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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Death of parent
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There are so many mixed reviews for this book that my expectations were not that high. I tried to physically read this when it first came out and couldn't get into it, but then I listened to the audiobook and I actually quite enjoyed the story once I could get further in. It definitely gave Evelyn Hugo vibes and it wasn't the most unique storyline ever, but if you're an EmHen fan, I'd say to give this a shot (on audio, probably).
Updated EmHen ranking:
1) Funny Story
2) People We Meet on Vacation
3) Great Big Beautiful Life
4) Happy Place
5) Book Lovers
6) Beach Read
Updated EmHen ranking:
1) Funny Story
2) People We Meet on Vacation
3) Great Big Beautiful Life
4) Happy Place
5) Book Lovers
6) Beach Read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Alcohol
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is only my second Emily Henry book so I can’t really comment on how it compares to her others. I really liked the mystery aspect with the unfolding of Margaret’s story, but the chemistry between Hayden and Alice fell flat for me. Not only did it go from 0 to 15 to 100 in a VERY short time, but there were silly “boundaries” that they kept setting themselves up to break. It got old pretty quick. After 2 books, not sure she’s an auto-buy another for me. But willing to try one more before I definitively decide!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident
Minor: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Dementia, Pregnancy
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Car accident
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Dementia, Grief, Car accident
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think this book would have been better without the romance. Hayden never felt like more than a cardboard cutout of a character, so I never cared about the romance and whether one of them getting this writing job over the other would affect their relationship.
Now the story of Alice and Margaret learning to trust each other, and Margaret's mostly-true stories, were a major highlight. I enjoyed Alice as a main character, even if I couldn't relate to her overly-sunny disposition. If more of the story could have been these two interacting (maybe with more Jodi too?) I would have liked this more.
I also didn't care for the choice to make Hayden the secret grandchild here. Because I didn't connect to him at all throughout this book, and how we got a single conversation about his mom, it felt like a let down for that relationship (or lack thereof) to be the catalyst of the book. Either make it connected to Alice or flesh out both Hayden and his mother more.
Now the story of Alice and Margaret learning to trust each other, and Margaret's mostly-true stories, were a major highlight. I enjoyed Alice as a main character, even if I couldn't relate to her overly-sunny disposition. If more of the story could have been these two interacting (maybe with more Jodi too?) I would have liked this more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Pregnancy
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hesitate to call this one a romance but it was lovely and memorable. I almost feel like I would’ve preferred this from another author, but Henry meanders to her point and it’s a wonderful story about familial connection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia