Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Gained half a star at the end even though it was predictable. Not my favorite
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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 feel a lot of feelings about this book. For once, I read it in German but for most of the book, I listened to the audiobook and that one I really disliked. It felt really slow and dragged a lot without any markings when a new chapter or a history part began.
As soon as I started reading it with my eyes though, I really enjoyed the book again as I always (so far) did with Henry‘s books.
I really liked Margaret and the mystery surrounding Jodi, her mysterious housekeeper. Alice was a great narrator and main character, and her love story with Hayden was sweet and pretty convincing.
The history parts were partly my favorites, especially when I started reading the book and started to notice how the names were actually spelled after listening to them (I thought Gerald was spelled Darren ups) and all the plot twists wooing into them were just chefs kiss.
And just for fun, bc the public was comparing them: all in all I like Great Big Beautiful Life a lot more than The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, even though the plot twist in the end was pretty similar. Also The Last Great American Dynasty is my favorite Folklore song, so I was ecstatic when getting to know Henry wrote a book inspired by it and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
As soon as I started reading it with my eyes though, I really enjoyed the book again as I always (so far) did with Henry‘s books.
I really liked Margaret and the mystery surrounding Jodi, her mysterious housekeeper. Alice was a great narrator and main character, and her love story with Hayden was sweet and pretty convincing.
The history parts were partly my favorites, especially when I started reading the book and started to notice how the names were actually spelled after listening to them (I thought Gerald was spelled Darren ups) and all the plot twists wooing into them were just chefs kiss.
And just for fun, bc the public was comparing them: all in all I like Great Big Beautiful Life a lot more than The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, even though the plot twist in the end was pretty similar. Also The Last Great American Dynasty is my favorite Folklore song, so I was ecstatic when getting to know Henry wrote a book inspired by it and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Dementia, Stalking, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Emily Henry does not disappoint. I didn’t want this book to end. Absolutely loved the relationship growth between Alice and Henry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
It’s cute, but I was way more invested in the story of the 80-year-old woman writing her memoir than in the romance. She stole the show, honestly.
The main couple? Classic romance types: MMC is closed-off, wildly successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. FMC is insecure, chatty, and relatable. It’s charming, sure—but also nothing new.
Also, the couple promises no sex until a certain date, but apparently that only applies to PIV sex? In the 21st century, can we please stop pretending that’s the only kind that counts? Come on now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i am never getting over this book.
the theme of hope can never escape me i fear, that and the multiple outlooks on life and messages that were subtly dotted around 😭😭 my literal favourite thing ever about books and this was STACKED.
the way love is portrayed was beautifully written, all aspects of it in its best and worst forms. the complexity!!!!! i went into this knowing i'd enjoy margaret's story and ohmy gad it was crazy, the generational lore, the several plot twists toward the end, her whole person!!! 'She's being brave where it counts.' 🫂 i loved her character so much. the dual timeline also flowed perfectly imo, we were told pieces of information when it was the right time to hear them 👏👏!!
the people have also forgotten that romance also includes YEARNING. like the "no romance" bullshit is just ragebait btw!! hayden and alice were slow burn at their centre, their hand holding moments, the HUG. the snake scene, the storm, the many many diner visits, the knee bumping, the GENTLENESS. the opening up, the "I don't know anyone like you.", the EVERYTHING. the numerous groundbreaking quotes. like??????? the mature way of waiting and trying to make rational choices, what don't people get i have no idea !! they were so special and real ❤️🩹
hayden 😩 a yearner at heart 💓💓 his vulnerability peeking through throughout the book!!! his optimism. "There's a soft, thrumming, hopeful heart." 💚 alice, i love her immensely. her perspective on life and the world she sees (how hayden wants to be a part of it 🥹), her love of writing, her love of love and it's many forms, just her her her!!! 🫶
i was a sobbing mess throughout those last few chapters and i just couldn't keep up with the emotions, i honestly feel like this is a 'you get this book if you get it' type understanding! it healed a part of me i didn't even realise needed a lil bit of healing 😭 this is now on par for favourite beside my beloved beach read 💛
there's so sooo much i could talk about but i'm still trying to function and as always, it's best to go in blind and discover the love for yourself ❤️🩹
the theme of hope can never escape me i fear, that and the multiple outlooks on life and messages that were subtly dotted around 😭😭 my literal favourite thing ever about books and this was STACKED.
the way love is portrayed was beautifully written, all aspects of it in its best and worst forms. the complexity!!!!! i went into this knowing i'd enjoy margaret's story and ohmy gad it was crazy, the generational lore, the several plot twists toward the end, her whole person!!! 'She's being brave where it counts.' 🫂 i loved her character so much. the dual timeline also flowed perfectly imo, we were told pieces of information when it was the right time to hear them 👏👏!!
the people have also forgotten that romance also includes YEARNING. like the "no romance" bullshit is just ragebait btw!! hayden and alice were slow burn at their centre, their hand holding moments, the HUG. the snake scene, the storm, the many many diner visits, the knee bumping, the GENTLENESS. the opening up, the "I don't know anyone like you.", the EVERYTHING. the numerous groundbreaking quotes. like??????? the mature way of waiting and trying to make rational choices, what don't people get i have no idea !! they were so special and real ❤️🩹
hayden 😩 a yearner at heart 💓💓 his vulnerability peeking through throughout the book!!! his optimism. "There's a soft, thrumming, hopeful heart." 💚 alice, i love her immensely. her perspective on life and the world she sees (how hayden wants to be a part of it 🥹), her love of writing, her love of love and it's many forms, just her her her!!! 🫶
i was a sobbing mess throughout those last few chapters and i just couldn't keep up with the emotions, i honestly feel like this is a 'you get this book if you get it' type understanding! it healed a part of me i didn't even realise needed a lil bit of healing 😭 this is now on par for favourite beside my beloved beach read 💛
there's so sooo much i could talk about but i'm still trying to function and as always, it's best to go in blind and discover the love for yourself ❤️🩹
"For the one you love? Anything. You unmake the world and build a new one. You do anything to give them what they need." 🌅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
i don’t really know how i feel about this one. while i really enjoyed parts, obviously emily henry’s writing and banter is always amazing, some of the quotes really stuck with me but it felt too much like two different books in one. i wish we got more of alice and hayden together than we did of the secondary story. while i enjoyed the biography they were hoping to write, it felt like it overpowered the relationship and when they did get together, it felt very rushed and insta-lovey. i wish we would’ve found out the plot twist sooner and then seen how they navigated it together. i would still recommend but know that the romance felt more of a subplot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent