Great Big Beautiful Life: A gripping tale of literary rivals, a secluded island & long-buried family secrets—by Sunday Times bestseller and TikTok sensation Emily Henry

Loved the plot! It felt different from Emily Henry's previous books yet it was perfect blend of literary fiction + romantic comedy. I didn't see the connection between Margaret & someone (cant say who!) Loved her history & passion that Alice had for her work

Always loved Emily Henry books. This one is a bit different but it is still a really good story in the end.

The story, characters swept me out of my feet. Couldn’t get enough of it. I thought i know what an amazing book is, but this was different.

If you want a light read, a story that is easy going. Just that it lacks a bit of a challenge, intellectually and the way the story unfolds.

Good.

How does she do it? Bring you in and leave you wanting more? I loved the story within a story pattern of this book - but what was always there was Emily’s brilliant romance writing - make me want to go back and read all the other books! Stupendous as always!

Two rival writers. One story. ✦ She’s an eternal optimist chasing her big break, he’s a Pulitzer-winning storm cloud with a pen. Both land on a sun-soaked island to write the biography of long lost from the public eye, Margaret Ives - tragic heiress, tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most and scandalous) families of the 20th century. ✦ With Margaret doling out fragments of her story to each writer, pieces they can’t share only one writer at the end of the month will get the exclusive deal to tell her life story. This was my first Emily Henry and dare I say she has convinced me I need more of her books (not that I own all her books already: D). I was easily pulled into the layered storytelling and it reminded me of the first time I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which is one of my favourite books to reread, that same mix of glamour, mystery, and tragedy surrounding a larger-than-life woman whose story is equal parts myth and memory. As much as I wanted to fall headfirst into the romance, Henry seemed to let it take a backseat here. The telling of Ives’ story with the enigma surrounding her felt even more compelling than the present romance with the rival authors themselves. And strangely, it worked for me. The chemistry between Alice and Hayden felt better suited to platonic territory rather than an all-consuming love story for most of the book but then came the ending. Quietly devastating and tender, it surprised me. By the last pages, I was convinced of their connection. What hit me hardest, though, was the theme threaded through Margaret’s story: how sometimes you carry the weight of your family’s regrets as though they were your own. how sometimes you break, not because you are weak, but because breaking is the only way to protect the ones you love from being hurt. Henry promise us a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad - depending on who was telling it. And, Great Big Beautiful Life definitely gave us all three.

Rather disappointed with this one. For anyone who is a fan of Emily Henry, we guys thrive on the romance she builds in her books. The plot, sub plots, tensions, energy, love and emotions are all a big part of her writing and she writes romance like no other author that I have ever personally read. However, with this book a lot of things went wrong. First being the fact that I did not feel any romance or any romantic tension between the two characters. Those two fell in love because they had to. It wasn’t built in the right way, according to me. Second was the fact that this was not a mystery novel, either, and possibly because I am a writer too, I could predict the plot. So there weren’t any big moments in the book that could really make me feel more related to this. That being said, Emily is a brilliant brilliant writer than that nobody can take away from her.

Eine meine Lieblingsautorinnen, auch dieses Buch hat nicht enttäuscht - schöner Schreibstil, lustig, zu empfehlen

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹, 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝘁.” From the moment I read this snippet from the book I knew I had to pre -order it and after what seemed to me like an eternally long wait (partly due to how early I pre-ordered it) I was beyond happy when my ebook copy arrived and then not long after my paperback copy also arrived as I need to have all of Emily Henry's books on my physical bookshelf as well as on my devices and in my heart. This book felt like a bit of a change up for me from her usual books in that the romance/relationship wasn't the main part of the storyline for me instead it was interwoven with the sprawling narrative about Margaret Ives' family and her love life. It was at times a heavier story than I am used to from Emily but it still had me feeling all of the emotions from love and excitement, to shock, and sadness. The romance side of the book is a beautiful love story between the protagonists, Hayden Anderson and Alice Scott, a story that made my heart flutter and feel all warm inside. These two stories are interwoven so well by Emily that I couldn't even tell you where each part starts and ends. I loved the premise of having Hayden and Alice, two journalists tasked with writing a book about the legendary Margaret Ives, a project that is also a critical job opportunity and the unfolding of her life story as they both spend time with her separately as they hear her story directly from her and vy for the position of being the writer of her memoir. Emily skillfully builds suspense, leading to two shocking revelations at the end, while simultaneously crafting a palpable chemistry between Hayden and Alice. I loved the dynamic between Hayden and Alice and watching their initial working relationship start to blossom into a friendship and I was here for it all. Their relationship was peppered with such poignant, vulnerable and sweet moments, I found myself hoping everything would work out for them exactly as I wanted it to. I very much enjoyed the interwoven stories of both Margarets life and Hayden and Alice's relationship and can only sum up by saying that this book was well and truly worth my very impatient wait to read. Another delightful read from Emily Henry that left me feeling very satisfied with the conclusion of both stories. #emilyhenry #berkleybooks #greatbigbeautifullife #goodreads #tea_sipping_bookworm #getlitsy #fable #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram #amazonkindle

Congratulations, Emily Henry! You’ve done it again! “‘I want to write about love,’ I say. Bianca nods. ‘So do that. Write about love.’” This book was a beautiful love story, and not just the story between Hayden and Alice, but the unexpected love stories. Between sisters, parents, relatives, and friends. The love flows out of every word, every sentence, and every action! I was genuinely blown away and grateful that I received this arc! Hayden and Alice are adorable. They find each other unexpectedly and are drawn together, experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime love. I swooned at every single moment. I expected nothing less from Ms. Henry. “‘It’s yours,’ he offers. I laugh. ‘Oh, I can have the world?’ ‘Mine,’ he says, ‘yeah. You can have mine.’” The intertwined story and mystery of Ms. Ives, the love between Laura and Margaret, really steals the show for me. When everything clicked, my jaw was on the floor! Overall, amazing book, amazing story, and amazing characters! I just bought the physical copy, after receiving an ARC from NetGallery. Thank you so much, and I’m obsessed! Also, the end! Wink to the title. I cheered.

I just finished, and I’m emotionally wrecked in the best way. This book hit me hard. Emily Henry crafted a story that pulled me in so deeply, it felt like I was unraveling a mystery. It wasn’t always easy to follow—some parts felt foggy, others were strikingly vivid—but the final picture? Absolutely breathtaking. It’s really two stories in one: the sweeping, emotional chronicle of Margaret Ives—her family, her loves, her losses—and the tender, heart-melting romance between Hayden Anderson and Alice Scott. These two threads aren’t separate; they’re reflections of one another, like sky meeting sea. “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺: 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵.” This quote truly captures the essence of Hayden and Alice’s intertwined journey as they take on the task of writing about the iconic Margaret Ives—a project that’s more than just a job; it’s a turning point. Margaret’s life, rich with legacy, marriage, and mystery, unfolds as a story within a story, keeping me hooked until the very last twist. The author layers the suspense beautifully, delivering two jaw-dropping reveals while building a slow-burn romance between Hayden and Alice. But let’s talk about Hayden. Hayden, a sharp yet guarded freelancer, begins with practical intentions but is slowly pulled deeper—into Margaret’s past and into Alice’s world. Their connection was like a slow dance, full of unspoken tension and perfect balance. I appreciated the portrayal of a romance where both characters are equals, intellectually and physically, offering a refreshing contrast to stereotypical pairings. Alice is the kind of character who makes you root for her from the start—bright, emotionally intelligent, and determined to prove herself. Her sweet curiosity about Hayden and those quiet wins—like when he finally says her name with softness—were so satisfying. Their connection grows through moments that feel honest and vulnerable—like when Hayden says, “Tell me something no one knows about you. I’m in love with you.” Or when he admits, “I don’t like people looking at me,” but reassures her with a soft, “Not you.” Ugh, those moments! They’re vulnerable, intimate, and perfectly placed against the backdrop of a job that could change everything for both of them. Emily Henry demonstrates narrative finesse in her dual timeline structure, allowing the suspense surrounding Margaret Ives to unfold in measured beats. Hayden and Alice’s investigation propels the story with a sense of steady intrigue, culminating in revelations that are both unexpected and logically grounded. The contrast between the quiet evolution of their romance and the dramatic arcs of Margaret’s life creates a carefully balanced narrative tension that keeps readers fully engaged. Great Big Beautiful Life swept me up in a world where love, legacy, and the pursuit of truth collide. Hayden and Alice’s relationship starts with a slow burn—yes, you need a little patience—but the payoff is so worth it. What begins as a gentle simmer turns into an emotional crescendo, layered against a dual storyline. The second storyline, centered on the fierce and unforgettable Margaret Ives, is a masterpiece on its own. Her life, entangled with family drama and an epic romance with Cosmos Sinclair, is mesmerizing. Together, both timelines create a rich, emotionally charged novel I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Every year I look forward to reading the latest book by Emily Henry. I had it on my TBR list as soon as it was announced, and I was counting down the days until its release date. Great Big Beautiful Life was a bit of a departure from Henry’s previous books, meaning that it wasn’t only a romance, but I was completely on board with that. Great Big Beautiful Life was a story within a story, and I was equally captivated by both. Alice Scott may have just found the break that she’s been looking for. Getting to write a biography on Margaret Ives, a former socialite and member of one of the most talked about families would be a dream come true, especially because this particular woman has been off the radar for twenty years. Unfortunately for Alice, Hayden Anderson is another writer vying for this job, and he just so happens to be a Pulitzer-prize winning author. Margaret proposes that they each stay on the small Georgia island to interview her in order for her to get an idea of what style of book each of them would write, then she would pick the author that she would prefer to write her story. This was not the way that Alice or Hayden wanted to approach this job. Neither one of them was looking for a competition with another author, but this would be an intriguing opportunity to get the story on this elusive heiress, so they both agreed to this one-month trial period. Here’s where the real fun begins. Alice is a ray of sunshine who likes to find the bright side in everything. She is a people person, a positive, sweet, kind-hearted lady. Hayden comes across as severe, serious, and perhaps a bit adverse to people. This spelled a whole lot of fun for me! Bring on the competition between these two opposites! While Alice tried her best to be friends with Hayden, he just seemed to be cold and disinterested. Of course, I loved the banter and interactions between Alice and Hayden. I wanted nothing more than for her to be able to melt his chilly exterior. A good opposites-attract situation is always a good time, and these two certainly had that underlying sizzle that makes it that much better. Now, this was a story within a story. While we had Alice and Hayden’s interactions within the novel, we also got to see Alice with Margaret Ives. Trying to get the personal story from Margaret was akin to pulling teeth, but Alice was certain she was going to be able to gain Margaret’s trust. Soon, we get inside the Ives family history and hear the story of these infamous family members. Great Big Beautiful Life was a romance and a mystery intertwined. As always, Emily Henry has created characters that I grew to care about. She delivered a wonderful story that kept my interest from start to finish. Margaret Ives was an interesting and mysterious character who harbored a lot of memories and secrets which made it entertaining to try to figure her out. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters and their stories. There was a lot to love about this book, and I certainly did!