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Quick answer: If you liked Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life, try Funny Story, Happy Place, Beach Read, Book Lovers, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Remarkably Bright Creatures. They share its banter, big feelings and a story about telling someone else's life.
In Great Big Beautiful Life, two writers compete for the right to tell the story of an elderly woman with a complicated past, and sparks fly. It combines romance, secrets and a look at how stories are shaped. These 15 books bring together witty romance, life stories and warm women's fiction, with some tears along the way.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funny Story | Emily Henry | Adult | readers who want more Emily Henry |
| Happy Place | Emily Henry | Adult | readers who like second-chance romance |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | Adult | readers who like banter |
| Book Lovers | Emily Henry | Adult | readers who like bookish romance |
| People We Meet on Vacation | Emily Henry | Adult | slow-burn fans |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | readers who like life stories |
| Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | readers who like music and drama |
| Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | readers who like family sagas |
| The Hating Game | Sally Thorne | Adult | readers who like workplace tension |
| The Love Hypothesis | Ali Hazelwood | Adult | readers who like fake dating |
| Lessons in Chemistry | Bonnie Garmus | Adult | readers who like strong heroines |
| Tom Lake | Ann Patchett | Adult | readers who like family stories |
| Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt | Adult | readers who want cozy comfort |
| The Idea of You | Robinne Lee | Adult | readers who like celebrity romance |
| Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine | Gail Honeyman | Adult | readers who like quirky heroines |
1. Funny Story by Emily Henry
Daphne is left by her fiancé for his best friend, and she and the best friend's ex decide to fake-date. Funny and warm.
Best for: readers who want more Emily Henry.
2. Happy Place by Emily Henry
Harriet and Wyn, a secretly broken-up couple, pretend to be together at their friends' yearly vacation. Full of friendship and ache.
Best for: readers who like second-chance romance.
3. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two rival writers, one of romance and one of literary fiction, swap genres for a summer. Funny and moving.
Best for: readers who like banter.
4. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Nora, a literary agent, keeps meeting Charlie, an editor, in a small town. A story about sisters, careers and love.
Best for: readers who like bookish romance.
5. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex take a trip together every summer. Friends-to-lovers across ten years.
Best for: slow-burn fans.
6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A reclusive Hollywood star finally tells her life story to a young journalist. Glamorous, emotional and full of secrets.
Best for: readers who like life stories.
7. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The oral history of a 1970s rock band that breaks up at its peak. Told in interview format.
Best for: readers who like music and drama.
8. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Riva siblings throw a legendary party in 1983 Malibu, and a night changes everything. Fast and vivid.
Best for: readers who like family sagas.
9. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Lucy and Joshua are office rivals who might be more. A classic enemies-to-lovers romance.
Best for: readers who like workplace tension.
10. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Olive fake-dates a professor to prove a point. Nerdy and sweet.
Best for: readers who like fake dating.
11. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1960s, becomes a TV cooking star. Funny, angry and warm.
Best for: readers who like strong heroines.
12. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Lara tells her daughters about her summer as an actress and a love affair with a famous man. Gentle and lovely.
Best for: readers who like family stories.
13. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A widow who cleans an aquarium befriends a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. Sweet, funny and sad.
Best for: readers who want cozy comfort.
14. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
A 39-year-old woman begins a romance with a 24-year-old pop star. Steamy and emotional.
Best for: readers who like celebrity romance.
15. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor, a lonely office worker, slowly opens up to a kind colleague. Funny, sad and healing.
Best for: readers who like quirky heroines.
How to Choose
If you want more Emily Henry, read Funny Story and Happy Place. If the biography element appealed to you, try The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones & The Six. For comfort, choose Remarkably Bright Creatures or Tom Lake. For rivals-to-lovers, read The Hating Game. Emily Henry's books often cover grief, and most of these books include open-door or mature scenes, so check as you go.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Great Big Beautiful Life about?
It follows two writers who compete to write the biography of an elderly woman, and the story balances romance with her secrets.
Is it a standalone?
Yes. Emily Henry's novels are not connected in a series.
Which Emily Henry book should I read first?
Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation are the most common starting points.
Is it spicy?
It has some romantic scenes, but it is not as explicit as some other romances on this list.