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 20th 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.
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published April 22, 2025
by Berkley
4.5/5 stars
This is Emily Henry’s newest release that felt unlike anything she has written before.
Told from the point of view of both Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson, they are vying for the opportunity to write Margaret Ives biography. A recluse for the past 20 years her life have been filled with scandal, it's quite the story.
Not only do we get Alice and Hayden‘s point of view but we also get Margaret and what it was like growing up in a family with so many secrets, along with tragedy that made headlines. Suffice to say her family was very scandalous over the century.
Great Big Beautiful Life is a story of tragedy, family, and surprises. I know that not everyone enjoyed Henry’s departure from her usual signature writing, but I found this book quite enjoyable. It could be the history buff in me that enjoyed reading about Margaret’s past or rather her family's and what transpired over the years to bring her to where she is now. Her story is one of heartache along with twists that took me by surprise and worked perfectly here.
I alternated with the audiobook, which was read by Julie Whalen, she’s one of my favourites and knows how to transport me into the story as well as bringing the characters to life.
This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge (#31). The audiobook was obtained through Cloud Library.
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