For May, we chose Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry—aka the queen of the modern beach read. If you’re into romance, chances are Emily’s books have already wrapped you around their finger. Repping your favorite Emily Henry novel is kind of like picking your team jersey—whether you’re a Beach Read fan, a Funny Story stan, or even team People We Meet on Vacation, we’re all still showing up to every one of her book releases. Personally, I’ve loved all her books, but Great Big Beautiful Life lands somewhere in the middle of my ranking (don’t get me wrong, still a solid five-star!).

When I finished it, I scoured to see what everyone else thought—and wow, it turns out this one is a bit polarizing. Some readers are calling it her most divisive release yet. Here’s my full review of Great Big Beautiful Life:

Details

⭐️ 5 / 5 stars
🌶️🌶️ Spice Level: Mild - Medium
⚠️ CW: Mild/off-page -grief, death of a parent, extortion, kidnapping
🎶 Playlist: Spotify
📖 Standalone: Yes

Heighten the Mood

Shop the book and heighten the mood of your read with these curated scents, treats, and products. Not sponsored—though some links may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Little Croissant mug

2. Green Tea

3. Shhh I’m Reading beach towel

4. Croissants

5. “Beach Cottage” candle by Homesick

6. Gardening Gloves

7. “i have a house down the shore” candle by Literie

8. Great Big Beautiful Life book tote

9. Little Croissant Tee

Highlights

💼 Workplace Romance
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🆚 Rivals to Lovers
⏳ Timeline Jumps
🕵️‍♂️ Family Secrets
💘 He falls first
🌊 Coastal Small Town
🤝 Evelyn Hugo meets Beach Read
👁️ Single POV with flashbacks

Synopsis

Alice Scott is a bubbly celebrity journalist hoping for her big break, and Hayden Anderson is a brooding, Pulitzer-winning writer whose patience is as thin as his tolerance for small talk. Their worlds collide on Little Crescent Island, a secluded spot off the Georgia coast, where they’re both vying for the coveted opportunity to write the memoir of Margaret Ives—a reclusive heiress whose glittering, scandal-ridden past reads like a tabloid headline from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Margaret, now in her eighties and as cagey as ever, isn’t making it easy. She sets Alice and Hayden on a one-month trial period, giving them exclusive—but entirely separate—interviews. And here’s the catch: the stories she tells them don’t match. Bound by NDAs and pitted against each other in a literary showdown, Alice and Hayden must navigate conflicting accounts, family secrets, and their own clashing personalities.

As they dig deeper, they realize there’s more to Margaret—and each other—than meets the eye.

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Great Big Beautiful Life marks a shift from Emily Henry’s usual rom-com style—and it totally worked for me.

You still get those cozy small-town vibes, sharp dialogue, and warm family moments, but this one goes deeper. It balances messy mother-daughter dynamics and family love just as much as the romance. Don’t get me wrong—romance plays a big role here. There’s plenty of sexual tension and, yes, some serious dry-humping (definitely didn’t expect to say that in a review).

Alice and Hayden’s slow-burn, “we really shouldn’t but can’t help ourselves” chemistry is deliciously electric, but that’s only half the fun. But the real heart of the story is Margaret Ives and her complicated family saga, told through flashbacks that blend perfectly with the present day.

Henry’s wit and style are still here, but this one leans more into contemporary fiction. Is it a rom-com breakup? Not in my opinion. This is still a love story- love in all its forms and the lengths people will go for it - it’s just wearing a more serious, stunning dress.

💖 What Worked For Me

1. The Characters
Romance novels often fall into the trap of shallow characters—think: tall, dark, and handsome love interests with little else going on, best friends who only show up for ice cream runs, and side characters who exist purely for comic relief. (Not that sometimes that’s not exactly the vibe you want.) But Great Big Beautiful Life flips that script. Every character, even the ones who pop in for just a few scenes, feels fully realized—like they could easily carry their own story. It’s rare to find a book where even the minor players are this well-drawn, but Henry nails it effortlessly.

2. The Chemistry

Even though the story is nearly an even split between the slow-burn romance and the mystery of Margaret Ives, Emily Henry brings the heat with some seriously delicious tension. The “we can’t, we shouldn’t” moments between Alice and Hayden had me absolutely swooning—lightheaded, giddy, and feeling all the flutters. I’ll admit, I have a soft spot for brooding, towering heroes with a secret soft side, so I was basically a goner for Hayden from the start. Also, was I the only one who immediately pictured Adam Driver as Hayden after that description of his nose and general allure?

2. The Banter & Writing Style
If you’re an Emily Henry stan, you already know her dialogue sparkles. This book is no exception. No matter how readers feel about the story overall, the writing and banter are consistently praised—and deservedly so. It’s classic, sharp Henry wit at its finest.

3. Emotional Depth & Realism
What made me really connect with Alice and Hayden was the depth of their character development. The grumpy-sunshine dynamic isn’t new, but too often it’s treated as just a surface trait. Alice truly radiates sunshine, but the story reveals the reasons behind her optimism, making her feel authentic and relatable. Understanding their backgrounds and motivations helped me fully invest in their journeys. Creating two well-rounded characters is a challenge, especially with dual storylines, but Henry pulls it off effortlessly.

4. Well Balanced Narratives
Books that juggle multiple timelines can be tough, especially since I often find myself more drawn to one storyline and eager to skip ahead to it. But Henry balances two separate yet equally captivating narratives that held my attention from start to finish. While Alice and Hayden’s romance was a highlight, the story goes well beyond just love. It delves into the fierce desire to protect those we care about, the complicated dance between truth and perception, and how our closest relationships shape who we become. By the end, you’ll probably feel like calling your mom just to say “I love you,” and secretly wish there was a place online to obsess over every detail of the fictional Ives family.

5. The Narration

I listened to the audio on this one because it’s Julia Whelan, people! I love her - she is truly an amazing narrator. When she’s behind the mic, I’m all in. This book absolutely lived up to the hype for me, and Julia’s narration was nothing short of incredible.

⚡ What Didn’t Quite Work

1. The Marketing
Every not-so-glowing review of Great Big Beautiful Life seems to revolve around one thing: it wasn’t quite the romance novel people expected. While it’s true the romance doesn’t take center stage like it does in some of Henry’s other books, I actually think that’s what made this story stand out.

I went into it knowing this wasn’t typical Emily Henry romance territory—and honestly, that mindset helped me enjoy the story for what it was. The real issue? The way the book was marketed. Slapping a “contemporary romance” label on it set readers up for something more rom-com than the story delivers, which left some feeling let down. If it had been marketed as general or women’s fiction, I think expectations would’ve aligned better and readers might’ve embraced it more.

💭 Final Thoughts

I genuinely loved this book! I found myself completely engrossed in both Alice’s and Margaret’s stories, and the heart of Great Big Beautiful Life really resonated with me. At its core, it’s about the lasting impact of love in all its forms—romantic, familial, platonic—and how those connections shape who we are, often across generations. The novel also explores themes of legacy, grief, and the quiet strength it takes to navigate complicated family histories and life’s unexpected turns.

Those who didn’t love it mainly wanted the romance to take up more of the spotlight, and I understand that, but writing the book off for that reason alone means missing out on a truly incredible story. It’s rare to find a story that makes you want to race through the pages but also slow down just to spend more time with the characters. Great Big Beautiful Life is one of those reads. I savored every page.

🏆Emily Henry Ranking

Here is my current ranking of all of Emily Henry’s books…I thiiiiink.. but it is always tough because I love them all.

1. Book Lovers

2. Funny Story

3. Great Big Beautiful Life

4. People We Meet on Vacation

5. Beach Read

6. Happy Place

Throughout the novel, Alice and Hayden will visit Little Croissant Coffee Bar or surprise each other with treats from this charming small town coffee shop. Some of the most frequent purchases are for green teas and croissants. So, in honor of Hayden’s green tea love, I made Green Tea Cupcakes with white chocolate chips and vanilla bean frosting.

For April, we chose Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, one of the reigning queens of contemporary romance. Abby is beloved for her relatable characters, hilarious dialogue, emotional gut punches, and her signature happily-ever-afters that leave your heart feeling full. So, let’s talk about it!

Details

⭐️ 4.5 / 5 stars
🌶️ Spice Level: Mild
⚠️ CW: Dementia, grief, depression, caregiving burnout, job loss, long-distance struggles, animal abuse
🎶 Playlist: Spotify
📖 Standalone: Yes, but set in the beloved “Abby-verse”
👀Character connections: Samantha and Lisa appear in Just for the Summer; Jafar the parrot squawks his way in from Yours Truly.

Highlights

🐶 Animal lovers
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💥 Insta-love-ish
🧠 Dementia rep
✈️ Long-distance challenges
💘 He falls first
🌻 Summer vibes
💔 Heavy emotional themes
👀 Dual POV

Synopsis

When Samantha brings her kitten to the vet, she’s met with a man who is both swoon-worthy and cranky: Xavier. Their first meeting is a mess, but sparks still fly. After a life-changing night together, Samantha drops a bombshell — she’s leaving for a job across the country the next morning and asks Xavier to forget her. Naturally, he does the opposite.

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I went into this book expecting to love it — and I did. But, if I’m honest, it’s not my favorite Abby Jimenez book (Part of Your World and Yours Truly still top my list). Even so, Say You’ll Remember Me stands out as one of the most emotionally resonant romance novels I’ve read — this isn’t just a love story; it’s a life story.

Say You’ll Remember Me is both familiar and fresh for an Abby Jimenez novel. It has all the hallmarks we love — witty banter, lovable pets, quick pacing, and a friend group you want to grab drinks with. But this book also digs deep into grief, caregiving, sacrifice, and the messy, enduring nature of love. It’s about clinging to the bright moments when everything else feels dark.

💖 What Worked For Me

1. The Characters
A gorgeous veterinarian giving full Rhysand vibes while cuddling a kitten? Say less. Xavier is the soft-hearted, emotionally complex, slow-to-open grump that romance dreams are made of. And Samantha was an absolute gem—resilient, funny, relatable, and full of heart. I saw pieces of myself in both of them, which is always a telltale sign I’m going to get emotionally attached (and then emotionally wrecked).

2. The Banter & Writing Style
Abby’s trademark blend of laugh-out-loud wit and emotional gut punches is alive and well here. The banter sparkled, the dialogue never felt forced, and the quiet moments between characters made it all feel lived in and real.

3. Emotional Depth & Realism
This book doesn’t shy away from the hard. Dementia, depression, and the toll caregiving takes aren’t just side plots—they are the plot. And yet, Jimenez never strips her characters of dignity. The message is clear: even in your darkest, most overwhelmed moments, you still deserve love. Not just romantic love, but enduring, ride-or-die, hold-your-hand-through-the-wreckage love.

This is a book about what love really looks like: not sweeping romantic gestures or glamorous dates, but showing up day after day. It’s about being a witness to someone’s life — the heartbreak, the mess, the small victories — and standing beside them through it all. It’s about clinging to the bright moments when everything else feels dark.

4. Long-Distance Done Right
As someone who did long distance with my now-husband, I felt this one in my bones. The ache, the challenges, the longing—it was all so accurate. And like Samantha and Xavier, we endured. Because when it’s the right person, you make it work. You fight for the future, even when it’s uncertain.

5. The Little Things

The Easter eggs! I loved the Dart, inspired by Abby’s real-life car growing up — all the hilarious chaos it brought gave me such nostalgia for my own first car, a tiny Dodge Neon hand-me-down that was cute, perfect, and yes, just as temperamental. It’s those personal touches that make the story world feel so vivid.

And of course, Jafar — the foul-mouthed parrot who keeps popping up in Abby’s books. His cameo was short but hilarious, like a little inside joke for readers.

Then there’s the sweet, older vet who quietly stole my heart. He barely had page time, yet his final life lesson to Xavier — to put love above all else — was exactly the nudge Xavier needed to finally (FINALLY!) go to California and be with Samantha. I also loved the full-circle moment that this was the same vet who inspired Xavier’s career in the first place.

The relatable lines were perfection too: “I can’t stand people who are rude to grocery workers. Best litmus test there is,” and the genius “Carmuda Triangle.” I cannot tell you how many things I’ve lost to the black hole between my car seats. Samantha not only gets it — she names it, and in the funniest way. It’s these little observational gems that make Abby’s writing sparkle.

⚡ What Didn’t Quite Work

1. The Pacing
The opening spark between Samantha and Xavier was undeniable… but their jump to “I’ll wait forever” felt a bit rushed. I wanted more time to marinate in their connection before the long-distance angst hit. And after all the emotional buildup, the ending reunion felt a little too fast — like, we earned more pages of happiness, didn’t we?

2. The Sacrifices
Samantha giving up her career gutted me. I get it — family comes first sometimes — but part of me wanted her to have both somehow. And the dad sneaking out at night? Ugh. I get that it was realistic, but it left a sour taste and didn’t feel necessary to drive the plot forward.

💭 Final Thoughts

Say You’ll Remember Me is for anyone who’s ever felt crushed under life’s weight — and kept going. It’s about messy timing, bone-deep love, grief, sacrifice, and finding light in the darkest moments. It’s heavier than Abby’s usual books, so check your headspace before diving in, but if you’re ready? It will break you and put you back together.

I laughed. I cried. I wanted to throw the book across the room — and I’d do it all over again.

Normally, I’d pair something sweet to match our book club pick, but since Abby’s already one step ahead (hello, baker-author goals) with her own cupcake for the book, it only felt right to feature hers! Enter: the Guava cupcake with cream cheese frosting from Nadia Cakes. Not only was it ridiculously good, but it also ties perfectly to one of Samantha’s favorite treats in the story — the guava cheese strudel that Xavier surprises her with. And good news: if you’re not near a Nadia Cakes, you can snag these on Goldbelly!