Emily Henry is arguably one of the most well-known contemporary romance authors out there–and it’s not hard to see why. Between the heartwarming romance plots, quick-witted banter, and deeper life lessons that strike a cord when you least expect them, her New York Times best-selling novels are loved by many around the world.
You can find countless videos on TikTok ranting and raving about her novels (the hashtag #emilyhenry has more than 67.7k videos and counting). With five unbelievably successful books released, over 2.4 million books sold collectively, and almost every single one of her works being adapted for film or a Netflix series, you may find yourself wondering which book to start with if you’ve never dipped your toe in the “EmHen” world.
Emily Henry books, ranked
While everyone is looking for something different in their reading experiences, we’re ranking our favorite Emily Henry books to help make that decision a bit easier.
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People We Meet on Vacation
Image Credit: Courtesy of Berkley. One glance at TikTok, and you’ll find that the feelings about People We Meet on Vacation are… mixed, to say the least. The friends-to-lovers trope isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for an entertaining book to bring on your next trip, this is a great one to grab. Just practice a little patience because it does take Alex and Poppy years to sort through their feelings for one another. But at least you get to read about dreamy vacations–it’s also one of her spiciest.
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Funny Story
Image Credit: Courtesy of Berkley. Henry’s most recent release (April 2024), Funny Story, has everything you could ask for in a fake dating, forced proximity rom-com. What’s better than reading about two jilted lovers coming together to get revenge on their exes (who also happen to now be dating one another)? It’s always the ones they tell you not to worry about. If you’re a lover of Nick Miller from New Girl, you’re sure to love Miles. Just prepare yourself for the mention of his Crocs.
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Book Lovers
Image Credit: Courtesy of Berkley. What happens when a cut-throat literary agency who never takes a day off sneaks away to a small town for a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience with her sister only to run into her nemesis? Magic. If you’re a fan of witty repartee, strong family bonds, and main male characters who support hardworking, strong women, this one is a must-read. While Book Lovers may be one of her more “serious” pieces of work, Henry does an incredible job of sprinkling in tender moments that will have you wanting to move to Sunshine Falls (which is, unfortunately, fictional, but small mountain towns near Asheville will work just as well).
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Beach Read
Image Credit: Courtesy of Berkley. Beach Read’s title is right on the nose–it is quite literally the perfect beach read. Despite topics of divorce, relationship trauma, and broken families, this summer read is all about finding the light in dark times. One could argue it’s one of her most relatable books, but under all of the hard-to-swallow topics, the relationship that blossoms between authors-turned-rivals January and Gus will have you giggling and kicking your feet. How Emily Henry manages to do that will forever be beyond me.
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Happy Place
Image Credit: Courtesy of Berkley. Happy Place may sound like a happy-go-lucky novel, but this one hurts in all the best ways. When a group of college friends meet in Maine for their annual getaway, they’re forced to balance heartache, loss, joy, and every emotion in between. If you’re in your mid to late 20s, struggling to maintain friendships, feeling lost in your career, or going through a bad breakup, this one is going to hit hard. It will forever be a favorite; just have some tissues nearby.