I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Narrator: Julia Whelan
Length: 12 Hours 3 Minutes
Also by this author: Would Like to Meet, People We Meet on Vacation
Published by Penguin on April 22, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 432
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.
Named a Most Anticipated book of 2025 by The New York Times ∙ Rolling Stone ∙ People ∙ USA Today ∙ Harper's Bazaar ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Bustle ∙ Reader's Digest ∙ BBC ∙ PopSugar ∙ SheReads ∙ Paste ∙ and more!
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.
Why Did I Listen To Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry?
I should think this would be quite obvious, but I am so overjoyed when a new Emily Henry book comes out. The hype is real. So, I was quite excited to pick up Great Big Beautiful Life via audio. I should say I have never physically read one of of Emily Henry’s books. Instead, my choice has been to experience them all via audio. That is the choice I will happily continue making. Also, I have been wanting to listen to something that I know will just captivate me and become a book I’m obsessed with.
What’s The Story Here?
Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life is about two writers who are competing to write the life story of Margaret “Peggy” Ives. Alice is hoping to catch her big break — so far she’s written some profiles for the publication that she works at. And so, getting to write Margaret’s story could be the big break that she needs. Her competition, however, is Hayden. He has some real chops — having won a prestigious award for a book he wrote with a musician who would eventually succumb to dementia. Hayden is a bit gruff and serious. Alice is someone who is exuberant and friendly to everyone. Alice and Hayden keep running into each other and the chemistry is undeniable. However, they are in competition. It doesn’t help that both have signed a non disclosure agreement and Margaret is only giving them pieces of the story. Without being able to talk about it, they won’t get the full picture.
How Did I Like Great Big Beautiful Life?
I loved this book. Alice has this penchant for being able to make friends wherever she goes because she’s so bubbly. But, I also enjoyed reading about her coworkers who play a small role but are quite impactful. There are also parts with Alice’s mother that I felt were so touching and lovely. I was really so glad for those parts of this book. Then we get into Hayden, Hayden, Hayden. I liked that Alice ends up charming him. He is wonderful once you get to know him. I even liked Margaret Ives and unraveling her story and why she’s so reclusive. Great Big Beautiful Life also seemed to have something interesting to say about what happens when an ingenue ages and becomes an old woman – she becomes invisible to society.
How’s The Narration?
As with the other Emily Henry books, Great Big Beautiful Life is narrated by Julia Whelan. If you are new to audiobooks, you simply MUST pick up a book that Julia Whelan narrates. I think that any of the Emily Henry books will do. I expected to love the audiobook version of this book and I was completely right — I did love listening to this. It was a great way to experience this book.
Leave a Reply