates books to rural communities, transforming the lives of millions of children.
Riza Cruz is an editor and writer based in New York.