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Every spring , I am giddy with anticipation for three thing : the snow to melt down , the bloom to bloom , and the modish Emily Henry book to release . An Ohio native , Henry has been publishing books since 2016 , but it was n’t until 2020 , after a hard pivot from young adult fable to romance , that she really made a name for herself as an A - list writer . Her first romance novel , Beach Read , was publish in May 2020 , when the COVID-19 pandemic proved it was n’t going anywhere , any time presently , and we all ask the escapist thrill of love affair fabrication more than ever .
Every romance lector has their favorite tropes , and Henry expertly peppers several into each of her novels — from enemies - to - fan to second - chance romance to fake dating . However , in a music genre often ( below the belt ) dismissed as frippery , Henry has shut up even the staunchest literary prig by tackling serious themes like anxiety and sorrow , making her the queen of the " rom - traum - com " . Often mention the late , greatfilmmaker Nora Ephronas an influence , Henry , too , has become a part of her propagation . With her previous novel , corking Big Beautiful Life , eject on April 22 and her first five love affair novel all being optioned for screen door adaptations , Henry is not slow down anytime soon .
6Happy Place (2023)
Second-Chance Romance On Vacation
romanticism trope inHappy Place
Emily Henry ’s fourth novel , Happy Placefollows Harriet and Wyn , a twosome that was always view as sodding until they broke off their fight months ago without tell anyone . But now , their annual Maine cottage vacation with their friends is fast upcoming , and with the cottage up for sale and their friends getting married , Harriet and Wyn pretend to still be together for the sake of one last wizardly summer . Of course , this plan does n’t exactly go the way they expected , as Harriet and Wyn ’s double-faced hijinks ferment into something more complicated and amorous than expected .
While many may think that the book is always better , there ’s no denying that some films actually outshine the root material .
2nd - probability love story is a notoriously difficult trope to pull off , but Henry succeeds with her usual expertise , make us settle down for Harriet and Wyn to submit every step of the way . However , the reason why SCR is not as popular as a image is that it can be a bit of a sedative , and indeed , Happy Placelacks some of the buoyancy distinctive of a Henry novel .
Henry also always delivers superb supporting characters , and this book is no elision . But while I found myself need to flow out with Harriet and Wyn ’s friends — peculiarly at that gorgeous cottage — the amount of clip spent with them jolly admit away from the core romance . Excitingly , in 2024,Happy Placewas break up up for a goggle box adaptation by Jennifer Lopez ’s production company , Nuyorican Productions .
5Beach Read (2020)
Two Rivals-To-Lovers Writers Are Beach House Neighbors
Romance figure of speech inBeach Read :
Emily Henry ’s 2020 romance introduction , Beach Readfollows romance novelist January Andrews , who bide in her father ’s beach house for the summertime in edict to sorrow him and attempt to forgive his past secrets . However , things take a turn when she discover that her next - doorway neighbor is Augustus " Gus " Everett , a celebrated literary writer and her former college challenger . In an attempt to understand each other , they assume a bargain : January will attempt to write a literary novel while Gus will pen a Romance language . In the appendage , they take shape a adherence that they did n’t think was possible to have .
Beach Readis the novel that introduced us all to Emily Henry the love affair author , and it show us precisely how gifted she is . January and Gus ' chemistry is on fire from the kickoff , and their writerly bet has a whimsy that propels the novel through its darker import , include cult harm . Henry does n’t quite arrest the balance of trauma to comedyhere , but honestly , this is herfirstromance , and it ’s an absolute hitch de force-out of a debut . twentieth Century Studios is set to free a picture show adaptation ofBeach Read , with Yulin Kuang in the director ’s professorship .
4People We Meet On Vacation (2021)
Friends-To-Lovers Go On Vacation
Romance tropes inPeople We fulfill on holiday :
Emily Henry ’s sophomore Romance language novel , the great unwashed We assemble on Vacationtells the story of Poppy and Alex , two polar opposites who became BFFs in college and , for many years , went on spectacular vacation together . However , after a mysterious falling out in Croatia , the distich have n’t talk in a while , andPoppy , hoping to salvage their friendship , necessitate Alex to go on one last awesome vacation . In doing so , we see where it all went unseasonable , and see the two not only rekindle their friendship but begin to spark something more .
If this is n’t the best friend - to - lover novel of the decade , I do n’t jazz what is .
People We suffer on Vacationis probably the most polarizing of Henry ’s romance novels , with most fan either placing it dead last or issue one with a heater in their ranking . For what it ’s worth , it ’s my personal favorite , but reading it while holiday in Spain may have regulate me . I can , however , understand where the detractors are coming from . My biggest take with the novel is that , while the preferences in Henry ’s novel often serve as the third main theatrical role — cottage res publica inHappy Place , lowly - town coziness inBook lover , etc — hoi polloi We Meet on Vacation , by its very nature , is lacking the romantic vibes of one ready setting .
But if this is n’t the adept acquaintance - to - lovers novel of the decade , I do n’t know what is . Rarely do romance reader cite FTL as their favourite trope , and it ’s graspable , as it lacks the het passion of enemies - to - lovers , or the whimsy of false dating . Poppy and Alex ’s love may be a dim suntan , but that ’s a huge vehemence on theburn , and I defy you not to stay up until the wee hours hold back for these friends to become lovers . This novelofficially made FTL my favorite romance figure of speech , and I can not wait for the exit of thePeople We fulfil on Vacationmovie from Netflixlater this year .
3Funny Story (2024)
Fake-Dating Your Ex’s New Lover’s Ex
Romance tropes inFunny Story :
Emily Henry ’s 2024 novel , Funny Story , follows Daphne , an introverted tike ’s bibliothec who ’s live a fairy - story Romance language with Peter — until he leave alone her for his childhood friend named , yes , Petra . Heartbroken andneeding a Modern office to live , Daphne displace Petra ’s ex-husband , Miles , and the two commiserate over the pain of being dumpedby the person they thought was the one . But things get even more complicated when Daphne lie to Peter that she and Miles are date , which they are not . A fake date plot for the ages ensues with Daphne and Miles liking each other — and themselves — more and more along the way of life .
For her fourth romance novel , Henry is give notice on all cylinders . Though disparager of the fake - dating trope often find it too silly and far - fetched , Funny Storyis perhaps the most ground of Henry ’s work . Daphne ’s workplace subplot is a huge part of the novel , but we never palpate like the romance is lacking , and if anything , her professional ambitions make her someone we rout for even hard . And for his part , Miles is the quintessential perfect boyfriend while still feeling like a real mortal you might hump . Excitingly , Emily Henry will be write the script for theFunny Storyfilm version herself , with Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company producing .
Custom image by Ana Nieves
2Great Big Beautiful Life (2025)
love story figure of speech inBook lover :
competitor - to - lovers
Slow burn mark
- Grumpy / Sunshine
Emily Henry ’s latest offering isone of her more layered and complicated , with two love stories that partake the spotlight . The first , and the main Romance language of the Holy Scripture , is between Alice Scott ( an optimistic amusement / fame journalist ) and Hayden Anderson ( a Pulitzer - prize gain biographer ) . The two writer are in competition - to make headway the right hand to pen a biography of Margaret Ives , a tumid - than life inheritress and Hollywood material body who proceed missing after tragedy struck decades ago . As they chance into each other repeatedly on the small island where she now lives , they are mould to uncover the mysteries of her life history , and to try and ward off falling for each other .
This slow - burn romance is all about the luscious tension between Alice and Hayden , but there ’s much more move on than anyone realizes . This is unquestionably Henry ’s twistiest Bible , which is as much a contemporary mystery and glamorous life chronicle ( a laThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ) as it is a traditional love affair . It feels more matured , superimposed , and complex than some of her early romance , and is a story that will stick with you .
1Book Lovers (2022)
Enemies-To-Lovers Publishing Edition
Emily Henry ’s best Holy Writ , Book Loverstells the write up of Nora , a Type - A literary agent who decides to take a vacation with her fraught sister to Sunshine Falls , an idyllic , Hallmark movie - esque small Ithiel Town in North Carolina . While there , she runs into cantankerous book editor , Charlie , her least favorite professional contact in the New York publishing scene . Thoughthe pair ’s bouldery past think they are far from perfect for each other , the North Carolina summer land out Modern sides of them , and they understand that they may have more in common than previously think .
Nora and Charlie are two of Henry ’s most charismatic yet relatable leading , and the sexual tension between them propels the novel
foe - to - buff often provides us with the steamiest romance stories , but it ’s a toughened balancing act to make two diametrically opposed people both likeable enough that you ’re rooting for them to get together in the close . However , Nora and Charlie are two of Henry ’s most charismatic yet relatable leads , and the sexual tension between them propels the novel .
But , besides its awesome title , what makesBook Loversreally radiance is thatEmily Henrybrilliantly sabotage the image of the big - city woman who afford up her high up - power life history to experience in a quaint pocket-size townspeople . Here , Nora ’s professional ambition and love of living in NYC are celebrated , and done so while also hug everything that make minuscule - township life so peaceable , cozy , and romantic . Tango Entertainment bought the flick right toBook Loversin 2023 , andGirls ' Sarah Heyward is attached to write the script .
