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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spice Rating: 🌶️.5 / 5
My Summary: Margaret Ives is getting older, and she's finally ready to tell everyone about her adventurous, romantic, and sordid past. But before she tells all, she wants to court two writers to see who is best equipped to tell her and her family's story. She wants the writers to stay on the small island in Georgia that she calls home for one month before she decides who to sign on for the job.
Alice is an optimistic journalist who has been waiting for her big break moment. Hayden is a well-known name in the industry, having already written a best-selling biography; he is known for his aloofness and overall grumpy demeanor. As the two compete to write Margaret's biography, they find themselves constantly running into each other on the too-small island. But soon, their run-ins become less of an inconvenience and seem more like fate.
My Thoughts: Though Great Big Beautiful Life is quite different from Emily Henry's normal style of story, it is still full of her signature prose, witty banter, romantic chemistry, and meaningful moments.
This novel is told in two parts. One is the story of celebrity, Margaret Ives, and her family, which is told as Alice interviews her to, potentially, write Margaret's biography. The other is the story of Alice and Hayden as they interact outside of their time with Margaret and find that they might have more chemistry than animosity.
Alice is an optimist who loves people, and that even includes the ever-grumpy, introverted Hayden. When she makes it her goal to win him over, Alice finds that Hayden's grumpiness might just be a facade you have to break through in order to get to the real Hayden underneath. Alice and Hayden spend more and more time together; they learn how beautiful this world and life are--and how much better they are when they're together.
I felt like Emily Henry did a great job splitting the book equally between both stories. I loved hearing about Margaret's family as well as her past because you could see echoes of it in the present. Alice and Hayden both have so much depth as individuals, and their love story is a beautiful one that shows how much they've learned from each other, their pasts, and their time with Margaret.
Fans of Emily Henry won't want to miss out on Great Big Beautiful Life.
My Summary: Margaret Ives is getting older, and she's finally ready to tell everyone about her adventurous, romantic, and sordid past. But before she tells all, she wants to court two writers to see who is best equipped to tell her and her family's story. She wants the writers to stay on the small island in Georgia that she calls home for one month before she decides who to sign on for the job.
Alice is an optimistic journalist who has been waiting for her big break moment. Hayden is a well-known name in the industry, having already written a best-selling biography; he is known for his aloofness and overall grumpy demeanor. As the two compete to write Margaret's biography, they find themselves constantly running into each other on the too-small island. But soon, their run-ins become less of an inconvenience and seem more like fate.
My Thoughts: Though Great Big Beautiful Life is quite different from Emily Henry's normal style of story, it is still full of her signature prose, witty banter, romantic chemistry, and meaningful moments.
This novel is told in two parts. One is the story of celebrity, Margaret Ives, and her family, which is told as Alice interviews her to, potentially, write Margaret's biography. The other is the story of Alice and Hayden as they interact outside of their time with Margaret and find that they might have more chemistry than animosity.
Alice is an optimist who loves people, and that even includes the ever-grumpy, introverted Hayden. When she makes it her goal to win him over, Alice finds that Hayden's grumpiness might just be a facade you have to break through in order to get to the real Hayden underneath. Alice and Hayden spend more and more time together; they learn how beautiful this world and life are--and how much better they are when they're together.
I felt like Emily Henry did a great job splitting the book equally between both stories. I loved hearing about Margaret's family as well as her past because you could see echoes of it in the present. Alice and Hayden both have so much depth as individuals, and their love story is a beautiful one that shows how much they've learned from each other, their pasts, and their time with Margaret.
Fans of Emily Henry won't want to miss out on Great Big Beautiful Life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Dementia
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Optimistic aspiring writer Alice Scott & Pulitzer-winning cynic Hayden Anderson are competing to tell the life story of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives—each given only fragments of her past, bound by NDAs, and distracted by a growing tension neither expected. What begins as a high-stakes assignment soon blurs into something deeper, as the story—and their connection—threatens to become a mystery, a tragedy, or a love story… depending on who gets to tell it.
Did a combo of physical & audio (Julia Whelan did a beautiful job narrating, as she always does). I don't even know if I have the words to describe the way I feel about this book. I can't even rank it up against her other novels because it's so different - in a good way. I feel like EmHen always tackles some tough topics or subject matter in her books, something that gives her characters more substance. But the story here was so much more, her characters almost seemed like deeper, more emotional individuals? I'm probably butchering this, so let me just make it simple - I loved it. I laughed multiple times, and I really got into the Ives story. Is there a lot going on? Yes. Can it get confusing? At times, yes - but Alice even points out that the Ives family history is convoluted, so you're not left feeling like it's just a you problem. At this point, Emily Henry is an auto buy author for me, and I don't know if that will ever change. Another beautiful novel added to the list other wonderful books.
Did a combo of physical & audio (Julia Whelan did a beautiful job narrating, as she always does). I don't even know if I have the words to describe the way I feel about this book. I can't even rank it up against her other novels because it's so different - in a good way. I feel like EmHen always tackles some tough topics or subject matter in her books, something that gives her characters more substance. But the story here was so much more, her characters almost seemed like deeper, more emotional individuals? I'm probably butchering this, so let me just make it simple - I loved it. I laughed multiple times, and I really got into the Ives story. Is there a lot going on? Yes. Can it get confusing? At times, yes - but Alice even points out that the Ives family history is convoluted, so you're not left feeling like it's just a you problem. At this point, Emily Henry is an auto buy author for me, and I don't know if that will ever change. Another beautiful novel added to the list other wonderful books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Dementia
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Before I get into it, the Ives family is definitely based on the Hearst family right? Like everyone else caught onto that too right.... right?
Once again, I love an Emily Henry book, surprising absolutely no one! I loved these characters and this world and even how different this book was compared to her previous!
Spoilers Ahead!
Ok so - I really enjoyed the split storytelling in Great Big Beautiful Life. It was a fun and different way for Henry to explore these characters and the struggles they were going through ie; grief, fame, guilt, etc. Although I did enjoy this story (the plot twist at the end was so good!) I actually think it could’ve benefited from focusing more on Margaret and Alice. This book had so much going for it, that although I loved Hayden and his addition to Alice’s journey, the book could’ve totally worked without him as a love interest. At some points he felt a bit more like a side character than an equal love interest?
The plot twist! Loved it, I was absolutely crying at the end there and I enjoyed seeing everyone work their way back to one another.
Also the cover tying into the metaphor mentioned throughout the book, I loveee how intentional that is!
Excited to see how Emily Henry continues to develop her writing and where she takes us next! I hear a snowy climate is possibly in our future?
Once again, I love an Emily Henry book, surprising absolutely no one! I loved these characters and this world and even how different this book was compared to her previous!
Spoilers Ahead!
The plot twist! Loved it, I was absolutely crying at the end there and I enjoyed seeing everyone work their way back to one another.
Also the cover tying into the metaphor mentioned throughout the book, I loveee how intentional that is!
Excited to see how Emily Henry continues to develop her writing and where she takes us next! I hear a snowy climate is possibly in our future?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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:
Yes
Okay, listen I didn’t hate it. I did enjoy the book but! I guessed Hayden being related to Margaret pretty early o ok but I still enjoyed it. I wish we got a little more development in Hayden and Alice’s relationship, especially emotionally from Hayden’s side, and that we got a more fleshed out happy ending for them. It all felt a bit rushed in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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: Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The last quarter of the book felt like it flew by, and I rarely say this but it could have been longer?? There were a looot of meandering family complexities that were a little hard to follow, but I think it paid off in the end with a twist I wasn’t exactly expecting. Margaret was such a complex character and I really liked her, especially when she pissed me off. :)
Romance between the two MCs was sweet and cute and fun. It left me wanting more and I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing!
Romance between the two MCs was sweet and cute and fun. It left me wanting more and I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Grief
Minor: Violence, Blood
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
funny
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:
No
This was a little bit different from normal Emily Henry fare, but I loved it all the same. The INCREDIBLE characters that she creates are what keep me coming back time and again, and Alice, Hayden, and Margaret did NOT disappoint. I kind of liked that we weren’t sure if Margaret was a reliable narrator or not. And the banter between Alice and Hayden was perfection! I absolutely live for Emily Henry’s dialogue. I was also unexpectedly emotional at the end. Well, I *DID* expect to be emotional, but not for the reasons that I ended up being emotional about, if that makes any sense. This one’s going to stick with me for a hot minute I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Terminal illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment