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    The One & Only: A Novel
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    The One & Only: A Novel
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    The One & Only: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    The One & Only: A Novel

    Written by Emily Giffin

    Narrated by Sofia Willingham

    3/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The beloved author of Something Borrowed and Where We Belong returns with an extraordinary story of love and loyalty-and an unconventional heroine struggling to reconcile both.

    Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas-a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker's legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.

    But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea's comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she's chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most-and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.

    Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 20, 2014
    ISBN9780804127578
    Unavailable
    The One & Only: A Novel
    Author

    Emily Giffin

    Emily Giffin is the author of Something Borrowed, her smash-hit debut novel that was made into a major motion picture. She is also the author of Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You’re With, and Heart of the Matter. Giffin is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.

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    Reviews for The One & Only

    3/5

    232 ratings37 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Listened in audio version
    • 2/5
      Terribly disappointing.
    • 3/5
      While I enjoyed this book on some levels, there were things about it that disturbed me a good deal. Shea's best friend is someone she has grown up with, and she is closer to that family than her own complicated family. Her friend's mother dies, and that's where everything begins. First, you must understand that Shea is a rabid football fan for a small fictitious Texas college who competes with Division 1 schools. I could have cared less about all the football talk, feeling that it took away from the story. The friend, Lucy, is someone I wanted to shake a few times, and Shea falls for men she shouldn't, for a variety of reasons. Parts of the ending were good, but others not so much. All in all, it was entertaining, aside from the times I wanted to throw the book on the floor.
    • 1/5
      I've really liked Giffin's other books, but this one was awful.
    • 4/5
      This was not what I expected. It got better in the middle.
    • 4/5
      Shea Rigsby has always known football, more specifically, Walker football. Shea, born and raised in Walker, Texas, and a proud alumni, is a budding sports reporter. Her idol is Walker's head coach, Coach Clive Carr, also her best friend's father. When Mrs. Carr dies from cancer, the upcoming football season means everything to Coach Carr, Shea, and Walker fans everywhere. Shea starts to get feelings for the older, yet attractive Coach she has known her whole life. Is it just a crush? Or does he have feelings for her too? This book is recommended for any fans of the television show "Friday Night Lights" or anyone looking for a good piece of chick-lit. While this was not my favorite Emily Giffin novel, it proved to be a nice, relaxing read.
    • 1/5
      I didn't even get a quarter of the way through this book, and I can't see myself picking it back up any time soon. I've enjoyed some of Giffin's books in the past, so this one isn't likely to turn me away from her as an author, but I just couldn't get into this story or the characters.
    • 3/5
      it was ok...a little drawn out in my opinion about her relationship with coach...but not to bad of a read.
    • 5/5
      Wow! This is the best book by Giffin since Something Borrowed. I had stopped reading her work after the infidelity theme got old, but she's proven with this book that you can write about something else, namely college football, journalism, stagnation, loyalty, family ties, and true love. This book is realistic, a tearjerker, and drum roll please, a happy ending! Everything I want the next chick-lit book I publish to be!

    • 2/5
      I am normally a big fan of Emily Giffin books and this one was a miss for me. The story line dragged & was ridiculous to me honestly. I did like the narrator & thought she did a good job.
    • 5/5
      Emily Giffin does it again! I love all her books, and this one sure doesn't disappoint. A great story about friendship, family, strong bonds, and love. I find myself wanting to read more, read on... wondering how things play out for this set of characters and what their lives are like beyond this ending. Well done!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      It's almost impossible to discuss likes and dislikes without spoilers here.

      Unlike other reviewers, I didn't have a huge problem with Shea's feelings for Coach. Sure, it was rather too soon after his wife's death, but I was more irritated by Lucy's ultimatum and then u-turn. (Others have complained about Shea's character being one-dimensional, but Lucy was the one who really irked me.) And I fully understand that the author needed this 'forbidden' aspect of Shea/Coach to bring high stakes and conflict into the novel. Since the premise of most romantic fiction and chick lit is that you don't generally get to choose who you fall in love with, I feel Giffin's fans are being unfair to rile against this.

      Seeing the relationship with Ryan play out was engaging but, ultimately, I wondered what this actually added to the plot and Shea's character development. To be really critical, this whole storyline could have been removed and we'd still have been left with a coherent tale (novella?).

      And yes, I agree with others that the ending felt abrupt.

      As for the football content, well, I know nothing about the game and it's a sign of the author's skill that she could hold my attention despite all the sporting references. But I would agree with other reviewers that a few places did feel like fact-stuffing. Nonetheless, I think this was a brave move considering the demographics of Giffin's audience and for me, at least, the context felt original.

      I would love to know if the editing process removed a pregnancy for Shea (not only did she throw up, but there would have been some nice contrast with Lucy's situation, too). Similarly, since much was made of sorting Mrs. Carr's clothes, I kept waiting for Connie's beautiful suede shoes to show up again on Shea's feet... so can only assume they got an editorial chop.

      Finally, I have to throw in a couple of gripes specifically about the audiobook:
      1) I was appalled that the narrator got Ms. Giffin's name wrong ("Griffin") at both the start and end of the recording. If this is the attention to detail a publishing house gives one of its best-selling authors, it's no wonder the industry is crumbling.
      2) There is a section in the book where Shea's newspaper boss stresses the importance of dialog tags, namely, using "she said" rather than anything fancier (stated, cried, begged, demanded...). And I wholeheartedly agree with that: the reader's eye skips over "said" almost as if it weren't there. But in an audio version, suddenly, every "said" is noticeable, and boy, there were a lot of them in this book. Since the narrator was skilled enough to adjust her voice for words spoken by different characters, a huge number of these "said"s could have been removed. While I don't agree with messing with a book for the audio version, that is one small editorial change which I would suggest. *After* fixing the author's name, of course :)

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      The Good Stuff Giffin is an engaging author, keeps you reading even if you don't completely love the story, you cannot help yourself, you want to read till the end Enjoyed that Shea was so feminine yet so involved in football but author made sure that it came across that you can be a women and a football fan (Hope this makes sense) Didn't love this one, but will still pick up the next story she writes, as I truly enjoy the way she writes Loved Miller - hmm maybe a book about himThe Not So Good Stuff I just was so creeped (Yes I know its a prejudice, but I just kept thinking ICKY) out by her love for her best friends father, I just couldn't. The main character obviously has some Daddy issues I am so sorry, no matter how good Giffen's writing is, I just couldn't love it for this reason alone Most of the characters were more caricatures I love her writing and her ability to tell a story but I feel so bad, I just didn't love this one. That being said good enough for me to keep reading til the end even though there was so much I didn't like The rape issue was just fluffed over which didn't sit right with meFavorite Quotes/Passages "Cremation was definitely the way to go. It was the way I wanted to go, rather than risk the possibility of going out on a bad-hair day.""Wasn't there something to be said for working to live, as opposed to living to work."2.75 Dewey'sI received this from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Sorry guys you know I have to be honest
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the book and the story line. ALOT of football references and statistics! which I skimmed over. I thought the book gave a realistic look at college football fans and the game....the good, the bad and the ugly parts.
    • 5/5
      Not often do you find a book, let alone a chick lit, that mentions Buster Olney, football gods, and sexism in sports but this book did it. I have never been so impressed with how sports were described in a fiction book. If I weren't already a huge sports fan, this book would have made me one. It highlights every reason that people stick with teams, win or lose. A must read.
    • 3/5
      Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors because she writes superbly about all kinds of loss. I have read and enjoyed all of her novels. I didn't enjoy The One & Only nearly as much as the others. At times, it was just not realistic but I stayed with it and kept hoping it would become more appealing to me. It never got there.Ms. Giffin is a talented author, her characters are always well-developed, and her pacing is always right-on. So I've come to the conclusion that the main reason I didn't enjoy this novel as much as her other novels is because of the story itself.I'm going to forget about this book and look forward to Ms. Giffin's next one. It has to be an improvement.
    • 4/5
      The One and Only by Emily GiffinThis is a story about Lucy and she's lost her mother to cancer. Her dad is the high school football coach and her best friend is Shay.Shay is so addicted with football. She works as a sport information spokesperson for the TX college team. Loved the references to the music of the time. We find out why Shay lived with Lucy after her father left to go remarry his first wife and her mom had a nervous breakdown. We find out she declares her love for Lucy's father, the coach one night she's had a bit too much to drink and she's on a date with a Cowboy's football player.Many real life things are talked about besides football, violence and ex wives.The past comes back and they rationalize how they would've done things different...I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
    • 5/5
      I would read anything by Emily Giffin and I'm happy to see that I've missed a few of her books. Even if you know nothing about football, and I do NOT, Giffin presents a thorough understanding of the game (at least I think so!) and lots of the related issues. Her books is particularly current in subject matter although she could write a sequel dealing with the effects of the whole concussion issue on players and their families and football as a reasonable sport.
    • 2/5
      It took me a long time to finish this one. The premise is that a seemingly capable and accomplished young woman who is making her way in the man's world of college football is also making lots of bad choices in the romance department. And in fact the only reasonable choice seems to be acting on her secret crush on the college football coach, the recently widowed father of her best friend since childhood.The irony of the title is that Shea has had multiple sexual relationships with men of her age group, but love is not a requisite for intimacy in her world. And the men who she has enjoyed relationships with have, in one case a drug habit and zero ambition, or in another, perhaps a tendency to abuse women who displease him, and whether that is true or false, a definite need to control.So the Coach certainly looks great by comparison. He really is a good man but it is hard to ignore the fact that she is the age of his own daughter, who is anything but pleased with the thought of an intimate relationship between her best friend and her father.And the ick factor kind of gets to me too...
    • 4/5
      Book Review - The One & Only by Emily Giffin Shea Rigsby is an American football fanatic and one of the hugest supports of Walker, Texas' high school football team. After the death of a close family friend Shea starts to re-assess different areas of her life because she realizes the truth "life is short". She then embarks on some life changes in her career and begins her quest to find love. She thinks the changes are for the better, but as time goes on, she wonders if everyone and everything is as it seems. I really enjoyed this book, a lot! Shea's whole life is consumed by American football, a little on the extreme side if you ask me - but you didn't, did you? She practically worships the high school coach and some of the guys who went professional she's known since high school. I liked Shea's character, although I have to question some of her choices. This book is about family, friends, loyalty and love and there were many twists that made it interesting with a surprising ending
    • 3/5
      I have enjoyed her other books but this felt like a book describing events in the 1960's. Maybe I just do not want to read a book that focuses on football. I must say it was a quick easy read - good for an air plane book.
    • 4/5
      Book Review - The One & Only by Emily Giffin Shea Rigsby is an American football fanatic and one of the hugest supports of Walker, Texas' high school football team. After the death of a close family friend Shea starts to re-assess different areas of her life because she realizes the truth "life is short". She then embarks on some life changes in her career and begins her quest to find love. She thinks the changes are for the better, but as time goes on, she wonders if everyone and everything is as it seems. I really enjoyed this book, a lot! Shea's whole life is consumed by American football, a little on the extreme side if you ask me - but you didn't, did you? She practically worships the high school coach and some of the guys who went professional she's known since high school. I liked Shea's character, although I have to question some of her choices. This book is about family, friends, loyalty and love and there were many twists that made it interesting with a surprising ending
    • 2/5
      "You might like this," she said, "it's all about American football." Well, actually it is a bit of chick-lit romance located in a College football milieu. It's an easy read and Giffin writes more than competently, but the story unfolds rather like it was written to filmed. Girl meets boy, then another boy, things fall apart, girl survives crisis and ends up with the right guy. Maybe. It's light writing and that does not lack virtue, but I found her characterisation of the two main male characters, especially the younger one (no spoiler) less authentic. The seriousness of the sub-plot of violence against women sits uneasily in the story.
    • 2/5
      I've read a few of Emily Griffin's fun, chick-lit novels and enjoyed them, so this looked like just the thing to keep me company on a long flight. The story is about Shea, a girl who grew up in a small Texas town with a solid college football team. Her entire life is consumed with the team; she works for the athletic department, her best friend's father is the coach, and she is dating a guy who once played for the team. But when her best friend's mother dies, a woman she's known since infancy, she finds she needs to stretch herself. She takes a job writing for the sports section of a newspaper and even a new boyfriend -- a hot NFL player. Things are looking up, but despite her shiny new life, there's a man she can't get her mind off of. And this is the beginning of what didn't work in this book. That guy is her best friend's father. A man she's looked up to as a father figure and known since she was a baby. It wasn't the age difference, but the near incest that tainted the relationship, not to mention the power disparity; Shea has worshipped the coach her entire life. So there was a significant ick factor that didn't work in what was intended as a light, entertaining read. The relationship was deeply troublesome throughout the book and had he not been "Coach," I suspect she would have been calling him Mr Carr even when they made out. But that's not my big issue with this book, it's that Griffin used domestic violence as a convenient plot point. She is cheating on her boyfriend, but that's fine, because later he turns out to be a little bit grabby, jealous and almost-rapey. This is a serious thing. Not something to be added to allow Shea to remain a sympathetic character, even as she cheats and lies to the people around her. Griffin pulls her punches and has the boyfriend turn out to be a bad guy so that Shea doesn't have to be. Then, when his usefulness has ended, Griffin has the bad boyfriend fade away, leaving behind only a few grateful texts in which he apologizes and seeks treatment. Abusive, controlling guys don't politely bow out when a woman breaks up with them. Even when the woman acts all empowered. Making domestic violence an exciting, but temporary episode does a disservice to the women who have to deal with this. Just don't do this.
    • 2/5
      Giffin, Emily. The One & Only. 12 CDs. unabridged. 15 hrs. Books on Tape. 2014. ISBN 9780804127585. Shea Rigsby has been in a rut her entire life she just doesn't realize it. Born and raised in Walker, Texas Shea's whole life has revolved around football. After graduating from college she stayed behind in her hometown to work for the college athletic department, not even considering any other options. It also didn't help that her best friend's father is the legendary Walker football coach and close personal friend. When tragedy strikes the Walker community Shea finds herself closely examining her future. Is this what she truly wants out of life? At Coach's insistence she starts to branch out of her safety net and see what awaits her. Shea is forced to confront her fears, see the truth in others, and follow her heart. Shea's story starts fast and compelling but slowly peetered out to it's inevitable conclusion. Along the way were several cringe worthy moments and awkward scenarios. Narrator, Sofia Willingham saved this story from being too bogged down in football and awkwardness, and her cool narration kept the story engaging. For fans of chick lit and Emily Giffin. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin IN
    • 4/5
      Although I am not a sports fan, I did enjoy reading this novel. I have known people who are obsessed with a sport or a celebrity and are satisfied with being on the fringe of the super stars. It is a quick, easy read, the characters are well-defined. It would be great to take on vacation, which is what I did. My thanks to the author and The Reading Room for a complimentary copy.
    • 3/5
      A fluffy summertime confection. Easy read, predictable, but enjoyable for what it is.
    • 3/5
      The One and Only is a book about love, loyalty and friendship. Shea Rigsby is a hard core football fan. She becomes involved with her best friend"s father who is a football coach.
    • 5/5
      I just loved this book cover to cover. Giffin has a way to pull the reader in and to create connections to the characters and story that are nearly instant. I was so interested in this read that I stayed up late and was so eager to get back to reading that I was sneaking off and reading any chance I could get. There is so much to love within the pages: great characters, football, hometowns, love, moving on, tough choices and friendship. This is one of those reads that you want others to read too, so you can talk about it! I just loved this book and think it is a GREAT summer read and book club choice!!! 4.5 stars
    • 3/5
      Usually I really enjoy Emily Giffin's books. And although I read through this one very quickly, it was more so due to morbid curiousness about how it would end. Being the daughter of a college football coach myself, the whole relationship between Shea and Coach Carr was just weird and uncomfortable. Not her best.