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Perfect long weekend reading! I loved Henry‘s take on the “older famous woman who has left the limelight has ulterior motives when she tells her story to journalist for tell-all book” trope.

If you‘re getting big The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo vibes, you‘re not the only one. It‘s more of a family drama than a romance, in the end, and it‘s a serviceable read – just nothing groundbreaking or mind-blowing. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/great-big-beautiful-life-emily-henry/

Just starting this. I'm not a big romance reader, but I've heard good things about Emily Henry. Hope I like it!

Current audiobook…Can‘t believe I didn‘t have to wait that long for my library hold to come through! 😊

This one felt a little different than her other books, but it still had all the charm that I've come to expect from Henry. I've seen people compare this to Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones, and I can see why, but it still felt like an Emily Henry book, just a little heavier on plot and backstory this time. I really enjoyed it!

Nearly perfect. Likely my favorite Emily Henry books. I loved the premise of these two authors coming across the same reclusive celebrity to write a story about. This felt pretty authentic, the way that was handled. I felt a connection to both characters, which did end up kicking my butt later on crying. In a good, almost healing felt, sort of way. The twists had me going; did not expect that. Throughly enjoyed this story.

Okay, this is my least favorite of her books but Emily Henry still ALWAYS makes me cry at the end!

47/100🎧📖🔖
4th Emily Henry
#greatbigbeautifullife #emilyhenry #goodreads #goodreadsreadingchallenge #ebook #audiobook

“What do you think he should‘ve done?”
“For the one you love? Anything. You unmake the world and build a new one. You do anything to give them what they need.”
I would unmake the world and build a new one for this guy any time, any place. Period. (Hence my reading and drinking in a golf cart on Mother‘s Day weekend!🤣)

This was my first from Emily Henry, and unfortunately, apparently not her best. I enjoyed it, but some of the chapters were just boring for me. It‘s been labeled as a romance, and/or mystery in places, but both of the tropes are very minimal.. between a pick and a so-so!

I definitely have a type, and it‘s the men in Emily Henry books. Apparently I like secretly sensitive, outwardly gruff, sorta awkward men like Hayden Anderson. Alice & Hayden are the latest lovely couple she‘s written, and this is officially an Emily Henry fan account.

Alice Scott tracks down the reclusive heiress Margret Ives in the hope of writing her biography, only to find herself in a competition for her story with the award winning author, Hayden Anderson.

Generational ✨ Love ✨ Regret

While still a romance, this Emily Henry explores different types of love (family, parents, siblings, and friends) and the impact our decisions have on how we understand what it means to love and how it is acted upon.

The writing is good here, but the story feels like a mix of already done stories. It‘s like a Taylor Jenkins Reid period piece mixed with a Nora Roberts romance, but not as good as either. I‘m not always a fan of Emily Henry but her stories always felt new. This feels very unoriginal and disjointed. 2⭐️
#bookspin done as I got this from the library!

Alice is a pop culture writer who tracks down Margaret Ives, an heiress to a media fortune kind but she disappeared years ago. Margaret invites Alice to visit her in Georgia. Alice finds out that another writer, Hayden, with a Pulitzer are basically competing to win the right to tell Margaret‘s story.

The characters are realistic & flawed, the plot is intriguing & mysterious, & romance is beautiful. Perfect ending. I cried!

Book 60.

I‘ll admit it. I didn‘t see that last twist at the end…. And figured there had to be some last conflict, but that wasn‘t what I expected and I love it so much for that.

Not the greatest reading month, but I‘m going to be a Nana in October 💙 👶🏻 super busy month!!

I really wanted to love The Sirens, but it didn‘t happen 😩 🎧 I figured the twist out really early.

I couldn‘t get into Gifted & Talented… NOTHING was happening 😩 🎧

I enjoyed the audio of This Book Will Bury Me 🎧

I loved that Great Big Beautiful Life was two stories in one and it‘s great on audio 🎧 love Julia Whelan!

#ReadingWrapup 4/25

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

While I mostly enjoyed this, it wasn‘t what I was hoping for in such an anticipated release. I‘m just not big on fictional celebrities. Reminded me immediately of TJR, and that‘s okay, but idk. This is a case of it‘s not you, it‘s me. Just not my fave story from her. Probably least fave actually.

The story within a story. Engaging writing, wit and emotional characters, interesting plot.

This was not the Emily Henry writing I have read before. Yes, there is a love story, or two, if you include both sets of the dual timelines. While I didn't piece the whole storyline together- I did figure out quite a bit of it. This story, the glamor, the larger than life fame, tragedy, etc reminded me a lot of "All The Stars In The Heavens" by Adriana Trigiani, a book I read back in 2021.

Great Big Beautiful Life, by Emily Henry (2025)

Premise: Sparks fly when two writers compete for the opportunity to tell the story of the reclusive heiress of a once-great, scandal-ridden family.

Review: Emily Henry has created a wonderful niche of writing fun and well-written contemporary fiction that gets filed under Romance even though the romance is the secondary plot. Cont.

Stopped in at our local indie to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day and snagged a couple fun reads!

This was a two for one love story with some intrigue. I truly enjoyed it and all the characters. While I enjoyed the end, I wish it was not the shortest chapter. I didn't want it to end. I am invested.

Every spring I look forward to the new Emily Henry, and this did not disappoint! Like always happens, I read this book in two days; it is just impossible for me to put her work down.
I occasionally found the jumping between storylines disruptive, but once I was back into one or the other, I enjoyed my time there and wanted to know what was coming next for everybody involved.
I don‘t know how she does it, but I‘m glad that she keeps doing it!

I am so so so happy! 💕 Today is the start of my 10-day vacation! Next week is my birthday! 🤭 I'm going to spend the whole thing reading, eating snacks, visiting bookstores, and running around the park! 🌿📚 I decided to kick off the festivities by picking up lunch (chicken shawarma! 🤤) and eating at the park! It's a beautiful day!

I‘m several years and books into starting off my summer reading with the newest Emily Henry, and this did not disappoint. It immediately gave vibes of another favorite read which had me quickly realizing the trajectory for the mystery but that didn‘t take away from my enjoyment of this story. …I‘m likely showing my age by favoring the octogenarian‘s storyline🤣👵

My official kick off to summer reading season came!

Two pre-orders arrived from Barnes and Noble.😍 #bookmail

Happy Emily Henry Day for everyone who celebrates! 🥳🎉💕

Now that I don‘t have school, I can come home and read!

Happy release day to @emilyhenrywrites on “Great Big Beautiful Life” and it‘s a @reesesbookclub pick for May.

Argh, rather tempting.

Emily Henry does it again! This is now my FAVORITE Emily Henry read! A great dual-layered story that‘s equal parts mystery and romance.
I loved that this book is truly two stories in one. Margaret‘s story reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. And I loved the slow-burn romance between Alice and Hayden. An absolute 5⭐️ must-read!

This one is good so far! Two writers are interviewing an actress and heiress who has been reclusive for decades, vying for the chance to write her biography. Release date: April 22

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. Thank you #PenquinRandomHouse for the free copy via #Netgalley.

#Viking
#GreatBigBeautifulLife
@penguinrandomhouse

Got this today 😀😀😀📚📖

#GreatBigBeautifulLife
#Netgalley