From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

Great Big Beautiful Life

Emily Henry

Start date: June 1, 2025

Finish date: June 30, 2025

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What Members Thought

May 22, 2025 Kirsten rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2025-new-releases, romance, humor, reading-with-catherine, reeses-book-club, nearly-made-me-cry, literature

Wow. She really hit it out of the park with this one. THIS is the book that Taylor Jenkins Reid WISHES she wrote. Emily Henry has a way to write characters and to spin a story. Her characters are flawed, yes, but who of us isn't? However, unlike TJR's characters, I sympathize with Alice, Hayden, and eve n Margaret. They are great characters and this book really had me wondering. I loved Margaret's story (although a family tree might have been helpful) and Alice and her mother had me reaching for ...more

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May 15, 2025 Anne OK rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2025-reads, 2025-5-star-reads

Not what I was expecting – and different from any of Emily Henry’s other books and I’ve read them all. At times, boredom set in during historical parts that were sluggish and slow-going in moving forward. I had to put the book aside and take breaks – something I’ve never had to do before with Henry’s books. Thankfully, I’m not a quitter – but I was sorely tempted . . . UNTIL I WASN'T!

Readers will get twofer story – part historical mystery and the other a present-day romance. There’s an interest Not what I was expecting – and different from any of Emily Henry’s other books and I’ve read them all. At times, boredom set in during historical parts that were sluggish and slow-going in moving forward. I had to put the book aside and take breaks – something I’ve never had to do before with Henry’s books. Thankfully, I’m not a quitter – but I was sorely tempted . . . UNTIL I WASN'T!

Readers will get twofer story – part historical mystery and the other a present-day romance. There’s an interesting cast of characters and I really loved the pairing of Alice and Hayden, the two journalists pitted against each other as they chase the same story. Margaret Ives, the heiress to a fortune and former Hollywood tabloid princess who is now in her eighties is ready to tell all – well, maybe not all. There are mountains of scandal and secrets surrounding her and some that could change other lives forever.

Even the romantic relationship between the journalists was slow to hit its high points. I admit that I wasn’t thrilled and became frustrated and disappointed. I’m glad I held on because suddenly the story came to life and when it did, it became explosively entertaining and, as always, EH’s writing tied up all the non-pluses into a beautifully written and amazing read. My biggest disappointment in this book was that I felt the journalists and their relationship were cheated out of page-time.

I ended up appreciating and loving the unfolding shocks and surprises this author had kept hidden until the perfect time. A long and winding road with heartbreaking sad events but also filled with tender and touching high points with exceptionally written dialogue. Sometimes you must be patient and wait for the best to come – and believe me, this exceptional and cleverly written book did just that.

A beautiful ending to the Ives family dramatic mystery, a happy-ever-after that readers expect and an Epilogue that will touch hearts and leave smiles on their faces.
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