Great Big Beautiful Life

Writers Alice and Hayden are in the fiercest competition of their professional lives — each striving to land the right to craft the biography of Margaret Ives, a famous heiress. When Margaret invites them both to the small island where she lives for a one-month trial period, each is sure they’ve got it in the bag. Margaret, however, has her own surprises up her sleeve, as she reveals different sides of her story to each of them. Which story is most accurate to Margaret’s life?

Let me preface this by saying that, despite several attempts, I am generally not much of an Emily Henry fan. That said, she's so well-loved that I can't resist trying over and over to fall in love with her books.

I'm happy to say that this book — arguably the biggest departure from her typical writing style — comes closest to hitting the target for me. Henry leans away from her traditional rom-com voice and introduces deeper themes that bleed into contemporary and women’s fiction as well.

By slowly revealing the truth of Margaret’s past, Henry adds a layer of mystery and intrigue that goes well beyond romantic tension. While there's unquestionably a romantic thread to the book, the bulk of the plot is much more about a personal legacy and the convoluted ways that family histories are woven together. I appreciated the character depth, even if the romance was a little too insta-love for me.