Big Love Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In all my years of reviewing books, there’s one thing that I haven’t done before, and that’s crying while reading. I don’t get super emotional most of the time, but when I do, it’s for a good reason. Which book made me cry? It was Big Love by Bari Beckett – a beautifully effective collection of stories that guides readers on creating their own love story.

Normally, I would sum up in my own words about what the book is about, but I personally think the blurb on the back did this perfectly.

“Big Love by Bari Beckett is forty short stories about love, sex, and romance. Use these stories as a guide for yourself or with your partner to act out or to learn what you want in a relationship. These stories are to encourage you to discover your own love story, manifest your passions, and solidify your wants and needs. You are encouraged to read the stories and then use the journaling pages to write your own.”

Beckett was inspired to write these stories by a man she knew but never met in person. She wanted to make it clear what romance looks like to her. Part of what she desired was lots of sex with her partner. She wants it so much that she’ll never say no to it “because it is an expression of how much” she loves him (p.17). Some people might take issue with that, but it’s Beckett’s fantasy. No one will have the same love story. In addition, the ones that depict sex are always consensual.

Beckett encourages readers to think and write their own love stories with empty lined pages at the end. Even though the book is advertised as 137 pages, the 40 stories take up 73 of them. This leaves over 60 sheets for the readers to jot down their own love story, passions, wants, and needs. As a result, Beckett gives readers, who are inspired by her own story, agency to tell theirs.

Now, I must reveal why I cried while reading Big Love. I had a feeling that I was going to get emotional because romance does that to me sometimes. It happened when I was reading the story called “Loving You, Big Love.” In it, Beckett lists the ways that big love is to her like reaching for her partner’s hand at dinner to learning patience and dealing with inpatients. I lost it while reading the part about holding hands and kissing each other good morning and good night because I do that with my husband. It gave me some good ideas for other ways that I can express my big love.

Big Love by Bari Beckett is an undoubtedly helpful guide for people to strengthen their relationships and what they want from them. I love how the author gives her love story as an example and how she gives space for readers to do the same. Also, it made me weep in a good way. I would recommend it to those who, regardless of relationship status, love to read about romance and need guidance on how to express what they want in a relationship. I will definitely reread and use it to build up mine even more.

Before I go, I want to let you know that I had the opportunity to interview Bari Beckett for the website. The transcript can be seen here. Enjoy!

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