Great Big Beautiful Life: Reese's Book Club

Bookseller recommendation

“Just finished Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life, and wow—I loved the story within the story. It added such a thoughtful layer of complexity to the main plot. The characters felt so vivid and real, and every thread of the narrative was beautifully woven together. Another hit from Emily Henry! ”

— Jessica • Books by the Bay

Bookseller recommendation

“Masterful work from Emily Henry, as always. Here she branches out a bit by covering not just the main love story, but also the biography of a reclusive elderly woman who was a media darling when she was young. Despite the widening of her lens, though, Henry keeps the main romance satisfying! ”

— Kristin • Kepler's Books and Magazines

Bookseller recommendation

“This was my first Emily Henry adventure and I was so pleasantly surprised! With not typically being a romance reader I wasn’t sure what to expect but everything from the characters, the plot and writing had me smiling while simultaneously tearing up at times. This was a beautiful exploration of love, life, and discovering what truly matters. Witty, and full of emotion, Great Big Beautiful Life kept me on the edge of thinking I knew what was coming next and then not being totally sure. I honestly loved every second of it. ”

— Carli • Folklore & Fable Booksellers, LLC

Bookseller recommendation

“I loved the surprises with each character along the way. The end was not to be missed. It was quite steamy too! ”

— Carrie • Interabang Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Henry’s latest gives Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes mixed with her trademark charm as a romance builds between the two writers at the center of this story. While there is less sharp banter, the grumpy/sunshine trope is still an absolute delight. Henry’s books have such heart and rich context for her characters, but this was the first to cause me to actually cry out loud. She perfectly captures the complicated love of family and parenthood. And as always, Julia Whelan is the Queen of narrators. ”

— Casey • Golden Bee Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“Romance, surprises, secret family revelations, skilled writers, and a picture-perfect ending—what more could you ask for? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I truly adored this!”

— Jess • Portals in Pages

Bookseller recommendation

“Emily Henry is only capable of writing stunning, deeply reaching and deeply felt novels, and this is no exception. Ending my listening experience in tears and will be reflecting on everything this story meant for a long time. This was so different than her other books, with elements of mystery and what feels like historical fiction alongside the romance plot. All of it connects in such a beautiful way. Loved it. ”

— Amy • Book Ends

Bookseller recommendation

“Not me absolutely bawling over this book! Every Emily Henry book I read is better than the last. Jump on the bandwagon y'all!”

— Claire • Mostly Books

Bookseller recommendation

“5 stars. No notes. Chefs kiss. ”

— Brittany • One More Chapter

Bookseller recommendation

“To be clear: this was a good book. It just wasn’t a great one. I’ve gone back and forth on writing this, mostly because my opinion doesn’t seem to align with the glowing reviews I’ve read elsewhere. But I believe the only real disappointment would be not being honest. Reading this book reminded me of being in high school when everyone was obsessed with Dave Matthews. Sure, I could appreciate the talent, but it wasn’t for me. I was more into Smashing Pumpkins. And Janis Joplin. That’s how I felt with this book: I could appreciate it, but I didn’t connect with it. Great Big Beautiful Life is a fun, well-written read that feels like it’s juggling too many genres. It had all the makings of classic Chick Lit (wealthy people with messy secrets, a prideful Mr. Darcy arc, some awkward dry humping), but then tried to layer in deeper themes like grief, emotional connection, and a mystery that didn’t quite deliver. The result? A book that felt like it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be. That said, I’d still recommend it for a plane ride or a sunny weekend—something light and well-paced with flashes of great writing. I just wish it had picked a clearer lane and fully committed. ”

— Elizabeth • Thirsty Caterpillar

Bookseller recommendation

“Great Big Beautiful Life is a radiant, heart-tugging journey that captures the messy magic of storytelling and finding love in unexpected places. With her signature wit and emotional depth, Henry delivers characters so vivid, you feel like you’ve known them forever. It’s a story that wraps around your heart and reminds you how beautiful life can be—even when it’s far from perfect.”

— Beatrice • The Common Good

Bookseller recommendation

“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.”

— Lauren • Book Crush