Genre: Romance

Emily Henry did not disappoint me in her newest novel Great Big Beautiful Life. Alice Scott has worked hard to track down Margaret Ives - a starlet who had effectively disappeared. Alice is hoping to be chosen to write her official biography. The optimist is stunned at first when she finds she must compete with Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Hayden Anderson. Alice doesn’t give up and agrees to work with Ives every other day until a biographer is chosen.

For me this book was a bit of a departure for Henry, and I was here for it. Of course romantic feelings develop between Hayden and Alice. Given the nature of the competition between them, such a romance seems all kinds of impossible. And yet, they are the only two who are getting a glimpse into Ives’ life, and they have questions. And, of course, they bump into each other here, there, and everywhere. Henry creates all of the romcom moments that her readers (me!) love. The story is deeper. Margaret Ives, who glitters on the surface, has a difficult story to tell. We learn of the difficult pressures of life in a wealthy family - expectations and secrets. Her history is complex, and she has had much loss and grief. As she shares her story - mystery and suspense are created.

I wonder if that is why I am drawn to the old Hollywood books like Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life. At some level I have always dreamed of being a glittery star (without the talent to pull it off). Life - especially in “old” Hollywood looks so glamorous. These novels remind me that “the grass is not always greener” and that wealth comes with some pretty strong strings attached. Even more importantly I can never be reminded too many times that change is always a possibility. If I can read about someone else’s redemption - I can see my own. My history is not nearly as colorful and fraught as that of Ives, but who doesn’t reflect on life and wonder if they could have done things differently here and there? While I can’t go back and change the past, I can move forward in new ways. Ives is not perfectly courageous in moving forward - but in doing so she builds connections and makes amends. Perhaps that is all we can do - and for many that will be enough.