Book Review: Make Love Great Again

Title: Make Love Great Again
Author: Brian Michels
Genre: Literary
Book Length: Novel
Format Read: Paperback
Year Published: 2025

Date Started: March 26, 2025
Date finished: April 17, 2025

This story is about the relationship between Julie and Rick, a couple who met once years earlier and then lost touch. When they meet again, sparks fly, and they quickly get married. Life happens and things start to go downhill. Rick becomes a stay-at-home dad when Julie gives birth to their daughter. Julie continues to work at her lavish corporate job, even though it seems she would prefer to stay home with the baby. However, as the baby grew, their relationship suffers because Julie is always at work. Julie also clashes often with Rick and doesn’t treat him very well. Rick remains calm and continues to do his best to keep the family together. The tension between Julie and their daughter continues to grow and eventually leads to a moment that opens Julie’s eyes to the dangers of what could happen if things don’t change.

I enjoyed this story. The characters felt real. The relationship between Julie and her daughter was heartbreaking. In the scene where Julie lost it and was yelling at her daughter had me in tears. I had to put the book down for a few minutes. I wanted to hug her daughter so much and take her away from what I felt was a “monster.” The relationship between Julie and Rick was tense. He loved her enough to continuously forgive her for her infidelity. He was the beacon of the family, even though it seemed he didn’t contribute much to it.

To me, Julie’s story was the driving force behind the whole story. It was she who had it all but didn’t want it. She wanted true love or something more intense. She couldn’t relate to her daughter and treated both the daughter and her husband horribly. My only conclusion would be that Julie was a narcissist. Rick was too gentle, and kind and I think he was also in his own little world believing that Julie was his forever love. Even when she was cold and short with him or when he learned she was cheating on him with multiple men, he forgave her. Their daughter, who was in the middle of all this, suffered, really, for no reason. Rick and Julie needed help and because they were both so lost, they created a mess.

While I was writing this review, it reminded me of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Mainly because while I was breaking down Julie’s character, it occurred to me that in some ways she reminded me of Daisy. It was always about her and what she wanted. Then, I thought on Rick, and he was very Gatsby in demeanor. He didn’t have the wealth or popularity Gatsby had, but he did have that unconditional love for Julie the way Gatsby had for Daisy.

Who should read this book: This story covers a variety of family and relationship dynamics so if that’s something you’re into, this one is excellent. And, if you’re like me, have some tissues ready.