I have been an Emily Henry fan since before Beach Read got published here in the UK (meaning I have the US edition and now have to buy all other books as ebooks because I can’t stand them not matching!) and I heard that this one was quite the change from Emily Henry’s usual work. To begin with, I didn’t mind that one bit. Later on, I did. I was all for the rich fictional famous people vibe akin to Taylor Jenkins Reed, however, in the end it fell short for me, and rather than left me amazed and in awe, I felt like it was a bit of a cliche.

When it comes to the romance, I didn’t find it believable in this one and wished for it to be more fleshed out. Alice and Hayden have known each other for ONE month when they 'break up' and I don' feel that their relationship was developed enough for me to root for them when this occured. I wanted more moments with just them. The lore of the 'famous Ives family' was interesting, but it also felt like something out of a gossip magazine. It was intriguing, for sure, and left me wanting more, but I also felt like they lacked a bit of depth. Margaret and Cosmo had a tragic love story, as did the whole of the Ives family, but I never really felt truly sorry for any of them.

In the end, my reading journey with this one was varied. I went from loving it, to feeling ’meh’ about it, to loving it, to ultimately feeling ’meh’ again. It had potential, but for me it ultimately felt short due to the way it ended. It felt rushed and anticlimactic. I wanted to feel giddy and excited, like you get after reading a really good book where you FEEL for the characters and want them to be happy, but with this one I didn’t. There will definitely be people who love this one, sadly I was not one of them. This is not your typical Emily Henry book. It’s something new. I am proud she tried tried something new with this one, and I hope it will be well received with the right readers.

I for one, will still read her books eagerly, even if this one wasn't for me.

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.

Great Big Beautiful Life is a title that perfectly encapsulates this story. There is something so special about the way Emily Henry writes, something that gets better with each new book she writes. GBBL is a book that will stick with me forever, the prose, the characters, the YEARNING!!!! I really have notes for this book other than it could have gone on for another 600 pages and I would’ve been content.

This book is slightly different than your usually Emily Henry romance, but the change has made the story all the more better. I truly cannot recommend this book more, I’m still reeling from finishing it. I loved it so much, I loved Hayden and Alice so much, I loved Margaret and Cosmo and Laura and I truly could not get enough of them all.

If there’s one ‘romance’ you read this year, make it Great Big Beautiful Life

The romance didn't grip me, but I reallllly enjoyed the Margaret plotline and the way the theme of truth was played with. The concept was cool!

I generally really enjoy all of Emily Henry's book, this one is quite different to the other books she has written. We follow two different story lines that intertwine in the end but i felt it didn't grip me like Book Lovers or Happy Place did.

Overall i enjoyed it but it's not a book i would pick up and read again in the future like i would her other books.

3.5/5

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Alice and Hayden, where do I start! Alice is, as Hayden so aptly points out, the least cynical character I have ever read. She's not just the 'sunshine' to Hayden's 'grump'. It might look like that on the surface, but they are both so much more. Alice genuinely and actively looks for the good in people and in things. I think that's actually a really powerful thing; but some people might think she's annoying at the start. Hayden isn't really a grump; he's just a bit closed off (and for good reason). But with Alice he slowly opens up and shows that he is a layered individual. Their dynamic and the development of their friendship was enjoyable.
Now Margaret. Also, a main character, this 80-ish year old, once upon a time tabloid princess, was so engaging. I'm not someone who ever cares about celebrities (real or fictional), but I was so intrigued by her story. I liked how the snippets and chapters retelling her family story were in there with the chapters of Alice interviewing her. Thankfully, there were only a few times when I thought it was slowing down the story. Alice and Margaret's stories intertwined more and more as the book progressed and I liked how it was done.
This was another Emily Henry book that was a romance but was equally about family. I didn't think it would make me cry, and I managed to get to 90% before it did. But it was worth it. (tw: past parental loss)
If I was to compare it to other Emily Henry books, I would say that it's a bit of a mix of 'Beach Read' and 'Book Lovers'. And yeah, in some ways it was similar to things she has written before, but in the end, it does tell a completely new story. It's a lot about fame, being in the spotlight, and how vicious media can be. It's about love, family, and the lengths that you would go to for the people you love. And I devoured it.

3.75 stars

Listen. I *love* Emily Henry. Her writing and characters are so comforting to me and can make me forget that I'm even reading. She's such an auto-buy author for me - I was so desperate to get my hands on this.

Great Big Beautiful Life follows sunshine-embodied journalist Alice and grumpy Hayden. They're both competing to write the biography of socialite Margaret Ives, who has been missing from the public eye for decades and is incredibly misunderstood. As Alice and Hayden unravel Margaret's tumultuous life and loves, they grow inevitably closer, which can only end badly when there's only one position to write the final book.

It has echoes of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and really dives into Margaret's life and complicated family history. I also had the last great american dynasty in my head for most of the book.

Margaret's life was fascinating and heart-breaking to read, but to the point that the romance felt pretty secondary in comparison. I didn't buy into Alice and Hayden's story, and was much more interested in the flashbacks. Their connection felt quite forced and rushed compared to the well-fleshed-out biography chapters, and I found both of their personalities quite... bland? (I'm so sorry). I just needed more from both of them.

Saying all this, it did really pick up for me at the end, and I found the final 50 or so pages to be really bittersweet and satisfying. I had the typical warm-glowy-ball-in-my-chest moment that I always get with EmHen books. This might be her most touching and heartfelt book so far.

This one was just missing the spark and connection I usually get when reading an Emily Henry. I wasn't kicking my feet :( BUT! We love her for trying something new! Just because this one wasn't for me, doesn't mean it was bad or that everyone else won't love it :)

What it is like to live in the eye of the media. When your family is fêted by the great and glorious as well as the press.
From humble beginnings 3 generations ago. Double crosses, fueds, affairs and love.
Leaving the limelight behind 20years ago but tracked down by a determined journalist. Eventually asking 2 journalists to audition for the chance to write her life story, including family history.
Is the choice as random as it first seems or is throwing them together a strategy.
A book that will keep you guessing, feeling and turning the page as you are gripped by the story.

Definitely not my favourite Em Hen book but enjoyable all the same. I found it a bit harder to be invested in just because it took quite a lot of time to unveil the backstory of Margaret as one of the main hooks throughout the book and therefore you spend less time actively developing the main characters' relationship. It did feel like they went from 0 to 100 a bit too quick for me and it missed some of the relationship development for a romance book. It was cute though and a very quick and cosy read as you'd expect from an Em Hen book and one within this genre.

I love Emily Henry's books and writing and this book just confirms that one more time.

This is the kind of book that after you finish it, you need a moment or two to get your bearings and return to reality because it felt so real.

Alice and Hayden are both journalists that want to write the biography of the media princess, heiress of one of the biggest newspaper's companies and a woman that was so much part of the tabloid for what she did, and for everything she didn't. Her fame reached a new level after her marriage to the famous rock n' roll musician making all the people either love or hate, or more often that not, love to hate her.

The two writers have to compete to get the deal of the year, they can't talk to anyone about the details that Margaret shares but they especially can't talk about them to each other.

But staying on a small island means that they stumbled in the same places quite often, which leads to them becaming friends with a chemistry that is making it difficult to stay just friends.

We see both the romance develop from animosity to friends to lovers and at the same time Margaret's life and how she came to be, from the start of her family's media empire up until the end, when she disappeared for 20 years without a trace.

The change between past and present felt flawless, keeping me interested about both timelines at the same time.

The characters felt all so real and the pull this book had on me was so big that I actually had to pace myself because I didn't want it to end too soon, spoiler alert it was still too soon.

The star of the book was the romance between Alice and Hayden and what a phenomenal romance that was! They gradually go from strangers to more, even though they tried to keep their distance since they know what is at stake here but thankfully they come to realize that what they have isn't something you can stop. I simply adored how they opened up to each other and became each others confidant. They are an amazing couple that fell hard and I couldn't be happier with the way their story ended.



* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.