Emily Giffin’s 2005 novel, Something Blue, is a work of contemporary fiction and the sequel to her debut, Something Borrowed (2004). In Something Borrowed, Darcy, a beautiful and self-absorbed Manhattan public-relations executive, believes that her looks entitle her to a charmed existence, complete with a handsome lawyer fiancé, Dex. Just before her wedding, this world implodes when she discovers that Dex is having an affair with her best friend, Rachel, forcing Darcy—who is secretly pregnant from her own affair—to navigate a future she never planned. Something Blue follows Darcy’s fall from grace and her reluctant journey toward self-discovery. While Something Borrowed is from Rachel’s point of view, this novel shifts its narrative perspective to Darcy, offering her account of the events that shattered her seemingly perfect life. 

The novel explores several themes, including The Cost of Vanity, as Darcy’s identity, built entirely on her appearance and social status, is systematically dismantled. Her unplanned pregnancy and subsequent isolation serve as the primary drivers for its examination of Motherhood as a Catalyst for Growth, while the betrayals that Darcy endures and perpetrates test The Limits of Conditional Loyalty. Giffin is the author of numerous other best-selling novels that similarly delve into the complexities of modern relationships and female friendships, including All We Ever Wanted (2018) and The Summer Pact (2024).

This guide refers to the 2005 Arrow Books edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of substance use, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

Darcy Rhone, a beautiful and confident public-relations executive in Manhattan, New York, has always believed that her good looks entitle her to a charmed life. She’s engaged to the handsome, successful lawyer Dexter “Dex” Thaler, and her quieter, more studious best friend since childhood, Rachel White, is her maid of honor. Just one week before her wedding, Darcy’s perfect world is complicated when she discovers that she’s pregnant from a recent affair with Marcus Peter Lawson, one of Dex’s groomsmen. Deciding that the pregnancy is a sign to follow her heart, she prepares to call off the wedding. However, Dex breaks up with her first, confessing that he doesn’t love her. 

Relieved, Darcy goes to Rachel’s apartment to share her news and confess her own indiscretions, expecting unconditional support. Instead, she spots Dex’s vintage Rolex watch on Rachel’s nightstand and, after forcing her way into the closet, finds Dex hiding in his boxers. Devastated by the double betrayal, Darcy screams that Rachel is “dead to [her]” before storming out and moving in with an unenthusiastic Marcus (14).

Darcy’s new life with Marcus is fraught with tension. He’s unsupportive of her pregnancy and dismissive of her outrage toward Dex and Rachel. Darcy tells her parents a one-sided version of the breakup, casting herself as the victim, and they rally around her. A few weeks later, Darcy’s fixation on the betrayal intensifies when she and Marcus spot Rachel and Dex shopping for a couch at Crate and Barrel. Noticing their tans, Darcy realizes with horror that they went on her and Dex’s honeymoon to Hawaii. 

Her 30th birthday proves to be another disaster; Marcus gives her what she considers to be a thoughtless gift, and they have a massive fight. Her new best friend from work, Claire, who was initially supportive, grows distant upon learning that Darcy is pregnant and single. Darcy’s world completely collapses when Marcus breaks up with her, admitting that he never wants to marry her and wants no involvement with the baby. Desperate, Darcy calls Dex and begs him to take her back, even lying and saying that the baby is his. Dex sees through the lie, coldly confirms his love for Rachel, and tells Darcy that there’s zero chance for them. Alone, unemployed, and alienated from her friends, Darcy feels like she has hit rock bottom.

At the suggestion of Annalise, a childhood friend, Darcy arranges a “short visit” with her high-school friend Ethan Ainsley, a writer living in London, England. She arrives with a mountain of luggage, disappointed by his small basement apartment but determined to start a glamorous new life. Her first weeks are spent shopping away her savings. Her relationship with Ethan is strained; he’s critical of her shallowness and refuses to gossip about Rachel, with whom he’s close friends. The tension culminates in a major fight where Ethan confronts Darcy about her lifelong selfishness, her constant competition with Rachel, and her utter lack of preparation for motherhood. 

The next morning, Darcy feels her baby kick for the first time. The moment is a turning point, inspiring her to create a list of goals to become a better person. She begins by seeking a doctor and is stunned to learn from the handsome Mr. Moore that she’s expecting identical twin boys. Though initially horrified, she’s comforted by Ethan’s genuine happiness for her. She also befriends two local mothers, Meg and Charlotte, and begins dating Mr. Moore, whose first name is Geoffrey. He seems like the perfect man: a doting, successful doctor who adores her despite her circumstances.

Even as her relationship with the seemingly perfect Geoffrey blossoms, Darcy finds herself increasingly drawn to Ethan, who’s now dating a French curator named Sondrine. On Valentine’s Day, Darcy notices that she’s bleeding and is rushed to the hospital. Geoffrey is calm and professional, but Ethan’s undisguised terror and relief make Darcy realize that she’s in love with him. 

Ordered to complete bed rest, Darcy chooses to recover at Ethan’s apartment, with Ethan volunteering to be her caretaker. The decision effectively ends both of their other relationships. As Ethan nurtures her, their undeclared love grows, but they remain “just friends” on the surface. Weeks later, Rachel sends a gift for the babies—two beautiful, silk-trimmed blankets and a heartfelt card expressing her love and regret. The gesture deeply moves Darcy, who finally begins to forgive her. That same night, Darcy goes into labor. Ethan rushes her to the hospital and acts as her birthing coach.

Darcy gives birth to two healthy sons, whom she names John Noel and Thomas Ethan, honoring Ethan, whose middle name is Noel. One day, Darcy calls Rachel, only to have Dex answer. Steeling herself, she speaks to Rachel, who reveals that she and Dex were married the previous day. Instead of jealousy, Darcy feels a surprising sense of peace and genuinely congratulates her. 

The first few months at home are an exhausting blur, but Darcy and Ethan function as a seamless team, their love deepening amid the chaos of caring for newborns. A few months later, Ethan breaks up with Sondrine. While walking in Holland Park, he confesses his feelings for Darcy, and they share their first passionate kiss. 

Two years later, Darcy and Ethan marry in that same park, surrounded by their friends and family. Their sons, Thomas and John, act as ring bearers. In attendance are Darcy’s reconciled parents, Annalise, Meg, Charlotte, and even Geoffrey and Sondrine, who are now engaged. Rachel and Dex are also there with their young daughter. Darcy’s “something blue” is a ribbon on her bouquet, made from the silk trim of the baby blankets that Rachel gave her. As Rachel gives a toast to true love and true friendship at the reception, Darcy reflects on her journey, knowing that both have the power to change a person for the better.