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Larger Than Life
She was eighteen. He was out of her league. So she reinvented herself and now, at the age of thirty-two she has him. The fact that he got married and had two kids in the meantime is not important.
At least, all this is what George has always believed. Until something happens, so momentous, so life-changing, that even her rock-solid faith ing Hugh is challenged. Surely, she thinks, a baby will bring them closer together?
At least, all this is what George has always believed. Until something happens, so momentous, so life-changing, that even her rock-solid faith ing Hugh is challenged. Surely, she thinks, a baby will bring them closer together?
401 pages, paperback
First published January 1, 2002
75 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
Adele Parks
58 books3,362 followersAdele Parks MBE is one of the most-loved and biggest-selling women's fiction writers in the UK. She has sold over 4 million books and her work has been translated into 30 different languages.
She has published 21 novels, all of which have been London Times bestsellers.
Adele has written 19 contemporary novels and 2 historical ones, Spare Brides and If You Go Away, which are set during and after WW1. Her latest novels, Both of You, Just My Luck, Lies Lies Lies, I Invited Her In, The Image of You and The Stranger in My Home are twisty, domestic noirs. Adele likes to scrutinize our concepts of family, our theories on love, parenting and fidelity.
During her career Adele has lived in Italy, Botswana and London. Now she lives happily in Surrey, UK with her husband, son and cat.
If you want to stay in touch you can find Adele on Twitter @AdeleParks, Instagram @Adele_Parks or Facebook @OfficialAdeleParks. You can sign up to her newsletter at eepurl.com/cI0l and there’s lots more info about Adele and her books on www.adeleparks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 26, 2022
One of my favorite authors and never disappoints, this book is no exception. Loved it.
Five stars.
Five stars.
May 11, 2017
**spoilers ahead**
While the novel is certainly not a feminist manifesto, and lacks a commentary on harmful systemic patterns present in heterosexual relationships, the story of the main character provokes important insights; such as how women often do the bulk of emotional and hidden labor in heterosexual relationships, how fantasy and idealizing a male partner is a coping mechanism for unaddressed needs, and how men often feel entitled to break their commitment to their partner at the slightest inconvenience (even if the inconvenience is the difficult physical hardship of pregnancy or an attempt to hold men accountable for their shortcomings in their basic duties as fathers and husbands).
The story follows the life of 30-something British woman Georgina or “George”, who had spent the better half of her life obsessing over love interest Hugh. Acquainted in university, the two were friends and Hugh eventually married the “eleven out of ten” Becca and went on to have two children with her. But that did not stop George, who sought to transform herself from a “five point five to an eight,” and the “quintessential 20th century woman” with the hopes of winning his heart. She got the opening she needed when he started falling out of love with Becca after her second pregnancy, and the two started having an affair. George finally got her man when he left Becca, showing up at her home declaring that he chose her. Only now, George has accidentally fallen pregnant too, only 8 months after Hugh moves in.
The novel is about a lot of things: marriage, pregnancy and motherhood, the pressure to maintain appearances, and the morality of cheating or falling out of love with a spouse. However, one clear theme stands out: the ability to lie to oneself about a romantic partner. From George’s perspective, Hugh is more of an idol than a man: everything he does is almost cloaked in divine essence. He has to be, as it had been her goal to become this man’s partner for over fourteen years. Not only did she barely give other men a chance, but she also set out on a massive years-long personal project to transform herself from a 5.5 into an 8 by putting herself on a strict gym and beauty regimen, seeking a career path similar to Hugh’s, doing activities she doesn’t even like, gathering worldly experience to become more interesting, and changing her tastes to his. But the objective reader sees that Hugh is actually rather inconsiderate, selfish, unemotional, and uninvested in her or their unborn child; and wonders why on earth a woman like George would work so hard to win his affections. He barely features in the novel in any meaningful way, and in fact, we learn more about Hugh from George’s retelling of their story and her description of him rather than from their narrated interactions; quick, superficial, and neutral at best, disappointing at worst.
George can barely keep up with her expanding waistline and difficult pregnancy that has completely overwhelmed her carefully maintained appearance over the years, her sharp mind at work, and her energy levels. When she gives up on trying, Hugh is almost disgusted with her and begins to spend more and more time away from her. Through the help of some friends and her own sense of futility, she slowly realizes Hugh for what he is and the fantasy begins to dissipate. Still, she tries to hold on to it as much as possible until a unforgivable conflict causes her to finally kick him out and start her life anew, rediscovering the person she really is, not the one she had carefully curated to Hugh’s tastes.
The novel reminded me of the many cultural messages that me and other women receive on a daily basis since our childhood: that our worth depends on whether we make a ‘good’ partner to a man or not, and the pressure to improve every aspect of ourselves in order to be so. The criteria for being a ‘good’ partner can be extensive: from drastic measures in order to maintain our looks, to making our partner’s life as easy and convenient as possible, and to repressing negative feelings we might have for fear of falling into the ‘naggy woman’ stereotype. George’s relationship with Hugh is filled with hidden labor to make his life easier: she doesn’t let him see her beauty routines, she takes care of cards and gifts for his children’s birthdays, she keeps up with current events in order to be interesting for him, she tidies and washes up his clothes despite him not technically contributing financially to their living arrangement since his separation from Becca. She is ultra-considerate in a way that he never notices, and in a way that never demands appreciation because she believes that this is the norm and the price to pay for keeping him around.
It also shows the self-deception that Georgina undergoes in order to maintain the fantasy figure in her life that is Hugh, which is a very familiar act that I have witnessed myself and other women doing in heterosexual relationships. She makes many excuses for his lack of presence and fails to criticized his shallow explanations of why he doesn’t want to officially divorce Becca, and takes them at face value even though they make little sense. It is almost as if she is afraid of the fantasy deteriorating, and does everything in order to stop her mind from wandering into the dangerous territory of reality. Her friends tip-toe around their commentary of Hugh knowing that shattering the fantasy would shatter her entire being. She believes everything Hugh says about Becca being overbearing and deserving to be left, and even paints Becca as a stern, ungrateful wife in her imagination – an image that is constantly threatened when her interactions with Becca reveal a kind, human side. She convinces herself that Hugh not being present for the birth of his and Becca’s child is due to Becca’s negative qualities, and justifies the affair that broke up their marriage with thoughts such as these. She never once considers that perhaps Hugh booking a work conference around the due date of Becca’s delivery is actually quite selfish and inconsiderate, or that Becca’s nagging ways might have actually been triggered from a legitimate source: Hugh’s lack of presence and care. The reader can also see that Georgina is not above some internalized misogyny as she blames Becca for the failure of her own marriage, referencing her inability to retain her good looks over time and becoming overbearing; ironic as Hugh’s attraction to her wanes as her body changes rapidly due to the pregnancy and Hugh taking a very minimal interest in her journey towards motherhood.
The novel serves as a reminder to carefully evaluate what a romantic partner actually brings to the table, and to shed the fantasy that many women use to cope with the shortcomings of their male partners. It also exposes the immense pressure felt by women to secure a partner (and children by a certain age, as revealed especially by the sub-story featuring George’s best friend, Sam), and how that can cause them to sacrifice many emotional benefits and needs that a romantic relationship can bring for a mere idea or fantasy. In Georgina’s case, it was her perfect, divine Hugh; and in Sam’s case, it was a more conspicuous fantasy of the dress, the wedding, and the domesticity of married life.
While the novel is certainly not a feminist manifesto, and lacks a commentary on harmful systemic patterns present in heterosexual relationships, the story of the main character provokes important insights; such as how women often do the bulk of emotional and hidden labor in heterosexual relationships, how fantasy and idealizing a male partner is a coping mechanism for unaddressed needs, and how men often feel entitled to break their commitment to their partner at the slightest inconvenience (even if the inconvenience is the difficult physical hardship of pregnancy or an attempt to hold men accountable for their shortcomings in their basic duties as fathers and husbands).
The story follows the life of 30-something British woman Georgina or “George”, who had spent the better half of her life obsessing over love interest Hugh. Acquainted in university, the two were friends and Hugh eventually married the “eleven out of ten” Becca and went on to have two children with her. But that did not stop George, who sought to transform herself from a “five point five to an eight,” and the “quintessential 20th century woman” with the hopes of winning his heart. She got the opening she needed when he started falling out of love with Becca after her second pregnancy, and the two started having an affair. George finally got her man when he left Becca, showing up at her home declaring that he chose her. Only now, George has accidentally fallen pregnant too, only 8 months after Hugh moves in.
The novel is about a lot of things: marriage, pregnancy and motherhood, the pressure to maintain appearances, and the morality of cheating or falling out of love with a spouse. However, one clear theme stands out: the ability to lie to oneself about a romantic partner. From George’s perspective, Hugh is more of an idol than a man: everything he does is almost cloaked in divine essence. He has to be, as it had been her goal to become this man’s partner for over fourteen years. Not only did she barely give other men a chance, but she also set out on a massive years-long personal project to transform herself from a 5.5 into an 8 by putting herself on a strict gym and beauty regimen, seeking a career path similar to Hugh’s, doing activities she doesn’t even like, gathering worldly experience to become more interesting, and changing her tastes to his. But the objective reader sees that Hugh is actually rather inconsiderate, selfish, unemotional, and uninvested in her or their unborn child; and wonders why on earth a woman like George would work so hard to win his affections. He barely features in the novel in any meaningful way, and in fact, we learn more about Hugh from George’s retelling of their story and her description of him rather than from their narrated interactions; quick, superficial, and neutral at best, disappointing at worst.
George can barely keep up with her expanding waistline and difficult pregnancy that has completely overwhelmed her carefully maintained appearance over the years, her sharp mind at work, and her energy levels. When she gives up on trying, Hugh is almost disgusted with her and begins to spend more and more time away from her. Through the help of some friends and her own sense of futility, she slowly realizes Hugh for what he is and the fantasy begins to dissipate. Still, she tries to hold on to it as much as possible until a unforgivable conflict causes her to finally kick him out and start her life anew, rediscovering the person she really is, not the one she had carefully curated to Hugh’s tastes.
The novel reminded me of the many cultural messages that me and other women receive on a daily basis since our childhood: that our worth depends on whether we make a ‘good’ partner to a man or not, and the pressure to improve every aspect of ourselves in order to be so. The criteria for being a ‘good’ partner can be extensive: from drastic measures in order to maintain our looks, to making our partner’s life as easy and convenient as possible, and to repressing negative feelings we might have for fear of falling into the ‘naggy woman’ stereotype. George’s relationship with Hugh is filled with hidden labor to make his life easier: she doesn’t let him see her beauty routines, she takes care of cards and gifts for his children’s birthdays, she keeps up with current events in order to be interesting for him, she tidies and washes up his clothes despite him not technically contributing financially to their living arrangement since his separation from Becca. She is ultra-considerate in a way that he never notices, and in a way that never demands appreciation because she believes that this is the norm and the price to pay for keeping him around.
It also shows the self-deception that Georgina undergoes in order to maintain the fantasy figure in her life that is Hugh, which is a very familiar act that I have witnessed myself and other women doing in heterosexual relationships. She makes many excuses for his lack of presence and fails to criticized his shallow explanations of why he doesn’t want to officially divorce Becca, and takes them at face value even though they make little sense. It is almost as if she is afraid of the fantasy deteriorating, and does everything in order to stop her mind from wandering into the dangerous territory of reality. Her friends tip-toe around their commentary of Hugh knowing that shattering the fantasy would shatter her entire being. She believes everything Hugh says about Becca being overbearing and deserving to be left, and even paints Becca as a stern, ungrateful wife in her imagination – an image that is constantly threatened when her interactions with Becca reveal a kind, human side. She convinces herself that Hugh not being present for the birth of his and Becca’s child is due to Becca’s negative qualities, and justifies the affair that broke up their marriage with thoughts such as these. She never once considers that perhaps Hugh booking a work conference around the due date of Becca’s delivery is actually quite selfish and inconsiderate, or that Becca’s nagging ways might have actually been triggered from a legitimate source: Hugh’s lack of presence and care. The reader can also see that Georgina is not above some internalized misogyny as she blames Becca for the failure of her own marriage, referencing her inability to retain her good looks over time and becoming overbearing; ironic as Hugh’s attraction to her wanes as her body changes rapidly due to the pregnancy and Hugh taking a very minimal interest in her journey towards motherhood.
The novel serves as a reminder to carefully evaluate what a romantic partner actually brings to the table, and to shed the fantasy that many women use to cope with the shortcomings of their male partners. It also exposes the immense pressure felt by women to secure a partner (and children by a certain age, as revealed especially by the sub-story featuring George’s best friend, Sam), and how that can cause them to sacrifice many emotional benefits and needs that a romantic relationship can bring for a mere idea or fantasy. In Georgina’s case, it was her perfect, divine Hugh; and in Sam’s case, it was a more conspicuous fantasy of the dress, the wedding, and the domesticity of married life.
November 17, 2017
Въпреки , че модата на тези книги попремина, винаги има нещо ново ,което да се научи.
Това са нещата от живота.
Предадени по много интелигентен начин.
Тук може би ми липсват повече диалози.
Не мисля , че би я затруднило.
Скоростта също е по-бавна.
Но съдържанието носи послания затова , кое има значение в живота.
Това са нещата от живота.
Предадени по много интелигентен начин.
Тук може би ми липсват повече диалози.
Не мисля , че би я затруднило.
Скоростта също е по-бавна.
Но съдържанието носи послания затова , кое има значение в живота.
September 12, 2020
The title do not match the story, I had larger expectations than delivered. The story isn’t realistic, all I could think about was,”no this doesn’t happen in real life”. The writing is good but the story not much.
June 7, 2016
Nothing special at all. Just some stupid chick lit, this isn't what I wanted to read. Couldn't even finish reading it.
May 6, 2018
Well. Well. Well.
August 26, 2025
A good book but not as good as more recent books by this author. Georgina had loved Hugh since she was 18; he was everything she wanted but he married someone else. Now at the age of 32 Georgina has transformed herself into Hugh’s perfect woman and he has left his wife and moved in with her. She falls pregnant and Hugh is dismayed and the distance between them grows. Can their relationship survive?
March 27, 2022
A really fun listen which lots of people will sympathise with. A shock ending but I’m so happy it ended that way for Georgina.
December 5, 2013
Spoiler Alert!
Researchers have proven that people can reduce stress through pregnancy by talking to their partners and telling them how they feel. Generally speaking, usually people would think their partner would be listening and willing to talk, but that’s not always the case. Being pregnant is difficult for women. What’s harder is trying to talk to someone when they don’t listen and blow everything off. Reading books and looking at reality, it’s pretty clear when a pregnant woman’s partner goes out and doesn’t come back until midnight, the stress the woman already has will increase. In other words Adele Parks wants readers to know how relationships can really effect a pregnancy. Larger Than Life sarcastically expresses reality through its comedy, character interactions, and modern realism.
Parks creates a realistic story about young expectant lovers. Instead of being a boring story of a perfect family, author Adele Parks wants to prove that in real life nothing is handed to anyone. She tells the story in a very sarcastic manner. The two characters Heugh and Georgina are young lovers trying to figure out their way through life and experiencing road blocks along the way. Some of these blocks are making time for each other to work on their relationship, getting along with their families, and respecting the house rules. For example Heugh disrespected the house rules when he came home hours later than he said he would. Georgina being naïve, believed he was working late. Unaware of reality, her innocence prevents her from seeing obvious warning signs. Later on Georgina’s innocence is evident while she interacts with other characters.
Adele Park’s gets the readers’ attention through the character interactions. Georgina’s mother’s interaction with her is very unpredictable. One minute she is very demanding and hard on Georgina then the next minute kind and thoughtful. When Georgina tells her mother that she’s pregnant all her mother could think of is how much Georgina’s body is going to change, how little of free time she’s going to have, and questioning if Georgina will be a good mother or not. Towards the end of Georgina’s pregnancy her mother is not worrying how Georgina will look, but realizing that she is a good mother and it doesn’t matter in the end what she may look like or how much free time she or anyone else may have. No matter what Georgina’s baby will come first and her mother realizes that it’s not all about how she feels or looks anymore.
Heugh was married when he met Georgina but is still not divorced with his wife Becca. Becca and Heugh have two children together before they separated. It’s hard for Georgina to grasp the fact that he has children with another woman. Becca’s attitude towards Georgina is very snappy and short. Who could blame her though, Heugh cheated on Becca with Georgina. Depending on who may be speaking to or about Georgina in this book, everyone has different views on the relationship with Georgina and Heugh, or just Georgina herself.
As told before, not everything in life is going to be easy. Be surrounded with people who are willing to help you and not bring you down. Being positive is the first place to start. While Heugh was out every night not coming home until the next morning most people would be suspicious and think they’re up to something, not brush it off their shoulder and hope for the best. In reality most people question their partner, but everyone is different. While Georgina was babysitting Heugh’s kids and waiting for him to come home from work she was get irritated as a pattern was reoccurring with Heugh not coming home. Not only was he late while she was there, but his kids were there too, waiting to say hello to their father. It’s starting to be a routine in this relationship the more and more Georgina forgives him. This is not some fairytale book it shows the realization of being in a relationship, being responsible, and being pregnant.
Larger Than Life shows how being pregnant can effect a relationship and have their partners distantly grow away from you. In the end, people can easily find out who has been there for them and who has not, who has sacrificed their time for others, and who will always have a listening ear. After Georgina’s baby is born she knows the meaning of love and how to love someone or something more than yourself or life itself, even if she has the people who she originally wanted to be there for her or not.
Researchers have proven that people can reduce stress through pregnancy by talking to their partners and telling them how they feel. Generally speaking, usually people would think their partner would be listening and willing to talk, but that’s not always the case. Being pregnant is difficult for women. What’s harder is trying to talk to someone when they don’t listen and blow everything off. Reading books and looking at reality, it’s pretty clear when a pregnant woman’s partner goes out and doesn’t come back until midnight, the stress the woman already has will increase. In other words Adele Parks wants readers to know how relationships can really effect a pregnancy. Larger Than Life sarcastically expresses reality through its comedy, character interactions, and modern realism.
Parks creates a realistic story about young expectant lovers. Instead of being a boring story of a perfect family, author Adele Parks wants to prove that in real life nothing is handed to anyone. She tells the story in a very sarcastic manner. The two characters Heugh and Georgina are young lovers trying to figure out their way through life and experiencing road blocks along the way. Some of these blocks are making time for each other to work on their relationship, getting along with their families, and respecting the house rules. For example Heugh disrespected the house rules when he came home hours later than he said he would. Georgina being naïve, believed he was working late. Unaware of reality, her innocence prevents her from seeing obvious warning signs. Later on Georgina’s innocence is evident while she interacts with other characters.
Adele Park’s gets the readers’ attention through the character interactions. Georgina’s mother’s interaction with her is very unpredictable. One minute she is very demanding and hard on Georgina then the next minute kind and thoughtful. When Georgina tells her mother that she’s pregnant all her mother could think of is how much Georgina’s body is going to change, how little of free time she’s going to have, and questioning if Georgina will be a good mother or not. Towards the end of Georgina’s pregnancy her mother is not worrying how Georgina will look, but realizing that she is a good mother and it doesn’t matter in the end what she may look like or how much free time she or anyone else may have. No matter what Georgina’s baby will come first and her mother realizes that it’s not all about how she feels or looks anymore.
Heugh was married when he met Georgina but is still not divorced with his wife Becca. Becca and Heugh have two children together before they separated. It’s hard for Georgina to grasp the fact that he has children with another woman. Becca’s attitude towards Georgina is very snappy and short. Who could blame her though, Heugh cheated on Becca with Georgina. Depending on who may be speaking to or about Georgina in this book, everyone has different views on the relationship with Georgina and Heugh, or just Georgina herself.
As told before, not everything in life is going to be easy. Be surrounded with people who are willing to help you and not bring you down. Being positive is the first place to start. While Heugh was out every night not coming home until the next morning most people would be suspicious and think they’re up to something, not brush it off their shoulder and hope for the best. In reality most people question their partner, but everyone is different. While Georgina was babysitting Heugh’s kids and waiting for him to come home from work she was get irritated as a pattern was reoccurring with Heugh not coming home. Not only was he late while she was there, but his kids were there too, waiting to say hello to their father. It’s starting to be a routine in this relationship the more and more Georgina forgives him. This is not some fairytale book it shows the realization of being in a relationship, being responsible, and being pregnant.
Larger Than Life shows how being pregnant can effect a relationship and have their partners distantly grow away from you. In the end, people can easily find out who has been there for them and who has not, who has sacrificed their time for others, and who will always have a listening ear. After Georgina’s baby is born she knows the meaning of love and how to love someone or something more than yourself or life itself, even if she has the people who she originally wanted to be there for her or not.
February 20, 2015
I've had this for some time and finally got around to reading it. It was not the fluffy chick-lit book that I had originally envisioned. The plot revolves around George (Georgina) who finds herself accidentally pregnant. She finds it terribly inconvenient and spends the first part of her pregnancy bemoaning her loss of shape. But she finally falls in love with her bump and enjoys the experience. She, at least, grows up in the course of the book. The ending is telegraphed but that does not lessen the enjoyment. I did not care for the character of Hugh - he is, in the words of another character, a total prat. It takes George WAY too long to come to the realization that he is the failure, not her. This book was good, but it was a slow read for me. I never seemed to get invested in the characters - more like, wanted to shake them and wake them up.
One quote to remember:
It is the most overwhelming experience I've ever had. It consumes my every waking moment, and, actually, a fair amount of my sleeping moments, too. I have so much to say about being a mum that I am always tempted to stay silent. It's an amalgamation of a zillion squabbling emotions: joy, rapture, satisfaction, fear, guilt, wonder, relief, worry. Especially worry....sometimes I want to collapse with the weight of my fears and responsibilities. I want to crawl under the duvet and let someone else take over....I can't, and besides which I only want to look at her and I'm...renewed. She's my reason to live, but more than that she's everybody's reason to live, even for those people who have no idea of her existence. She is the future.
One quote to remember:
It is the most overwhelming experience I've ever had. It consumes my every waking moment, and, actually, a fair amount of my sleeping moments, too. I have so much to say about being a mum that I am always tempted to stay silent. It's an amalgamation of a zillion squabbling emotions: joy, rapture, satisfaction, fear, guilt, wonder, relief, worry. Especially worry....sometimes I want to collapse with the weight of my fears and responsibilities. I want to crawl under the duvet and let someone else take over....I can't, and besides which I only want to look at her and I'm...renewed. She's my reason to live, but more than that she's everybody's reason to live, even for those people who have no idea of her existence. She is the future.
December 17, 2018
I really had to force myself to (skim) read this book, I lost interest half way through. I wish I hadn't bothered. It started off as a light, bubblegum-for-the-brain read but soon got tedious. The story was predictable, I didn't warm to any of the characters, least of all Georgina, so what was there to hold my interest? Erm...............................
August 1, 2022
This is just a pregnancy book and not the story I have come to expect from the Author.
Not being a mother, it was not my kind of read and very disappointing as I read for fun, there was nothing fun though I finished it, and will take a break from this author as we are obviously not in the same place. A very over indulgent book, would not recommend,
Not being a mother, it was not my kind of read and very disappointing as I read for fun, there was nothing fun though I finished it, and will take a break from this author as we are obviously not in the same place. A very over indulgent book, would not recommend,
February 3, 2011
A novel that perpetuates the stereotype that women should want marriage and babies, do want marriage and babies, and do get marriage and babies. Funny in the beginning, pathetic in the middle, sappy in the end. A quick read.
April 16, 2011
When I bought this book I thought it would be one of those "easy-reading" books and I never thought it would be so touching and so deep. Amazing story about a woman who got pregnant with a baby she didn't want to and how it drastically it changed her life.
May 13, 2009
crap
April 20, 2020
So this happens to be one of those books whose cover instantly drew my attention towards it. I’m intrigued by pretty book covers and old and decaying pages. My mind automatically opens up to possibilities, and in this case, I was reimagining it to be a chick lit romantic fiction. But it was much more than what I’d expected.
Larger than Life by Adele Parks is a story that centres around Georgina a.k.a George who develops feeling of love quite early in life. Her life has always been about setting and planning goals both in personal as well as professional life. She is driven and ambitious about her job in an advertising firm, and aims high to climb up the corporate ladder. The book invites a reader to explore the journey of Georgina when she decides to chase the man of her dreams again, who is now already married with two kids.
First of all, the strands of humor are very well ingrained in the narration which appealed to me till the end. They are well-timed and make it a light read. The story line is convenient and predictable, but elements of compassion, understanding are noticeable through dynamics of friendship in the book.
The main character is the heart and soul of the story. In spite of her eccentricities and disagreeable choices, the author manages the reader to remain emotionally invested throughout George’s journey. The entire transformation of the protagonist over the course of her exploits is heart-warming to read. Also, there are excerpts that manifest how brainstorming and campaigning hold importance in the advertising world, which was interesting.
This turned out to be a pleasant change, after devouring some mysterious and thought provoking books. I liked the whole concept of the story that how a woman’s life turns upside down during pregnancy. The physical changes are definitely visible, but battling an emotional hurricane is the real challenge.
Personally for me, the most important insight from the book, was to find your intentions and stick to your own values and opinions, even while being in love or relationship.
Larger than Life by Adele Parks is a story that centres around Georgina a.k.a George who develops feeling of love quite early in life. Her life has always been about setting and planning goals both in personal as well as professional life. She is driven and ambitious about her job in an advertising firm, and aims high to climb up the corporate ladder. The book invites a reader to explore the journey of Georgina when she decides to chase the man of her dreams again, who is now already married with two kids.
First of all, the strands of humor are very well ingrained in the narration which appealed to me till the end. They are well-timed and make it a light read. The story line is convenient and predictable, but elements of compassion, understanding are noticeable through dynamics of friendship in the book.
The main character is the heart and soul of the story. In spite of her eccentricities and disagreeable choices, the author manages the reader to remain emotionally invested throughout George’s journey. The entire transformation of the protagonist over the course of her exploits is heart-warming to read. Also, there are excerpts that manifest how brainstorming and campaigning hold importance in the advertising world, which was interesting.
This turned out to be a pleasant change, after devouring some mysterious and thought provoking books. I liked the whole concept of the story that how a woman’s life turns upside down during pregnancy. The physical changes are definitely visible, but battling an emotional hurricane is the real challenge.
Personally for me, the most important insight from the book, was to find your intentions and stick to your own values and opinions, even while being in love or relationship.
December 13, 2018
Georgina is pregnant. She’s a successful woman in advertising, but her entire life has been built around what she thinks Hugh will want. The last thing Hugh wants though is a pregnant girlfriend. And with a not quite ex wife and two kids hanging around how can they possibly make things work?
This book was a steady three stars. It wasn’t great but it was readable. I don’t feel that this was the laugh out loud book it promised to be, but maybe that’s because I don’t find insecurity and pregnancy to be laughing matter.
I didn’t feel that there was much character development either. Yes Georgina finally has some growth about three quarters of the way through, but Hugh is just a wet weed of a person.
If you really want an Adele Parks book to read then I’d recommend reading The State We’re In.
This book was a steady three stars. It wasn’t great but it was readable. I don’t feel that this was the laugh out loud book it promised to be, but maybe that’s because I don’t find insecurity and pregnancy to be laughing matter.
I didn’t feel that there was much character development either. Yes Georgina finally has some growth about three quarters of the way through, but Hugh is just a wet weed of a person.
If you really want an Adele Parks book to read then I’d recommend reading The State We’re In.
May 6, 2024
I borrowed this book from the library as an audio book. I won’t be reading this author again. I’ve had three children and did not recognise the pregnancy described in this book from any of them. It was almost cartoon level in its ridiculousness.
Also my listening experience was not helped by the reader being completely unable to pronounce various words. She insisted on reading the word ‘undoubtedly’ (a word this author uses with monotonous regularity) as ‘undoubtably’ to the point where I was practically tearing my hair out!
There were other words she couldn’t pronounce also - ‘ebullience’ sticks in my head, but quite honestly I want to put this whole experience behind me, so I’ll say no more.
Also my listening experience was not helped by the reader being completely unable to pronounce various words. She insisted on reading the word ‘undoubtedly’ (a word this author uses with monotonous regularity) as ‘undoubtably’ to the point where I was practically tearing my hair out!
There were other words she couldn’t pronounce also - ‘ebullience’ sticks in my head, but quite honestly I want to put this whole experience behind me, so I’ll say no more.
August 24, 2021
I have read better from Adele Parks. I didn't really warm to the main characters in the book, George (Georgina) is the main character, who finds herself pregnant and her partner Hugh who she relentlessly pursued for 14 years even when he was a married father of 2 and is left discontented by his lack of support.... Sam (her friend) very successful in her professional life but completely obsessed with the idea of getting married, the same ole same ole that a woman's main ambition in life is to be a wife. It's not a terrible read but if you are going to spend your hard earned cash Adele Parks has written much better books.
September 21, 2023
I enjoyed this book, but it was one of the author’s earlier books set in 2001, so was a little dated in terms of background and references. Otherwise it was an enjoyable read covering relationships, pregnancy, and the advertising industry. However it is outdated and the frequent mentions of large salaries and lavish lifestyles seem somewhat incongruous in the current cost of living crisis. Anyone who has ever been pregnant will identify with the main character, Georgina, as she struggles to cope with it’s challenges.
July 13, 2019
I very nearly gave up reading this a couple of chapters in because who is like these people? But I persevered and if you take it as the satire on modern day values that it clearly is it is a reasonable read. It highlights society's obsessions with the trivial and women's beliefs that they need something be it man or wedding to be someone. And makes you realise that it is about time we realised that we don't need any of that stuff, we are good enough.
August 28, 2021
George loves Hugh. Unfortunately Hugh married Becca but two children later he left Becca for George. So George has Hugh and now a baby on the way. Sounds perfect doesn’t it?
This is an early Adele Parks book that I must have missed first time round. I love all of her early work but this was a bit slow to start. However once it got going it was an interesting exploration of relationships and self care. It didn’t surprise but was a nice easy read.
This is an early Adele Parks book that I must have missed first time round. I love all of her early work but this was a bit slow to start. However once it got going it was an interesting exploration of relationships and self care. It didn’t surprise but was a nice easy read.
June 6, 2024
I hate giving negative reviews on books as I completely appreciate the time and love put into writing it. However I have been left feeling frustrated after reading this book. There was potential for a great story, but I felt it became rushed, left out lots of the story and I then had lots of questions at the end. I kept waiting for something to happen and that feeling was never satisfied. It was ok, not a book I would read again
March 11, 2018
Brilliant book. Great characters about Georgina who falls in love at eighteen. Her heart’s desire, Hugh marries in the mean time and has two children. Georgina set about winning her man, then when she is thirty-two he walks back into her life and her home.
Now pregnant with Hugh ‘s baby she realises he’s not the man she thought he was fourteen years ago.
Now pregnant with Hugh ‘s baby she realises he’s not the man she thought he was fourteen years ago.
July 16, 2020
I read this as I needed something I perceived as an easy read and it was amongst a pile of books a friend learnt me. I found this book really predictable.
I struggled to warm to the main character however I was engaged enough to read to the end and be pleased how things turned out.
I struggled to warm to the main character however I was engaged enough to read to the end and be pleased how things turned out.
January 16, 2022
3,5 stars, just because although the characters are solid and it’s a good story, the obnoxious Hugh slowly grates your patience until it’s almost unbearable. Wish there had been more time to appreciate life without him.
March 24, 2022
A little disappointed with this. I loved the last book I read by this author, Just My Luck. This book started off real slow, but eventually it got better, and by the end I had enjoyed it, but something was missing.
February 21, 2023
My partner persuaded me to read this book. I didn't manage to get more than halfway through. The next time my partner persuades me to read one of this authors books she will need to do it at gunpoint.
May 31, 2024
Not a bad read, my first Adele Parks. However, the blurb/synopsis did not match the story. I was waiting the whole way through for his opinion to be false. But it never went that way, maybe the blurb was mistyped?
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