All 5 Emily Henry Romance Books, Ranked From Worst To Best

Summary Dive into Emily Henry's romance novels, each a unique love story worth exploring for romantics and skeptics alike.

From "Beach Read" to "Happy Place," Emily Henry's books strike a balance between witty banter and emotional depth.

While "People We Meet on Vacation" may not be Henry's top project, her talent for crafting relatable characters shines through.

When researching the romance book genre, it is impossible not to stumble upon Emily Henry, the New York Times bestselling author behind such hits as Beach Read, and most recently, Funny Story, and while her books are all slam dunks in the book world, they can certainly still be ranked, worst to best. Although Emily Henry began publishing novels all the way back in 2016, she didn't start writing adult romance until 2020. In that year, the author took off, and since then, her books have been critically acclaimed and enjoyed by masses of readers, both romantics and not.

Emily Henry has published five adult romance novels in 2024. In a genre that is often ridiculed or lacking in quality, Henry not only brings the heat, but also a strong story. She has often cited filmmaker Nora Ephron of When Harry Met Sally fame as an inspiration for her work, and honestly, it shows. Henry has the capability to write unique yet relatable characters for whom falling in love is both everything and just a scrap of the larger life they are leading. Ultimately, Henry's work is a staple of the 2020s, and hopefully it will only continue to rock readers' worlds.

Related 10 Romance Books That Deserve TV Show Adaptations After Netflix’s One Day Following the success of One Day on Netflix, it's worth considering which other contemporary romance novels deserve a TV adaptation in the future.

5 People We Meet On Vacation (2021)

Friends-to-lovers go on vacation

The Emily Henry book that could be considered her "worst," though it is by no means bad, is People We Meet on Vacation. This book tells the story of Poppy and Alex, two best friends who, for many years, went on amazing vacations together. However, after a mysterious falling out, the pair haven't talked in a while, and Poppy, hoping to salvage their friendship, asks Alex to go on one last awesome vacation. In doing so, audiences learn about where it all went wrong, and see the two not only rekindle their friendship, but perhaps spark something more.

People We Meet on Vacation is certainly an enjoyable read, but has not been her most lauded project. On Goodreads, the book has a total rating of 3.88, making it her only adult romance that has earned less than 4 stars. One reason for this could be that, of Emily Henry's five novels, this one has fewer emotional ties. Where other books may really pull the heartstrings of audiences, this one is much more light-hearted, and potentially less relatable. The trope could also play a part. Friends-to-lovers is not the most popular romance trope, and therefore, this could be why People We Meet on Vacation is a step below other Henry books.

People We Meet on Vacation is getting a movie adaptation, directed by Brett Haley.

4 Beach Read (2020)

Enemies-to-lovers writer edition

As the very first adult romance Emily Henry ever published, Beach Read is likely close to many of her fans' hearts, however it is unfortunately not her very best project. Beach Read follows January, a woman who stays in her father's beach house for the summer and comes into contact with Augustus, a grumpy and famous writer who January went to school with many years ago. Despite their polar opposite personalities, January and Augustus challenge each other to write, even when their traumas won't let them, and in the process, they form a bond they didn't think was possible to have.

Beach Read is a classic Emily Henry book. It was the first to introduce a writer protagonist, which is a Henry trademark, and it perfectly balanced enemies-to-lovers with how real relationships work. This book is full of witty banter, but also some truly emotional and heartwrenching moments. Beach Read may be romance, but it doesn't let you forget that real, sad things still happen to people.

Overall, Beach Read has a solid 4.01 on Goodreads, and though it is nostalgic as Emily Henry's very first adult romance, it is really only a baseline for her future books, which got better and better.

Related 5 Romance Books Better Than The Movies (& 5 That Are Surprisingly Worse) While many may think that the book is always better, there's no denying that some films actually outshine the source material.

3 Book Lovers (2022)

Enemies-to-lovers publishing edition

By 2022, Emily Henry really caught the attention of the book world, making Book Lovers a highly-anticipated read. Luckily, it lived up to expectations. Book Lovers tells the story of Nora, a Type-A book editor who decides to take a vacation with her pregnant sister to an idyllic, Lifetime-movie-esque small town in North Carolina. While there, she runs into equally uptight book editor, Charlie. Though the pair's rocky past means they are far from perfect for each other, the North Carolina summer brings out new sides of them, and they realize that they may have more in common than previously thought.

Book Lovers is yet another fantastic display of romance writing from Emily Henry. Once again, she nails the enemies-to-lovers dynamic without breaking the bubble of reality, and furthermore, her spin on the classic Lifetime movie trope is funny and well-done. Above all, Book Lovers' protagonist stands out because of how well she speaks to real women who are judged for being passionate about their jobs. And while all Emily Henry books have hints of being a writer in them, this one is especially written for those who love books. With a 4.14 on Goodreads, Book Lovers is a standout, and a romance book that deserves a movie adaptation.

2 Funny Story (2024)

Fake dating your ex's new lover's ex

Taking the second spot among Emily Henry's best books is her most recent novel, Funny Story. This book follows Daphne, a woman who had the ideal romance with Peter, until she realizes that Peter is in love with Petra. Now, needing a new place to live, Daphne seeks out Petra's ex, Miles, and the two commiserate over being abruptly broken up with. Things get even more complicated though when Daphne tells Peter that her and Miles are dating, which they are not. In this way, a fake dating plot ensues that, as readers may have guessed, turns into a tried and true love affair.

Funny Story has the highest score on Goodreads of all Emily Henry books, earning an impressive 4.37 stars, and it earned this score for good reason. Despite introducing a rather messy and complicated scenario, Henry comes at it with grace and understanding. Paired with her typical humor and slow-burn romance, the book truly comes to life. Furthermore, many find Miles to be Henry's perfect book boyfriend so far. However, for those who enjoy Emily Henry's realism, then this book may not be the perfect read.

Of all Henry's books, this is by far the most romance-driven, pushing the more serious, real life elements into the background.

Related 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts From Nora Ephron Movies Nora Ephron made some of the best romantic comedies of all time. Fans who can't get enough of her work should check out these behind the scenes facts.

1 Happy Place (2023)

Second chance romance on vacation

What is often cited as Emily Henry's best book is her 2023 release, Happy Place. This book follows Harriet and Wyn, a couple that was always deemed perfect until they broke up six months ago without telling any of their friends. But now, their annual vacation with their friends is approaching, and the couple decide to pretend to be together for just one more vacation before breaking the bad news. Of course, this plan doesn't exactly go the way they expected, as Harriet and Wyn's lying and deceiving turns into something more complicated and romantic than expected.

Happy Place is Emily Henry's best book because it is completely different. While fans continue returning to Henry for her unending wit and steamy romance, it can be a benefit to keep readers guessing, and that is what Happy Place does. Henry could have attempted another enemies-to-lovers, but instead she focused on a couple who had already been together. And furthermore, Happy Place delves the deepest into real life topics, making it a highly emotional read. Overall, Happy Place was the right move for Emily Henry at the time, and it continues to pay off as she releases more and more books.