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hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Car accident
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Another strong Emily Henry performance, this time weaving past and present, glamour and the ordinary, and a whole bunch more small things that make up life.
I made the mistake during my reading to check the reviews of this book. I was equally confused by the readers' obsession with this being a "poor man's Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and the claims that this isn't a romance.
I suppose I'm lucky in so far that my contrarian nature keeps me away from things that are generally popular, so I've not the faintest clue whether there is any resemblance to this other book. I will say that having read the blurb, it just sounds like a recurring motif, and I'm not entirely sure one can copyright a motif. But I haven't read the book, so I have no clue. Maybe don't read them in the same year if you're committed to reading both.
With respect to the claim that this isn't a romance, my only guess is that the other readers were looking for something more smutty and less complex. What I like about Emily Henry's books are the many layers to people, the individual lives they live outside of their romantic pursuits, their baggage and their dramas. When I read her Funny Story, I was stolen away by the way it dealt with grief for a life that the heroine had been hoping for.
Here, we've got Alice who's trying to live her best life, but then she stumbles upon something she shared with her father and because he's no longer there, it's a dream to pursue answers they had bought sought in the past. But her dream come true isn't within easy reach because there's another author in the running and although he's a rival, Alice can't help being herself. Bubbly and sweet and unfailingly polite, and Hayden's her completely opposite, but they work anyway.
I can't see how there would be no romance, when Alice and Hayden experience a slow simmering attraction that slowly turns into a wild love despite the boundaries that they try to keep between them. How?!
We get real friendships strewn in, the kind of family dynamics that are memorable and realistic, and a happily ever after that's just perfect. It's not a rom com, but why would it need to be? Emily Henry writes something just a little bit deeper, and that's A-OK, it's still a fantastic story.
I made the mistake during my reading to check the reviews of this book. I was equally confused by the readers' obsession with this being a "poor man's Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and the claims that this isn't a romance.
I suppose I'm lucky in so far that my contrarian nature keeps me away from things that are generally popular, so I've not the faintest clue whether there is any resemblance to this other book. I will say that having read the blurb, it just sounds like a recurring motif, and I'm not entirely sure one can copyright a motif. But I haven't read the book, so I have no clue. Maybe don't read them in the same year if you're committed to reading both.
With respect to the claim that this isn't a romance, my only guess is that the other readers were looking for something more smutty and less complex. What I like about Emily Henry's books are the many layers to people, the individual lives they live outside of their romantic pursuits, their baggage and their dramas. When I read her Funny Story, I was stolen away by the way it dealt with grief for a life that the heroine had been hoping for.
Here, we've got Alice who's trying to live her best life, but then she stumbles upon something she shared with her father and because he's no longer there, it's a dream to pursue answers they had bought sought in the past. But her dream come true isn't within easy reach because there's another author in the running and although he's a rival, Alice can't help being herself. Bubbly and sweet and unfailingly polite, and Hayden's her completely opposite, but they work anyway.
I can't see how there would be no romance, when Alice and Hayden experience a slow simmering attraction that slowly turns into a wild love despite the boundaries that they try to keep between them. How?!
We get real friendships strewn in, the kind of family dynamics that are memorable and realistic, and a happily ever after that's just perfect. It's not a rom com, but why would it need to be? Emily Henry writes something just a little bit deeper, and that's A-OK, it's still a fantastic story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Dementia, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Not quite what I was expecting from an Emily Henry book since this one felt heavier (physically and emotionally) than her other books. But I enjoyed all the twists. I wish there had been a family tree at the beginning of the book to reference the Ives family because it got confusing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident
Minor: Emotional abuse, Dementia, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Moderate: Death, Car accident
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Emily Henry you mad genius. I love you so much. Great Big Beautiful Life has got to be one of Emily's best books. It was different than anything else she's written but it is fantastic. I was so sucked into this world that I would question where I was when I looked up from the book. What a wonderful writer Emily is. What a magnificent book.
Okay, first, the cast of characters are perfect. From Margaret and all her family to Alice and Hayden. Every character added something to the book. Alice Scott is such a loveable character. Her sunshine demeanor and optimism won me over. She's hilarious and kind and it was so easy to root for her. I loved her from page one. Hayden Anderson, what a man. I gotta be honest, he was a jerk at the beginning. But, as usual, Emily made us absolutely adore him by the end of the book. He was so kind and honest. He's selfless and funny. And he absolutely worships the ground Alice walks on. Hayden is down BAD! As all men should be for the woman they love. I loved watching Alice and Hayden grow together and fall in love. Their love felt so pure and honest. They way it developed felt so natural and real. It was perfectly written.
Onto the Margaret Ives storyline. Oh my gosh, was I absolutely hooked. I loved connecting all the dots and learning all about Margaret's family. So much joy and grief is found in Margaret's story. It made my heart ache to read about, but then it made my heart rejoice when Margaret gets her happy ending. Everything about this story was so real and put together perfectly. I love these characters, I love the story, I love this book. I honestly don't think Emily Henry is capable of writing a bad book. Everything she writes turns to gold. I love love love you Emily Henry.
Okay, first, the cast of characters are perfect. From Margaret and all her family to Alice and Hayden. Every character added something to the book. Alice Scott is such a loveable character. Her sunshine demeanor and optimism won me over. She's hilarious and kind and it was so easy to root for her. I loved her from page one. Hayden Anderson, what a man. I gotta be honest, he was a jerk at the beginning. But, as usual, Emily made us absolutely adore him by the end of the book. He was so kind and honest. He's selfless and funny. And he absolutely worships the ground Alice walks on. Hayden is down BAD! As all men should be for the woman they love. I loved watching Alice and Hayden grow together and fall in love. Their love felt so pure and honest. They way it developed felt so natural and real. It was perfectly written.
Onto the Margaret Ives storyline. Oh my gosh, was I absolutely hooked. I loved connecting all the dots and learning all about Margaret's family. So much joy and grief is found in Margaret's story. It made my heart ache to read about, but then it made my heart rejoice when Margaret gets her happy ending. Everything about this story was so real and put together perfectly. I love these characters, I love the story, I love this book. I honestly don't think Emily Henry is capable of writing a bad book. Everything she writes turns to gold. I love love love you Emily Henry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Car accident, Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Dementia, Suicide attempt
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I really liked this Emily Henry book! Not my favorite of hers, but it’s up there. The whole interview-a-celebrity thing generally feels a bit overdone for me, and it also caused the romance between Alice and Hayden to feel a bit rushed. I feel like I wasn’t able to see full development between the two of them as much as I would’ve liked, but I still loved the two of them together. I also never really like when the story ends in a pregnancy that seems unnecessary, so that kind of threw me a little bit. On the positive side, I really enjoyed hearing dual story lines and trying to figure out Margaret’s story as the book went along. It made it more fun to read for me. And, of course, EH’s banter between the leads is always fantastic, so I loved those scenes as well. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Dementia
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
It wasn’t my favorite Emily Henry book, and I still enjoyed it. It was a slow burn then the ending felt really rushed. Personally, I didn’t super care for the first 30% of the Ives family history. I really wanted Alice to make friends on the island and actually hang out with people other than Hayden. I can understand that the friend group chat was easier for the storyline to not get too long and complicated. Although, she does stay in Georgia to tell her mom’s story at the end, leaving all her friends in LA
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Dementia, Classism
Moderate: Car accident
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Dementia