I spent most of my time wishing this was over and I've bought the Fairyloot editions so this definitely feels like a slap to the face.

Nothing made any sense. If you're infiltrating the lair of the bad guy why give your real name, why constantly call her "inmate" when he's looking for a prisoner, why draw attention to yourself when at the beginning you stressed the importance of being inconspicuous. Every bloody minute they were doing something that didn't make any sense.

I think this is coming off harsher then it should because it's almost midnight but I am steamed. And the worst thing is I have to finish a series I want to dnf so I don't feel like I've got the books for nothing.

I love Emily Henry. I've said it before and I will say it again, I love Emily Henry but I now also love Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.

I could not put this book down. I want to speak about my experience reading the book rather than the plot itself as I think I may unintentionally spoil in my excitement to shout about this book. 

I feel like this is completely different to the previous EmHen books I've read before. It's essentially a story within a story (I guess that stuff about not talking about plot has gone out the window), with Alice and Hayden our main characters competing for the opportunity to write a book on Margaret Ives are reclusive former socialite, and undertake a month long job interview. I loved reading about Margaret's story, and I loved watching Alice and Hayden fall in love on paper.

Henry time and time again writes complex, well thought out characters that feel tangible and GBBL is no exception. At times, I could imagine sitting with Alice as she questioned Margaret and was coming up with theories on the side with my little notebook. There's just so much substance and so much to cling to in an EmHen read.

It's rivals to lovers, it's he falls first, there's mystery, tension but most of a perfect read. I'm having the worst time of my life trying to convey how much I loved this book and how in tears but happy tears I was at the end of it. 

Thanks you to Netgalley and Viking Books for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

 Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry releases in the UK, April 24th 2025.

Tusk Love could not have come at a better time because I have been slumping and slumping hard, I do not pmuls. 

Guanzon writes the perfect blend of romance and fantasy in Tusk Love. 

Oskar is man that is just happy to be in Guinevere's presence and isn't that what we all want. He worships the ground upon which she walks, as he should. At one point he praised her walking and I kicked my legs in glee, because that is what I want, to be praised for walking or sitting or breathing, I'm flexible.

In Tusk Love, Guanzon delivers a cozy romantic fantasy that makes you feel content. I enjoyed  Guinevere's and Oskar's character development but Guinevere's in particular as she free's herself from the prison that is her parents. There is a bit of insta love but I think it's great in this, like yes get me to the romance faster, but also it didn't detract from the development. The developing was still happening and I think the early intimacy was needed in order for both of them to grow emotionally and not be selfish.

I loved Tusk Love - a perfectly executed low (but also high) stakes cozy romance with loveable idiots.

Thank you to Del Rey , Thea Guanzon and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest reivew.

Tusk Love releases in the UK on the 1st of July! 

Unfortunately. I dnf'd this book at about 33%. There was just too many things that didn't work for me. Grace was frankly a mess, I'm still not sure what Eric did to earn her dislike to me it felt he didn't do anything. The book is reminiscent of the Hating Game or the Spanish Love Deception where a misunderstanding is blown out of proportion. Like just talk to one another. Also, they're competing for the same role so this is more rivals to lovers than enemies to lovers. I'm tired of this, you can't have proper enemies to lovers in a contemporary romance so why call it something it's not. 

Thank you to Transworld for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I spent most of February suffering the flu and in the haze and confusion and brief moments I could open my eyes I turned to Grave Empire. My first Swan novel and absolutely not my last, I'm currently waiting for the physical copy to arrive show I can show it to people and proudly announce that I've read it. Grave Empire is everything I it said on tin "- a dark flintlock fantasy filled with epic adventure, arcane powers and creeping dread".

Swan takes care with the worldbuilding and explanations and so despite not reading the Empire of The Wolf Trilogy, I do not feel I was disadvantaged in anyway when reading Grave Empire first, as this book is set two hundred years after the events of the EotW Trilogy. I enjoyed this so much, my favourite character was Renata hands down. I also enjoyed the underwater world, it felt like being a kid again and watching Atlantis for the first time, Swan evoked the same wonder and curiosity in me now as Disney did then. But I also felt for poor Peter, the guy was going through it but also I would to if I was him.

Overall, I really loved this book, it was the only joy I had in this flu ridden two week hell hole I was in. I can't wait to read the next instalment and I'm very grateful to Orbit for the opportunity to read this.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and Richard Swan for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.