Emily Giffin Quotes

Powerful Emily Giffin for Daily Growth

About Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin, an accomplished American novelist, was born on February 13, 1972, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Growing up in a literary household—her father was a lawyer and her mother a teacher who loved reading—Giffin developed a keen interest in books from a young age. This love for storytelling propelled her to attend Wake Forest University, where she graduated with a degree in English in 1994. Following graduation, Giffin moved to New York City to work as an assistant at a literary agency. During her time there, she honed her writing skills and began crafting the stories that would eventually captivate millions of readers worldwide. In 2005, her debut novel, "Something Borrowed," was published, launching her into stardom. The book became a New York Times bestseller and spawned a successful film adaptation in 2011. Giffin's novels often explore the complexities of relationships, particularly those between women, set against a backdrop of fast-paced city life. Her other bestselling works include "Something Blue" (2006), "Love the One You're With" (2008), "Where We Belong" (2012), "The One & Only" (2013), and "First Comes Love" (2015). In 2017, she published "All We Ever Wanted," a thought-provoking exploration of morality in modern society. Giffin's writing has resonated with readers due to her ability to create relatable characters grappling with real-life issues. Her novels have been translated into over 25 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. In addition to her literary success, Giffin is also a devoted mother and wife, living in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family. Despite her fame, she remains grounded and committed to her craft, continuing to produce thought-provoking novels that speak to the heart of modern womanhood.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is short. Love deeply."

The quote "Life is short. Love deeply" by Emily Giffin emphasizes the importance of fully embracing love in our lives, given the brevity of life. It encourages individuals to invest their time, energy, and emotions profoundly in relationships, recognizing that life's preciousness should be reflected in our affection for others. In essence, this quote is a call to live a more passionate, loving, and meaningful life.


"Sometimes you have to forget what everyone else thinks about you and just follow your own heart."

This quote by Emily Giffin encourages individuals to trust their own instincts and decisions, rather than being swayed by external opinions or societal expectations. It highlights the importance of self-discovery, authenticity, and personal growth in one's life journey.


"Friendship isn't a big thing, it's a million little things."

This quote highlights the importance of small, consistent actions in forming meaningful friendships. It suggests that friendship is not built on a single grand gesture or event, but rather on countless small interactions, moments of shared experience, understanding, trust, and mutual support over time. These "million little things" add up to create deep, lasting connections that define genuine friendships.


"The best love stories never have a clear-cut beginning, middle, and end. Happy endings are just a fairy tale we tell ourselves to get through the messy, complicated, beautiful middle."

This quote suggests that genuine love stories, unlike conventional narratives, do not follow a neatly structured timeline with distinct beginnings, middles, and ends. Instead, they are characterized by their complexity, messiness, and beauty in the journey itself, rather than just the final outcome. It also implies that we often seek 'happy endings' as a means of coping with or finding comfort in the intricate, challenging aspects of relationships. In essence, it emphasizes that the value lies not only in the destination but also in the experiences and learnings along the way.


"We spend our whole lives stuck in the roles that other people expect us to play. But one day we learn that we were always meant to be our own unique selves - not our mother's dream or our father's hope or our husband's ambition. Just ourselves."

This quote emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal identity in life. It suggests that societal expectations and roles often dictate how individuals should behave, but over time, people realize they are meant to be their authentic selves, independent from external pressures or influences. It encourages individuals to break free from predefined roles and embrace their unique qualities and aspirations to lead a fulfilling life.


Often I feel that projects overwhelm us when we look at how many hours are involved until completion. But just getting started is usually not that difficult.

- Emily Giffin

Completion, Hours, Projects, Overwhelm

I've always been intrigued by the power of secrets. When is it justifiable to keep them from the ones we love? And does keeping them irrevocably change who we are?

- Emily Giffin

Love, Always, Been, Irrevocably

I have increasingly steeled myself to criticism, but it still can sting, especially when you feel that it is unfair - or that they are judging my book by its cover or by preconceived notions.

- Emily Giffin

Myself, Still, Increasingly, Preconceived

For an interesting nonfiction read, I really enjoyed 'Quiet' by Susan Cain. I read it with my husband, who is a true introvert, whereas I am an introvert masquerading as an extrovert.

- Emily Giffin

Read, Masquerading, Nonfiction

I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters.

- Emily Giffin

Other, Real People, About, Real Women

My favorite movie of all-time is 'Stand By Me,' and I re-read my favorite young adult books often.

- Emily Giffin

Young, Movie, Often, All-Time

I was actually born in Baltimore! Although I moved away when I was quite young and consider Chicago to be my hometown, Baltimore is sentimental to me, and I still keep in touch with family friends I knew as a little girl.

- Emily Giffin

Young, Baltimore, Away, Sentimental

I don't really know why I went to law school.

- Emily Giffin

School, Law, Know, Law School

For true downtime, I enjoy going for light runs, having drinks with friends and going to the movies with my husband.

- Emily Giffin

Going, Drinks, Having, Runs

I've been obsessed with the Kennedys since I was a child, and Bobby Kennedy is, hands down, my favorite among them.

- Emily Giffin

Hands, Been, Obsessed, Kennedys

I have unabashed Bieber Fever and routinely Google 'Justin and Selena.' They are so cute together.

- Emily Giffin

Cute, Google, Fever, Justin

Darcy, the heroine of 'Something Blue,' is quite shallow and opinionated. At one point, she commented that she dislikes 'gingers,' i.e., men with red hair. I received several emails from fiery redheads who said they were offended by 'my' comments. I had to remind them that it is fiction.

- Emily Giffin

Offended, Fiction, Fiery, Redheads

I aim for four workouts a week. I work out with a trainer once a week. Then, I take a circuit class twice a week. The fourth workout is random, depending on what I'm in the mood for - either a run, a spin class, or yoga.

- Emily Giffin

Week, Aim, Circuit, Twice A Week

Inevitably I draw on my own relationships when I write, so if I'm writing about a fight between a husband and his wife, of course I'm going to think about a recent fight with my husband. Or if I'm writing about sisters, of course I'm going to think about my sister.

- Emily Giffin

Own, I Write, About, Recent

Like the rest of the planet, I'm absolutely dying to see Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' and am thrilled that Leonardo DiCaprio was cast in it - he's perfect.

- Emily Giffin

Rest, Perfect, Great Gatsby, Thrilled

I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.

- Emily Giffin

Writing, Person, Common, Protagonists

I did read all my old diaries and was quite surprised by the overwhelming melancholic tone. I remember things being rosier than they really were.

- Emily Giffin

I Remember, Tone, Read, Overwhelming

I'm a huge Elizabeth Berg fan. Her novels are always charming, thoughtful, and filled with lively, three-dimensional characters.

- Emily Giffin

Always, Elizabeth, Filled, Lively

To write convincingly, I think you must be able to relate, in some way, to what a character is experiencing.

- Emily Giffin

Think, Some, I Think, Experiencing

Well, shoes, bags and clutches are usually my big weaknesses - my husband always laughs when I call them 'investment pieces.'

- Emily Giffin

Big, Always, Bags, Clutch

I really try to focus on my books and readers.

- Emily Giffin

Focus, Try, Books, Readers

My books are all relationship-focused, so much of my inspiration comes from my own relationships and the issues and concerns that arise among my friends and family.

- Emily Giffin

Own, My Own, Arise, Concerns

I never outline my novels before I write. I do have a vague sense of beginning, middle, and end at the outset of each book, but for me, writing has always been a very character-driven process.

- Emily Giffin

Vague, Always, Very, Outline

Life is about the gray areas. Things are seldom black and white, even when we wish they were and think they should be, and I like exploring this nuanced terrain.

- Emily Giffin

Think, Like, About, Terrain

I feel a great connection with my readers and would never want to disappoint them.

- Emily Giffin

Never, Would, Readers, Disappoint

A theme in a lot of my books - and in my own life - is making choices that you feel you should make, or what society wants you to make, as opposed to what is truly right for you.

- Emily Giffin

Making, My Own, Opposed, Theme

I like to match what I wear to my book jacket - it's a little bit cheesy, but it's my thing.

- Emily Giffin

Book, Match, Like, Cheesy

I think it's important to try to be present with whatever it is you're doing. And if you can't be present, take a break.

- Emily Giffin

Doing, Think, I Think, Present

Guilt is a supreme waste of time and energy.

- Emily Giffin

Guilt, Waste, Supreme, Waste Of Time

I write about messy relationships, and they put pastel covers on them, but I can't complain.

- Emily Giffin

Relationships, I Write, Them, Covers

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