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emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was enjoying this one more than the last one right up until like the last three pages. But it was a fine read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Dementia, Alcohol
Aggressive paparazzi
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Reading this book makes me want to decrease my star ratings for Emily Henry's other books. This feels like the natural evolution of Emily Henry as a writer and I'm so here for it.
I'm seeing a lot of people say they didn't like the flashbacks and Margaret's backstory, but I loved it. It was an effective way to tell two stories that converge into a very satisfying conclusion.
This book did tackle some fairly serious topics, but it always felt tactful. I went in expecting a fluffy book lovers-esque rom-com and got so much more than I bargained for.
If you enjoy creative storytelling, unique character development, and a rewarding love story, this book is a great match for you.
I'm seeing a lot of people say they didn't like the flashbacks and Margaret's backstory, but I loved it. It was an effective way to tell two stories that converge into a very satisfying conclusion.
This book did tackle some fairly serious topics, but it always felt tactful. I went in expecting a fluffy book lovers-esque rom-com and got so much more than I bargained for.
If you enjoy creative storytelling, unique character development, and a rewarding love story, this book is a great match for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Dementia
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
Everyone out here giving this book 1-2 stars is kwazyyyy! Even if this isn't your favorite of Emily's books, or it wasn't as romance-focused as her past books, or it wasn't what you were expecting - IT IS STILL OBJECTIVELY A WELL WRITTEN BOOK! I actually cannot with people giving it such low ratings just because she deviated a bit from what she's written in the past.
I personally was eating up the main plot of the story, the interviews etc - I was fascinated by Margaret's family and her life, and that's what kept me reading. At it's core it is still very much an Emily Henry book - and I personally would love for Emily to write more literary/general fiction books! Her ability to tell a deep and complex story is clearly showcased in GBBL!!
Is insta-love/attraction my personal favorite trope? no. Did I wish there was a bit more development of the romance? Yes. The present day romance (cause let's be honest Margaret has a romance story being told here too!) between Alice and Hayden could've been more developed, and honestly I would've even read a longer book to allow for this. But the core of this book is the mystery of Margaret's life being unraveled as it's told to Alice. I was near-tears at the ending with Alice's own family development. Lots of parallels to be drawn to Taylor Swift songs (which we all know Emily is a stan) here.
Margaret did make me mad at the ending when she wrote off Hayden saying 'he doesn't like her' but I mostly forgave her for righting it in the end.
I personally was eating up the main plot of the story, the interviews etc - I was fascinated by Margaret's family and her life, and that's what kept me reading. At it's core it is still very much an Emily Henry book - and I personally would love for Emily to write more literary/general fiction books! Her ability to tell a deep and complex story is clearly showcased in GBBL!!
Is insta-love/attraction my personal favorite trope? no. Did I wish there was a bit more development of the romance? Yes. The present day romance (cause let's be honest Margaret has a romance story being told here too!) between Alice and Hayden could've been more developed, and honestly I would've even read a longer book to allow for this. But the core of this book is the mystery of Margaret's life being unraveled as it's told to Alice. I was near-tears at the ending with Alice's own family development. Lots of parallels to be drawn to Taylor Swift songs (which we all know Emily is a stan) here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Car accident, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Pregnancy
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gorgeous book and writing. Emily Henry, I love everything you make.
This book is a bit of a different vibe than her previous books but is no less lovely and enjoyable. I loved the dynamics between the main characters, and it was so interesting to have the two storylines going simultaneously and to see how they weave together at the end.
This book is a bit of a different vibe than her previous books but is no less lovely and enjoyable. I loved the dynamics between the main characters, and it was so interesting to have the two storylines going simultaneously and to see how they weave together at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Dementia
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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: Death, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a great, big, beautiful ride Great Big Beautiful Life is. I have shed tears and laughed out loud, kicked my feet in ecstasy and ground my teeth in anticipation. I am floored by Emily Henry again.
I have so many notes to go through, but, for now I will say: this is some of Emily’s most beautiful writing. It is heartfelt and poignant. It is reflective and brutal and honest. It is tragedy and love, humour and regret.
I related to so many of these characters in different ways, from Alice’s insecurity around her mother’s feelings towards her to Hayden’s perfectionism and fear of being himself. Very real fears of me were reflected in this book, the anxiety around bringing children into this world which is cruel and dangerous and difficult.
There are things I’d love to know more about, particularly surrounding the outcome of thetrial for Dr David , and Jodi and her father, including how he came to be the kooky character he is and how much he knows of Hayden and Alice . I suppose much of that I may only know from the book, if only it were real!
I’m already raring for a reread, and I obviously need to listen to the audiobook but, for now, I leave you with some of my favourite quotes presented with absolutely no context:
“If that’s what I meant, then that’s what I would’ve said.”
I have so many notes to go through, but, for now I will say: this is some of Emily’s most beautiful writing. It is heartfelt and poignant. It is reflective and brutal and honest. It is tragedy and love, humour and regret.
I related to so many of these characters in different ways, from Alice’s insecurity around her mother’s feelings towards her to Hayden’s perfectionism and fear of being himself. Very real fears of me were reflected in this book, the anxiety around bringing children into this world which is cruel and dangerous and difficult.
There are things I’d love to know more about, particularly surrounding the outcome of the
I’m already raring for a reread, and I obviously need to listen to the audiobook but, for now, I leave you with some of my favourite quotes presented with absolutely no context:
“If that’s what I meant, then that’s what I would’ve said.”
“Stone-cold sober and he looks almost as drunk as I feel.”
“What if they have to care for me, for years, after I’ve stopped calling them by their nicknames or telling them I love them?”
“I don’t do this.”
“I do.”
“Fine. I do too.”
“This doesn’t have to be the greatest tragedy to ever befall anyone. It doesn’t even have to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Like I swallowed the sun. Like it’s breaking up every bit of darkness inside me.”
“Maybe every bit of heartbreak in life can be rearranged and used for something beautiful.”
Also, huge shout out to the Pole of Inaccessibility, which is where my heart resides most of the time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Car accident, Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Dementia, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spice Rating: 🌶️.5 / 5
My Summary: Margaret Ives is getting older, and she's finally ready to tell everyone about her adventurous, romantic, and sordid past. But before she tells all, she wants to court two writers to see who is best equipped to tell her and her family's story. She wants the writers to stay on the small island in Georgia that she calls home for one month before she decides who to sign on for the job.
Alice is an optimistic journalist who has been waiting for her big break moment. Hayden is a well-known name in the industry, having already written a best-selling biography; he is known for his aloofness and overall grumpy demeanor. As the two compete to write Margaret's biography, they find themselves constantly running into each other on the too-small island. But soon, their run-ins become less of an inconvenience and seem more like fate.
My Thoughts: Though Great Big Beautiful Life is quite different from Emily Henry's normal style of story, it is still full of her signature prose, witty banter, romantic chemistry, and meaningful moments.
This novel is told in two parts. One is the story of celebrity, Margaret Ives, and her family, which is told as Alice interviews her to, potentially, write Margaret's biography. The other is the story of Alice and Hayden as they interact outside of their time with Margaret and find that they might have more chemistry than animosity.
Alice is an optimist who loves people, and that even includes the ever-grumpy, introverted Hayden. When she makes it her goal to win him over, Alice finds that Hayden's grumpiness might just be a facade you have to break through in order to get to the real Hayden underneath. Alice and Hayden spend more and more time together; they learn how beautiful this world and life are--and how much better they are when they're together.
I felt like Emily Henry did a great job splitting the book equally between both stories. I loved hearing about Margaret's family as well as her past because you could see echoes of it in the present. Alice and Hayden both have so much depth as individuals, and their love story is a beautiful one that shows how much they've learned from each other, their pasts, and their time with Margaret.
Fans of Emily Henry won't want to miss out on Great Big Beautiful Life.
My Summary: Margaret Ives is getting older, and she's finally ready to tell everyone about her adventurous, romantic, and sordid past. But before she tells all, she wants to court two writers to see who is best equipped to tell her and her family's story. She wants the writers to stay on the small island in Georgia that she calls home for one month before she decides who to sign on for the job.
Alice is an optimistic journalist who has been waiting for her big break moment. Hayden is a well-known name in the industry, having already written a best-selling biography; he is known for his aloofness and overall grumpy demeanor. As the two compete to write Margaret's biography, they find themselves constantly running into each other on the too-small island. But soon, their run-ins become less of an inconvenience and seem more like fate.
My Thoughts: Though Great Big Beautiful Life is quite different from Emily Henry's normal style of story, it is still full of her signature prose, witty banter, romantic chemistry, and meaningful moments.
This novel is told in two parts. One is the story of celebrity, Margaret Ives, and her family, which is told as Alice interviews her to, potentially, write Margaret's biography. The other is the story of Alice and Hayden as they interact outside of their time with Margaret and find that they might have more chemistry than animosity.
Alice is an optimist who loves people, and that even includes the ever-grumpy, introverted Hayden. When she makes it her goal to win him over, Alice finds that Hayden's grumpiness might just be a facade you have to break through in order to get to the real Hayden underneath. Alice and Hayden spend more and more time together; they learn how beautiful this world and life are--and how much better they are when they're together.
I felt like Emily Henry did a great job splitting the book equally between both stories. I loved hearing about Margaret's family as well as her past because you could see echoes of it in the present. Alice and Hayden both have so much depth as individuals, and their love story is a beautiful one that shows how much they've learned from each other, their pasts, and their time with Margaret.
Fans of Emily Henry won't want to miss out on Great Big Beautiful Life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Dementia
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Optimistic aspiring writer Alice Scott & Pulitzer-winning cynic Hayden Anderson are competing to tell the life story of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives—each given only fragments of her past, bound by NDAs, and distracted by a growing tension neither expected. What begins as a high-stakes assignment soon blurs into something deeper, as the story—and their connection—threatens to become a mystery, a tragedy, or a love story… depending on who gets to tell it.
Did a combo of physical & audio (Julia Whelan did a beautiful job narrating, as she always does). I don't even know if I have the words to describe the way I feel about this book. I can't even rank it up against her other novels because it's so different - in a good way. I feel like EmHen always tackles some tough topics or subject matter in her books, something that gives her characters more substance. But the story here was so much more, her characters almost seemed like deeper, more emotional individuals? I'm probably butchering this, so let me just make it simple - I loved it. I laughed multiple times, and I really got into the Ives story. Is there a lot going on? Yes. Can it get confusing? At times, yes - but Alice even points out that the Ives family history is convoluted, so you're not left feeling like it's just a you problem. At this point, Emily Henry is an auto buy author for me, and I don't know if that will ever change. Another beautiful novel added to the list other wonderful books.
Did a combo of physical & audio (Julia Whelan did a beautiful job narrating, as she always does). I don't even know if I have the words to describe the way I feel about this book. I can't even rank it up against her other novels because it's so different - in a good way. I feel like EmHen always tackles some tough topics or subject matter in her books, something that gives her characters more substance. But the story here was so much more, her characters almost seemed like deeper, more emotional individuals? I'm probably butchering this, so let me just make it simple - I loved it. I laughed multiple times, and I really got into the Ives story. Is there a lot going on? Yes. Can it get confusing? At times, yes - but Alice even points out that the Ives family history is convoluted, so you're not left feeling like it's just a you problem. At this point, Emily Henry is an auto buy author for me, and I don't know if that will ever change. Another beautiful novel added to the list other wonderful books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Dementia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
I loved this book. I can definitely see why many people have said that it is different than Emily Henry's other books, but I thought it still had Henry's voice in it. It was so beautifully written.
The romance part of the book was the least satisfying part for me; it fell a bit flat. I love a slow burn and I feel like generally speaking, Emily Henry does a great job at building tension and yearning between the love interests. There was a bit too much instant chemistry for me in this book. I liked Alice and Hayden's relationship fine, I just didn't feel it in the same way that I have with other books. However, the story and relationship between Margaret and Alice was stunning. I absolutely loved the way they interacted, the way Alice told Margaret's story, and the way they helped each other progress.
Overall, I really loved the book. It made me laugh and cry, and I fell in love with Alice and Margaret both. I did not see the big twist coming and it was so satisfying to find out what was really going on. The ending had me in tears in the best possible way.
The romance part of the book was the least satisfying part for me; it fell a bit flat. I love a slow burn and I feel like generally speaking, Emily Henry does a great job at building tension and yearning between the love interests. There was a bit too much instant chemistry for me in this book. I liked Alice and Hayden's relationship fine, I just didn't feel it in the same way that I have with other books. However, the story and relationship between Margaret and Alice was stunning. I absolutely loved the way they interacted, the way Alice told Margaret's story, and the way they helped each other progress.
Overall, I really loved the book. It made me laugh and cry, and I fell in love with Alice and Margaret both. I did not see the big twist coming and it was so satisfying to find out what was really going on. The ending had me in tears in the best possible way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault
Minor: Dementia