- Great Big Beautiful Life is a departure from Emily Henry’s other novels in both tone and subject matter. What were your overall thoughts on this approach? Do you feel it worked? Why or why not?
- Do you have a favorite Emily Henry book? Where does this one fall in your rankings?
- Why was journalism the right career choice for Alice? What did she hope may happen if she was the one to write Margaret’s book?
- Despite his feelings for Alice, Hayden doesn’t want to cross a line since they are technically competitors for Margaret’s story. What were your initial thoughts on Alice and Hayden? Do you think they are a good fit? Why or why not?
- Why did Margaret feel like now is the time to tell her story after everything that has transpired?
- Much of Margaret’s family history is told through dialogue between Margaret and Alice. Did that work or would you have preferred if it was a dual timeline structure (explaining the past and the present)?
- Were you engaged with Margaret’s history and past? Or were you left wanting more? What were your thoughts on her romance with Cosmo?
- Is Margaret’s story a tragedy?
- Margaret has a couple twists up her sleeve and it turns out that she had a child that she gave up for fear of what the press would do. And that child turns out to be Hayden’s mother so Margaret is his grandmother. The entire book project started as a way for Margaret to meet her grandson. What were your thoughts on this reveal?
- Eventually, Alice and Hayden marry, and have a child. They also co-wrote Margaret’s book together. Did you like the ending? What happens next for all the characters?
- Who would you cast in the main roles for a film or TV adaptation?
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
More discussion at bookclubchat.com. These questions contain major spoilers.