Emily Henry is the queen of modern BookTok romance. Every novel she writes debuts at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Each book features a different trope, a different setting, and a different emotional core — but they all share the same thing: characters who feel like friends you never want to let go of.
If you've read one Emily Henry book, you'll want them all. This is the complete reading order for 2026.
Who is Emily Henry?
Emily Henry was born on May 17, 1991, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She studied Creative Writing at Hope College and began her career with young adult romance novels. In 2020, her first adult romance, Beach Read, was published — and she hasn't left the bestseller lists since.
Her books are all standalone novels — you can read them in any order. But reading them in publication order will give you the best experience of her growth as an author.
The complete Emily Henry reading order
1. Beach Read — 2020
Two writers, one vacation — and completely opposite genres. January writes feel-good novels, but her life currently feels anything but good. Her neighbor Augustus is a literary writer with a Pulitzer Prize — and the last person she expected help from.
They make a bet: January writes a literary novel, Augustus a feel-good book. The result is a romance that proves opposites attract.
Start here if you're new to Emily Henry.
Trope: Enemies to lovers + writers + summer romance
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
2. People We Meet on Vacation — 2021
Alex and Poppy are best friends who vacation together every year — until one summer everything goes wrong. Now, two years later, Poppy convinces him for one last vacation.
People We Meet on Vacation combines a dual timeline with a friends-to-lovers slow burn that is extra powerful because you already know the outcome but not the journey to get there. The movie premiered on Prime Video on September 23, 2026.
Trope: Friends to lovers + dual timeline + slow burn
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
3. Book Lovers — 2022
Nora Stephens is a New York literary agent who is convinced she's going to experience a vacation romance — but discovers that the grumpy man she keeps running into in the small town is her familiar city counterpart.
Book Lovers won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance of 2022. For readers who love grumpy sunshine but also a romance that consciously subverts tropes.
Trope: Grumpy sunshine + small town + rivals to lovers
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
4. Happy Place — 2023
Harriet and Wyn have broken up — but no one in their friend group knows it. They go on vacation together and pretend everything is fine. Emily Henry combines second chance with fake dating in a way that is emotionally complex and satisfying.
Trope: Second chance + fake dating + friends to lovers
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
5. Funny Story — 2024
Daphne moves to Michigan for her fiancé — who promptly dumps her for his best friend. The only solution? Live with that best friend, Miles. Funny Story debuted at number one on the NYT bestseller list and sold over 800,000 copies in North America.
Trope: Forced proximity + roommates + enemies to lovers
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
6. Great Big Beautiful Life — 2025
Emily Henry's most recent book. Alice Scott is an eternal optimist who dreams of her big break as an author. Hayden Anderson is a human storm cloud who won a Pulitzer Prize. Both want to write the biography of the mysterious Margaret Ives — but are not allowed to share information with each other.
A mystery, tragedy, or love story — depending on who tells it.
This is her most recent novel.
Trope: Rivals to lovers + mystery + dual narrative
New in 2026: Book Lovers Deluxe Edition
On August 18, 2026, a deluxe edition of Book Lovers was released — perfect for fans who want to reread the book in a beautiful new edition.
The complete reading order at a glance
| # | Dutch title | English title | Year | Trope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beach Read | Beach Read | 2020 | Enemies to lovers + writers |
| 2 | Mensen die we ontmoeten op vakantie | People We Meet on Vacation | 2021 | Friends to lovers + dual timeline |
| 3 | Book Lovers | Book Lovers | 2022 | Grumpy sunshine + rivals |
| 4 | Happy Place | Happy Place | 2023 | Second chance + fake dating |
| 5 | Funny Story | Funny Story | 2024 | Forced proximity + roommates |
| 6 | Great Big Beautiful Life | Great Big Beautiful Life | 2025 | Rivals + mystery |
Where to start with Emily Henry?
| Your preference | Start here |
|---|---|
| Best entry point | Beach Read |
| Friends to lovers | People We Meet on Vacation |
| Grumpy sunshine | Book Lovers |
| Second chance | Happy Place |
| Forced proximity | Funny Story |
| Newest book | Great Big Beautiful Life |
| Want to be surprised | Blind Date Book (Romance) |
Emily Henry adaptations
| Book | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|
| People We Meet on Vacation | Prime Video | ✅ Live from September 23, 2026 |
| Beach Read | Netflix | In production |
| Book Lovers | Film | Script in development |
Why Emily Henry is so popular
Emily Henry writes romance where the characters are always more than their trope. Her grumpy love interests are never just nice — they have reasons. Her sunshine characters are never naive — they consciously choose positivity.
And each novel has a different trope, a different setting, and a different emotional layer. This means you can read all six books without ever feeling like you're reading the same book twice.
What to read after Emily Henry?
Carley Fortune — the same summery energy and friends-to-lovers warmth. Read our article about This Summer Will Be Different on Netflix.
Kristin Hannah — for readers who want more emotional depth. Read our Kristin Hannah reading order.
Taylor Jenkins Reid — for readers who love strong female characters and nostalgia. Read our Taylor Jenkins Reid reading order.
Complete your Emily Henry reading set
💕 The perfect Emily Henry reading set:
✔ Romance bookmark — for the most beautiful friends-to-lovers pages
✔ Blind Date Book (Romance) — for your next Emily Henry-esque surprise
✔ Book Review Notepad — note which couple is your favorite for each book
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — keep track of all Emily Henry novels
✔ Glass Can — for your iced coffee or matcha while reading
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Happy reading — every couple is worth the wait! 💕📚
Frequently Asked Questions about Emily Henry
Do you have to read Emily Henry in order?
No — all Emily Henry novels are standalones that you can read in any order. But Beach Read is the most recommended starting point if you are new to her work.
Which Emily Henry book is best to start with?
Beach Read is the most recommended entry point — accessible, funny, and with an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that works immediately.
How many books has Emily Henry written?
Emily Henry has written 6 adult romance novels: Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers, Happy Place, Funny Story, and Great Big Beautiful Life.
What is Emily Henry's newest book?
Great Big Beautiful Life was released in April 2025 and is her most recent novel.
Has People We Meet on Vacation been adapted into a movie?
Yes — the movie premiered on Prime Video on September 23, 2026, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth.
Are more Emily Henry adaptations planned?
Beach Read is in production as a Netflix movie. Book Lovers has a script in development.