Reviews with content warning for Grief - Stora vackra liv

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Stora vackra liv by Emily Henry

290 reviews

mlshaw13's review against another edition

3.5

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This was definitely not my favourite EH book. I liked the MCs (A & H) for sure, and liked their backstories and how it was weaved throughout. The landscape and town, with all the cute stores and restaurants, were written so beautifully and I want to visit!

One of my main gripes with this book is that so much of Margaret’s backstory just isn’t relevant. It was so far into the book before we even heard of Cosmo. I understand that some context is necessary, but the amount of chapters that could have been summarized was definitely more than 1.

I also found the pacing interesting as it felt very much like wading through molasses for 85-90% of the book and then being shot down a water slide at the speed of light for the last bit with the twist.

Content Warnings

katiejohns's review against another edition

3.5

emotional 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

lottiebrooks's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Overall loved this one! Wish I could read the memoir to know more about Margaret and not just her history

Content Warnings

ren8ions's review against another edition

3.5

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

abbyofgreengables's review against another edition

5.0

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.

Content Warnings

kelseyfontaine's review against another edition

4.5

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