Best-selling author Emily Henry has done it again. Her latest novel, Great Big Beautiful Life, released on April 22, has rapidly climbed the charts to become one of Amazon’s top-selling books, currently ranking third on the retailer’s bestseller list.
The much-anticipated novel, a sweeping romance set against the backdrop of a mysterious biography project, follows two writers — Alice Scott, an aspiring author on the cusp of her breakthrough, and Hayden Anderson, a celebrated, award-winning novelist. Both arrive on the fictional Little Crescent Island with a shared goal: to write the biography of Margaret Ives, a reclusive figure once known as a tragic heiress and tabloid icon.
According to the publisher’s synopsis, the octogenarian Ives challenges both writers to compete for the right to tell her story, offering them fragmented versions of her past under strict non-disclosure agreements. The two must navigate not only the secrecy of the assignment but also a growing romantic tension that complicates their professional rivalry.
The novel’s blend of mystery, romance, and literary intrigue has resonated with readers and critics alike, further cementing Henry’s place as a powerhouse in contemporary fiction.
Henry, who first rose to prominence with Beach Read, has seen continued success with each subsequent title. Several of her works are in development for screen adaptations. Beach Read, Book Lovers, and Funny Story are slated for film treatment, while Netflix has acquired adaptation rights to The People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place.
In addition to standard hardcover and e-book editions available through Amazon and independent retailers, limited-edition versions of Great Big Beautiful Life are being sold through Target and Barnes & Noble.
As Henry’s popularity continues to soar, Great Big Beautiful Life appears poised to be one of the defining romantic novels of 2025.
