I am a massive fan of Emily Henry’s writing so I was thrilled to get an arc of this book, on Valentine’s Day no less.

It’s difficult to review the book as I am so fond of this author’s books, but if I am honest, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as her previous books. It’s an intriguing plot - two writers competing to write the biography of an intriguing and mysterious former IT girl. There were shades of the book which reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, so I would definitely recommend fans of that book also read this one too.

For me, the two halves of the book - the romance between the writers vs the chapters set in the past - felt disjointed and I felt like I was reading two separate books at once. I didn’t feel connected to any character in the book and so I didn’t feel invested in their story. It felt like it took me a long time to read the book but conversely, the ending felt rushed.

I am sure this is just my experience and there are lots of other people who’ll be blown away be it. It’s worth a read if you like domestic drama, workplace romance and enemies to lovers. I’ll always ready whatever this author writes. I feel like may just be the case of the right book but wrong time. In the words of Taylor Swift, it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much. The love story was lovely, but it was Margaret’s story that really pulled me in. The banter between Hayden and Alice was great and the mystery had me hooked. Would definitely recommend

Literary rivalry, juicy celebrity secrets, incredible chemistry and a mystery to uncover...

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry ⛱️📸🎸🗞️

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Out - 22nd April

*gifted by Penguin for an honest review*

This is something totally new from Emily Henry, and I'll admit was a little thrown! While it hasn’t dethroned Book Lovers as my all-time favorite (an impossible task, really), this book is yet another testament to Henry’s skill as a storyteller.

We go back and forth between our two rival journalists in the present day, both fighting for the chance to tell the story of the larger than life Margaret Ives, and the centuries spanning, sweeping epic of the Ives family.

Henry might be a romance author, but it would be more accurate to describe her novels as about love, rather than just romance. Romantic, siblings, friendship, art, familial, you name it and Emily Henry has captured it.

One of the novel’s most compelling themes is the power of storytelling, whether in the media or in the narratives we craft about our own lives. Henry also explores grief in such a deeply personal and unique way, making me tear up once or twice.

I hate to compare but I loved this book in the same way I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's books about celebrity - it has that same juicy, behind-the-scenes feel.

Unlike her previous novels, I didn’t connect with the main love story as deeply, perhaps because we simply don’t spend as much time with them. But what Henry sacrifices in screentime, she more than makes up for in atmosphere. The world she creates is so colourful and detailed, and the plot twists were so genuinely shocking that I had to put the book down just to stare at the wall for a sec.

Now, I’m just waiting for all the Taylor Swift / Ives edits that are sure to come!

I'm a big fan of Emily Henry so I was excited to see this title appear on Netgalley and started reading as soon as I could. Great Big Beautiful Life follows the path that you would expect from Henry's writing; bookish scenario, evocative American backdrop and two leads who quickly spark chemistry between them. I liked that the parallel storyline of Margaret Ives shook things up a bit and the resolution of the storylines gave a nice sense of satisfaction.
Overall, while this hit the spot I wouldn't rate it as my favourite book she's written as I was less interested in the characters (Alice was too sunshiney for me and Hayden was a bit too stoic) and the complications in front of love's true path were unnecessarily convoluted. Would still recommend it but for me Book Lovers remains the pinnacle!

Love Emily Henry’s books and this one did not disappoint! I loved the characters and storyline. I found Margaret’s storyline really interesting and emotional. I read this book in two days as it was that good! Highly recommend.

Finally one love story without much drama between the two. I couldn't put it down because the two main characters were so cute together but also because of the heiress life story. I wanted to find out more. I really liked the way the book was written and how it incorporated the story from the past with the present. To me it feels like this is one of Emily Henry's best books and I need it adapted into a movie.

Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life undoubtedly lives up to its grandiose name. This is her most ambitious novel yet in terms of structure and she executes it beautifully. With a slight departure from her usual romance-driven narratives, this plot takes a slightly different direction with the inclusion of a third-person narrative. Margaret Ives, a reclusive celebrity who vanished from the public eye after a series of tragic events, is the foundation for the novel.

A slow-burn, NDA-sealed romance unfolds between Alice and Hayden, two journalists competing for the chance to co-write Margaret’s highly anticipated memoir. Their chemistry is effortless; in true Henry fashion, their rivalry-fuelled friendship gradually veers into romance territory with the perfect balance of wit, tension, and tenderness. The dual focus of their budding romance contrasting Margaret’s fame-filled life is perfectly balanced. I never found myself preferring one storyline over the other, as each transition felt seamless (even if it often came right before a plot twist!).

This novel is Henry at her finest; compelling characters with rich backstories, unexpected plot twists, with a refreshing departure from her usual style.

Absolutely loved this! This is a must read author for me and she's really knocked it out of the park this time. Interesting, relatable characters, great location, fascinating story-line and my goodness there is some serious chemistry between the MCs. However, this isn't just a romance, there is so much more emotional complexity in this novel, we have mystery, and drama, and humour and the unravelling of a life. I genuinely couldn't put this down, and it will definitely be a novel I return to again and again. In my opinion Emily Henry is the reigning queen of well-written romance (although her books are so much more than that).

(P.S. After reading this the smell of almonds will almost definitely have an effect on you. When you know, you know!)

Emily Henry is an instant buy for me. All of her books make me laugh, kick my feet and shed some tears. I loved the story of Margaret and how it runs alongside Alice and Hayden's. It reminded me of Beach Read in the best way, which was the first book of hers I read and still my favourite. I loved Hayden and how he represented a universal issue where someone is judged without being known. It was also a great representation of how the media can manipulate a version of a story that in most cases, is not the true one. I deducted a star as there was a level of insta love that I don't always enjoy but I liked the characters so much I still rooted for them.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin for the arc!

Emily Henry is known for her romance - spicy, sultry, steamy, slow burn and everything in between - so readers might be surprised to see it take a little bit of a backseat in Great Big Beautiful Life.

Hayden and Alice have a classic grumpy-sunshine dynamic and, as always Em Hen brings her signature depth to what could be a pretty superficial trope. Their love story is more one of mutual respect, appreciation and connection as opposed to an irresistible, 'rip each others clothes off' kind of lustful romance (though their is a bit of that too, don't worry). It could be forgiven for being a bit quiet, compared to the standard set by her previous books.

What I would call the main plot, is actually very Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo-esque as Alice and Hayden are both vying to write the biography of former IT girl and media heiress Margaret Ives. The narrative traces interviews between Margaret and Alice and the love story stretches out across the centuries, encompassing all of Margaret's history. There's just about enough mystery to keep this interesting however it took me a while to warm up to it.

Em Hen knows how to write, there's no question about that, and this is a much more grown up direction than her other books. An enjoyable read but perhaps slower and quieter than her previous.

Two stories that go on one along the other with final plot twist. The story that happens in the past, is so sad that sometimes I wonder if it really reflects the reality of some situations and I dread the answer. I liked other books by this author better, although in this one the main characters were really well delineated but in some ways and in my opinion, the romance doesn't really take off.

Due storie che proseguono in parallelo con plot twist finale. La storia del passato é talmente triste che a volte mi chiedo se davvero rispecchi la realtá di alcune situazioni e mi fa paura la risposta. Altri libri di questa autrice mi sono piaciuti di piú, anche se in questo i protagonisti erano veramente ben delineati ma per certi versi e secondo me, la storia d'amore non decolla proprio.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Emily Henry does it again. I feel like this was a bit of a departure from her usual style but I really enjoyed it. A little bit Evelyn Hugo, a little bit Beach Read with the twist of a mystery. I really liked the relationship the unfurls between Hayden and Alice. It was by no means a slow burn as they pretty much immediately go from strangers to lovers but I just loved how pure they're relationship was. Very wholesome. The whole book was quite warmhearted even if I did want to cry from sorrow at times.

Charming, funny and full of the romance you'd expect. Great Big Beautiful Life is a 5-star read.
Another brilliant book from Emily Henry.

I was about to gnaw through my couch halfway through this book, it was so serious to me. everything Emily Henry does is so serious to me, but this is her magnum opus (to me!!!!). what a fucking book. I know that so far every emhen book has worked for me, but this had that extra spark that I have missed a bit in her other books (they still sparkle, but this thing is a goddamn diamond). she injected crack into this thing I think. I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to finish it, because I had to know what was happening.

maybe above all, I think the way Emily Henry writes about grief is so personal to me, she touches my soul with her words in a way very few authors ever have and perhaps even ever can. there's this melancholy to grief that she translates to the page so well, she has taken my breath away with multiple passages. there's something so distinctly awful to losing someone that understood you, saw you, and loved you completely, that I think she breathes onto the page so seamlessly. the underlying grief that the characters face is not a plot device (which it can be in the wrong hands) , it's the truth of their lived experience, it colours them, but it's not used to explain the third act or be a character flaw. perhaps it helps that Emily Henry came into my life at a time when grief was just starting to become a poignant part of the make up of my life, but she has been a constant since then and its been nice to know that even if life is upside down, Emily Henry will come out with a book that touches upon the grief that lives with me.

anyways, even without the whole grief commendation, this book is funny, sexy, well-written, intriguing and just so damn good. the characters come alive on the page, they are distinct, and they are so actualised on the page, I could see them walking on the beach at sunset. I also loved the ending, (once I got what it was trying to say). it was so lovely. this was exactly what I needed at this moment, I dont even care I'm deeply sleep deprived right now.

I love Emily Henry and have read all of her books, so was very excited to get my hands on an early reading copy GBBL!
Firstly, I adored Alice. I think I saw something of myself in her and she’s definitely one of my favourite main gal’s in Emily’s books so far. Not just because of her positive outlook, and her warmness, but I loved that she liked and respected Hayden from the start. I’m not a fan of enemies to lovers in romance as I hate it when there is unnecessary arguing. But I loved the light-hearted rivalry between the two of them, and mutual respect.
I will admit this took me a little while to fall in love with, unlike some of her books. I love an alternate timeline, but I think I struggled to remember all of the names in Margaret’s past for a while. Some of it felt a bit drawn out; I don’t think I really needed to read about her grandparents, but I did enjoy once it reached her childhood onwards.
I think I found the plot a little drawn out for a while which is a shame because I adored the last third. I think I wanted more from Alice and her mum. Some of their moments were very emotional and far more engaging and authentic. I think maybe Henry was going for an Evelyn Hugo type reveal, but I needed a bit more well-thought mystery to be hooked,
But the ending, as with Henry’s other books, had me grinning giddily.

This book was truely an experience! Great Big Beautiful Life follows Alice and Hayden as they both compete for a chance to write the story of the famous Margaret Ives, a former socialite who disappeared from the limelight.

Like all Emily Henry books, this one was equally as funny yet emotional and had me engaged throughout. I do wish the conclusion would have been in more detail/ across more chapters although this is probably as I was so invested in the story and the characters.

Overall, a great read!

Good. Story about two people trying to get a job writing an old socialite's biography. The old socialite gives me Evelyn Hugo vibes which I enjoyed. I enjoyed this book incredibly but it felt like I was taken out of the story when you were being told the socialite's story which jarred a little bit for me.

I’m obsessed!! A gorgeous mix of romance, mystery, and storytelling set on a dreamy island

Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life is a stunning novel that blends romance, mystery, and storytelling into an unforgettable narrative. Set on atmospheric Little Crescent Island, it follows journalist Alice Scott and biographer Hayden Anderson as they compete to write the life story of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives.

With beautifully developed characters, dual timelines, and Henry’s signature wit, this novel is both heartfelt and thought-provoking. It explores love, truth, and the stories we tell ourselves, making for an emotional and immersive read.

Another wonderful book from Emily Henry! This is very much in the Taylor Jenkins Reid area of the market. The central romance is sweet and full of yearning and the secondary story that our main characters are drawn into is engrossing. Margaret's story is really well handled, and I actually wanted more of this!

I was rooting for our main couple, enjoyed their banter and cried during the lows. What more can you ask for?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read in advance for an honest review.

Another amazing book by Emily Henry! I absolutely loved it and I couldn’t stop reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.