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adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3 - 3.5 stars. I didn't dislike this book, but I had a hard time getting into some parts of the story (specifically, the biography portions of the story...especially in the beginning). I realized the twist very early on in the story, but it wasn't enough to get me to stop reading. To me, this book has more family type drama than it does romance. So if you are into a biography/family drama/family dynamics with a bit of romance sprinkled in, you'll love this book. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. đ
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I flew through this one! It was really well done. I cared about the romance and âthe storyâ. The rivals aspect worked well. The side story was interesting. The ending was a bit of a letdown but overall it was good. I would try another by this author especially on audio. The narrator was great.
Plot: Two writers compete for a chance to write the memoir of an heiress who disappeared decades before.
Overall Rating: 4/5
TW: cursing, sexual content (3 M/F open door scenes that can be skipped easy enough), alcohol
Plot: Two writers compete for a chance to write the memoir of an heiress who disappeared decades before.
Overall Rating: 4/5
TW: cursing, sexual content (3 M/F open door scenes that can be skipped easy enough), alcohol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death
Minor: Drug use, Kidnapping, Alcohol
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
âThe only way to get a person's full, unfiltered story is to let them tell it to you when and how they want. The best stories are born when the words slip effortlessly from a subject's lips, rather than being painfully cranked out of them bit by bit.â
This book was a delight! Iâd argue that Great Big Beautiful Life is best categorized as literary fiction with elements of mystery and romance. (Which is everything I want in a good story!). This book follows Alice and Hayden- both journalists who are competing for a chance to write a new elusive biography about a famous socialite who hasnât been seen in years.
I fell in love with the characters in here. Alice is bubbly and fun and wins the heart of everyone she runs into. Hayden is a bit tough to crack in the beginning, but heâs super endearing once you get to know him. Margaret is whimsical and quirky and you canât help but fall in love with her too. I was really invested in all the mysterious elements in this. It feels like youâre uncovering the story and the truth alongside these characters which is really fun. And then of course we get the signature Emily Henry romance, which feels just like the icing on the cake. Despite Alice and Haydenâs story taking the back-burner to Margaretâs, I still felt it had great development and made perfect sense to me. The tension and the will they/wonât they is scrumptious. Thereâs actually several love stories being told throughout this story and theyâre all beautiful in their own ways.
Some of the parts telling Margaretâs story felt a little slow and dragged out, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this! My second favorite EH, as the current ranking stands.
"I think you live in a world that's more interesting than the one most people live in," he says, and just as my heart starts to sink with disappointment, with a kind of loneliness, he adds, "and I wish I could live in it too."
This book was a delight! Iâd argue that Great Big Beautiful Life is best categorized as literary fiction with elements of mystery and romance. (Which is everything I want in a good story!). This book follows Alice and Hayden- both journalists who are competing for a chance to write a new elusive biography about a famous socialite who hasnât been seen in years.
I fell in love with the characters in here. Alice is bubbly and fun and wins the heart of everyone she runs into. Hayden is a bit tough to crack in the beginning, but heâs super endearing once you get to know him. Margaret is whimsical and quirky and you canât help but fall in love with her too. I was really invested in all the mysterious elements in this. It feels like youâre uncovering the story and the truth alongside these characters which is really fun. And then of course we get the signature Emily Henry romance, which feels just like the icing on the cake. Despite Alice and Haydenâs story taking the back-burner to Margaretâs, I still felt it had great development and made perfect sense to me. The tension and the will they/wonât they is scrumptious. Thereâs actually several love stories being told throughout this story and theyâre all beautiful in their own ways.
Some of the parts telling Margaretâs story felt a little slow and dragged out, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this! My second favorite EH, as the current ranking stands.
"I think you live in a world that's more interesting than the one most people live in," he says, and just as my heart starts to sink with disappointment, with a kind of loneliness, he adds, "and I wish I could live in it too."
I feel myself beaming. "I'll take you sometime."
"I'd like that," he says.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Mental illness, Dementia
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
âď¸Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henryâď¸
âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸/5
Emily Henry has done it again - this time with a sun-drenched island, a reclusive icon, and two writers who have absolutely no business catching feelings. And yet. đ
We meet Alice Scott, an endearing chaos muppet of a writer, and Hayden Anderson, her thundercloud of a rival, as they go head-to-head for the job of a lifetime: telling the story of the elusive (and possibly myth-level fabulous) Margaret Ives. Think Gatsby meets Grey Gardens with a dash of slow-burn tension and youâll have a taste of the vibes. đ¸đđ´
The plot unfolds like a treasure hunt in heels - Margaret only gives them fragments of her past, and thanks to ironclad NDAs, thereâs no note-passing allowed. Meanwhile, Alice and Hayden keep brushing against each other with all the chemistry of a matchbook in a bonfire.
I loved the layered storytelling, the glamorous-yet-haunted feel of Margaretâs world, and the way Henry lets the romance simmer instead of boil over. And Alice? Sheâs the kind of protagonist you want to get drinks with and root for - smart, warm, and quietly gutsy.
My one teeny critique? The ending tied up a little too quickly for a story that took its time unfolding. I wouldnât have minded a few extra chapters to luxuriate in the resolution. But hey, thatâs just a sign I didnât want to leave the island.
All in all, Great Big Beautiful Life is an escapist treat with heart, heat, and a few secrets you wonât see coming. Highly recommend packing it in your beach bag. âď¸đđ
âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸/5
Emily Henry has done it again - this time with a sun-drenched island, a reclusive icon, and two writers who have absolutely no business catching feelings. And yet. đ
We meet Alice Scott, an endearing chaos muppet of a writer, and Hayden Anderson, her thundercloud of a rival, as they go head-to-head for the job of a lifetime: telling the story of the elusive (and possibly myth-level fabulous) Margaret Ives. Think Gatsby meets Grey Gardens with a dash of slow-burn tension and youâll have a taste of the vibes. đ¸đđ´
The plot unfolds like a treasure hunt in heels - Margaret only gives them fragments of her past, and thanks to ironclad NDAs, thereâs no note-passing allowed. Meanwhile, Alice and Hayden keep brushing against each other with all the chemistry of a matchbook in a bonfire.
I loved the layered storytelling, the glamorous-yet-haunted feel of Margaretâs world, and the way Henry lets the romance simmer instead of boil over. And Alice? Sheâs the kind of protagonist you want to get drinks with and root for - smart, warm, and quietly gutsy.
My one teeny critique? The ending tied up a little too quickly for a story that took its time unfolding. I wouldnât have minded a few extra chapters to luxuriate in the resolution. But hey, thatâs just a sign I didnât want to leave the island.
All in all, Great Big Beautiful Life is an escapist treat with heart, heat, and a few secrets you wonât see coming. Highly recommend packing it in your beach bag. âď¸đđ
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
As always with Emily Henry, I read this within a day. Best summer vibes, loved this tiny island and all its weird characters. I also think she should explore more genres in the future because the Margaret Ives story was brilliant! Overall, I really enjoyed reading this.
My only issue would probably be that the stories together felt too tight. I'd rather have had one or the other expanded on, but this way was a bit squashed together, especially the last third.
I liked Alice and Hayden (more Hayden) and loved some of the romantic moments, but the main connection felt underdeveloped, which is not what I'm used to with Emily Henry.(Also, while I'm here, why did they wait so long to have sex? Especially after doing all the other stuff that was basically sex? I'm baffled.)
That said, falling in love within two weeks is very Ives of Hayden, I rate.
My only issue would probably be that the stories together felt too tight. I'd rather have had one or the other expanded on, but this way was a bit squashed together, especially the last third.
I liked Alice and Hayden (more Hayden) and loved some of the romantic moments, but the main connection felt underdeveloped, which is not what I'm used to with Emily Henry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Grief, Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Car accident
Hereâs the deal. I loved this book, but, and itâs a big one, I kind of had to tell myself that I was not reading an Emily Henry title. Why? The banter was just not bantering right away. I didnât feel the chemistry right away. The story within the story was so different from her other books right away. However, when I detached myself a bit from my expectations based on past experience, I was able to dive in and appreciate it.
I actually found myself more invested in the story of Margaret Ives and her family than in Alice and Hayden. I liked the bit of mystery and intrigue surrounding Margaretâs past, but the twists and turns didnât take me by surprise.
As far as romance goes, Alice and Hayden develop a friendship and catch feelings over time, but the attraction is immediate. The book spans only a month or two, so itâs still pretty instantaneous. And again, the romance is there, but it almost feels like a subplot.
I think that the way this book was marketed as a rom-com and a mystery was poor. I donât know what Reeseâs book club should have said instead, but I think those labels will set the audience up with false expectations.
All of this makes it sound like I should be giving this a âmeh,â mid-level, three-star review, but this one actually is in my top 3 of EmHenâs adult novels.
Emily Henry has a way of writing about grief and loss that connects for me. Aliceâs relationship with her parents was complicated and beautiful. And there was a scene that just broke me; the words, âitâs not too lateâ had me sobbing thinking about my own life and family.
This one also sparked some creativity, bravery, and confidence in me with Haydenâs encouragement to Alice to write what needs to be written even if no one else reads it or likes it. The work is worth it on its own. A message I needed.
Overall, after I jumped my expectation-hurdles, I still laughed and cried and felt as involved as every other book by Emily Henry, if not more so.
I actually found myself more invested in the story of Margaret Ives and her family than in Alice and Hayden. I liked the bit of mystery and intrigue surrounding Margaretâs past, but the twists and turns didnât take me by surprise.
As far as romance goes, Alice and Hayden develop a friendship and catch feelings over time, but the attraction is immediate. The book spans only a month or two, so itâs still pretty instantaneous. And again, the romance is there, but it almost feels like a subplot.
I think that the way this book was marketed as a rom-com and a mystery was poor. I donât know what Reeseâs book club should have said instead, but I think those labels will set the audience up with false expectations.
All of this makes it sound like I should be giving this a âmeh,â mid-level, three-star review, but this one actually is in my top 3 of EmHenâs adult novels.
Emily Henry has a way of writing about grief and loss that connects for me. Aliceâs relationship with her parents was complicated and beautiful. And there was a scene that just broke me; the words, âitâs not too lateâ had me sobbing thinking about my own life and family.
This one also sparked some creativity, bravery, and confidence in me with Haydenâs encouragement to Alice to write what needs to be written even if no one else reads it or likes it. The work is worth it on its own. A message I needed.
Overall, after I jumped my expectation-hurdles, I still laughed and cried and felt as involved as every other book by Emily Henry, if not more so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
The concept was super intriguing but I felt I didnât really like the characters as much as I wanted to. Felt too drawn out at parts but all in all not a bad book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Car accident, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Upon picking this one up, and being about 10% into it, it really had me think of "the 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo". It was similar in some ways, but also entirely different! It did take me a bit to finish it, as I had a harder time getting into it than I usually do with Emily Henry books. However, it was all worth it! It really felt like I was reading 3 books at once, with all the different side stories woven into the main one.
The romance in this book is cute, the side stories are super interesting and written in a way that can be relatable/ realistic(?)Obviously not all of them. I kept wanting to find out what would come up next between Alice and Margaretâs sessions and what all of that would lead to! Kept thinking there were loads of things "missing" in those sessions, and they felt kinda "tense". HOWEVER, in the last 20% of this book, EVERYTHING came together! I gasped loudly a few times, and at some moments had to put down the book to stare into the void. Safe to say that the plot twists were WILD, some of them more obvious than others.
I kinda had a suspicion something was going on about Hayden from the start. It just seemed to "odd" that Margaret would just reach out to him without any context? Especially since Alice was the one to reach out to her originally?
Also did call it from the start that there was something "odd" about Jodi!! Never could've guessed the outcome though!
To conclude, this was not my favourite book from Emily Henry, but also definitely not my least favourite! I am not sure whether I would classify this book as a romance-book alone, as it had so much more going on.
The romance in this book is cute, the side stories are super interesting and written in a way that can be relatable/ realistic(?)
To conclude, this was not my favourite book from Emily Henry, but also definitely not my least favourite! I am not sure whether I would classify this book as a romance-book alone, as it had so much more going on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Pregnancy