Book Club Meets: Ambitious women and generational trauma, with Emily Henry

Happy Place with Fearne Cotton

Friday, 6 June 2025 - 31 minutes

Two writers are competing for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a famous reclusive heiress. One of them is going to uncover the truth behind one of the most scandalous families of the 20th century. The thing is, heiress Margaret is giving each writer different tantalising little pieces of her story...Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry was May’s Happy Place Book Club read. In this chat with Fearne, Emily explains why she’s intrigued by the idea of generational trauma affecting our day to day, and why it’s important to interrogate where your sense of ambition comes from. Is your drive coming from within, or are you trying to prove something to someone?Plus, Fearne and Emily explore why reading fiction is such a brilliant way to examine your own opinions, values, and moral tendencies through how you react to the characters.Thank you to Penguin Audio for the use of Great Big Beautiful Life audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Listen to Book Club Meets: Lorna Tucker Listen to Book Club Meets: Clare Leslie Hall Listen to Book Club Meets: Holly Bourne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.