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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
Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Car accident, Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Dementia, Pregnancy
emotional
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:
Yes
Emily Henry does it again, she's a one-click author for a reason. While this is another book about writing, and two authors, this is very different from "Beach Read". I think fans of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid, "Along for the Ride" and "Just Listen" both by Sarah Dessen would really enjoy this page-turner of a romantic drama-historical-family-story.
For context, my Emily Henry rankings:
1. Beach Read
2. Book Lovers
3. Funny Story
4. Happy Place
5. People We Meet on Vacation (I like it more than most people)
The majority of the book is Alice's first-person POV. However, there are interspersed chapters in third-person of Margaret telling her family story to Alice. As usual, Henry incorporates plenty of texts and letters throughout the book.
Being an Emily Henry novel, there is a delicious heap of romance, both past and present. While Hayden has some similarities to Gus from "Beach Read" (Henry loves a quietly funny, broody MMC) he is his own sweet, intense, and kind self. I liked the bits about height differences.
I really love how Henry writes romance because she brings to life the little details that make you fall in love with someone. The details that you treasure day-to-day, not just big gestures or occasions. Facial expressions, little touches, and tone are critical to our lovebirds burgeoning back-and-forth relationship. It's a slow burn...but they round the bases INTENSELY. There's a bit of spice here, y'all.
Then there are some family descriptions that made me tear up. I was raised by a single dad and I don't see him but a few times a year now. Reading about the different losses between Margaret and Alice was hard but so well treated.
I totally get Alice's decision at the end of the book. Remote jobs are great for something! A lovely epilogue, very different from other Henry books, I think.
For context, my Emily Henry rankings:
1. Beach Read
2. Book Lovers
3. Funny Story
4. Happy Place
5. People We Meet on Vacation (I like it more than most people)
The majority of the book is Alice's first-person POV. However, there are interspersed chapters in third-person of Margaret telling her family story to Alice. As usual, Henry incorporates plenty of texts and letters throughout the book.
Being an Emily Henry novel, there is a delicious heap of romance, both past and present. While Hayden has some similarities to Gus from "Beach Read" (Henry loves a quietly funny, broody MMC) he is his own sweet, intense, and kind self. I liked the bits about height differences.
I really love how Henry writes romance because she brings to life the little details that make you fall in love with someone. The details that you treasure day-to-day, not just big gestures or occasions. Facial expressions, little touches, and tone are critical to our lovebirds burgeoning back-and-forth relationship. It's a slow burn...but they round the bases INTENSELY. There's a bit of spice here, y'all.
Then there are some family descriptions that made me tear up. I was raised by a single dad and I don't see him but a few times a year now. Reading about the different losses between Margaret and Alice was hard but so well treated.
I totally get Alice's decision at the end of the book. Remote jobs are great for something! A lovely epilogue, very different from other Henry books, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
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
This is Emily Henry doing a Taylor Jenkins Reid-style story and it’s good! The romance felt a little underbaked, especially at first, but the relationship between Alice and Margaret and her family’s story, was really great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
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
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, 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
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