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Where We Belong
By Emily Giffin

I'll start this out by mentioning that Giffin tends to be a favorite of mine when I'm in the mood for light chick-lit stories. So if you are not into that, then this probably won't be of must interest to you - if however you enjoy relaxing with a book that makes you laugh, and sometimes cry because you can feel the emotions of the characters, then keep reading!

I had a special desire to read this book as it is the story of adoption - specifically how an adopted girl decides to find her biological parents when she turns 18.  (As an adopted child I tend to really enjoy these stories)  Kirby was adopted when she was only three days old - and has always felt like the black sheep of the family. As she struggles through her high school years she wonders if her "odd-ness" has anything to do with her birth parents. So she secretly goes to meet her biological mother.

Marian is a successful television sitcom writer and producer. She is living the high life in NYC. However the secret of her past still lingers in her thoughts - she gave her daughter up for adoption when she was just 18.

The story follows these two ladies as they discover their pasts and unveil the secrets that have been hidden over the past 18 years.

Sure the story is fairly predictable - hence the chick-lit category - but the characters are extremely interesting and engaging.

I really like how there was a fair amount of time spent with Kirby's adoptive family, since this is the family she considers to be her parents - a big point for adopted kids. Giffin also spends time developing Kirby's adoptive mother and does a fair job of showing her emotions as she stands by as her daughter searches for questions about where she came from.

My overall favorite line in the book is:

"I'm glad everything happened the way it did. I'm glad I got pregnant with you. I'm glad I had you. I'm glad you have a family who loves you. And most of all, I'm glad you're here now."  (286)

Marian tells Kirby this near the end of the book. I think those are important words because adopted kids never want to think of themselves as a mistake that was simply given away to erase the past. This book seems to follow idea - adoption is the chance for a child to be given a life with a family who deeply desires him or her and will provide the best life possible for that child.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick light read.

Have you read it? What did you think?

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