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A review by lisibee815
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

So, your mileage may vary so take the following with a grain of salt. I wanted to adore this book but I never fully clicked with it, which surprised and disappointed me. It took me a long while to engage with the story, I think because of the split focus with the past and present dual storylines. And while I liked both Alice and Hayden as characters, it felt like their relationship was sped up and superficially developed. (I would have really liked to see Hayden's POV alongside Alice's.) I had a hard time investing in them together as a couple, and the insta-lust felt like a shortcut to emotional intimacy. Margaret's backstory was interesting  and I know her life story is what brought Alice and Hayden together, but it didn't really work for me as a romantic plot device for them. Not sure if this makes any sense, but it's like there was simultaneously both too much and not enough going on in this story. There were some enjoyable moments and it did pick up towards the end. I usually really like Emily Henry but this one wasn't the book for me. 
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