Format: 416 pages, Paperback
Published: April 23, 2025 by Penguin Australia
Fiction
Library
Seriously, what do people categorize this one as? Because it certainly is not a romance. Yes there is romance, but is more romantic fiction if that even. I enjoyed it, but this is my second Henry book and neither has been romance, and still...oh I do not know.
This is a book about two journalist competing about who can write the tell it all book about a famous socialite. And see that is the story, Margarets story. She tells about her family, and her life. Alice is a side character who gets to listen, and when she is not listening she runs into Hayden and sparks does fly in the end. Byt yes to me this is truly The Ives family story.
Romance, well I would say there is as much romance between these two as there are between others in the book. Margaret does tell about a lot of people.
The book was good, I really enjoyed learning the Ives tragic story. Did I agree with some choices they made, no, but that was life.
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—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
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.
I recently read my first Henry book - Funny Story. I loved it. It's definitely a romance and fake dating. I want to try another of her books, but I don't want women's fiction. I want HEA romance!!
ReplyDeleteI mean there is HEA here, but not a lot of romance
DeleteYes, I call this women's fiction romance. I enjoy her books. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good name :) Better than contemporary romance that some call it, and I am all noo
DeleteI have audio I just need to make time to listen to it! Too many books! I don't mind if the romance is a small portion of the story.
ReplyDeleteI did not mind it either :)
DeleteI'm glad it was a good read for you.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really interesting and easy read
DeleteFor some reason, I feel that if you have read two Emily Henry novels, you’ve read them all.
ReplyDeleteI read one that I did not like at all, I kept waiting for that bloody romance
DeleteHmm, maybe it's just contemporary drama, lol. It always confusing when a book delivers some other genre than you expected.
ReplyDeleteI did have an inkling as I tried and did not feel for another book of hers. But it is still weird cos many do say it is romance
DeleteI've read one by this author and enjoyed it. Maybe it is more Chick Lit or just Fiction? People story?
ReplyDeleteNah not chiclit, and not really just fiction, a middle thing. I liked it, but why she wins best contemporary romance prizes I do not know
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