Emily Henry: A Reading Guide
my ranking and what you should know about her six romance books
As a romance enthusiast, nothing has been able to fill my craving for swoony, mature, and witty romance books quite like she has. She is undoubtedly one of the most popular authors in the genre right now, and for good reason. Her contemporary romances have a distinct writing style, a strong sense of place, and characters that jump off the page. Her ability to create such different yet relatable characters almost feels invasive, as if she’s writing straight from my own thoughts. She has a gift for exploring human relationships (and making me tear up every single time).
You might have seen her books described as “romance for people who don’t enjoy romance,” and I think that comes from the fact that her writing has qualities that can appeal to those who usually shy away from the genre. By saying this, I’m just trying to convince you that, while her writing might not be for every kind of reader, her books have so much heart and emotional resonance that I believe they can be for everybody.
With the recent release of her latest book, Great Big Beautiful Life, which is different from her previous five, I’ve noticed many readers are unsure where to begin. So, I’ve put together a guide to her work, including my ratings, which was honestly one of the hardest things to do.
This guide contains no spoilers! I’ve included some of my favorite quotes, because a great quote is often all it takes for me to pick up a new book, but I promise I’m not spoiling anything for you.
About the author
Emily Henry is an American author and a #1 New York Times bestseller known for her six romance novels. Her books blend sharp humor, introspective character arcs, and settings that feel like characters themselves. She began her career writing young adult fiction, debuting in 2016 with The Love That Split the World. After several YA titles, she became the beloved author we know today with the release of Beach Read in 2020, her first adult novel, which marked a turning point in her career.
You can find bonus content and all the information you need on her official website, or follow her updates on Substack, at
.Where to start
I recommend reading the books in the order they were published. They aren’t interconnected (though there are character cameos and easter eggs), but I read them as they were coming out, and I think it’s the perfect order. If you want to switch it up, I would still recommend starting with Beach Read. I’m not only saying it because it’s my favorite, but I think it’s the best one to introduce you to the kind of romance she writes.
With that in mind, here’s the order, from the first published to her latest release:
Beach Read (2020)
People We Meet on Vacation (2021)
Book Lovers (2022)
Happy Place (2023)
Funny Story (2024)
Great Big Beautiful Life (2025)
My ranking & reviews
I’m ranking them from best to worst (even if I’ve never rated one of her books less than four stars, and this order has changed multiple times).
Beach Read (2020)
Romance writer January Andrews no longer believes in love and moves to her family’s beach house to find inspiration. She discovers that her college rival, Augustus Everett, an acclaimed literary fiction writer known for his dark, complex stories, is her next-door neighbor. Polar opposites in writing styles and perspectives on love, January and Gus agree to help each other overcome writer’s block. They embark on a series of “field trips” that challenge each other and give way to a growing attraction.
This was my first Emily Henry book. I’ve read it twice, and I think it’s perfect in every way. It made me cry, January’s story is so similar to mine it’s almost scary, Augustus is the epitome of a man written by a woman, and I can picture the setting perfectly. The banter is flawless. You’ll relate to this if you have a complex relationship with your father, if you love the magic of writing, and if you desperately want to believe in love and connection again. Once you relate to this, there’s no going back.
“And that was the moment I realized: when the world felt dark and scary, love could whisk you off to go dancing; laughter could take some of the pain away; beauty could punch holes in your fear. I decided then that my life would be full of all three.”
“You know that feeling, when you're watching someone sleep and you feel overwhelmed with joy that they exist?”
Funny Story (2024)
Children’s librarian Daphne’s life is upended when her fiancé, Peter, ends their relationship for his childhood best friend, Petra. Enter Miles, Petra’s ex, who is reeling from the breakup and finds Daphne in the same spot in life. Miles is scruffy and chaotic, while Daphne is a buttoned-up, practical woman. Initially, they maintain a wary distance, both nursing their respective wounds, but after a shared evening of commiseration, they hatch a plan to fake a relationship and show their exes how much fun they’re having without them.
Accidental roommates, fake relationship, healing from heartbreak… do I need to say more? I wasn’t fully invested in the characters at the beginning of the book, but then I ended up falling in love with them and their story. You’ll love it if you enjoy humor, self-discovery alongside romance, and found family elements. It’s hilarious how the book is called Funny Story, because I bawled my eyes out.
“The same universe that dispassionately takes things away can bring you things you weren't imaginative enough to dream up.”
“All those moments throughout the days, weeks, months that don't get marked on calendars with hand-drawn stars or little stickers.
Those are the moments that make a life.
Not grand gestures, but mundane details that, over time, accumulate until you have a home, instead of a house.
Happy Place (2023)
Harriet and Wyn, once a picture-perfect couple, have secretly broken up six months prior to the start of the story. Despite their break-up, they remain bound together by a close-knit friend group who remains unaware of their split. The group gets together once a year at a beloved cottage in Maine, a tradition that Harriet and Wyn aren’t ready to give up, especially now that the cottage is for sale. Determined to preserve the group’s final vacation, Harriet and Wyn agree to pretend to still be in love. Forced into proximity and familiar routines, they revisit the moments that brought them together and must decide whether their love is really gone or if their “happy place” can be salvaged.
This book has a special place in my heart. The nostalgia and sense of comfort the setting brings, the way Harriet and Wyn navigate their connection again, and the strong element of friendship make this one of Emily Henry’s best works. You’ll love this if you value friendship above most things in life, if you enjoy a vacation setting, and if you’re a fan of a mature second-chance romance. I could talk about Harriet’s arc to convince you, but I don’t want to spoil anything. Just know it’s such a fresh take on a romance heroine, and I applaud Henry for the way she handled the story.
“Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters.”
“You're like gravity. Everything keeps spinning, but my mind's always got one hand on you.”
“You are in all of my happiest places.”
People We Meet On Vacation (2021)
Poppy, an adventurous travel writer, and Alex, a grounded high school English teacher, form an unlikely friendship in college and establish an annual tradition of taking a week-long summer vacation together. These trips are the highlight of their lives for ten years, until, two years prior to the events of the story, a mysterious falling out strains their relationship. Poppy hasn’t felt truly motivated or happy since that last ill-fated trip, so she takes the risk of contacting Alex, convincing him to embark on one final vacation that will force them to confront unresolved issues and feelings.
Friends-to-lovers has never looked this good. This is the most rom-com-y book of hers because of the travel settings and the dual timeline. It’s so fun. The only small thing that made me rate the book fourth is that I don’t love when we have to spend three hundred pages discovering why people had a falling out, because I often end up disappointed by why it’s such a big deal. Other than that, no notes.
“Sometimes it feels like I didn't even exist before that. Like you invented me.”
“I'm on vacation. Vacations always end. It's the very fact that it's finite that makes traveling special. You could move to any one of those destinations you loved in small doses, and it wouldn't be the spellbinding, life-altering seven days you spend there as a guest, letting a place into your heart fully, letting it change you.”
Book Lovers (2022)
Nora Stephens is a highly successful and career-focused literary agent in New York City. After her latest relationship ends, her sister, Libby, convinces her to take a month-long trip to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, a picturesque small town that Libby hopes will be the place Nora finds love and transformation. Nora’s plans for a relaxing getaway are disrupted by encounters with the brooding, ambitious book editor Charlie Lastra. The two have a history of professional disagreements, and their repeated run-ins are unwelcome until they find common ground, a shared passion for books, and a simmering attraction.
You’d like this book if you’re into a romance that subverts typical tropes, strong female leads, and Hallmark-style settings. Oh, and if you have a sibling. The relationship between Libby and Nora is almost more important than the one Nora has with Charlie, I think (which is why I related to this one a little less, as an only child). My favorite thing about this book is the banter. My least favorite is that I didn’t fully connect with the characters, even though I love the way their relationship developed. Nora is Emily Henry’s most controversial character—you either love her or hate her. She’s got an edge, and she’s not always easy to sympathize with. If you relate to her, you’ll rate this much higher than I did.
“A reminder that there are things in life so valuable that you must risk the pain of losing them for the joy of briefly having them.”
“I read once that sunflowers always orient themselves to face the sun. That’s what being near Charlie Lastra is like for me. There could be a raging wildfire racing toward me from the west and I’d still be straining eastward toward his warmth.”
Great Big Beautiful Life (2025)
Alice Scott is an optimistic journalist eager for a better job and finds herself presented with the opportunity to write the biography of former tabloid princess Margaret Ives. Margaret, daughter of one of the most scandalous families of the 20th century, has remained enigmatic for decades, and she has chosen to share her life story from the secluded Little Crescent Island. However, Alice is not alone in this task and faces competition from Hayden Anderson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer with a more cynical approach. Margaret shares her story with both of them, but under the constraints of a strict non-disclosure agreement: Alice and Hayden can’t compare notes.
This book has a unique narrative structure that differs from her previous ones. While some people will love how there’s a lot more plot and you get two stories in one, others might find the book not long enough to develop both thoroughly. While I ended up enjoying Margaret’s story, my only complaint about the book is how quickly Hayden and Alice’s relationship developed. It’s the only relationship I’m not 100% convinced of, which is why it’s my least favorite. It’s still so good, though! Alice is sunshine in human form. Hayden is perfect on paper, and so different from Alice, which makes their connection feel so life-altering. If you enjoy reading about rich people scandals, a little bit of mystery, and family dynamics, this will be a breath of fresh air for you.
“Love isn’t something you can cup in your hands, and I have to believe that means it’s something that can’t ever be lost.”
“I think you live in a world that’s more interesting than the one most people live in,” he says, and just as my heart starts to sink with disappointment, with a kind of loneliness, he adds, “and I wish I could live in it too.” I feel myself beaming. “I’ll take you sometime.” “I’d like that,” he says.”
Movie and show adaptations
‘Beach Read’ is becoming a movie with 20th Century Studios. It will be written by the wonderful Yulin Kuang (whose debut novel “How to End a Love Story” is one of my all-time favorite romances).
A feature film adaptation of ‘Book Lovers’ is being developed by Tango Entertainment, with Sarah Heyward (known for her work on "Girls" and “Modern Love”) writing the screenplay.
A ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ movie is done and set to release soon on Netflix. It’s directed by Brett Haley, with the screenplay also written by Yulin Kuang. It stars Tom Blyth and Emily Bader.
Happy Place is being adapted into a Netflix series by Jennifer Lopez's production company, Nuyorican Productions.
Emily Henry herself is writing the screenplay for a movie adaptation of Funny Story by Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company.
If you want to share your thoughts on any of these books, I’m always happy to chat about them! I’d love to hear your rating. The great thing about these books is that I’ve seen so many different opinions and perspectives. Your favourite often depends on what you relate to most, and that’s the beauty of reading. I hope this was helpful and that I’ve inspired you to pick one up.
You can keep reading below for my rambling thoughts (there’s been so much chatter around her books online that I needed to touch on it). If not, I’ll talk to you next week, and thank you for reading. x
There’s a debate going around about whether Emily Henry’s books should be described as pure romance or as women’s fiction. While her novels undeniably center on romantic relationships, their depth, beautiful prose, and exploration of self, family, and friendship might lead some readers, especially those used to trope-heavy romance, to categorize them as contemporary fiction. However, the romantic element is prominent, and it’s frustrating to see her work dismissed as “not romance” simply because it isn’t very smutty or because character development is as important as the romantic arc. I feel like her latest release has cemented this idea that her novels are not romance-centered, and I feel like we might’ve read different books. I had to give my two cents on this topic because it’s all over social media, and it also ties into something I’m very passionate about: how important romance is as a genre, and how it serves as a backdrop for so many meaningful conversations. With that being said, enjoy your reading!
I have beach read on my bed side table and I'm starting getting into Emily Henry with that! This list made me so excited!
We have an almost similar ranking. I'm halfway through GBBL and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Will be posting my review soon enough.