Elizabeth Standish’s Magnificent Mess is a delightful and heartwarming exploration of the chaos and beauty of life’s imperfections. The story centers around a young woman navigating her way through personal and professional challenges, discovering the value of embracing the messiness of her circumstances.

Standish’s writing is both relatable and witty, capturing the protagonist’s struggles with humor and insight. The characters are well-drawn and engaging, each contributing to the narrative's rich tapestry of relationships and experiences. As the protagonist learns to let go of her need for perfection, readers are treated to moments of genuine growth and self-discovery.

The pacing is brisk, making it a quick and enjoyable read, while the themes of resilience, friendship, and self-acceptance resonate throughout. Standish skillfully balances lighthearted moments with deeper reflections on what it means to live authentically.

Overall, Magnificent Mess is an uplifting and charming read that encourages readers to embrace life’s imperfections. It’s a perfect choice for anyone seeking a feel-good story filled with warmth and humor.

This book was a bit too long and some parts really drawn-out for me, but overall an interesting read. I can definitely relate to the mother issues the mc was having throughout the story. As a person who seems to be a lifelong student trying to figure out what comes next, magnificent mess seems to be fitting!

"Magnificent Mess" by Elizabeth Standish is a delightful read that perfectly captures the chaos of early adulthood. Emma’s struggle with her mother’s high expectations and her journey towards self-discovery resonated deeply with me. Her relationship with Patrick and the adventures in Ireland added layers of complexity and realism.

Standish's portrayal of Emma’s emotional turmoil and growth felt incredibly authentic. Despite some repetitive moments, the story's message about embracing life's messiness and finding your own path shines through beautifully. If you're in your twenties or remember the confusion of that time, this book will hit home.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author, Elizabeth Standish for the ARC.

This was a good, solid book. Wonderful coming into your own story. I loved the friendships so much and the guys were written so well. The mc has a lot of issues with her mother and that part seemed to go on a little long for my liking. But I absolutely loved her journey in relationships and in college. And to know your own path, your own lessons, regardless of who tried to force an opposite response. I loved the story, I just felt it went a little long and the mother conflict seemed repetitive, but still a solid 3.5 star rating.

Good book, well written, great character study. The only criticism I have is it' s a little too long. I was getting a bit frustrated and impatient for the main character to finally quit crying and grow a backbone. it seemed to take forever. But a satisfying ending and well worth the time to read.

Probably the most relateable book I've read in years. When I read the description of the recent college grad who is trying to figure out what comes next, I knew it was going to remind me of my own journey and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the main character and the cast of friends who are her biggest champions. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thistle and Phoenix Press for this ARC of ‘Magnificent Mess’ by Elizabeth Standish.

This book was so good. It was such a heartfelt, enjoyable journey. It was truly so sweet. I will definitely be looking for this authors other Books.

Now, I'll be real with you. When I picked up this book, I expected a typical coming-of-age tale. But oh boy, was I wrong! Emma's journey isn't just about finding herself; it's about embracing the messy, chaotic beauty of life. I couldn't help but root for her as she navigated through the highs and lows, making mistakes, falling in love, and ultimately discovering what truly matters. Plus, can we talk about the swoon-worthy romance? Let's just say, Team Alex all the way!

Strap in, folks, because Magnificent Mess is about to take you on a wild ride through the tumultuous world of post-college chaos! Emma's story is like a rollercoaster of emotions, with twists and turns that'll leave you breathless. From dodging her mom's career expectations to navigating the minefield of romance with not one, but two intriguing guys, Emma's journey is a whirlwind of excitement. But amidst all the chaos, there's a beautiful message about embracing the messiness of life and finding your own path. Trust me, you'll want to grab a copy of Magnificent Mess ASAP—it's a wild, heartfelt ride you won't want to miss!

This book wasn't really what I expected, I think from the title, cover and to a slightly lesser degree the blurb I was expecting more of a comedy read. It isn't. Not that anything horrendous happens. Emma doesn't know what she wants from life. Her overbearing and frankly abusive mother throws a complete strop when Emma doesn't perfectly fit what she's expected to do. Emma gets into a relationship with someone who she's really only interested in because he is a bit of rebellion against her mother.
I did enjoy the book, but at times it seemed to drag a little and Emma went around in circles with her feelings and her attempts to deal with things. There were times when chapters felt as though they were out of order and didn't really flow in the context of what was happening. For that reason, it was only a 3 star read for me.

This was a really sweet romance book. It perfectly encapsulates the tumultuous period of your early twenties. I loved reading about the protagonist's riding memories and watching her life unfurl all around the world - from Ireland to Boston! I would recommend this book to any romance readers with an avid love of horses or fans of second chance romances.

A quick and enjoyable read that's just a little too relatable. All about the chaos of your 20s, trying to find a career, picking the wrong guys to date. There were so many sweet moments and truly unlikable characters, and you can't help but root for the main character as she navigates love and law school. And a difficult mother. In the end, a touching and sweet story that reads like a biography.

Magnificent Mess is a magnificent mess of a book that captures the chaos of life in your early twenties beautifully and I feel like a lot of people will empathise with the main character's struggles.

We follow Emmalynn, a horse-loving college graduate, who has found herself at a crossroads in her life and unsure which direction to go in. Does she want to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a high flying lawyer? Does she want to follow her passion for horses into vetinary science? Shall she have an easy, casual relationship or a more committed one? Feeling lost under all of the pressure of building a life, she allows others to do it for her resulting in the inevitable.

The more I got into this book, the more and more I felt as though I was reading an autobiography - the detail in which the horse care segments and the law school segments were written with gave me an impression that this was not just researched by the author, but lived. Thus it came as no surprise that a lot of the events in the book are based on the author's own experiences as a Denver based lawyer and horse lover.

A great coming of age story for young adults with a wonderful message - find your own happiness and build your life the way you want it.

Magnificent Mess by Elizabeth Standish

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“Magnificent Mess” by Elizabeth Standish is a story about Emmalynn, who finishes college and is forced into pursuing a law degree by her controlling mother. Emma is uncertain about her career path and personal life. She meets Patrick, who is charming and handsome. Emma sees a future with him but he is emotionally flaky, and their friendship is uncertain. I couldn’t stand him, and he was on top of my shit list along with her overbearing mother. Then enters Alex, the sweet and caring guy next door who supported Emma no matter what. Emma’s friends are her biggest champions throughout the book, and it shows how important it is to have people in your corner no matter where they are. The story portrays the hard work of becoming a lawyer while trying to maintain relationships. Even if you fail, it could be pushing you towards a better future for yourself. Overall, the book is an enjoyable read.