On April 22, renowned young adult author Emily Henry released “Great Big Beautiful Life”, the sixth of her romance fiction novels. A highly anticipated release, “Great Big Beautiful Life” tells the story of two writers competing for the same job: the chance to write the biography of a famous heiress from a wealthy and scandalous family. The novel takes the reader through a journey of watching the writers slowly fall in love, as well as the twists and turns of the infamous Ives family’s dark past, creating a compelling and captivating narrative that sets itself apart from Henry’s previous novels.
Henry’s novels tend to contain characters that feel realistic and multi-dimensional, and this one was no exception. The story’s narrator, Alice Scott, is an endearing, bubbly protagonist, who has a full life outside of the events of the story. Although her love story is a central part of the plot, much of the novel also focuses on her other relationships with her friends and family, and those were some of my favorite portions of the book. With frequent scenes that took place in her group chat of coworkers, and her relationship with her mom being an integral part of her character’s evolution, the book’s protagonist felt like a whole person outside of the romantic storyline, avoiding a common pitfall of characterization in romance fiction.
Hayden Anderson, the novel’s primary love interest, is also a compelling character in his own right. Although he initially seems like the exact opposite of the book’s protagonist, the more subtle similarities between the two characters reveal themselves to the reader throughout the novel. The way that this allows the reader to slowly get to know Alice’s love interest over time, just as she does, makes the story feel more immersive by allowing the reader to experience the same journey and perspective as the protagonist. As a romantic lead, Hayden is also one that’s easy to root for despite not being as friendly towards Alice when they first meet. Even though the competition between the two characters initially prevents them from forming a friendship, it’s always clear that he respects her as a writer, which makes his growth feel more realistic as they grow closer. Through Hayden’s depiction, Henry accomplishes the task of writing a competitive relationship that doesn’t feel unhealthy.
Although “Great Big Beautiful Life” markets itself as a romance novel, the mystery and drama it contains shines the brightest by far. Through Alice and Hayden’s interviews, Margaret Ives, the last heir of the incredibly famous and tragic Ives family, tells her family’s story, and for readers, much of the fun of the book is piecing together the narrative she lays out. Margaret, one of the most interesting and complex characters of the novel, is an unreliable narrator, and having to figure out which portions of the story she tells are true and which aren’t adds depth to an already captivating mystery. The various twists and turns that ensue throughout the book also do an excellent job of capturing readers’ attention. Its most enthralling aspects come from the mystery of the Ives family, especially the final twist, which flips the narrative on its head in an engaging, and most importantly, well-written way.
Because the mysterious elements of the book are so well-done and leave such a strong impression, it has the unintended consequence of making the romance between the leads look like background noise. Although Hayden and Alice’s romance is interesting to read, it’s not nearly as interesting as their interview sessions with Margaret, and the reading experience during the chapters that focus on the former can sometimes create a sense of impatience for the latter. Additionally, parts of the romance feel rushed, especially as most of it takes place in between interview sessions and in shorter, brief chapters. Although Henry makes it clear that the leads are compatible as people, it’s not always entirely clear why. The rivalry between the two as they compete for the same position is also intriguing at the beginning, but this aspect of their relationship fades fairly quickly, leading to that tension feeling unexplored and swept to the side.
However, although not all aspects of the narrative are perfect, “Great Big Beautiful Life” is a fun and engaging read, start to finish. As a story that’s meant to depict the complexities of life and love, it succeeds, especially as the characters influence and learn from each other. If romance fiction, drama, or mystery are genres you enjoy, it may be the perfect read to start off the summer with.
