“Love isn’t something you can cup in your hands, and I have to believe that means it’s something that can’t ever be lost.”
If you’ve just finished Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry and are already missing its blend of sharp wit, emotional storytelling, and slow-burn romance, you’re not alone. This dazzling novel about two rival writers, a mysterious island, and a larger-than-life woman’s secrets has captured readers’ hearts everywhere. But, fret not, there are plenty of books like Great Big Beautiful Life to fill that Emily Henry-shaped hole. Whether you love rivals-to-lovers chemistry, heartfelt growth, or stories that mix romance with mystery and self-discovery, these novels deliver the same magic. From love stories about authors and journalists to contemporary tales that explore creativity, vulnerability, and connection, here are the best books similar to Great Big Beautiful Life – each brimming with warmth, wit, and a touch of that irresistible storytelling charm.
Great Big Beautiful Life Summary
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years, Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll decide who’ll tell her story, there are three things on Alice’s mind: 1.) She genuinely likes people. 2.) She’s ready for this job. 3.) Hayden is glowering at her in a way that suggests he sees her as competition. But Margaret is only giving them pieces of her story. And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story – just like the tale Margaret’s spinning – could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad – depending on who’s telling it.
Beach Read – Emily Henry
Kicking off our list of the best books like Great Big Beautiful Life is another one of Emily Henry’s best summer books, Beach Read. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. They’re total polar opposites. In fact, the sole thing they have in common is that, for the next three months, they’re living in neighbouring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another, and they strike a deal designed to haul them out of their creative ruts. Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. Everyone will finish a book, and no one will fall in love. Really.
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And They Had A Great Fall – Shelby Saville
If Jake Laurent is the “human equivalent of Friday,” Kat Green is “Monday.” Nevertheless, the two shared a secret (if casual) affair during the pandemic, and now, almost one year on, they’ve reunited in Copenhagen.
Jake is a young actor cracking under the public pressure that comes with rising celebrity status. Kat is a single mother at the top of her career who believes she’s holding it all together but is barely living. Each one is a simple escape for the other – until the security Kat worked so hard for comes under threat, and Jake has to decide if he can keep Kat a secret, even if it’s at the expense of his own fame.
The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Similar to Great Big Beautiful Life, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a story about an ageing, reclusive icon and the many secrets buried in her past. Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more surprised than Monique herself.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s and, naturally, the seven husbands along the way. Evelyn reveals a story of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendships, and a great forbidden love. But, as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
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No Ordinary Love – Myah Ariel
Ella Simone’s popstar life is what dreams are made of. Her eight-year marriage to renowned music producer Elliot Majors has helped garner the hits, awards, and adoring fans to prove it. But when Ella tires of Elliot’s many infidelities, she decides to fight for her independence, despite the ironclad prenup that threatens her career.
However, an encounter with Miles Westbrook, MLB’s most eligible player, sends the tabloids into a frenzy. Amid tricky divorce proceedings, Ella’s magnetic connection with the charismatic pitcher may just be her downfall. Now the pressure is on to turn a scandal into an opportunity and give their teams the performance that will shore up both Ella and Miles’ reputations. But, as the lines between reality and PR begin to blur, Ella is forced to choose between the choreographed life she knows or surrender to a life that might set her free.
The Briar Club – Kate Quinn
Another great female-led introspective book like Great Big Beautiful Life, comes from Kate Quinn in her historical fiction bestseller, The Briar Club. Everyone keeps to themselves in Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital, where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious Grace March moves into the attic, she draws her oddball collection of neighbours into an unlikely friendship.
Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: Who is the true enemy in the midst?
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The Dead Romantics – Ashley Poston
Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem – after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her latest deadline, she’s prepared to kiss her career goodbye. But then she receives a phone call, sending her home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.
For ten years, she’s run from the town that’s never understood her. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. That is, until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlour’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance might be dead, but so is her new editor. And his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.
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First-Time Caller – B.K. Borison
Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mum, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heastrings into the limelight. Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinising her love life, she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought she was. Perhaps a little romance wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Everyone wants Lucie to find her happily ever after, even the handsome, temperamental man calls the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happy ending and the man in the headphones next to her. One of the best cosy books like Great Big Beautiful Life, First-Time Caller, is the story of a hopeless romantic and a jaded radio host from B.K. Borison.
Promise Me Sunshine – Cara Bastone
Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Her best friend, Lou, recently passed away, and her death has left Lenny feeling completely lost. She’s avoiding her parents, the apartment she shared with Lou, and the list of things she’s meant to do to help her live again. The only thing she can do is temporary babysitting jobs. Her latest is a gem: helping overworked, single mother Reese and her daughter, Ainsley. It’s not perfect: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around and is kind of a huge jerk.
Miles sees right through Lenny. Turns out, he knows a lot about grief and, surprisingly, offers her a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complex relationship with Reese. The more time she spends with him, the more Lenny is surprised to learn that, sometimes, losing everything is the first step to finding yourself and love again.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
