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challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Once again, a great book by Emily Henry. I really loved the story telling. Just a warning, as much as love is a central theme of the book, the love story between Alice and Hayden is not a main focus so if that’s what you’re looking for, maybe this isn’t for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Emily Henry is the queen of romcoms for a reason and she has absolutely done it again. This book was not like anything she's ever written before, but I personally loved the departure from her usual format. Despite it not being a "typical" romcom, it still had all the elements that make an Emily Henry book special - the complex relationships, raw human emotion, and the big beautiful feelings that she draws from her readers.
This story really sunk itself into my heart and didn't let go. I generally find her books fast, compelling, easy reads that I can binge quickly, but I truly would have finished this in one setting if I didn't need to also see to basic human functions like eating and sleeping. As soon as I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up again - I was absolutely gripped in a way that I typically am not with just a straight up romcom.
I honestly was so impressed with how Henry wove together the stories of our two characters in present day, Alice and Hayden, who are journalists competing to write the life story of Margaret, the now elderly heiress to a media fortune who is ready to tell her side of things - the fame, the fortune, and tragedy alike. This book really reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six (which I mean as a compliment) - this is most clearly felt in the way that there are interview segments with flashbacks and then moments in the present day coming together to form a coherent, sprawling tale of a full life.
I honestly think there are plenty of thriller writers who could take a lesson from Emily Henry in this book - the way she dropped clues and built suspense to the finale was really impressive and was part of what made it so compelling for me. There generally aren't any big reveals in a romcom, but this blending of genres worked well. Not everyone has the talent to pull this off, but Henry certainly does.
We do have plenty of those classic Sleepless in Seattle-like moments, though, so if you're a lover of the OG romcoms, there are still these themes and elements throughout. I love a competitors-turned-lovers, and I think no matter what part of the story you show up for, you'll be satisfied. In this novel, Henry gives her readers exactly the sort of tension needed to craft a complex story while keeping that secret sauce that makes a romance feel magical.
Bravo to the queen, long may she reign!
This story really sunk itself into my heart and didn't let go. I generally find her books fast, compelling, easy reads that I can binge quickly, but I truly would have finished this in one setting if I didn't need to also see to basic human functions like eating and sleeping. As soon as I put it down, I wanted to pick it back up again - I was absolutely gripped in a way that I typically am not with just a straight up romcom.
I honestly was so impressed with how Henry wove together the stories of our two characters in present day, Alice and Hayden, who are journalists competing to write the life story of Margaret, the now elderly heiress to a media fortune who is ready to tell her side of things - the fame, the fortune, and tragedy alike. This book really reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six (which I mean as a compliment) - this is most clearly felt in the way that there are interview segments with flashbacks and then moments in the present day coming together to form a coherent, sprawling tale of a full life.
I honestly think there are plenty of thriller writers who could take a lesson from Emily Henry in this book - the way she dropped clues and built suspense to the finale was really impressive and was part of what made it so compelling for me. There generally aren't any big reveals in a romcom, but this blending of genres worked well. Not everyone has the talent to pull this off, but Henry certainly does.
We do have plenty of those classic Sleepless in Seattle-like moments, though, so if you're a lover of the OG romcoms, there are still these themes and elements throughout. I love a competitors-turned-lovers, and I think no matter what part of the story you show up for, you'll be satisfied. In this novel, Henry gives her readers exactly the sort of tension needed to craft a complex story while keeping that secret sauce that makes a romance feel magical.
Bravo to the queen, long may she reign!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Trafficking
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- the pacing all together felt off, their relationship was weird instalust/lonely and desperately needing a lay, quickly followed by instalove with very little actual character, relationship, or time development.
- the build up of "margaret's lying to us" was also paced poorly - too much time building it up for a rushed reveal that could have been done so much better.
also feel like everyone's brushing past hayden giving up the job too quickly - that was super insulting. i get that he wanted to avoid the situation with his ex but why did he think she'd be receptive to that when she literally spent the whole book explicitly telling him otherwise??
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage, Car accident
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My favorite Emily Henry by far. Loved the Tybee setting and the compelling dual timeline. It’s different from her other romances and all the stronger for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
no one talk to me for 3-5 work days I'm processing (also recovering from crying) (a lot)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Forced institutionalization
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Great Big Beautiful Life is only the second Emily Henry book I’ve read—my first was Funny Story—and this one definitely feels like a departure from her usual style. It leans more into women’s fiction, and I absolutely enjoyed the shift.
Margaret’s story was both beautiful and heartbreaking, and I was completely drawn in. That twist at the end genuinely caught me off guard, even though some parts were a bit predictable. I liked not always knowing where the story would lead.
There is a romance plot which is between Alice and Hayden, who are competing to write Margaret’s story, but I felt like their chemistry could’ve been explored a bit more deeply. Still, the emotional weight of the book more than made up for it.
Overall, this was a emotionally rich read, and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a different, refreshing side of Emily Henry’s storytelling.
Margaret’s story was both beautiful and heartbreaking, and I was completely drawn in. That twist at the end genuinely caught me off guard, even though some parts were a bit predictable. I liked not always knowing where the story would lead.
There is a romance plot which is between Alice and Hayden, who are competing to write Margaret’s story, but I felt like their chemistry could’ve been explored a bit more deeply. Still, the emotional weight of the book more than made up for it.
Overall, this was a emotionally rich read, and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a different, refreshing side of Emily Henry’s storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Dementia, Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, this is a tricky one. There was a lot I loved about this book. Emily Henry did say that this book would be a little different from her previous ones, and she was certainly right—and while I think she wrote a fantastic story here, I don't think it came together perfectly as a romance.
In the story, Alice and Hayden are competing to get to write the biography of the eccentric and elusive Margaret Ives. Over the course of the book, they fall in love, as would happen in any romance novel, and that part of the story felt very much like any other EmHen romance.
However, that was not actually the main story. At least half the book is Margaret's story—not just in interview format, but directly telling her story and her family's story in narration. Even parts that weren't in narration were still Alice interviewing Margaret, and as a result, Margaret felt much more like the main character than Alice, and MUCH more central to the story than Hayden.
Because we had so little time with Hayden, it really didn't feel earned for her to be falling in love with him. Their time together is definitely cute, but I kept sort of forgetting about him and Alice during the fully half of the book that was just Margaret's story. It doesn't feel like a romance novel. I think I would have absolutely loved it if Emily Henry hadn't pushed in the falling in love part.
The sex scenes actually really didn't work for me, because they felt forced in when I actually just wanted more of Margaret's story and to figure out the underlying mystery that made this particular book so fun.
Also, because we had so little time with him, his whole "mayor's son" thing felt extremely unimportant. It becomes slightly more important at the end, but during the story, it felt like a bit of a random add-in. A lot of his and Alice's childhood baggage felt forced in to make them more complete characters, rather than focusing on what's going on for them in the moment while they're together.
We got way more about Margaret's little sister Laura and her time in a cult than we ever did about Hayden, ostensibly a main character, or about Alice's sister Audrey and her childhood illness and heart surgeries. Again, these things all do tie in at the end, but it felt like pretty much all of the character development for Alice (and the tiny bit we get for Hayden) happen at the very end of the story.
I did really love the way she handled the third-act conflict in this one, and I thought the Margaret arc tied together so well. The themes of family and motherhood were unexpected and well done, even if they mostly came together all at the end of the story.
On the whole, I thought that too much of the character work of the story happened in the last quarter. Alice and Hayden's personal arcs felt very contained in the end of the book, which meant that their love story earlier felt somewhat unearned beyond a few sweet moments.
Ultimately, this was Margaret's story. I loved Margaret and her fascinating life, and when I think back on this book, Margaret is who I'll remember. I would still highly recommend this book, but I'd suggest going into it as a drama rather than a romance, because on this occasion, I think the romance let Emily Henry down.
In the story, Alice and Hayden are competing to get to write the biography of the eccentric and elusive Margaret Ives. Over the course of the book, they fall in love, as would happen in any romance novel, and that part of the story felt very much like any other EmHen romance.
However, that was not actually the main story. At least half the book is Margaret's story—not just in interview format, but directly telling her story and her family's story in narration. Even parts that weren't in narration were still Alice interviewing Margaret, and as a result, Margaret felt much more like the main character than Alice, and MUCH more central to the story than Hayden.
Because we had so little time with Hayden, it really didn't feel earned for her to be falling in love with him. Their time together is definitely cute, but I kept sort of forgetting about him and Alice during the fully half of the book that was just Margaret's story. It doesn't feel like a romance novel. I think I would have absolutely loved it if Emily Henry hadn't pushed in the falling in love part.
The sex scenes actually really didn't work for me, because they felt forced in when I actually just wanted more of Margaret's story and to figure out the underlying mystery that made this particular book so fun.
Also, because we had so little time with him, his whole "mayor's son" thing felt extremely unimportant. It becomes slightly more important at the end, but during the story, it felt like a bit of a random add-in. A lot of his and Alice's childhood baggage felt forced in to make them more complete characters, rather than focusing on what's going on for them in the moment while they're together.
We got way more about Margaret's little sister Laura and her time in a cult than we ever did about Hayden, ostensibly a main character, or about Alice's sister Audrey and her childhood illness and heart surgeries. Again, these things all do tie in at the end, but it felt like pretty much all of the character development for Alice (and the tiny bit we get for Hayden) happen at the very end of the story.
I did really love the way she handled the third-act conflict in this one, and I thought the Margaret arc tied together so well. The themes of family and motherhood were unexpected and well done, even if they mostly came together all at the end of the story.
On the whole, I thought that too much of the character work of the story happened in the last quarter. Alice and Hayden's personal arcs felt very contained in the end of the book, which meant that their love story earlier felt somewhat unearned beyond a few sweet moments.
Ultimately, this was Margaret's story. I loved Margaret and her fascinating life, and when I think back on this book, Margaret is who I'll remember. I would still highly recommend this book, but I'd suggest going into it as a drama rather than a romance, because on this occasion, I think the romance let Emily Henry down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Car accident
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Great Big Beautiful Life" is a great big beautiful read! Thank you, Berkley, for sending an early copy my way.
I have so many feelings about Emily Henry's newest book. I went in knowing that she had mentioned it would be unlike anything she's written before, so I was prepared for that.
The dual timeline drew me in right away, as I've always been a fan of novels with this structure. While the plot starts off a bit slow, it picks up more than halfway through, which is when everything begins to come together. Henry is a puzzle master, assembling pieces that I didn't even realize matched until they were revealed—and this is coming from someone who can usually see every plot twist coming!
Be aware that the women's fiction elements shine more than the romance between Hayden and Alice. There's nothing wrong with this in the slightest, and there are still some swoon-worthy moments, but I found Margaret's backstory and Alice's struggles to connect with her mother to be the true highlights of the novel.
If you're a fan of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and "One Last Stop", you'll fall in love with "Great Big Beautiful Life"!
I have so many feelings about Emily Henry's newest book. I went in knowing that she had mentioned it would be unlike anything she's written before, so I was prepared for that.
The dual timeline drew me in right away, as I've always been a fan of novels with this structure. While the plot starts off a bit slow, it picks up more than halfway through, which is when everything begins to come together. Henry is a puzzle master, assembling pieces that I didn't even realize matched until they were revealed—and this is coming from someone who can usually see every plot twist coming!
Be aware that the women's fiction elements shine more than the romance between Hayden and Alice. There's nothing wrong with this in the slightest, and there are still some swoon-worthy moments, but I found Margaret's backstory and Alice's struggles to connect with her mother to be the true highlights of the novel.
If you're a fan of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and "One Last Stop", you'll fall in love with "Great Big Beautiful Life"!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy