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Big Sexy Love
Olive Brewster is a scaredy cat. She doesn't do new or risky. She’s happy enough with her job at the local market, it’s cool that she has no boyfriend to fret over, she even likes that she still lives in her childhood home. No drama, no fuss, no problems. Everything is fine. Super duper fine.
Except … Olive's best friend in the world, Birdie, is dying.
Birdie has one final wish. She wants to track down her first love, Chuck, and because she's stuck in the hospital she needs Olive's help to do it. But there’s a teeny problem: Chuck is somewhere in New York and Olive has never even left her home town, let alone roamed the crazy streets of Manhattan.
As if the big city isn't scary enough, Olive has to contend with Seth, a cocky comedy TV writer who thinks she’s a joke; Anders, a bored socialite who’s taken a shine to her; and the fact that no matter how hard she tries to track down Chuck, he doesn't seem to want to be found.
Can Olive learn to overcome her fears, abandon her old safe routine and fulfil her best friend’s last wish? It's going to take extra bravery, one badass attitude and a whole lot of big sexy love to make this happen …
Except … Olive's best friend in the world, Birdie, is dying.
Birdie has one final wish. She wants to track down her first love, Chuck, and because she's stuck in the hospital she needs Olive's help to do it. But there’s a teeny problem: Chuck is somewhere in New York and Olive has never even left her home town, let alone roamed the crazy streets of Manhattan.
As if the big city isn't scary enough, Olive has to contend with Seth, a cocky comedy TV writer who thinks she’s a joke; Anders, a bored socialite who’s taken a shine to her; and the fact that no matter how hard she tries to track down Chuck, he doesn't seem to want to be found.
Can Olive learn to overcome her fears, abandon her old safe routine and fulfil her best friend’s last wish? It's going to take extra bravery, one badass attitude and a whole lot of big sexy love to make this happen …
350 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2017
3762 people are currently reading
6227 people want to read
About the author
Kirsty Greenwood
16 books2,144 followersKirsty Greenwood is a top ten bestselling author of funny, fearless and fast-paced romantic comedies about extraordinary love.
When she's not writing books she composes musicals, cooks new recipes with varying success, walks the blustery hills where she lives, buys too much glittery eyeshadow, sings to her dog, kisses her husband and reads all of the books she can get her grabby hands on.
If you want to find out about Kirsty's new releases and discounted books you can sign up to the newsletter here: www.kirstygreenwood.com/newsletter
Kirsty Instagrams at @kirsty_greenwood and can be found on Facebook at KirstyGreenwoodBooks. Say hi! She loves a natter.
When she's not writing books she composes musicals, cooks new recipes with varying success, walks the blustery hills where she lives, buys too much glittery eyeshadow, sings to her dog, kisses her husband and reads all of the books she can get her grabby hands on.
If you want to find out about Kirsty's new releases and discounted books you can sign up to the newsletter here: www.kirstygreenwood.com/newsletter
Kirsty Instagrams at @kirsty_greenwood and can be found on Facebook at KirstyGreenwoodBooks. Say hi! She loves a natter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,237 reviews
October 22, 2018
You will laugh yourself silly
For a story to perfectly straddle pathos and humour requires skill and talent, and it appears Kirsty G has both in spades. This book made me ridiculously happy! Bravo...
October 29, 2018
A light read, over the top at times but I enjoyed it.
July 12, 2017
Big Sexy Love is the story of Olive, a twenty-something, working as a fishmonger and living with her brother and his girlfriend in their old family home. Olive and her brother ended up alone after their mother had an affair with a French man, and therefore went to France, their Dad flees to Scotland shortly after.
Olive loves her routine and gets easily irritated when something is not going after plan. That`s why she is still working as a fishmonger, lives with her brother and has never had a relationship. Her best-friend Birdie is the opposite of Olive: always chasing the next adventure, having affairs and looking for her Big Sexy Love – a real live-wire. Sadly, Birdie is dying.
Her condition is the reason she asks Olive to hunt down Chuck, her first love back in New York, to give him a letter with Birdie’s thoughts about their relationship. Olive is torn between her beloved routine and Birdie’s “last wish”, but nevertheless ends up on a plane to New York, not yet aware of the adventures she is going to have in the Big Apple. As it is said “In New York, anything can happen.”
I won’t hold back here: I love this book! I’ve already read Kirsty’s last books and am very into them, but I honestly believe, this is her best.
From the first word I was hooked and I easily warmed to Olive who is such a likeable character, it is a shame she is only fiction. It was so entertaining to watch her grow and get to know the hidden sides of her nature.
The plot is elaborate and I found myself having great difficulties laying the book aside. Additionally, it is funny, and I had great laughs. At the same time the story, especially the friendship between Olive and Birdie, is very touching and I shed a few tears.
I am a huge fan of romantic comedies, so-called “Chick-Lit”, and Big Sexy Love made its way into my Top 10 in no time. If you are a fan of Lindsey Kelk, Mhairi McFarlane and Rosie Blake you just have to read Big Sexy Love from Kirsty Greenwood! You won’t be disappointed, I give you my word
Reviewed by Kerstin on www.whisperingstories.com
Olive loves her routine and gets easily irritated when something is not going after plan. That`s why she is still working as a fishmonger, lives with her brother and has never had a relationship. Her best-friend Birdie is the opposite of Olive: always chasing the next adventure, having affairs and looking for her Big Sexy Love – a real live-wire. Sadly, Birdie is dying.
Her condition is the reason she asks Olive to hunt down Chuck, her first love back in New York, to give him a letter with Birdie’s thoughts about their relationship. Olive is torn between her beloved routine and Birdie’s “last wish”, but nevertheless ends up on a plane to New York, not yet aware of the adventures she is going to have in the Big Apple. As it is said “In New York, anything can happen.”
I won’t hold back here: I love this book! I’ve already read Kirsty’s last books and am very into them, but I honestly believe, this is her best.
From the first word I was hooked and I easily warmed to Olive who is such a likeable character, it is a shame she is only fiction. It was so entertaining to watch her grow and get to know the hidden sides of her nature.
The plot is elaborate and I found myself having great difficulties laying the book aside. Additionally, it is funny, and I had great laughs. At the same time the story, especially the friendship between Olive and Birdie, is very touching and I shed a few tears.
I am a huge fan of romantic comedies, so-called “Chick-Lit”, and Big Sexy Love made its way into my Top 10 in no time. If you are a fan of Lindsey Kelk, Mhairi McFarlane and Rosie Blake you just have to read Big Sexy Love from Kirsty Greenwood! You won’t be disappointed, I give you my word
Reviewed by Kerstin on www.whisperingstories.com
January 13, 2019
This was just what I needed to escape from worry about what in the world is happening to the world and why the States are in such a state. This is like watching a zany romantic comedy, with LOL, sometimes implausible and ridiculous, situations, very appealing characters, and a storyline that has an underlying serious side to it.
Our heroine, Olive Brewster, in her mid-20s, lives a very uneventful, careful, safe life, almost half a life. Dead-end job, living at home in Manchester, England, with her brother and his girlfriend, no boyfriend, no social life to speak of. She's content, but in reality the brightest light in her life is fun, wild and crazy American friend Birdie, who's been her bestie since they met at university.
But Birdie is dying. And she asks Olive to hand-deliver a letter to her first love, the big one that got away. Trouble is this means a trip to NYC by Olive, who has never flown or even traveled by land more than a short distance from Manchester. And more trouble in that Birdie's "Big, Sexy Love" is off the grid, so it will take a bit of sleuthing to uncover him in New York.
This is a comedy and a love story. Actually, there are two love stories: (1) The beautiful friendship/love between Olive and Birdie, and (2) TBA by reading this book. That #2 is for me to know and for you to have fun reading about. But this is also a story of personal growth and overcoming fears and learning to really live.
The book is written in an easy-breezy manner. It's really funny in many sections. A bit silly in others. There are a few cringe-worthy moments, a la Bridget Jones, but mainly this is a delight to read. Not even Birdie's circumstances are made into a downer, although you will feel some sadness a few times in the read. Mostly this is a good escape read with laughs and some feels, written in a charming, funny way.
Our heroine, Olive Brewster, in her mid-20s, lives a very uneventful, careful, safe life, almost half a life. Dead-end job, living at home in Manchester, England, with her brother and his girlfriend, no boyfriend, no social life to speak of. She's content, but in reality the brightest light in her life is fun, wild and crazy American friend Birdie, who's been her bestie since they met at university.
But Birdie is dying. And she asks Olive to hand-deliver a letter to her first love, the big one that got away. Trouble is this means a trip to NYC by Olive, who has never flown or even traveled by land more than a short distance from Manchester. And more trouble in that Birdie's "Big, Sexy Love" is off the grid, so it will take a bit of sleuthing to uncover him in New York.
This is a comedy and a love story. Actually, there are two love stories: (1) The beautiful friendship/love between Olive and Birdie, and (2) TBA by reading this book. That #2 is for me to know and for you to have fun reading about. But this is also a story of personal growth and overcoming fears and learning to really live.
The book is written in an easy-breezy manner. It's really funny in many sections. A bit silly in others. There are a few cringe-worthy moments, a la Bridget Jones, but mainly this is a delight to read. Not even Birdie's circumstances are made into a downer, although you will feel some sadness a few times in the read. Mostly this is a good escape read with laughs and some feels, written in a charming, funny way.
October 22, 2018
Warning
- Do Not Read This Book In Public, it's frigging hilarious, bizarre yet believable and the ending made me cried and I'm still crying. I didn't cry this bad when Dumbledore died.
This book was about friendship between Olive and Birdie.
Olive Brewster, English first met Birdie Lively, American at the University's library. From the first meeting, Olive knew there and then something amazing was happening. After ticking the box yes to friendship, they became the bestest of friends.
As you learned from the blurb, Birdie was dying. She asked her bestie to do her a favor by delivering a letter to her first and only Big Sexy Love. Olive, worked as a fishmonger :) and she was afraid of the word adventure but she couldn't say no to Birdie so off she went to NY, her first time on a plane and overseas trip.
Reading Olive's journey made my tummy hurts from laughing, I kid you not. From the moment she packed to nearly the end. Reading the girls' friendship renewed my gratefulness for having great friends through thin and thick. Their friendship was in a league of its own. Be prepared to cry once the letter delivered, tissues won't work , use the bath towels instead.
Ms.Greenwood, you buttered my heart up before butchering it to a trillion pieces. Well I'm off to look for the hand vacuum, can't live as a heartless person for too long.
This book is highly recommended. It's available on KU / Unavailable on Scribd. Kindle price is USD4.99
If you are a KU subscriber, do read it.
- Do Not Read This Book In Public, it's frigging hilarious, bizarre yet believable and the ending made me cried and I'm still crying. I didn't cry this bad when Dumbledore died.
This book was about friendship between Olive and Birdie.
Olive Brewster, English first met Birdie Lively, American at the University's library. From the first meeting, Olive knew there and then something amazing was happening. After ticking the box yes to friendship, they became the bestest of friends.
As you learned from the blurb, Birdie was dying. She asked her bestie to do her a favor by delivering a letter to her first and only Big Sexy Love. Olive, worked as a fishmonger :) and she was afraid of the word adventure but she couldn't say no to Birdie so off she went to NY, her first time on a plane and overseas trip.
Reading Olive's journey made my tummy hurts from laughing, I kid you not. From the moment she packed to nearly the end. Reading the girls' friendship renewed my gratefulness for having great friends through thin and thick. Their friendship was in a league of its own. Be prepared to cry once the letter delivered, tissues won't work , use the bath towels instead.
Ms.Greenwood, you buttered my heart up before butchering it to a trillion pieces. Well I'm off to look for the hand vacuum, can't live as a heartless person for too long.
This book is highly recommended. It's available on KU / Unavailable on Scribd. Kindle price is USD4.99
If you are a KU subscriber, do read it.
December 18, 2024
5 Bittersweet Stars!
So funny and so beautiful.
Olive loves her best friend Birdie so much, she's willing to leave her comfort zone by travelling to NYC to deliver a letter to Birdie's Big Sexy Love, Chuck. See, Birdie is dying. Don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, it's literally in the synopsis.
Olive has always lived a controlled, regimented and carefully constructed life. If things are planned and predictable, things don't go sideways on you. Unlike when her parents left her and her brother, Alec, without ever looking back. So, despite not necessarily being happy with her life, Olive is content to repeat everyday in much the same way. But when Olive's bestie from university lands in the hospital for what may be the final time, she has one request of Olive. Find her high school sweetheart, Chuck Allen, and deliver a letter to him.
Despite her discomfort, Olive latches onto this task because Birdie is the one person Olive would do anything for. And it's this love which in the underlying theme of this entire book. Loving someone so much that we will literally do anything to make them happy.
Olive takes a leave of absence from her job and travels to NYC to find this elusive Chuck, leaving behind her brother, with whom she shares her childhood home, and his "Karen" of a girlfriend who gaslights Olive at every provocation. As she prepares to board, Olive meets two men, Collin and Seth, who are polar opposites and who will be fairly constant distractions for her during her mission to find Chuck. Collin is safe and bland and, like Olive, seems to not have much of a life. Seth, is a well traveled writer on a hugely popular TV show a la Saturday Night Live. Throughout the novel, these men will challenge Olive to redefine her expectations of romantic love.
Along the way, Olive is thrust into one uncomfortable situation after another. She meets Anders, a former friend of Chuck's who is now renting Chuck's childhood home. Despite Anders' own social awkwardness and their very different lives, Olive befriends him and he becomes part of the wacky mosaic of this novel. There is also Mrs. Ramirez, in the neighboring apartment to the one Olive is renting, who also quickly becomes a friend to Olive. Despite the unlikeliness of these friendships, each of these characters support and encourage Olive as she moves about the city.
In true NYC fashion, the challenge of finding Chuck isn't as straightforward as one might expect and around every corner, Olive finds herself in one precarious situation after another. While some may feel implausible to the reader, as a former resident of NYC, I can tell you they are all possible. From becoming the "Menace of Manhattan" to jumping off a pier to swim after a yacht to being accosted in Gramercy Park, Olive can't seem to catch a break. But with each new barricade breached, Olive finds her strength and her voice, and discovers that being safe isn't necessarily being alive.
There are some really lovely themes in this novel. It's about the power of love and the lengths to which we will go to help someone. It's about self-reliance and trusting in ourselves enough to push beyond our comfort zones. It's about learning it's okay to rely on other people to help us when we need it. It's about listening to our inner voice when it tells us to be brave. It's about pushing forward, even when we feel it's hopeless. It's about allowing ourselves to change our minds, even when it goes against the norms. And it's about love and all the shapes and forms it can take in our lives.
Yes, at its heart this is a book about love. The aching love of a dying friend. The empowering love of new friends. The romantic love of someone who makes us feel something new for the first time. The enduring love of family.
The most impressive aspect of this novel is how it allows you to explore and feel all of these loves, as Olive is feeling and experiencing them. It's truly a wonderful exploration of the heart and at its center is the love story of Birdie and Olive, two best friends who will quite literally do anything for the other. I don't think I've read another novel which truly encapsulates this sentiment better than this book. It's truly a beautiful journey.
One last note. This book is bittersweet. While it has a HEA, there is also tremendous heartbreak at its core. Be prepared. You will be rocked but it will be well worth it.
So funny and so beautiful.
Olive loves her best friend Birdie so much, she's willing to leave her comfort zone by travelling to NYC to deliver a letter to Birdie's Big Sexy Love, Chuck. See, Birdie is dying. Don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, it's literally in the synopsis.
Olive has always lived a controlled, regimented and carefully constructed life. If things are planned and predictable, things don't go sideways on you. Unlike when her parents left her and her brother, Alec, without ever looking back. So, despite not necessarily being happy with her life, Olive is content to repeat everyday in much the same way. But when Olive's bestie from university lands in the hospital for what may be the final time, she has one request of Olive. Find her high school sweetheart, Chuck Allen, and deliver a letter to him.
Despite her discomfort, Olive latches onto this task because Birdie is the one person Olive would do anything for. And it's this love which in the underlying theme of this entire book. Loving someone so much that we will literally do anything to make them happy.
Olive takes a leave of absence from her job and travels to NYC to find this elusive Chuck, leaving behind her brother, with whom she shares her childhood home, and his "Karen" of a girlfriend who gaslights Olive at every provocation. As she prepares to board, Olive meets two men, Collin and Seth, who are polar opposites and who will be fairly constant distractions for her during her mission to find Chuck. Collin is safe and bland and, like Olive, seems to not have much of a life. Seth, is a well traveled writer on a hugely popular TV show a la Saturday Night Live. Throughout the novel, these men will challenge Olive to redefine her expectations of romantic love.
Along the way, Olive is thrust into one uncomfortable situation after another. She meets Anders, a former friend of Chuck's who is now renting Chuck's childhood home. Despite Anders' own social awkwardness and their very different lives, Olive befriends him and he becomes part of the wacky mosaic of this novel. There is also Mrs. Ramirez, in the neighboring apartment to the one Olive is renting, who also quickly becomes a friend to Olive. Despite the unlikeliness of these friendships, each of these characters support and encourage Olive as she moves about the city.
In true NYC fashion, the challenge of finding Chuck isn't as straightforward as one might expect and around every corner, Olive finds herself in one precarious situation after another. While some may feel implausible to the reader, as a former resident of NYC, I can tell you they are all possible. From becoming the "Menace of Manhattan" to jumping off a pier to swim after a yacht to being accosted in Gramercy Park, Olive can't seem to catch a break. But with each new barricade breached, Olive finds her strength and her voice, and discovers that being safe isn't necessarily being alive.
There are some really lovely themes in this novel. It's about the power of love and the lengths to which we will go to help someone. It's about self-reliance and trusting in ourselves enough to push beyond our comfort zones. It's about learning it's okay to rely on other people to help us when we need it. It's about listening to our inner voice when it tells us to be brave. It's about pushing forward, even when we feel it's hopeless. It's about allowing ourselves to change our minds, even when it goes against the norms. And it's about love and all the shapes and forms it can take in our lives.
Yes, at its heart this is a book about love. The aching love of a dying friend. The empowering love of new friends. The romantic love of someone who makes us feel something new for the first time. The enduring love of family.
The most impressive aspect of this novel is how it allows you to explore and feel all of these loves, as Olive is feeling and experiencing them. It's truly a wonderful exploration of the heart and at its center is the love story of Birdie and Olive, two best friends who will quite literally do anything for the other. I don't think I've read another novel which truly encapsulates this sentiment better than this book. It's truly a beautiful journey.
One last note. This book is bittersweet. While it has a HEA, there is also tremendous heartbreak at its core. Be prepared. You will be rocked but it will be well worth it.
August 6, 2019
Release Date: June 29, 2017
Genre: Chick Lit. Romantic Comedy.
Big Sexy Love is HILARIOUS. This is one of those books you don't want to read in public because you'll laugh out loud numerous times. Thankfully I chose this one a whim and read it out by my pool so no one would look at me funny (besides my dogs who were tilting their heads at me as I giggled uproariously). Gosh I am so glad I took a chance on a new author and purchased this book in paperback because I know I can go back to it for a re-read when I need a good laugh!
While Big Sexy Love is a laugh out loud funny novel, it also has a meaningful message about friendship. I wasn't expecting this and I definitely wasn't expecting what happened to Birdie at the end You can read my spoiler if you NEED to know.
A little bit more about the book: Olive's best friend who is suffering from complications due to her lupus sends Olive to NYC in search of an old boyfriend who she believes is her bug sexy love (the one that got away, the epic love). Olive who normally doesn't go far from her bubble does it because she doesn't know how long Birdie has left. Olive obviously knows that tracking down her best friends ex boyfriend in a city full of millions won't be easy. That's a given. However, she also doesn't realize that her obliviousness will get her into scores of trouble:
▶ Like meeting a stranger on the plane, pulling him into the bathroom while she "piddles" (he simply thought she wanted something else...)
▶ Like becoming a menace at Gramercy park for "tiddling" herself (when she was only trying to fix her ripped tights)
▶ Like Jumping off a dock into the river in order to FINALLY meet the elusive Chuck who is getting away on his yacht.
All of this and more lead an already anxious Olive into more excruciating situations...
Join Olive as she tries to find her best friends BIG SEXY LOVE! I promise, this is a book you won't want to miss ESPECIALLY if you enjoy laugh out loud romantic comedies with British heroines who you will hopelessly love.
Genre: Chick Lit. Romantic Comedy.
Big Sexy Love is HILARIOUS. This is one of those books you don't want to read in public because you'll laugh out loud numerous times. Thankfully I chose this one a whim and read it out by my pool so no one would look at me funny (besides my dogs who were tilting their heads at me as I giggled uproariously). Gosh I am so glad I took a chance on a new author and purchased this book in paperback because I know I can go back to it for a re-read when I need a good laugh!
While Big Sexy Love is a laugh out loud funny novel, it also has a meaningful message about friendship. I wasn't expecting this and I definitely wasn't expecting what happened to Birdie at the end You can read my spoiler if you NEED to know.
A little bit more about the book: Olive's best friend who is suffering from complications due to her lupus sends Olive to NYC in search of an old boyfriend who she believes is her bug sexy love (the one that got away, the epic love). Olive who normally doesn't go far from her bubble does it because she doesn't know how long Birdie has left. Olive obviously knows that tracking down her best friends ex boyfriend in a city full of millions won't be easy. That's a given. However, she also doesn't realize that her obliviousness will get her into scores of trouble:
▶ Like meeting a stranger on the plane, pulling him into the bathroom while she "piddles" (he simply thought she wanted something else...)
▶ Like becoming a menace at Gramercy park for "tiddling" herself (when she was only trying to fix her ripped tights)
▶ Like Jumping off a dock into the river in order to FINALLY meet the elusive Chuck who is getting away on his yacht.
All of this and more lead an already anxious Olive into more excruciating situations...
Join Olive as she tries to find her best friends BIG SEXY LOVE! I promise, this is a book you won't want to miss ESPECIALLY if you enjoy laugh out loud romantic comedies with British heroines who you will hopelessly love.
July 18, 2017
Oh guys. It took me so long to write this review because I simply couldn't find words to tell you how much I adored/enjoyed/loved it. I actually still am absolutely sure I can't do this book justice but nevertheless, I'll try.
So. "Big sexy Love" by Kirsty Greenwood has finally arrived! I was probably one out of many almost daily checking Kirsty's Twitter feed for any news on her new release, and FINALLY this wonderful, glory day arrived and Kirsty told that "Big sexy Love" is going to be published! The EXCITEMENT, guys! Excitement! I don't know how this girl does it, and I'd love to own a small percent of her humour - to be as funny as Kirsty Greenwood... *sigh*. Mission impossible - she's one and only.
Now, this book. This gorgeous, hilarious and heart - breaking little book. It is this kind of book that you want to race through to see how it's going to end and at the same time not wanting it to end - so the best kind, really. I immediately fell in love with the characters, Olive and Birdie, and all the other ones. Olive is, to be honest, my new hero. My inspiration. I want to be like Olive when I grow up - the Olive that went on a plane, even though she was SO scared of flying and have never left England before, and went to New York on a mission to find her best ever friend Birdie's ex - boyfriend to give him a letter.
I couldn't believe the troubles Olive was - incidentally - getting into! Guys, really. I've no idea you could be so much accident - prone, and each new one was more hilarious than the previous one. She was a bit OCD, our Olive, but she felt so comfortable in her own skin, with the life paths she has chosen, and it was brilliant. She liked quiet and safe and routine but it doesn't mean that she was boring, because she was everything but boring - she was loyal, lovely, incredibly funny and sharp - minded and she was able to laugh at herself as well.
This is amazing how well Kirsty Greenwood has written Olive's coming out of her comfort zones, how much it has cost her, without making the story too overwhelming, to heavy. And it all felt so genuine, my gosh, guys, you could FEEL through the pages that Olive was scared, that it was not her idea of a nice time but she would do anything for Birdie - because this friendship between Olive and Birdie, it was like once in a million years. I loved how well the author captured the friendship dynamics and relationship, it - again - felt absolutely honest and true and I - yes! - loved it!
All the other background characters in this story were just brilliant and you loved them immediately. Well, not all of them, the others you just loved to hate. I loved meeting them all, the absolutely gorgeous Seth, Anders, Olive's family and all the others - no matter how huge or small part did they have in this story, they all had brilliant personalities and they all brought so much to the plot, even the woman from the private park in New York and her tweets!
So shortly, very shortly - this book was perfect. Incredibly, cleverly funny, heart - breaking, down - to - earth, romantic. I fell for the characters immediately and I had everything crossed for them, heck, I told my dogs to keep their paws crossed for them. This story is written with tons of heart and it is one of the warmest, honest stories with the most brilliant one - liners I've read for a long time. You immediately feel at home with this book, you feel as if the characters were your best friends. I simply loved this novel - it was full of incredibly funny, hilarious scenes but it had tons of depth as well, and it was a perfect mix. It made me laugh out loud and it made me cry - again, literally, and I would love to be able to read this book for the first time again. Those of you who haven't read it yet are for a real treat! Highly, highly recommended!
Copy provided by the author in return for an honest review.
September 18, 2025
What a gorgeous book!
So romantic, so uplifting, so heart wrenching and absolutely hilarious!
Olive Brewster(27) works as a fishmonger in the Manchester indoor market for many years, she hates changes and lives a very safe and predictable life, always prepared for what might go wrong.
But her best friend Birdie Lively, since they met 10 years ago, is dying.She loves her so much and would do anything for her.
So when she asks her to take a letter she wrote to the man who broke her heart, Chuck Allen, in person, in New York, she's terrified but can not refuse Birdie's dying wish.
At the check in at the airport a man jumps the queue and nobody complaints but her.
Waiting to board on the plane her fear of flying is quenched by drinking beer with a team of rugby players going to Australia and she meets Colin.
She continues drinking at the plane, upgraded by Birdie to first class and when they're lifting off the queue jumper holds her hand and later when she asks him to help her go the bathroom because she's so drunk and she has to do it he thinks it's something else!
I cried ou laughing! 🤣🤣
Finally she arrives at New York!
The next day she is watching tv, the Sunday Night Live, a very popular show, and there's a sketch about the bathroom incident.
The queue jumper, Seth Hartman, is a comedy writer.
When she starts looking for Chuck everybody recognizes her and from there on everything goes stranger and hilarious.
She enters a closed park to pull up her tights and she is accused of being a pervert.
Then she's accused of stealing mail because she meets Seth by chance and she's so angry with him she puts Birdie's letter with the postcards from her front neigbor, Mrs Ramirez, in the mailbox.
She asks Seth to help get it back from the post office and due to a storm they spend the rest of the day together and find ou they are very attracted to each other ending up kissing!
Eventually she gets arrested by the police, but she's rescued by Anders von Preen a billionaire's son and with a passion for hairdressing but a lovable weird guy.
Seth and Olive have an amazing one night "flirt" but he thinks she's engaged to Colin, and as he was cheated and lied to by his ex she can't tell him it was just a fib.
She returns home never expecting to see Seth again or return to New York.
She realizes not only that she loves him, but that the safe life she had before was boring and not living af all!
Did she found out Chuck ? Yes she did!
And Birdie's letter was not what we might expect and neither the reason why she wanted Olive to go to New York!
A really hilarious surprise and a fierce friendship!
The ending is lovely! ❤️
So romantic, so uplifting, so heart wrenching and absolutely hilarious!
Olive Brewster(27) works as a fishmonger in the Manchester indoor market for many years, she hates changes and lives a very safe and predictable life, always prepared for what might go wrong.
But her best friend Birdie Lively, since they met 10 years ago, is dying.She loves her so much and would do anything for her.
So when she asks her to take a letter she wrote to the man who broke her heart, Chuck Allen, in person, in New York, she's terrified but can not refuse Birdie's dying wish.
At the check in at the airport a man jumps the queue and nobody complaints but her.
Waiting to board on the plane her fear of flying is quenched by drinking beer with a team of rugby players going to Australia and she meets Colin.
She continues drinking at the plane, upgraded by Birdie to first class and when they're lifting off the queue jumper holds her hand and later when she asks him to help her go the bathroom because she's so drunk and she has to do it he thinks it's something else!
I cried ou laughing! 🤣🤣
Finally she arrives at New York!
The next day she is watching tv, the Sunday Night Live, a very popular show, and there's a sketch about the bathroom incident.
The queue jumper, Seth Hartman, is a comedy writer.
When she starts looking for Chuck everybody recognizes her and from there on everything goes stranger and hilarious.
She enters a closed park to pull up her tights and she is accused of being a pervert.
Then she's accused of stealing mail because she meets Seth by chance and she's so angry with him she puts Birdie's letter with the postcards from her front neigbor, Mrs Ramirez, in the mailbox.
She asks Seth to help get it back from the post office and due to a storm they spend the rest of the day together and find ou they are very attracted to each other ending up kissing!
Eventually she gets arrested by the police, but she's rescued by Anders von Preen a billionaire's son and with a passion for hairdressing but a lovable weird guy.
Seth and Olive have an amazing one night "flirt" but he thinks she's engaged to Colin, and as he was cheated and lied to by his ex she can't tell him it was just a fib.
She returns home never expecting to see Seth again or return to New York.
She realizes not only that she loves him, but that the safe life she had before was boring and not living af all!
Did she found out Chuck ? Yes she did!
And Birdie's letter was not what we might expect and neither the reason why she wanted Olive to go to New York!
A really hilarious surprise and a fierce friendship!
The ending is lovely! ❤️
January 15, 2019
"Big Sexy Love" could have been so much better. I think in the end too many absurd things were happening and Greenwood lost the plot. And I liked the idea behind the plot so much. I also wish we spent more time with Birdie. Birdie was a great character, and we only get glimpses into her. I wish that Greenwood had included more scenes/dialogue with Birdie and Olive. I found myself loving the letters in the end and that Olive didn't just run after a dude. Other than that, I felt that this was an okay book to pass the time with.
"Big Sexy Love" has Olive Brewster going to New York to track down her best friend Birdie's ex who was her big sexy love. One wonders why Birdie can't do it, but you quickly find out that Birdie is dying, and it really will be up to Olive to track down Birdie's ex and give him a letter from her to him. Only issue is that Olive loves her routines (works at the fishmonger and goes home to watch Big Bang Theory with her brother and his pain the butt girlfriend) so traveling to New York isn't going to be an easy thing for her.
Olive meets a cast of thousands it seems, but she manages to shake up her routine and pushes through in order to make sure she keeps her promise to Birdie.
Olive was not a sympathetic character at times. We find out her parents separated and acted like jerks. So now she is living with her brother in their childhood home. the girlfriend is a nasty jerk, but she was still saying little truths here and there about Olive and her inability to take care of herself. I think if we didn't keep jumping from absurdity to absurdity the book would have worked better for me. Olive is almost arrested, arrested, and just running from scene to scene. We don't get to see her really take in New York except for here and there. I didn't like her love interest because guys who act like assholes are not my thing.
The secondary characters are merely there to prop up Olive or be an impediment. The only one who is there and shines in this is Birdie. I do wish that Greenwood had worked with what she had more. The best friendship of Birdie and Olive are really the only parts of the book that worked.
The writing was so-so. I think that happening each chapter start with a text from someone in Olive's life didn't work that well. Also including twitter messages from one tertiary character was too much. The flow was pretty awful though. We just have ebbs and flows and nothing really works until the last 10 percent or so.
The setting moving from London to New York felt a bit blah to me. I just needed more color. Greenwood does at times have Olive pay attention to her setting. But it felt like a weird New York where everyone (mostly) is super helpful and things are apparently cheap as hell.
The ending was a surprise and I honestly think the epilogue was written very well.
"Big Sexy Love" has Olive Brewster going to New York to track down her best friend Birdie's ex who was her big sexy love. One wonders why Birdie can't do it, but you quickly find out that Birdie is dying, and it really will be up to Olive to track down Birdie's ex and give him a letter from her to him. Only issue is that Olive loves her routines (works at the fishmonger and goes home to watch Big Bang Theory with her brother and his pain the butt girlfriend) so traveling to New York isn't going to be an easy thing for her.
Olive meets a cast of thousands it seems, but she manages to shake up her routine and pushes through in order to make sure she keeps her promise to Birdie.
Olive was not a sympathetic character at times. We find out her parents separated and acted like jerks. So now she is living with her brother in their childhood home. the girlfriend is a nasty jerk, but she was still saying little truths here and there about Olive and her inability to take care of herself. I think if we didn't keep jumping from absurdity to absurdity the book would have worked better for me. Olive is almost arrested, arrested, and just running from scene to scene. We don't get to see her really take in New York except for here and there. I didn't like her love interest because guys who act like assholes are not my thing.
The secondary characters are merely there to prop up Olive or be an impediment. The only one who is there and shines in this is Birdie. I do wish that Greenwood had worked with what she had more. The best friendship of Birdie and Olive are really the only parts of the book that worked.
The writing was so-so. I think that happening each chapter start with a text from someone in Olive's life didn't work that well. Also including twitter messages from one tertiary character was too much. The flow was pretty awful though. We just have ebbs and flows and nothing really works until the last 10 percent or so.
The setting moving from London to New York felt a bit blah to me. I just needed more color. Greenwood does at times have Olive pay attention to her setting. But it felt like a weird New York where everyone (mostly) is super helpful and things are apparently cheap as hell.
The ending was a surprise and I honestly think the epilogue was written very well.
Read
November 9, 20211. This shit needs an editor!
Always Thursday afternoon, always a peppered tuna steak. I find the routine of his turning up so regularly, always choosing a certain dish on a certain day very comforting.
I think my question comes out more accusatory than I intend it to, because Norris frowns, his thick white eyebrows lowering so much that they almost obscure his heavy lidded blue eyes.
At that point I couldn’t help but smile.
With a nod, the girl read it, took my pen and scrawled on the paper, her handwriting big and loopy.
^ Comma usage is like a game of Where’s Waldo.
2. The writing narrative is awkward to read, and it’s not just the butchered comma usage. What’s being said (the descriptive) often makes the reader pause…
The sky is still blue and bright, the springtime weather crunchy and fresh like a Granny Smith apple right out of the fridge.
Is crunchy weather like an apple a Brit thing? I dont know~
The FMC’s voice comes across as conflicting. She’s informal at times…
‘Shuddup,’ I say. ‘I like a good Friday night in!’
But, at times, she sounds so overly formal and stiff…
I’ll do it now, shall I?’ … ‘Shall I help you write an email?’ ….. ‘You may enter,’ I call out.
It’s hard to get a feel for the FMC’s personality when the language flip flops from stiff to loose.
Moving on…..
The FMC immediately grabs you as having a sheltered and sad life. She’s prudent and cautious. Who the fuck still wears Avon perfume? Just asking~ Risks aren’t in her vocabulary. She’s trapped in a routine of mundane, and she chooses to live with her brother and his lady. Her best friend is dying. I think this sentence sums up the FMC’s life views:
I love a good jigsaw puzzle! All the pieces fit together exactly as they’re supposed to. You can’t lose at jigsaws!
Anyhoo….
I’m really interested at first. Chick is a hot mess with a dying BFF wanting her to go hunt down an ex lover in America. Sounds like an adventure for this uptight 28-yo Pollyanna. But, the internal musing about every single freaking detail of every single move she makes is absolutely boring and exhausting.
FFS it takes an ENTIRE CHAPTER for her to pack her suitcase for the trip. An entire chapter! When she gets to the airport, we have to have a damn page after page breakdown of everything in her bumbag, why it’s there, and everyone’s reaction to it. G’zus. Enough.
By 16%, I just feel like reading this is akin to running a marathon in slo-mo. I haven’t laughed, and I’m fairly certain that any adventure to come will be detailed and explained to death before I could manage to feel the slightest glimmer of excitement.
Pacing too slow for me. Lol my ass. Character (singular because I’m at 16% and don’t know who the MMC even is) is slow. DNF.
Always Thursday afternoon, always a peppered tuna steak. I find the routine of his turning up so regularly, always choosing a certain dish on a certain day very comforting.
I think my question comes out more accusatory than I intend it to, because Norris frowns, his thick white eyebrows lowering so much that they almost obscure his heavy lidded blue eyes.
At that point I couldn’t help but smile.
With a nod, the girl read it, took my pen and scrawled on the paper, her handwriting big and loopy.
^ Comma usage is like a game of Where’s Waldo.
2. The writing narrative is awkward to read, and it’s not just the butchered comma usage. What’s being said (the descriptive) often makes the reader pause…
The sky is still blue and bright, the springtime weather crunchy and fresh like a Granny Smith apple right out of the fridge.
Is crunchy weather like an apple a Brit thing? I dont know~
The FMC’s voice comes across as conflicting. She’s informal at times…
‘Shuddup,’ I say. ‘I like a good Friday night in!’
But, at times, she sounds so overly formal and stiff…
I’ll do it now, shall I?’ … ‘Shall I help you write an email?’ ….. ‘You may enter,’ I call out.
It’s hard to get a feel for the FMC’s personality when the language flip flops from stiff to loose.
Moving on…..
The FMC immediately grabs you as having a sheltered and sad life. She’s prudent and cautious. Who the fuck still wears Avon perfume? Just asking~ Risks aren’t in her vocabulary. She’s trapped in a routine of mundane, and she chooses to live with her brother and his lady. Her best friend is dying. I think this sentence sums up the FMC’s life views:
I love a good jigsaw puzzle! All the pieces fit together exactly as they’re supposed to. You can’t lose at jigsaws!
Anyhoo….
I’m really interested at first. Chick is a hot mess with a dying BFF wanting her to go hunt down an ex lover in America. Sounds like an adventure for this uptight 28-yo Pollyanna. But, the internal musing about every single freaking detail of every single move she makes is absolutely boring and exhausting.
FFS it takes an ENTIRE CHAPTER for her to pack her suitcase for the trip. An entire chapter! When she gets to the airport, we have to have a damn page after page breakdown of everything in her bumbag, why it’s there, and everyone’s reaction to it. G’zus. Enough.
By 16%, I just feel like reading this is akin to running a marathon in slo-mo. I haven’t laughed, and I’m fairly certain that any adventure to come will be detailed and explained to death before I could manage to feel the slightest glimmer of excitement.
Pacing too slow for me. Lol my ass. Character (singular because I’m at 16% and don’t know who the MMC even is) is slow. DNF.
July 28, 2021
I took a long time to get into this book. I found the humour a bit too slapstick for my taste and the plot of the unworldly, small town English girl who found herself in various cringe-worthy, embarrassing situations in the Big Apple got repetitive too soon for me. Her naivety bordered on simple-mindedness. Just when I thought Olive had finally ceased her endless stream of bad decisions/choices and was at last on her way to self-improvement, she stepped on the accelerator while in reverse. I do love the quirky friends she made along the way. And of course, her friendship with Birdie was beautifully depicted. The narration was well executed.
December 5, 2017
Total hidden gem. If you can get past the random exclamation points, this book is a funny and completely endearing story about the love between best friends.
February 11, 2019
I'm so glad that I noticed OLT's review about the book. It became one of the good books of 2019 so far I've read.
I've started with good books this year. I hope it will go this way.
About the book, it was such a lovely story with non stop funny moments with little bit sad realities about Olive's life.
It was full of adventures both for heroine and reader. While I was reading it one moment I felt her distress, another moment heroine Olive made me laugh. I love Olive's characterization... It might hard to imagine there are still some so good and naive girls/women out there...
She's sweet, dear friend of Birdie who was struggling with health issues. Birdie's story broke my heart... You could easily be sempaythic with her and also admire her strength. It's about friendship and love.. But not just the love for sexual way, it might be in another forms... Author told that very beautiful way.
If you like Bridget Jones's Diary, this is the book you should read. Romanticism is little bit subtle in Big Sexy Love comaparing BJD, yet it's a nice one too.
Also it is available Kindle Unlimited...
I've started with good books this year. I hope it will go this way.
About the book, it was such a lovely story with non stop funny moments with little bit sad realities about Olive's life.
It was full of adventures both for heroine and reader. While I was reading it one moment I felt her distress, another moment heroine Olive made me laugh. I love Olive's characterization... It might hard to imagine there are still some so good and naive girls/women out there...
She's sweet, dear friend of Birdie who was struggling with health issues. Birdie's story broke my heart... You could easily be sempaythic with her and also admire her strength. It's about friendship and love.. But not just the love for sexual way, it might be in another forms... Author told that very beautiful way.
If you like Bridget Jones's Diary, this is the book you should read. Romanticism is little bit subtle in Big Sexy Love comaparing BJD, yet it's a nice one too.
Also it is available Kindle Unlimited...
June 29, 2017
This book is perfect. It is catch-your-breath hilarious, heartbreaking and romantic. I honestly spent most of my reading time feeling breathless - because I cared so much, because I was legitimately swooning, my toes all tingly, because I was laughing so hard or, in some places, sobbing my heart out. It has the most loveable characters, and the biggest, warmest heart of any book I've read for a long time. Olive is my new hero. And the leading man - well, I won't spoil anything, but he is utterly, utterly delicious. Basically, this book is perfect.
March 13, 2018
I want to read this book everyday
Read this book!!! I mean it!! Seriously!! I love Olive & Birdie, they are my new best friends. This is a story of love, a love between friends. A story about finding yourself, enjoying every minute of your life, and discovering you are more than you thought. To quote Birdie, quit living a half life. Don't miss this crazy adventure.
Read this book!!! I mean it!! Seriously!! I love Olive & Birdie, they are my new best friends. This is a story of love, a love between friends. A story about finding yourself, enjoying every minute of your life, and discovering you are more than you thought. To quote Birdie, quit living a half life. Don't miss this crazy adventure.
September 20, 2018
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Big Sexy Love was a big, not-so-sexy, mess. At least for me. Now it seems like every time I write a review for a comedy I am saying the same thing. I usually don't read them because it is not usually my sense of humor. And that is true in this case, but that is not why I disliked the book so much. Well at least not the whole reason why. Really I found this story to be tedious and not realistic and that was my main issue. I like comedy, but it has to be something that could actually happen. This so wasn't the book for me and I only made it to the end because it was a book club read. I had to finish so I could discuss.
Olive doesn't like new things. She has her routine and even if occasionally something comes up that she might want to do different, she doesn't. She can't break that routine. She is afraid of everything, afraid of new, so she keeps to what she knows. She has never really even left her hometown. She still lives in the house she lived in growing up. She doesn't like change.
Only her best friend is dying and wants her to go to NYC to deliver a letter to a guy she used to date. A guy who her bff claims is her big sexy love (I really dislike this term. I am not completely sure why, but it being the title made me think this book was going to be completelty different than it was. The sexy throws me, but I digress). So what does Olive do? Heads off to NYC. Now this is where the real issues started for me. That Olive is so afraid of new things, so afraid of branching out and doing something different, and yes she has a hard time getting on the plane and flying to NYC, but once she is there she seems pretty fine. Like way more fine than a character who I was told hated change and disorder should be. It was like that wasn't an issue anymore in New York City. One of the biggest cities, fast paced, so many people and things everywhere. But Olive was fine. Which didn't make sense. But not even my biggest complaint about the book. No my biggest complaint was that the author seemed to change reality so that she could make the wacky zany things happen. So that she could make a joke. And that just left me constantly like really? No, this isn't how x works! There is no way y could happen like this! So it drew me completely out of the story.
While reading this story it made me think of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt show. I really enjoyed that show, but even though it is over the top and wacky, it could happen. While it might not be likely, maybe never has happened, I could see that it could. Like was someone locked in a bunker underground for years? Not to my knowledge, but it could happen. But this story? There were so many things that just could not happen. Like Olive accidentally puts the letter she is supposed to deliver to the guy in a mailbox on the sidewalk. So she reaches into the mailbox and shuffles things around trying to find her letter. But here's the thing, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but that is impossible. You literally cannot put your hand in the mailbox and grab letters. Maybe if this were back in the day, but they changed mailboxes so that you couldn't steal mail. So...it was added to the story to make another zany adventure, but it literally couldn't happen because you can't grab letters from mailboxes. When things like this kept happening it made it really difficult for me to read. Because if it can't happen then it is not believable and I am just not a fan. So yeah.
The other big issue I had is that *spoiler alert* Olive never fessed up to not having a fiance! Seth thought she had a fiance, was falling for her, they even had sexy times and she still didn't say anything! Really she was falling for him, but instead of doing anything she was just like welp, I guess that is that. Time to go home to my boring life I am realizing I might not like that much and forget about doing anything to even try and be happy with Seth because...well then I would have to do something. It was bad. I didn't like it. Really I don't know why she didn't tell Seth right away after the flight that she wasn't engaged. Because there was no reason to keep up the false pretenses. And I don't like that she was willing to let Seth think that she was cheating on her fiance with him. Because that is just not cool.
So yeah, this was definitely not the book for me. All of the things that couldn't happen, or wouldn't happen (like everyone in a cafe would stare at you in NYC when you walk in because of some sketch comedy show the night prior is a bit ridiculous. I mean no one cares about you in NYC. You could walk down the street naked and no one would give you a second glance. There is a reason movie stars live there), plus not actually liking the main character made it not good for me.
Big Sexy Love was a big, not-so-sexy, mess. At least for me. Now it seems like every time I write a review for a comedy I am saying the same thing. I usually don't read them because it is not usually my sense of humor. And that is true in this case, but that is not why I disliked the book so much. Well at least not the whole reason why. Really I found this story to be tedious and not realistic and that was my main issue. I like comedy, but it has to be something that could actually happen. This so wasn't the book for me and I only made it to the end because it was a book club read. I had to finish so I could discuss.
Olive doesn't like new things. She has her routine and even if occasionally something comes up that she might want to do different, she doesn't. She can't break that routine. She is afraid of everything, afraid of new, so she keeps to what she knows. She has never really even left her hometown. She still lives in the house she lived in growing up. She doesn't like change.
Only her best friend is dying and wants her to go to NYC to deliver a letter to a guy she used to date. A guy who her bff claims is her big sexy love (I really dislike this term. I am not completely sure why, but it being the title made me think this book was going to be completelty different than it was. The sexy throws me, but I digress). So what does Olive do? Heads off to NYC. Now this is where the real issues started for me. That Olive is so afraid of new things, so afraid of branching out and doing something different, and yes she has a hard time getting on the plane and flying to NYC, but once she is there she seems pretty fine. Like way more fine than a character who I was told hated change and disorder should be. It was like that wasn't an issue anymore in New York City. One of the biggest cities, fast paced, so many people and things everywhere. But Olive was fine. Which didn't make sense. But not even my biggest complaint about the book. No my biggest complaint was that the author seemed to change reality so that she could make the wacky zany things happen. So that she could make a joke. And that just left me constantly like really? No, this isn't how x works! There is no way y could happen like this! So it drew me completely out of the story.
While reading this story it made me think of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt show. I really enjoyed that show, but even though it is over the top and wacky, it could happen. While it might not be likely, maybe never has happened, I could see that it could. Like was someone locked in a bunker underground for years? Not to my knowledge, but it could happen. But this story? There were so many things that just could not happen. Like Olive accidentally puts the letter she is supposed to deliver to the guy in a mailbox on the sidewalk. So she reaches into the mailbox and shuffles things around trying to find her letter. But here's the thing, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but that is impossible. You literally cannot put your hand in the mailbox and grab letters. Maybe if this were back in the day, but they changed mailboxes so that you couldn't steal mail. So...it was added to the story to make another zany adventure, but it literally couldn't happen because you can't grab letters from mailboxes. When things like this kept happening it made it really difficult for me to read. Because if it can't happen then it is not believable and I am just not a fan. So yeah.
The other big issue I had is that *spoiler alert* Olive never fessed up to not having a fiance! Seth thought she had a fiance, was falling for her, they even had sexy times and she still didn't say anything! Really she was falling for him, but instead of doing anything she was just like welp, I guess that is that. Time to go home to my boring life I am realizing I might not like that much and forget about doing anything to even try and be happy with Seth because...well then I would have to do something. It was bad. I didn't like it. Really I don't know why she didn't tell Seth right away after the flight that she wasn't engaged. Because there was no reason to keep up the false pretenses. And I don't like that she was willing to let Seth think that she was cheating on her fiance with him. Because that is just not cool.
So yeah, this was definitely not the book for me. All of the things that couldn't happen, or wouldn't happen (like everyone in a cafe would stare at you in NYC when you walk in because of some sketch comedy show the night prior is a bit ridiculous. I mean no one cares about you in NYC. You could walk down the street naked and no one would give you a second glance. There is a reason movie stars live there), plus not actually liking the main character made it not good for me.
September 15, 2025
Não estava à espera de gostar tanto deste livro! Uma história leve (mas que aborda temas fortes e profundos, como a perda) e que me deixou a rir às gargalhadas em vários momentos. É hilariante e uma ótima escolha para quem queira uma leitura divertida.
September 4, 2025
“E então beijamo-nos. E todo o meu corpo, todo o meu coração se ilumina.”
Este livro foi uma aventura emocional. Aqui temos a história de Olive, uma jovem com uma vida rotineira e previsível, a trabalhar como peixeira e a viver com o irmão e a namorada deste, na antiga casa da família. A sua vida parece parada no tempo, marcada pelo abandono dos pais, pela ausência de relacionamentos e pelo conforto de uma rotina que, embora segura, a mantém presa.
O que Olive não espera é que a sua melhor amiga Birdie, uma força da natureza cheia de vida e de sonhos, lhe peça o impossível: viajar até Nova Iorque para entregar uma carta ao seu grande amor do passado. Birdie está a morrer, e este é o seu último pedido. Olive, que nunca andou de avião, nunca saiu de Inglaterra e que foge de qualquer imprevisto, vê-se obrigada a enfrentar os seus maiores medos por amizade e amor incondicional.
Nesta aventura em Nova Iorque ela irá conhecer Seth e após alguns mal entendidos ele acaba por se aproximar dela e por a ajudar nesta aventura para encontrar o antigo amor de Birdie. O que ela não esperava era que Seth despertasse nela sentimentos únicos e novos para ela. Sem se aperceber, ela apaixona-se por ele. Mas como irá isto resultar se ela tem de regressar para casa?
Um livro hilariante e comovente. As peripécias de Olive em Nova Iorque arrancaram-me gargalhadas, mas também lágrimas. A amizade entre Olive e Birdie é o verdadeiro coração da história. Genuína, tocante e capaz de mover montanhas. É impossível não se emocionar com a forma como Olive, uma personagem tão cautelosa e insegura, se transforma ao longo da narrativa, descobrindo em si uma força e coragem inesperadas.
Kirsty Greenwood escreveu uma das mais bonitas homenagens à amizade. A escrita é leve, divertida e viciante, mas também profunda, com reflexões sobre amor, perda e o valor das pessoas que escolhemos para a nossa vida. Olive é uma protagonista inesquecível, desastrada, ansiosa, mas com um coração imenso. Birdie, mesmo doente, é a centelha que ilumina a história.
Se procuram uma comédia romântica cheia de momentos de rir às gargalhadas, mas que também vos vai partir o coração, este é a escolha perfeita. Este livro faz-nos sentir vivos, lembra-nos da importância da amizade e do amor em todas as suas formas.
Um livro que celebra a amizade. Entre gargalhadas e lágrimas, acompanhamos uma jornada de coragem, descoberta e amor incondicional. Uma história que é ao mesmo tempo leve e profundamente tocante. Um hino à amizade que aquece o coração e nos deixa sem fôlego.
Este livro foi uma aventura emocional. Aqui temos a história de Olive, uma jovem com uma vida rotineira e previsível, a trabalhar como peixeira e a viver com o irmão e a namorada deste, na antiga casa da família. A sua vida parece parada no tempo, marcada pelo abandono dos pais, pela ausência de relacionamentos e pelo conforto de uma rotina que, embora segura, a mantém presa.
O que Olive não espera é que a sua melhor amiga Birdie, uma força da natureza cheia de vida e de sonhos, lhe peça o impossível: viajar até Nova Iorque para entregar uma carta ao seu grande amor do passado. Birdie está a morrer, e este é o seu último pedido. Olive, que nunca andou de avião, nunca saiu de Inglaterra e que foge de qualquer imprevisto, vê-se obrigada a enfrentar os seus maiores medos por amizade e amor incondicional.
Nesta aventura em Nova Iorque ela irá conhecer Seth e após alguns mal entendidos ele acaba por se aproximar dela e por a ajudar nesta aventura para encontrar o antigo amor de Birdie. O que ela não esperava era que Seth despertasse nela sentimentos únicos e novos para ela. Sem se aperceber, ela apaixona-se por ele. Mas como irá isto resultar se ela tem de regressar para casa?
Um livro hilariante e comovente. As peripécias de Olive em Nova Iorque arrancaram-me gargalhadas, mas também lágrimas. A amizade entre Olive e Birdie é o verdadeiro coração da história. Genuína, tocante e capaz de mover montanhas. É impossível não se emocionar com a forma como Olive, uma personagem tão cautelosa e insegura, se transforma ao longo da narrativa, descobrindo em si uma força e coragem inesperadas.
Kirsty Greenwood escreveu uma das mais bonitas homenagens à amizade. A escrita é leve, divertida e viciante, mas também profunda, com reflexões sobre amor, perda e o valor das pessoas que escolhemos para a nossa vida. Olive é uma protagonista inesquecível, desastrada, ansiosa, mas com um coração imenso. Birdie, mesmo doente, é a centelha que ilumina a história.
Se procuram uma comédia romântica cheia de momentos de rir às gargalhadas, mas que também vos vai partir o coração, este é a escolha perfeita. Este livro faz-nos sentir vivos, lembra-nos da importância da amizade e do amor em todas as suas formas.
Um livro que celebra a amizade. Entre gargalhadas e lágrimas, acompanhamos uma jornada de coragem, descoberta e amor incondicional. Uma história que é ao mesmo tempo leve e profundamente tocante. Um hino à amizade que aquece o coração e nos deixa sem fôlego.
August 7, 2017
Kirsty Greenwood is one of my favourite authors, ever. I adored Yours Truly and The Vintage Guide To Love and Romance EASILY, EASILY, made its way into my Top Ten Favourite Books Ever. She just gets me, with her writing and her characters and I regularly still think about Jessica Beam and what she’s up to these days BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A SEQUEL ALREADY. Deep breath, do not throw a heppy skeppy. Unfortunately, that sequel has yet to come. *Weeps forever* BUT Kirsty is back! After what feels like donkeys years (literally ages) KIRSTY IS BACK WITH A NEW BOOK! CALLED BIG SEXY LOVE! And it’s amazing .
At the end of Big Sexy Love, Kirsty asks us if we liked Big Sexy Love, because it was a bit bonkers - and boy, was it. If I say to you Menace of Manhattan, you’ll have no idea what I’m talking about, but read the book and all will become clear. It was ridiculous. The whole menace thing, the whole concept even of just hopping on a plane to New York, which is literal madness to me because I could never do that!, the unicorn hair (which intrigues me so hard), all of it adds up to a pretty bizarre read, but in the best possible way, because Olive Brewster is somebody you root for. Olive Brewster could be anyone of us - moseying along, with her job at the fish market, living with her brother and his horrible girlfriend (I literally forget her name and want to punch her in the face, and I’m writing this review like two weeks after finishing but her snobby/snotty texts will forever haunt me) and doing very little with her life (which is fine, btw). Until her best friend in the entire world Birdie asks Olive to go to New York to find her Big Sexy Love (yes, all caps is required) because Birdie is dying, to put it bluntly and she wants to know what could have been! Thus follows a madcap New York adventure!
I’m such a sucker for books set in New York, even after all these years of reading. It never gets old to hear about the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty or the skyscrapers and honking cabs and weather that can be on both ends of the scale. So Olive’s madcap adventure in New York was brilliant. And it started before she was even on the plane! Or, rather, it started *on* the plane, when she asks a random stranger to take her to the toilet, because she doesn’t like flying. *Dies laughing remembering that scene* And she asks none other than a Sunday Night Live writer, WHO IMMORTALISES HER ON TV. Because Seth, the writer, thought Olive wanted to join the mile high club, whereas Olive just really needed a wee. COMEDY GOLD.
I honestly loved this book so hard. Kirsty Greenwood is so under-appreciated with her books, you seriously need to read her books if you have any sense in you. If you love Sophie Kinsella or Paige Toon or just BEING MADE TO LAUGH AT ALL, EVER. I loved Olive’s adventures. I loved the quirky characters - Anders, in particular, was hilarious and bizarre all at the same time, and I loved Seth and Birdie and Olive and Mrs Ramirez, they were such a random, rag-tag bunch but it sooooo worked. Even the Manhattan Menace stuff, I swear, is unforgettable. Kirsty Greenwood just KNOWS what she’s doing when it comes to writing, she kills it every single time, without fail. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry and she makes me want to go to her house so she can read me her stories over and over and over again. Big Sexy Love was a triumph and I am so excited for what the future holds for Kirsty, because if anybody deserves to become a big writing star (to me, she’s already there mind), it’s Kirsty Greenwood. No one writes like her and she’ll make you laugh for days, I promise.
September 9, 2017
Kirsty Greenwood comes back with a bang!
Big Sexy Love ticks all the boxes of a fantalicious summer book. There is a life-affirming friendship, heart melting love and the cherry on the reading cake is the all around wonderful characters that you can't help but fall in love with.
I love meeting and getting to know Olive Brewster. Olive enjoys nothing more than living in her little comfort bubble but someone very special to her sees through the so called happy bubble and can't help to hatch a plan how to push our leading lady out of her comfort zone and propel her on a journey of self-discovery and amazing adventure.
I have read all Kirsty's book, and they are without a doubt book that will make your reading heart immensely happy.
Big Sexy Love ticks all the boxes of a fantalicious summer book. There is a life-affirming friendship, heart melting love and the cherry on the reading cake is the all around wonderful characters that you can't help but fall in love with.
I love meeting and getting to know Olive Brewster. Olive enjoys nothing more than living in her little comfort bubble but someone very special to her sees through the so called happy bubble and can't help to hatch a plan how to push our leading lady out of her comfort zone and propel her on a journey of self-discovery and amazing adventure.
I have read all Kirsty's book, and they are without a doubt book that will make your reading heart immensely happy.
September 19, 2018
This book took me a hot minute to get into but once I did I could not put it down.
Olive and the other characters are so endearing (except Donna!) that I never want to stop reading about them. I normal don't find myself laughing a loud when reading but I couldn't help but bust out laughing through out this. This was the best feel good read and I'm exciting find other gems from Kirsty Greenwood.
Olive and the other characters are so endearing (except Donna!) that I never want to stop reading about them. I normal don't find myself laughing a loud when reading but I couldn't help but bust out laughing through out this. This was the best feel good read and I'm exciting find other gems from Kirsty Greenwood.
May 27, 2019
"I made it! I drank too much champagne, screamed twice, made up a fake fiancé, got glared at by the cabin crew and forced a man to accompany me for a wee. But I made it!"
'Watch me piddle' phrase will always stay on my mind from now on. This was funny and absolutely adorable. I might have had a tear or two in my eye and one sleepless night behind me. Yes- it was that good.
Will recommend it to anyone!
'Watch me piddle' phrase will always stay on my mind from now on. This was funny and absolutely adorable. I might have had a tear or two in my eye and one sleepless night behind me. Yes- it was that good.
Will recommend it to anyone!
October 23, 2018
I did not enjoy this book at all. The scenarios were just too ridiculous. Once person clearly can't be that clueless, and in a city where no one recognizes anyone how do all this stuff happen to her... Just didn't feel this one at all.
September 17, 2025
Com esta história, a autora provou que o nosso grande e louco amor pode não ser um amor romântico...pode ser um amor de amizade, um amor que nasce na mais pura partilha do nosso ser com alguém que nos entende apenas porque sim, e que nos ama apenas porque sim.
O nosso grande e louco amor pode ser a redescoberta por nós próprios, ou então o nosso amor pelo nosso melhor amigo.
A viagem que a Olive faz motivada pelo amor pela Birdie ensinou-me muito e fez-me dar valor a algo que nunca senti que tivesse...
As emoções presentes nesta história são indescritíveis, a autora sabe como ir ao mais profundo das emoções humanas 🥹 e sim...para mim ela é perfeita a escrever comédias românticas!!! Porque sim, tão depressa me dava vontade de chorar a rir, como me dava vontade de chorar de tristeza - o equilíbrio de emoções está épico.
É um livro genuíno, puro, belíssimo...
Merece ser lido.
Tem que ser lido.
Vai ser amado por todos e deixar a sua marca em todos o que o lerem.
O nosso grande e louco amor pode ser a redescoberta por nós próprios, ou então o nosso amor pelo nosso melhor amigo.
A viagem que a Olive faz motivada pelo amor pela Birdie ensinou-me muito e fez-me dar valor a algo que nunca senti que tivesse...
As emoções presentes nesta história são indescritíveis, a autora sabe como ir ao mais profundo das emoções humanas 🥹 e sim...para mim ela é perfeita a escrever comédias românticas!!! Porque sim, tão depressa me dava vontade de chorar a rir, como me dava vontade de chorar de tristeza - o equilíbrio de emoções está épico.
É um livro genuíno, puro, belíssimo...
Merece ser lido.
Tem que ser lido.
Vai ser amado por todos e deixar a sua marca em todos o que o lerem.
October 31, 2024
4.5 ⭐️/5!
Kirsty Greenwood has done it again! At least for me anyway! If you like a twist in your romcom books this is the queen of twists in romcom books!
I genuinely liked this book, it wasn’t so cutesy that it lost its momentum, or anything like that. At first when I started to listen to audiobooks I started off with this book, and I’m not sure what I was thinking when I started with a romance book first. But the more that I read her other book: the love of my after life, I just knew that I could not put this book on my dnf list anymore! And boy was I right!
This book is about Olive and her quest to find her best friend’s big sexy love Chuck. But in the midst of her hunting down this elusive man she makes friends and also finds love.
I would recommend you to read any of Kirsty Greenwood’s books! They are just that good! 👍🏼
Kirsty Greenwood has done it again! At least for me anyway! If you like a twist in your romcom books this is the queen of twists in romcom books!
I genuinely liked this book, it wasn’t so cutesy that it lost its momentum, or anything like that. At first when I started to listen to audiobooks I started off with this book, and I’m not sure what I was thinking when I started with a romance book first. But the more that I read her other book: the love of my after life, I just knew that I could not put this book on my dnf list anymore! And boy was I right!
This book is about Olive and her quest to find her best friend’s big sexy love Chuck. But in the midst of her hunting down this elusive man she makes friends and also finds love.
I would recommend you to read any of Kirsty Greenwood’s books! They are just that good! 👍🏼
June 29, 2017
I loved this book so much. Kirsty Greenwood is now a total auto buy author for me because her books just absolutely blow me away with the storyline, the characters and her ability to write such epic romances that happen to such real and likable characters. Seriously I enjoyed this book so so much!
The characters in this book are so easy to get to know and so easy to like and so right from the beginning you feel that they are your friends and you are ready to get stuck into their story and take this journey with them. I loved the fact that Olive begins this story and someone who chooses to lead a fairly sheltered life, and she's absolutely fine with that. I also love the fact that she works on a fish stall-when was the last time you read a book about a fishmonger? Her best friend Birdie is fabulous and they interact just like me and my best friend, I'm sure all readers will be saying the same thing! Birdie is great and we know right from the start that she has a terminal illness, but she doesn't let that hold her back and Kirsty doesn't let that cast a dark shadow over the novel at all.
There a whole host of other character to love and love to hate as well. The fabulous Seth, funny little Colin; Anders the GBF and Olive's family. I absolutely loved meeting everyone and getting to know how they were going to play a part in Olive's story. New York is obviously another fabulous character in this book. Everyone knows I love a story set in New York and the fact that I was there whilst I was reading it made it even more fun! I loved the fact that there are views of the city from the river and they even go over to Staten Island. Olive gets to live in an actual apartment as well, something which most tourists won't get to do.
Another thing which I really enjoyed about the book was the way it was structured. The chapters are a great length, not to long and just short enough that you bargain just one more with yourself again and again when you are totally supposed to be somewhere else other than the pages of Olive's story. Each chapter begins with a text or a tweet, sometimes multiple and these can be really really funny. In fact the book made me laugh out loud many many times! I also cried in public and shouted 'bitch!' at one of the characters in the book, thankfully I was in a noisy Starbucks so that was ok!
This is a great read and I guarantee you will fly through it. I really recognised myself in some of these characters and loved spending time with them! There is such fabulous romance and just a really great story and setting. You don't have to have read Kirsty's other books to read this one, it would be a great intro to this fab author,. This would also be great to read at any time of year but I definitely recommend reading it right now because you will love it!
The characters in this book are so easy to get to know and so easy to like and so right from the beginning you feel that they are your friends and you are ready to get stuck into their story and take this journey with them. I loved the fact that Olive begins this story and someone who chooses to lead a fairly sheltered life, and she's absolutely fine with that. I also love the fact that she works on a fish stall-when was the last time you read a book about a fishmonger? Her best friend Birdie is fabulous and they interact just like me and my best friend, I'm sure all readers will be saying the same thing! Birdie is great and we know right from the start that she has a terminal illness, but she doesn't let that hold her back and Kirsty doesn't let that cast a dark shadow over the novel at all.
There a whole host of other character to love and love to hate as well. The fabulous Seth, funny little Colin; Anders the GBF and Olive's family. I absolutely loved meeting everyone and getting to know how they were going to play a part in Olive's story. New York is obviously another fabulous character in this book. Everyone knows I love a story set in New York and the fact that I was there whilst I was reading it made it even more fun! I loved the fact that there are views of the city from the river and they even go over to Staten Island. Olive gets to live in an actual apartment as well, something which most tourists won't get to do.
Another thing which I really enjoyed about the book was the way it was structured. The chapters are a great length, not to long and just short enough that you bargain just one more with yourself again and again when you are totally supposed to be somewhere else other than the pages of Olive's story. Each chapter begins with a text or a tweet, sometimes multiple and these can be really really funny. In fact the book made me laugh out loud many many times! I also cried in public and shouted 'bitch!' at one of the characters in the book, thankfully I was in a noisy Starbucks so that was ok!
This is a great read and I guarantee you will fly through it. I really recognised myself in some of these characters and loved spending time with them! There is such fabulous romance and just a really great story and setting. You don't have to have read Kirsty's other books to read this one, it would be a great intro to this fab author,. This would also be great to read at any time of year but I definitely recommend reading it right now because you will love it!
August 11, 2017
I can't work out whether I'm supposed to laugh or cry, as I have definitely been doing both, while reading this utterly fabulous book. In some respects its bittersweet, and in others its one of the funniest books I've read this year. What I can definitely say is that I was completely hooked on the story and almost missed my stop on the tube while reading, and that was during the first 20%!!!
I've not really read anything quite like this before, and it definitely is another gem from this immensely talented author.
Olive is such a engaging character, she has barely experienced anything life has to offer, is scared of water and planes, has only ever left her home county once, is even scared of the thought of being in love, or anything along those lines.
However Olive is Birdie's best friend, and Birdie is unfortunately terminally ill, so when her dying wish is for Olive to go to New York to track down Chuck Allen, her Big Sexy Love, Olive has to say yes despite being terrified.
Even from the start with Olive in an airport, on her first ever plane, despite not really understanding her fears for myself, I was laughing at the situations she was getting into. There is a very memorably scene early on from the journey to New York that was hilarious.
But the fun didn't stop there, every situation, every other page practically was filled with Olive doing stuff so far out of her comfort zone, I wasn't sure whether to laugh, applaud, cheer for her, all the while being aware that Birdie isn't in a great way.
Each chapter starts with either some text messages to/from Olive, her browser history, to do lists etc which give great insights into her current frame of mind, while she is on her New York adventure.
I absolutely loved the variety of people she met on her journey, from the obnoxious American queue jumper in the airport, to the slightly weird man she drinks with pre-flight, to the creepy hairdresser billionaire, plus the people that start referring to her and hunting her down on social media, in a sub plot of craziness that I adored.
This is easily one of my favourite books that I have read this summer, its a great feel good read that will have you in stitches but also tears. My only recommendation is don't read this on public transport unless you don't care where you end up, as tearing yourself away for a second to get off a bus or train, is close to impossible.
Kirsty Greenwood has clearly done it again, in producing a masterpiece of comedic genius, wacky adventures and some surprisingly serious moments too. This is a must read for romantic comedy fans, and I just hope this eventually makes it to the big screen as its the sort of film I'd enjoy watching over and over too!
Thank you so much to Kirsty Greenwood for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 7, 2017
💙REVIEW: O-M-Fucking-G! You know that excitement you get when you squeal silently to yourself whilst clenching your gnashers and shaking your fists a bit? That is what you get when you read this book. THAT IS WHAT YOU GET! You don't even need me to say anything else now do you? You know that's the one. The link to buy is right here 👉🏼 BUY IT... But If you do want to hear me waffle on about it then be my guest and go right ahead....
Big Sexy Love is without a doubt Greenwood at her absolute best. I don't know how she's going to top this one. It's sooo good. Like proper good though. Please go and buy it. It's a treat and a half it really is. It is the perfect book to have at any time and any place.
Ok, so protagonist Olive Brewster is a knob. Not even a little one, a full-blown massive one. And girls we all know we love one of those 🤦🏻♀️😉moving on....
Olive is right now standing at being my favourite character of ALL time. ALL TIME THOUGH! I died laughing so many times with her shenanigans, northern charm, sarcasm and utter could not give a fuck attitude mixed with a shyness and confusing demeanour. She is outstanding! It is such a pleasure to watch her blossom throughout the book and it is a blessing to be able to read about her friendship with the fantastic Birdie too.
I honestly idolised every single part of it. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, romantic, piss yourself funny, northern to a tee and utterly fucking joyous. It broke my heart in the most amazing way possible. I know right? How the fuck can that happen? Clever minds and fantastic writing and fabulous plots, characters, and love can actually make that happen. Such a wonderful and inspiring book. Go buy it! You know you want to.
Also, if there is a prize for making someone's heartbreaking tear-snot erupt over electronic reading devices with full on snorting laughter? Kirsty, my friend you deserve that prize. Shit memes have never been more funny in a heartbreaking moment.
Big Sexy Love is my Big Sexy Love this year for sure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5
P.S... Kirsty Greenwood, I love you. Ahh no I really do. You are an amazing author and I totally fucking love your work. Queen of the mother fucking northern authors baby! (You have to sing that sentence like Snoop Dogg sings 'the King of the mother fucking westcoast' in Eminems Bitch Please ll.) Get your mike out girl 🎤👸🏼
Big Sexy Love is without a doubt Greenwood at her absolute best. I don't know how she's going to top this one. It's sooo good. Like proper good though. Please go and buy it. It's a treat and a half it really is. It is the perfect book to have at any time and any place.
Ok, so protagonist Olive Brewster is a knob. Not even a little one, a full-blown massive one. And girls we all know we love one of those 🤦🏻♀️😉moving on....
Olive is right now standing at being my favourite character of ALL time. ALL TIME THOUGH! I died laughing so many times with her shenanigans, northern charm, sarcasm and utter could not give a fuck attitude mixed with a shyness and confusing demeanour. She is outstanding! It is such a pleasure to watch her blossom throughout the book and it is a blessing to be able to read about her friendship with the fantastic Birdie too.
I honestly idolised every single part of it. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, romantic, piss yourself funny, northern to a tee and utterly fucking joyous. It broke my heart in the most amazing way possible. I know right? How the fuck can that happen? Clever minds and fantastic writing and fabulous plots, characters, and love can actually make that happen. Such a wonderful and inspiring book. Go buy it! You know you want to.
Also, if there is a prize for making someone's heartbreaking tear-snot erupt over electronic reading devices with full on snorting laughter? Kirsty, my friend you deserve that prize. Shit memes have never been more funny in a heartbreaking moment.
Big Sexy Love is my Big Sexy Love this year for sure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5
P.S... Kirsty Greenwood, I love you. Ahh no I really do. You are an amazing author and I totally fucking love your work. Queen of the mother fucking northern authors baby! (You have to sing that sentence like Snoop Dogg sings 'the King of the mother fucking westcoast' in Eminems Bitch Please ll.) Get your mike out girl 🎤👸🏼
March 4, 2022
There is so much love in this book !
Absolute love between best friends , love between siblings, love of people whom fate has brought together, romantic love and especially self-love that comes after a fantastic and fun journey. Olive was one of the most charming characters I have read recently and her story was so touching and beautiful.
Absolute love between best friends , love between siblings, love of people whom fate has brought together, romantic love and especially self-love that comes after a fantastic and fun journey. Olive was one of the most charming characters I have read recently and her story was so touching and beautiful.
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