Book Summary - Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

In this episode of Literature on the Rocks…

we’re sipping something sparkly and diving headfirst into Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry—a story that gave us all the feels in the best (and sometimes chaotic) ways. It’s romantic, funny, emotional, and yes, there’s even a cult. Classic Emily.

We talk about everything—from the fishbowl-sized cocktails Alice deserved, to Hayden’s gentlemanly self-control (almost too much if you ask Rachel), and the universal truth that no one should be chasing a Theo. We also dive into the layered mother-daughter dynamics, the unexpected ways grief shows up, and our undying love for Cecil, the scene-stealing side character we all want at our next brunch.

This one had us cracking up, feeling butterflies, getting teary, and texting each other in all caps. If you haven’t read it yet, consider this your sign.

And of course, we couldn’t toast this episode without a cocktail that honors both the vintage soul of Margaret’s story and the modern twist Alice and Hayden bring to it. So we shook up a new take on the classic Tom Collins cocktail:

Beautiful Spark Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 oz gin

• 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice

• 0.5 oz blueberry lavender syrup

• Top with grapefruit soda like squirt

• Garnish: Grapefruit twist or a sprig of lavender

Directions:

Shake the gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice, then strain into a glass over fresh cubes. Top with grapefruit soda and garnish to your heart’s content. It's light, bubbly, and just the right mix of classic charm and modern zing… just like this book.

Once you’ve listened, don’t forget to answer the prompts! Your thoughts might just land you a feature on our upcoming book club episode. And let’s be honest—if you’re going to yell about ex-boyfriends, emotional baggage, and chivalrous men with communication issues, you might as well do it with us.