Great Big Beautiful Life

De: Emily Henry

Narrado por: Julia Whelan

A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK ∙ 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.

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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.

©2025 Emily Henry (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Readers can count on Em-Hen to transport them to a kinder, sunnier, and funnier galaxy where happy endings can be counted on . . . Henry’s magic elixir, it seems, is to return again and again to a simple boy-meets-girl formula while writing textured novels populated with vivid characters that never feel formulaic: she takes us back to a time when we believed, with all our being, that love conquers all.”—The Boston Globe

“A sweeping love story about the choices we make and the threads that knit us together. Thoughtful, moving, and deliciously tender. Emily Henry is as captivating as ever. I love everything she does.”—B.K. Borison, New York Times bestselling author of First Time Caller

“A true joy. Playful, fun, and virtuosically plotted, Great Big Beautiful Life is a novel about life's winding paths and dangerous dead-ends—and the way that love can lead us out of the labyrinth.”—Kaliane Bradley, New York Times bestselling author of The Ministry of Time

Gripping from beginning to end

I devoured this audiobook. Loved the depth of characters, its setting, and the performance of the narrators.

Another treasure from our girl

What wasn’t to love? I’m here for not only Emily but also for Julia. These two are a power team that is unmatched. I sobbed (I don’t cry with many books) about a handful of times… and idk… maybe it’s where I am in my own life timeline, but this story struck a goddamned nerve. It was a perfect balance of everything that makes a great story. At the core, it’s a love story…. Covering different forms of love. But is was so much more. I love all EH books, but this one… THIS ONE HIT DIFFERENT. I was ill prepared. I’ll be thinning about this one for a long time.

A story within a story

This is by far my favorite Emily Henry book. The story within a story added a level of complexity and mystery. I can’t wait for her next book.

And Julia Whalen, the perfect voice actor for this one.

Just, wow.

Absolutely loved it. The story within a story had me just as hooked. I felt so protective of Hayden and Alice. The fully fleshed out characters that they are, had me moving through their days like I was a friend along for the ride. I fully intend to read this book as I pre-ordered a physical copy. However, the narration by Julia Whelan had to take precedence. She is so talented. Her Margaret was awesome. Emily Henry always does a beautiful job of weaving in complex themes of grief, love, loss, joy and making them so balanced. I am never toyed with as a reader. Truly her best work to date. Though, Beach Read is right behind this for me.

Perfect

Emily Henry always breaks my heart and opens my world. Like all her stories, her characters unfold, exposing their imperfections, misunderstandings, beauty and humanity. It’s a love story, inside a love story, inside another love story. Beautiful.

Always so powerfully and beautifully crafted

Emily Henry knows how to write family dynamics and love stories tho at sweep you off your feet and make you cry. As a mom to a daughter with a heart defect the mention of it caught me off guard, but it was so sweetly inter-woven through the story it gave me new words to describe exactly how it feels to know how each day is a gift and what are the priorities of life. A really good story about family and second chances.

4.5. NEW FAVE EM HEN READ!!!

This book was so good. I don’t know that I’ve ever cried reading a contemporary romance novel before but this one got me.
I finished it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. I’m not normally into the grumpy x sunshine trope but this one was so sweet. Coastal vibes! Old Hollywood! Family dynamic! & I loved the plot twists and slight mystery throughout !! I will be recommending !! I wish I could reread for the first time.

Emily Henry can do no wrong

Loved this— unlike her others but still the depth and joy you’d expect. The banter, the story, just great! I’d say more of a 4.5 but loved it!

Emily Henry's Best

I have not one single criticism of this book or the narration. I finished it in two days and am now regretting I didn't go slower and enjoy the journey. It was just so damn good, I couldn't stop once I got started. Julia Whelan is THE BEST audiobook actor/narrator in the business. She's just flawless here. And Henry has become a new favorite. I've read and enjoyed her other titles, but this one is exceptional. Just really good stuff. I hope they make a movie of it, I hope it doesn't suck. Highly recommend!

Not a romcom - reminds me of Evelyn Hugo too much

Meh. Not what I expected from EH … it’s ok. There is no comedy in this one, the romance factor is a subplot … I listened while waiting for my BN edition … no less than 4x I found myself thinking I was listening to Evelyn Hugo.
Julia always 5 star narrator. Without her I would of DNF