Romance and scandal, with a dash of historical biography.

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Pages: 416

First published: 2025

Original language: English

The plot: Margaret Ives is the reclusive heir to the fortune of a notorious family. Her past, filled with tabloid gossip and scandal, made her a celebrity until she disappeared, never to be seen in public again. Now in her 80s, she is ready to tell her story.

Margaret invites two very different writers to spend one month in her company, following which she will choose one to write her biography.

The first, Alice, is genuinely lovely person who genuinely likes people. She’s open, outgoing and friendly. The second, Hayden, is none of these things. What will happen when the two compete for the scoop of a lifetime?

What did I think of this book?

I went through a rom-com phase this year. This is unusual as romantic comedies aren’t usually my thing! I often crave something darker, more complex. I don’t know what caused the shift. Most likely insomnia, the desire to read something frothy and relatively cheery before bed. It helped, a bit.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed GBBL much more than I expected to. This is a slightly different piece from a standard rom-com in that it blends (fictional) historical biography and a dark subplot with fairly typical odd-couple action.

Ultimately what I enjoyed most about this novel was Margaret Ives and her story – the mystery of her disappearance and the scandal that surrounded her was what kept me reading and held my attention.

What was most interesting about this book?

A fairly standard romance between two very different people – who ultimately find solace in each other – is elevated by the story of the fictional Ives family. I saw shades of Citizen Kane in their story (perhaps that film was an influence on Henry?) in the desire for power, their need for dominance in the world of media, and the trope that whatever they did, they could not stray far from scandal. These are people who are incapable of living a simple life – something always gets in the way, whether that’s ambition, success or power. The range of issues explored in this novel is vast – celebrity culture, press intrusion, complex marriages and motherhood all form part of the story.

What am I going to take away from this book?

On the surface, GBBL is a light, fun read – but look deeper, and you’ll find hidden depths. The beautiful Georgia setting, with its sultry summer nights and sweltering sunny days, acts as an additional character, and aids the narrartive as the two leads get to know each other and eventually, fall for each other. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and one that made me curious to read more of Henry’s work.

Will I enjoy this book?

If you’re an Emily Henry fan, then yes, you absolutely will. I’m advised that this is a more complex and lengthy work than her other novels, but if you love historical biographies and historical fiction (as I do) then you will find much to enjoy.

Rating: 4/5