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emotional
funny
mysterious
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
This book, in my opinion, is Emily Henry’s greatest work yet. Despite some criticism I’ve seen where people say this isn’t a romance or isn’t good because of the MMC, I absolutely adored this book. It’s celebrates love in all its forms: family, friends, and blossoming romance. There are more characters in GBBL than in previous stories she’s written, but they’re all so complex and I couldn’t help but cheering for all of them. I was so invested in Margaret’s story as it unfolded with all its twists and half-truths, and I loved Alice and Hayden as they both explored their feelings and boundaries. The way that loss and grief are shown in this book really could not have come at a better time for me, and Alice’s loving but still strained relationship with her mother was also one I related to. I cried, I laughed, I yelled “what!!” at this book, and sighed so much my husband asked me what was wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Sexual content
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
I guess when I see a new Emily Henry novel, I jump in assuming I know what to expect. I hadn't read any reviews, just the blurb, but I have to agree with other reviewers who felt that this is less of a romance and more women's fiction. Actually, there was so much mystery that the romance seemed like an afterthought. Alice and Hayden are both writers who have been invited to vie for the prize of writing the biography of Margaret, heiress turned recluse. There's initially some spark between Alice and Hayden, a little grumpy meets sunshine, rivals to lovers vibe. Unfortunately, the book then gets bogged down in telling Margaret's story, which didn't interest me until almost the last quarter of the book. Her story involves family secrets, trauma, and loss, so it was definitely heavier than the author's previous books. Alice and Hayden's relationship had potential for quite a bit more emotional development, as well as banter and tension. It seemed like a missed opportunity, but at least the story ended well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage, Car accident, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
I loved it and I’m sobbing. (Maybe I’ll be more coherent with my thoughts later)
**Updated**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Updated**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 Great Big Beautiful Life, Emily Henry
✨ Emotional. Reflective. Inspiring.
💭 Emily Henry literally never misses! Once again her characters and their stories captured my heart and my imagination. This book felt like the mosaics described in the story. Colorful, mesmerizing, unique, and sharp enough to keep you invested while still allowing escape from the ordinary. A beautiful exploration of legacy, identity, success, and the way the past shapes our future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Car accident
Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Topics of fame, mortality, decisions, and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Classism
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If it were a movie, it’d be a Hallmark movie with sex scenes so I don’t know who makes those. It had a good premise, it just felt so silly and then there was all the sex scenes which eventually I had to start fast forwarding through. I mean why? I guess sex sells.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexual content
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
Although this was a bit of a genre change for Emily (not just completely contemporary romance, but also historical fiction), I really enjoyed this book. I liked Alice and her optimistic view of the world, and I liked Hayden's quiet and pensive vibes. However, I think I liked following the story of Margaret Ives and her family's history a bit more than Alice and Hayden's plot line. I found myself gasping out loud when finally hearing the "truth" from Margaret, and I appreciated how detailed Emily got with the Ives family. It was clearly well thought out and I liked how it was told to us over the course of the book, and had parallels with Alice. I did still enjoy Alice and Hayden's interactions, but I didn't like it as much as some of the other romances in the other Emily Henry books lol they were kissing by page 20 but not going fully all the way til page 357, and then seriously everything wrapped up in the last 10 pages. Talk about some pacing differences! Also, it still felt a little fast for them to fall in love; even though it was a month, it felt fast. I kind of wish that we'd had a dual POV with Alice and Hayden both, as I would have enjoyed seeing things thru his perspective. Regardless, I really enjoyed the story of both Alice and Margaret. I also really enjoyed reading this book as a buddy read with my bestie, which I think made it that much more special!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse