Latest news with #GreatBigBeautifulLife
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Book Review: The Great Big Beautiful Life is steeped in mystery but soggy on romance
Sometimes you get yourself a big, fat, shiny book and decide you're going to love it. But a quarter of the way through your reading marathon, you realise that your interest may not necessarily be waning, but... is this really what you signed up for? Author Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life has the grandiose, the twists and the trappings. But if you pick up this book in the hopes of flipping through a nemeses-to-lovers trope, alert: you're going to be left high and dry. Past the point of the falsely-packaged 'romance', Great Big Beautiful Life offers just about enough to have the Kindle-bound Sherlocks make it through to the end — a reclusive heiress, ironclad NDAs and a dance-off, albeit of words — Emily knows her craft well enough to have you not abandon the read halfway through. But the final payoff comes not from the mind-bending exhilaration you expect from a mystery read, but more like the self-assuring 'ah' at the end of a fairly predictable slow burn. One thing Emily aces in, is in her attempt of character building and painting the choicest picture, she uses words that aide her narrative. Alice brings the spark and her Pulitzer-winning opponent Hayden brings some empty depth. Yet anything around them, let alone between them, is drowned in the winding, spotlight-hogging lore of Margaret Ives' family. More than anything, what the book falls short on is expectations. You walk in expecting Emily to deliver a subtly racy romance against the backdrop of warring words and blue oceans. You get instead are both, along with ample visual reprieve, but their merit stands robbed owing to the hollow, almost forced spot that Alice and Hayden are put in. The crescendo of a good romance novel – though this isn't really what that is – is the big realisation of having fallen head over heels. But here's the thing, more than Alice herself, you will be confused as to how she got there! If you walk into this novel dismissing any expectations of a slow burn romance then it will be a fairly engaging read. But, if a slew of stolen glances and fluttering tension is what you're really after then you're better off without it. Either which way, this book stands best defined by its lost potential. Title: Great Big Beautiful Life Author: Emily Henry Publisher: Penguin Random House India Price: ₹899
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Love reading about love? Try these new romance books this summer
Love reading about love? Try these new romance books this summer Romance readers have had no shortage of books to devour this year, with new releases from favorite authors and new obsessions. Already, fans have flocked to read 'Great Big Beautiful Life' by Emily Henry, 'Flirting Lessons' by Jasmine Guillory, 'Summer in the City' by Alex Aster, 'Wild and Wrangled' by Lyla Sage and 'Scythe & Sparrow' by Brynne Weaver. The pool of heartwarming (and often steamy) stories is only getting bigger as we dip into summer. Marie Rutkoski's 'Ordinary Love' (June 10) shows love is anything but simple when two high school lovers run into each other as adults. Danica Nava's 'Love is a War Song' (July 22) follows a disgraced pop star and grumpy ranch hand while Brigitte Knightley's romantasy 'The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy' (July 8) introduces a new enemies-to-lovers couple. Then there are new installments in beloved series, including 'Worth Fighting For' by Jesse Q. Sutanto (out now from the Meant To Be series), 'Rewind It Back' by Liz Tomforde (out now from the Windy City series). Jane L. Rosen's 'Songs of Summer' (out now from The Fire Island trilogy) and Simone Soltani's 'Ride with Me' (out now from Lights Out series). Here are 10 more romance novels we're excited to swoon over: 'The Love Haters' by Katherine Center (out now) Video producer Katie is faced with a choice: lose her job, or take a gig profiling Hutch, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer (and the hottest man ever). It seems like an easy choice — only Katie can't swim. She and coworker Cole (Hutch's brother and rival, BTW) head to Key West, where Katie quickly finds herself in uncharted waters in more ways than one. 'Problematic Summer Romance' by Ali Hazelwood (out now) Not even four months after publishing her last USA TODAY bestseller, "Deep End," Ali Hazelwood is returning with another steamy romance. Maya is 23 and a struggling grad student while Connor is 38 and a successful biotech businessman. He's also Maya's brother's best friend, and the crush Maya can't get out of her head. Their age gap is problematic and they both know it. But when Maya's brother sets his wedding in Italy, Maya and Connor are forced to acknowledge that the attraction between them isn't going away. 'Till Summer Do Us Part' by Meghan Quinn (out now) Scottie Price just started a new job and she's the only woman on the team. In a desperate attempt to impress her boss, she pretends to be married just like everyone else she works with. When she has to manifest a husband, her best friend provides a solution: Her millionaire brother who's obsessed with improv. Wilder Wells teaches Scottie the main rule of improv - always say yes – and agrees to go along on an eight-day trip with Scottie and all her co-workers. What could go wrong? 'It's A Love Story' by Annabel Monaghan (out now) It's a forced proximity romance! Child TV star-turned-Hollywood producer Jane is working hard to be taken seriously in her career. In an attempt to get her first project greenlit, she promises to include an original song by pop icon Jack Quinlan, who just so happens to be the guy she hasn't seen since he gave Jane her first kiss two decades ago. To convince him, she begrudgingly enlists the help of pretentious cinematographer Dan, who has a connection to the musician. But can Jane survive a week staying in close quarters in Dan's hometown? 'My Best Friend's Honeymoon' by Meryl Wilsner (out now) The author of 'Cleat Cute' and 'Mistakes Were Made' returns with a spicy romance about two lifelong best friends who find love when they go on an unexpected trip. After Elsie Hoffman breaks off her engagement to her college boyfriend, she takes her best friend on her nonrefundable honeymoon vacation. Ginny Holtz has been in love with Elsie for almost 15 years, and they take the trip as an opportunity to help Elsie find out what happiness means to her. Only Ginny never expected Elsie's happily ever after involved them. 'One Golden Summer' by Carley Fortune (out now) When Alice was 17, she spent one magical summer at her grandmother's lake cottage. A budding photographer, her teenage self snapped a photo of three teenagers on a speedboat. Fast forward to adulthood, Alice takes photos for a living. But she's been hiding behind the lens and now wants more for herself. She heads back to the cottage with her grandmother, where she meets a familiar face: Charlie, the boy from that photo she shot all those years ago. He's a mega-flirt, and Alice finds herself wishing she could return to the simplicity of her teenhood. 'Winging It With You' by Chip Pons (out June 10) Asher was supposed to be boarding a flight with his boyfriend to go on an "Amazing Race"-esque competition show — too bad said boyfriend just dumped him. Processing his fresh breakup from the airport TGI Fridays bar, Asher has a chance encounter with Theo, a workaholic pilot who's being forced to prove he can have a work-life balance. The two hatch a plot to pretend to date for the sake of the reality show. But could actual feelings be taking flight? 'Sounds Like Love' by Ashley Poston (out June 17) Songwriter Joni Lark heads from the hustle of Los Angeles to her North Carolina beach hometown in search of the answer to the emptiness and writer's block she's been feeling lately. When a musical voice in her head turns out to be a telepathic connection with an arrogant musician, the two plan to finish the song that's running through both of their heads in order to break their link. But what if it does the opposite? 'When Javi Dumped Mari' by Mia Sosa (out June 24) We'll have what she's having in USA TODAY bestseller Mia Sosa's latest romance. This one follows BFFs Javier and Marisol, who vow on the eve of their college graduation to never date someone the other doesn't like. Fast forward nearly a decade, Mari has gone back on that promise: She's engaged without even introducing Javi to the groom-to-be. Even worse? Javi's been secretly in love with her since sophomore year. 'The Re-Write' by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn (out Aug. 12) You've heard of enemies-to-lovers, now get ready for loves-to-enemies-to-lovers. Aspiring author Temi and charming charity worker Wale instantly fall for each other and begin dating — until Wale drops her to go on a "Love Island"-esque reality dating show. As he gains fame as the show's bad boy, Temi focuses on writing her dream rom-com novel starring a plus-size Black woman. But publishers keep passing on her book, and with bills piling up, Temi accepts an opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity memoir. That celebrity? Wale. Up against a tight deadline, can the two re-write their unhappy ending?
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The week's bestselling books, May 18
1. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress. 2. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Atria Books: $30) The bond between a group of teens 25 years earlier has a powerful effect on a budding artist. 3. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' 4. My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende (Ballantine Books: $30) A young writer in the late 1800s travels to South America to uncover the truth about her father. 5. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books: $30) Worlds collide when a teenager vanishes from her Adirondacks summer camp. 6. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Simon & Schuster: $29) A love triangle unearths dangerous secrets. 7. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life. 8. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron Books: $29) As sea levels rise, a family on a remote island rescues a mysterious woman. 9. Silver Elite by Dani Francis (Del Rey: $33) Psychic gifts can get you killed in the first book of a dystopian romance series. 10. Strangers in Time by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing: $30) Two London teens scarred by World War II find an unexpected ally in a bereaved bookshop owner. … 1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control. 2. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life. 3. Life of Your Dreams by Mark Pentecost (Mission Driven Press: $28) The billionaire entrepreneur reveals the seven steps that took him from surviving to thriving. 4. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (Random House: $30) A guide to the art of journaling, with contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem and others. 5. We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle (The Dial Press: $34) The guidebook for being alive. 6. Notes to John by Joan Didion (Knopf: $32) Diary entries from the famed writer's journal. 7. Joy Prescriptions by Dr. Tiffany Moon (Legacy Lit: $29) The doctor and 'Real Housewives' alum on how to find happiness. 8. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Pantheon: $27) A meditation on freedom, trust, loss and our relationship with the natural world. 9. Conquering Crisis by Adm. William H. McRaven (Grand Central Publishing: $26) The retired four-star admiral's personal stories illustrate the principles of effective leadership during times of crisis. 10. The Prism by Laura Day (Spiegel & Grau: $32) Seven steps to self-discovery and renewal. … 1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20) 2. Table for Two by Amor Towles (Penguin Books: $19) 3. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Berkley: $19) 4. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $19) 5. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18) 6. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Grove Press: $22) 7. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books: $17) 8. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial: $22) 9. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17) 10. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Anchor: $18) … 1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12) 2. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21) 3. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36) 4. Sociopath by Patric Gagne (Simon & Schuster: $20) 5. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20) 6. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18) 7. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17) 8. The Last of His Kind by Andy McCullough (Grand Central Publishing: $22) 9. The Best of Me by David Sedaris (Back Bay: $22) 10. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin: $19)
TimesLIVE
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Exclusive Books' recommended May reads
For anyone looking for the perfect book club read, Emily Henry delivers that in Great Big Beautiful Life. Writers Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson are tasked with competing for the chance to write the memoir of once-famed, now-reclused socialite Margaret Ives. With six months to write a compelling draft each, Alice and Hayden's own story starts to tangle as they grow closer as they spend more time together. Push the limit in Unsolicited, a thrilling debut from Andrea Shaw, with twists and turns sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. We meet Fatima Matthews, a quick-witted and sharp-eyed detective juggling a murder case, a plagiarism scandal and the chaos of menopause. Detective Matthews must face her frailties as the threats escalate and the chance to redeem herself starts to slip away. Their non-fiction selection for May is a combination of topical reads for anyone wary of AI, inspiring stories for much-loved figures and reflective reads for rainy days. Find comfort with Sameer Rawjee in the growing integration of AI in our daily lives in Taking the Anxiety out of AI, a helpful guide outlining the co-existence of human talent and the power of technology. Oprah's Book Club pick The Tell by Amy Griffin is a heartfelt memoir exploring memory, trauma and the healing power of time. Prompted by Griffin's 10-year-old daughter wishing to close the distance between them, Griffin is propelled to confront what she spent her life running from. Feel inspired by the journey of the greatest Formula One driver of all time in the definitive biography of Lewis Hamilton, Sir Lewis by Michael E Sawyer. From karting on local tracks to becoming a seven-time world champion, this biography examines the legacy of an icon on and off the grid. Markus Zusak brings a poignant, funny and disarmingly honest memoir of family, love and companionship in Three Wild Dogs and the Truth. Zusak shares the story of his family's adoption of three wily rescue dogs and the madness, hilarity and inseparable relationships that ensued. Discover the history of the SA film industry in Hollywood on the Veld by Ted Botha. Secretive millionaire IW Schlesinger had ambitions to rival Hollywood from a film studio in Killarney. This is the never-before-told story of the rise and fall of the strangest, most unique empire ever.
Los Angeles Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The week's bestselling books, May 11
1. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress. 2. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' 3. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life. 4. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Simon & Schuster: $29) A love triangle unearths dangerous secrets. 5. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $29) An L.A. artist pursues creative and sexual freedom after having an extramarital affair during a road trip. 6. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Entangled: Red Tower Books: $30) The third installment of the bestselling dragon rider series. 7. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt & Co.: $29) An unexpected wedding guest gets surprise help. 8. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron Books: $29) As sea levels rise, a family on a remote island rescues a mysterious woman. 9. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Grove Press: $20) During the 1985 Christmas season, a coal merchant in an Irish village makes a troubling discovery. 10. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $29) Two grieving brothers come to terms with their history. … 1. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life. 2. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control. 3. Notes to John by Joan Didion (Knopf: $32) Diary entries from the famed writer's journal. 4. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer on how to be a creative person. 5. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (Random House: $30) A guide to the art of journaling, with contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem and others. 6. The Next Day by Melinda French Gates (Flatiron Books: $26) The former co-chair of the Gates Foundation recounts pivotal moments in her life. 7. Conquering Crisis by Adm. William H. McRaven (Grand Central Publishing: $26) The retired four-star admiral's personal stories illustrate the principles of effective leadership during times of crisis. 8. Who Is Government? by Michael Lewis, editor (Riverhead Books: $30) A civics lesson from a team of writers and storytellers. 9. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Flatiron Books: $33) An insider's account of working at Facebook. 10. Matriarch by Tina Knowles (One World: $35) The mother of singer-songwriters Beyoncé and Solange tells her story. … 1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20) 2. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17) 3. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $19) 4. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18) 5. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (Grand Central: $20) 6. Table for Two by Amor Towles (Penguin Books: $19) 7. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper Perennial: $19) 8. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (Anchor: $18) 9. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Vintage: $19) 10. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (HarperOne: $18) … 1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12) 2. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36) 3. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21) 4. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18) 5. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17) 6. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Modern Library: $11) 7. The White Album by Joan Didion (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $18) 8. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20) 9. All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley (Simon & Schuster: $19) 10. Sociopath by Patric Gagne (Simon & Schuster: $20)
