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adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-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
Emily Henry is pretty hit or miss for me—honestly, I usually don’t love her books. And I’m not really a romance girlie to begin with, so take this with a grain of salt… but I actually liked this one!
Great Big Beautiful Life had more depth than I expected, and while a lot of people are comparing it to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I don’t really think that’s a fair comparison. Yes, there’s a similar setup, but this is its own thing entirely.
What I appreciated most was that the story didn’t rely solely on the romance—it had plot, character development, and some real emotional weight. It’s not a five-star read for me, but it’s definitely one I’d recommend if you like books with a romance element that also give you something more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Infertility, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
This is absolutely not a thriller, despite what it’s being marketed as
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Classism
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
The Setup: Emily Henry diverges from her standard romantic comedy fare with a layered perspective set on atmospheric Little Crescent Island, Georgia. The novel alternates between present-day scenes, in which journalists Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson vie to write the biography of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives, and interwoven flashbacks that reveal Margaret's storied past. The dual timeline structure allows Henry to explore themes of truth, storytelling, and legacy.
Alice, the optimistic and friendly journalist, begins a bit of a competition with Hayden, a brooding and standoffish Pulitzer Prize winner, to see who can take the crown of authoring Margaret's biography for the world to see. We see the intricate portrayal of Maraget's fame and downfall, while investigating the blossoming relationship between Alice and Hayden. We soon see how everyone's worlds collide, while seeing some growth and development along the way.
What I Loved: I had an absolute blast with this book. Candidly, I've read and seen some significant criticism, especially from Emily Henry stans. Many noted how this was choppy, only had instalove, trying to do too much, etc. Therefore, I went into it with pretty low expectations. And you know what....I loved it. I think the critique is fair, and I see where people are coming from but somehow I still simply loved this. I would be remiss to not talk about my apprehension in the beginning, though. I was a little confused as to why Hayden was such a grump (I struggle with the grumpy-sunshine trope), but I do think once it hit the 25 percent mark, I was much more comfy and in this narrative. I truly loved the characters and their emotional depth - Alice was crafted with emotional richness; her optimism masked deep-seated insecurities, especially related to her family and her writing credentials. Hayden did initially appear cold but revealed layers of vulnerability. Their evolving dynamic, from rivalry to intimacy, was believable, rooted in professional respect and emotional resonance (and they behaved like early 30-year-olds, to me). I also enjoyed Margaret's character. She was complicated and mysterious, and honestly pretty unlikeable, but still interesting. Her backstory added historical context to the novel that I appreciated.
This novel also incorporated more than just a romance and some emotional weight into the narrative. Henry interrogated the nature of truth, questioned who gets to tell a person's story, and reminded readers that facts and perception often differ. Family legacy took center stage, with the Ives dynasty serving as a case study in generational influence and secret histories. I thought it was a well-done touch to the novel, and I don't think it took away from the romance.
Lastly, I can't complete a "What I Loved" section of Henry without talking about her prose. It continued to remain grounded, balancing a crisp dialogue with reflective passages. Henry is one of the best at romantic banter, and I stand by that statement with this novel, too. The connection and spark between the characters was palpable.
It's Not Perfect, and I had to deduct ~some~ star (half of one). Listen, every Emily Henry novel isn't without its little quirks. This novel worked for me. I do think that adding a layer of almost literary fiction was a risk for Henry. For me, it paid off, but I think others would disagree, and that's ok. Many have stated this is like a particular Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. While I most certainly understand that connection, I think Henry's was different enough to be original and still enjoyable. But here is where I agree with some critics - the secondary characters were most certainly overlooked, but this was because Henry prioritized the romance, the plot of the book, and the writing of a biography of a woman's life. Alice's friends were most certainly underdeveloped and perfunctory. I do think that the prioritization of the plot around the writing of the heiress meant that some character development didn't happen, but it was subtle. Lastly, this was a bit of instant lust. I understand, but I still felt their relationship (and I still loved it).
With all that said, I truly loved it. It made me cry! Emily Henry is one of my favorite authors, and I continue to be quite impressed with her and can't wait to see what's in store for the future. I think she should continue taking these sorts of risks.
**
Alice, the optimistic and friendly journalist, begins a bit of a competition with Hayden, a brooding and standoffish Pulitzer Prize winner, to see who can take the crown of authoring Margaret's biography for the world to see. We see the intricate portrayal of Maraget's fame and downfall, while investigating the blossoming relationship between Alice and Hayden. We soon see how everyone's worlds collide, while seeing some growth and development along the way.
What I Loved: I had an absolute blast with this book. Candidly, I've read and seen some significant criticism, especially from Emily Henry stans. Many noted how this was choppy, only had instalove, trying to do too much, etc. Therefore, I went into it with pretty low expectations. And you know what....I loved it. I think the critique is fair, and I see where people are coming from but somehow I still simply loved this. I would be remiss to not talk about my apprehension in the beginning, though. I was a little confused as to why Hayden was such a grump (I struggle with the grumpy-sunshine trope), but I do think once it hit the 25 percent mark, I was much more comfy and in this narrative. I truly loved the characters and their emotional depth - Alice was crafted with emotional richness; her optimism masked deep-seated insecurities, especially related to her family and her writing credentials. Hayden did initially appear cold but revealed layers of vulnerability. Their evolving dynamic, from rivalry to intimacy, was believable, rooted in professional respect and emotional resonance (and they behaved like early 30-year-olds, to me). I also enjoyed Margaret's character. She was complicated and mysterious, and honestly pretty unlikeable, but still interesting. Her backstory added historical context to the novel that I appreciated.
This novel also incorporated more than just a romance and some emotional weight into the narrative. Henry interrogated the nature of truth, questioned who gets to tell a person's story, and reminded readers that facts and perception often differ. Family legacy took center stage, with the Ives dynasty serving as a case study in generational influence and secret histories. I thought it was a well-done touch to the novel, and I don't think it took away from the romance.
Lastly, I can't complete a "What I Loved" section of Henry without talking about her prose. It continued to remain grounded, balancing a crisp dialogue with reflective passages. Henry is one of the best at romantic banter, and I stand by that statement with this novel, too. The connection and spark between the characters was palpable.
It's Not Perfect, and I had to deduct ~some~ star (half of one). Listen, every Emily Henry novel isn't without its little quirks. This novel worked for me. I do think that adding a layer of almost literary fiction was a risk for Henry. For me, it paid off, but I think others would disagree, and that's ok. Many have stated this is like a particular Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. While I most certainly understand that connection, I think Henry's was different enough to be original and still enjoyable. But here is where I agree with some critics - the secondary characters were most certainly overlooked, but this was because Henry prioritized the romance, the plot of the book, and the writing of a biography of a woman's life. Alice's friends were most certainly underdeveloped and perfunctory. I do think that the prioritization of the plot around the writing of the heiress meant that some character development didn't happen, but it was subtle. Lastly, this was a bit of instant lust. I understand, but I still felt their relationship (and I still loved it).
With all that said, I truly loved it. It made me cry! Emily Henry is one of my favorite authors, and I continue to be quite impressed with her and can't wait to see what's in store for the future. I think she should continue taking these sorts of risks.
**
And no matter how much they made, Lawrence's hunger never abated. Instead, it grew and grew. The more he had, the more he craved. The more he accumulated, the more there was to lose, and the terror of that never let up.
Gerald was raised to be a businessman, and was hardly eight years old when he first realized he'd been born in the red. In debt. At a loss. He came out with his father's face and an expectation he could never live up to, no matter how many tutors his parents locked him in a room with. He was supposed to do great things. That was the contract Lawrence thought he'd entered into with the universe, and thus every second Gerald didn't, he was failing.
"Life is so complicated. And I think it's human nature to try and untangle those complications. We want everything to make sense. And that's okay. It's a worthy pursuit. But back when my sister wasn't well, when every day felt uncertain..." I search for the words. His forehead creases, his tone so hopeful it nearly breaks my heart. "You understand how much each one was worth?" "I understood what really mattered," I offer. "I understood my priorities. I understood what, in this life, was nonnegotiable for me. A lot of people don't find that out until it's too late. They wait to say things, and they don't get the chance. So collecting other people's stories, learning from their mistakes, it is a gift too."
"I don't make anything of it," she murmurs. "I know exactly what she meant." She sets her mug down. "He was the love of her life, and he let the world make him too small for her. "The world Freddy Ives lived in was built around him. There wasn't room for her." I swallow a knot.
Maybe truth is less about a compromise of conflicting viewpoints and more about an integration of them. The thought discomfits me. I've always wanted to make my interview subjects feel seen and heard, but there's also been a comfort in believing I'm nothing more than a conduit, a funnel, for the truth to pour through, a sieve catching and dispelling any unnecessary bits. It changes things, to think that maybe everything is necessary. Maybe truth can't be whittled out of a pile of research but instead has to be built from all of it, no spare pieces left behind, absolutely nothing discarded.
"That we don't have to end up with regrets," he says. "That if we really care about something, we can decide to hold on to it." "I prefer that version of the world," I say, smiling up at him. His arms ring my waist, his nose scraping along mine. "You do?" I nod, the movement gliding our lips briefly across each other. "It's yours," he offers. I laugh. "Oh, I can have the world?" "Mine," he says, "Yeah. You can have mine."
It's a love story. Like everything I write, that's what it comes down to. That's what always matters most to me, about any interview subject: Whom do you love? What makes your heart beat? For whom would you unmake the world, and how would you build a new one?
And strangely, I find myself thinking about the meandering path of broken glass around Margaret's workshop. About the unicursal labyrinth. I find myself thinking that maybe every bit of heartbreak in life can be rearranged and used for something beautiful. That it doesn't really matter whether I chose this path or I was born onto it, so long as I stop and appreciate the path itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Dementia, Abandonment
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Car accident
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Car accident
Minor: Confinement, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Infertility, Infidelity
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Car accident
Minor: Death of parent
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
What makes a life? All the big moments, and all the little ones. All the beautiful things, and all the ugly things, too.
And that’s just what GBBL is, aptly named. Although not your typical EmHen romcom, I really loved this new foray into more of a solid contemporary fiction with romance elements. I don’t think it should really be considered a mystery, as some marketing suggested. Of course I would’ve been okay with more of said romance (I adored Alice and Hayden) but at the same time, I don’t think the story-within-the-story really took away from that, either. Margaret’s life story (and her family secrets) was really interesting to me and essentially, it did link everything in the book together. You couldn’t have Alice and Hayden’s romance without what brought them together on that little Georgia island. And come on—an EmHen book where one or both of the protagonists are writers? I’m sold before I’ve even finished reading the synopsis.
This book did remind me a lot of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, which others have pointed out. I love both, independent of each other, though they do share some similarities. But at the end of the day, this still reads like an EmHen book, and, dare I say… that’s one of my favorite things to witness in this great big beautiful life.
And that’s just what GBBL is, aptly named. Although not your typical EmHen romcom, I really loved this new foray into more of a solid contemporary fiction with romance elements. I don’t think it should really be considered a mystery, as some marketing suggested. Of course I would’ve been okay with more of said romance (I adored Alice and Hayden) but at the same time, I don’t think the story-within-the-story really took away from that, either. Margaret’s life story (and her family secrets) was really interesting to me and essentially, it did link everything in the book together. You couldn’t have Alice and Hayden’s romance without what brought them together on that little Georgia island. And come on—an EmHen book where one or both of the protagonists are writers? I’m sold before I’ve even finished reading the synopsis.
This book did remind me a lot of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, which others have pointed out. I love both, independent of each other, though they do share some similarities. But at the end of the day, this still reads like an EmHen book, and, dare I say… that’s one of my favorite things to witness in this great big beautiful life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Medical content, Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Abortion, Gaslighting
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a great, big, beautiful ride Great Big Beautiful Life is. I have shed tears and laughed out loud, kicked my feet in ecstasy and ground my teeth in anticipation. I am floored by Emily Henry again.
I have so many notes to go through, but, for now I will say: this is some of Emily’s most beautiful writing. It is heartfelt and poignant. It is reflective and brutal and honest. It is tragedy and love, humour and regret.
I related to so many of these characters in different ways, from Alice’s insecurity around her mother’s feelings towards her to Hayden’s perfectionism and fear of being himself. Very real fears of me were reflected in this book, the anxiety around bringing children into this world which is cruel and dangerous and difficult.
There are things I’d love to know more about, particularly surrounding the outcome of thetrial for Dr David , and Jodi and her father, including how he came to be the kooky character he is and how much he knows of Hayden and Alice . I suppose much of that I may only know from the book, if only it were real!
I’m already raring for a reread, and I obviously need to listen to the audiobook but, for now, I leave you with some of my favourite quotes presented with absolutely no context:
“If that’s what I meant, then that’s what I would’ve said.”
I have so many notes to go through, but, for now I will say: this is some of Emily’s most beautiful writing. It is heartfelt and poignant. It is reflective and brutal and honest. It is tragedy and love, humour and regret.
I related to so many of these characters in different ways, from Alice’s insecurity around her mother’s feelings towards her to Hayden’s perfectionism and fear of being himself. Very real fears of me were reflected in this book, the anxiety around bringing children into this world which is cruel and dangerous and difficult.
There are things I’d love to know more about, particularly surrounding the outcome of the
I’m already raring for a reread, and I obviously need to listen to the audiobook but, for now, I leave you with some of my favourite quotes presented with absolutely no context:
“If that’s what I meant, then that’s what I would’ve said.”
“Stone-cold sober and he looks almost as drunk as I feel.”
“What if they have to care for me, for years, after I’ve stopped calling them by their nicknames or telling them I love them?”
“I don’t do this.”
“I do.”
“Fine. I do too.”
“This doesn’t have to be the greatest tragedy to ever befall anyone. It doesn’t even have to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Like I swallowed the sun. Like it’s breaking up every bit of darkness inside me.”
“Maybe every bit of heartbreak in life can be rearranged and used for something beautiful.”
Also, huge shout out to the Pole of Inaccessibility, which is where my heart resides most of the time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment