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Great Big Beautiful Life

Great Big Beautiful Life

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress with more than a few plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.


When Margaret Ives, the famously reclusive heiress, invites eternal optimist Alice Scott to the balmy Little Crescent Island, Alice knows this is it: her big break. And even more rare: a chance to impress her family with a Serious Publication.

The catch? Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud, Hayden Anderson, is sure of the same thing.

The proposal? A one-month trial period to unearth the truth behind one of the most scandalous families of the 20th Century, after which she’ll choose who’ll tell her story.

The problem? Margaret is only giving each of them tantalising pieces. Pieces they can’t 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.

© Emily Henry 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Reviews

  • Emily knows how to craft a love story like the all time greats
    Taylor Jenkins Reid

About the author

Emily Henry

Emily Henry is the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of the butterfly-inducing romantic comedies Beach Read, You & Me on Vacation, Book Lovers, Happy Place and Funny Story. She studied creative writing at Hope College and now lives and writes in the American Midwest. Great Big Beautiful Life is her sixth novel.
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