Love The One You're With is a book written by Emily Giffin. This is the story of Ellen, a woman who lost the greatest love of her life, yet managed to marry somebody else. Her long-lost love comes back into her life and she is faced with an incredible dilemma: to stay with her husband or go back to her first love. Ellen and Andy are newlyweds and are happily married. One day, Ellen runs into her long-lost love, Leo, after eight years and a painful breakup. They had met years ago upon her being summoned for jury duty and he had been one of the jurors. They had quickly become a couple and even though they had become inseparable, her had made clear he did not want to marry her and slowly stopped returning her calls. She had then told him they should break up and he had agreed.
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This new encounter with Leo leaves Ellen absolutely breathless. Minutes after seeing her on the streets, Leo calls her on her cell phone to ask her where she is and tells her he is on his way to meeting her. Upon his arrival, they catch up and she tells Leo she is now married and Leo then apologizes for everything that happened between them and tells her he wants them to be friends - which Ellen agrees to. Ellen goes back home but does not tell Andy about this encounter as she is afraid this might hurt him since he knows how much Leo meant to her. Leo eventually calls her back and leaves her a message simply telling her he has something to ask her, and Ellen initially chooses not to return his call but eventually changes her mind as she can't stop thinking about it.
Leo tells her he has an opportunity for her as Ellen is a photograph, and she has the opportunity to be a photographer for a magazine. Not wanting to jeopardize her relationship with her husband, she turns the offer down by leaving Leo a message. Ellen then receives a phone call from her agent a few days later, offering her the same opportunity - which Leo had orchestrated for her to take without any involvement on his part.
Ellen realizes how very much in love with Leo she truly is, as she cannot stop thinking about him. They seem to still share unresolved feelings and she then begins to question everything - her new life, her husband, who she truly loves. As she feels she is getting sucked back in by Leo, Ellen agrees to follow her husband to Atlanta where he has been offered a position at his father's firm. This move however does not succeed in making Ellen forget about Leo. But upon reflecting on the matter, Ellen goes back to New York to see Leo and tell him they cannot be together as she is married, she doesn't want to ruin her marriage and she doesn't want to be with a man who did not want to be with her years ago. Even though her marriage with Andy has been challenged, they still manage to make it work and stay together.
Best part of story, including ending:
I love this story as this is a love story wherein a woman has it all and her life becomes challenged. It is interesting to see what decisions the character will make.
Best scene in story:
When Ellen first ran into Leo and he heart started pounding and she thought she was seeing a ghost. I like this scene as it shows a significant love can remain as significant years later.
Opinion about the main character:
I like that Ellen remains strong and chooses to stay with her husband instead of going back to Leo who had been willing to let her go.
