Book Club - Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

In this episode of Literature on the Rocks…

we’re pouring our hearts out over the book club discussion for Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. If the summary episode made us giggle, this one made us weep (in a cathartic, group-hug kind of way). This story hit us hard—in the best way—so naturally, we had to unpack it all: the love, the grief, the regrets, and the lies that shaped Margaret, Alice, and everyone in between.

We get into the dual timeline structure and how it shaped our experience of the story—was it cinematic or confusing? (Spoiler: we loved it). We also dig into the many shades of love Emily explores: the kind that lifts you, the kind that breaks you, and the kind you have to find in yourself to keep going. And yes, we go deep on that lie and whether Alice was right to walk away from Hayden. It’s emotional. It’s complicated. It’s the kind of episode where tissues and truth bombs were both within reach.

Since we already brought the tears, we decided to bring balance with something comforting and a little nostalgic—a mocktail inspired by sweet summers and second chances:

Lavendar Lemon Love Mocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 oz lavender syrup

• 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice

• 3 oz sparkling lemonade

• Splash of coconut water (for heart and hydration)

• Garnish: Lemon wheel + edible flower or sprig of lavender

Directions:

Shake lavender syrup and lemon juice with ice, then pour over fresh ice in a glass. Top with sparkling lemonade and a splash of coconut water. Stir gently and garnish. It’s soft, soothing, and just sentimental enough to match the mood of this episode.

So grab your mocktail, get cozy, and join us as we reflect on the beautiful messiness of life and love. And hey—if you’ve got thoughts on any of the prompts, we still want to hear them. Just because we’re crying into our drinks doesn’t mean we don’t want company.