Emily Henry Books in Order (2025 Update) + Best Picks to Start Reading
Discover all Emily Henry books in order, from Beach Read to Great Big Beautiful Life—plus my top picks on where to start if you’re new to her heartfelt, funny romances.
The Ultimate Guide to Reading Emily Henry Books
The list of Emily Henry books in order divided by young adult and adult books are:
Young Adult Novels
- The Love That Split the World (2016)
- A Million Junes (2017)
- When the Sky Fell on Splendor (2019)
- Hello Girls (2019, with Brittany Cavallaro)
Adult Contemporary Romances
- Beach Read (2020)
- People We Meet on Vacation (2021)
- Book Lovers (2022)
- Happy Place (2023)
- Funny Story (2024)
- Great Big Beautiful Life (2025)
Now, let’s dive deeper into who Emily Henry is, why her books resonate so widely, and which ones you might want to pick up first.
Why Readers (Including Me) Adore Emily Henry
Bookish Besties, You probably already know this, but Emily Henry has completely reshaped what romance books feel like for me. Her books are witty and swoony, sure-but they’re also layered with friendship, family, grief, and self-discovery. That’s why I reach for her novels when I want something lighthearted and emotionally satisfying.
The first Emily Henry I read was Beach Read, and since then, I’ve devoured every release the week it dropped. And what I love most is that even though each story stands on its own, together they paint such a rich picture of love in all its messy, complicated glory.
Emily Henry’s Young Adult Books
Before she became the queen of contemporary romance, Emily Henry wrote YA novels. These stories carry her signature imagination and emotional depth:
- The Love That Split the World blends romance with time-bending fantasy, following a girl caught between two realities.
- A Million Junes is a Romeo-and-Juliet-inspired story full of magical realism, family curses, and impossible choices.
- When the Sky Fell on Splendor gives us a group of teens whose lives are forever changed after a cosmic event-equal parts eerie and heartfelt.
- Hello Girls (co-written with Brittany Cavallaro) is a Thelma-and-Louise-style ride about friendship, freedom, and rebellion.
These are wonderful if you love a touch of fantasy or want to see Henry’s earlier style, but don’t feel like you have to read them before diving into her adult books.
Emily Henry’s Adult Romances
This is where most readers fall in love with her writing. Each book stands alone, but if you read them all, you’ll notice how Henry keeps pushing herself-exploring new dynamics and tropes in fresh, thoughtful ways.
Beach Read
When January Andrews, a romance writer who doesn’t believe in love anymore, swaps houses with Gus Everett, a broody literary author, their summer-long writing challenge forces both of them to rethink happily ever afters. I loved how meta this book felt-two writers debating what stories matter while slowly writing their own.
People We Meet on Vacation
Travel writer Poppy and buttoned-up Alex have spent a decade taking summer trips together-until one disastrous vacation tore them apart. Two years later, Poppy drags Alex on one last trip to fix everything. This is my favorite Henry book because it’s a love letter to friendship as much as romance, and it had me laughing one page and crying the next.
Book Lovers
Nora Stephens is a cutthroat literary agent who knows she’s not anyone’s small-town love interest-until she ends up in one, stuck with Charlie Lastra, a rival editor. This book is for everyone who loves book people and sibling dynamics, and it’s proof that Emily Henry can turn tropes inside out in the best way.
Happy Place
Exes Harriet and Wyn pretend they’re still together during a weeklong trip with their best friends. This book gutted me-in the best way-because it isn’t just about romance, it’s about friendship, growing pains, and how we carry different versions of ourselves.
Funny Story
Daphne is stranded in her ex-fiancé’s small town, reluctantly sharing a rental with his new fiancée’s ex. What begins as awkward roommate tension slowly shifts into friendship-and more. This one felt lighter but no less heartfelt, and it made me smile from start to finish.
Great Big Beautiful Life
Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson arrive on Little Crescent Island to compete for the chance to write a reclusive author’s biography. Between NDAs, late-night confessions, and Margaret Ives’s unreliable memories, their rivalry turns into a slow-burn romance. I adored how this one blended mystery, professional rivalry, and romance-it’s Emily Henry at her most layered.
Where to Start Reading Emily Henry
If you’re brand new to her books:
- Start with Beach Read if you love romance mixed with writerly banter.
- Try People We Meet on Vacation if you’re a sucker for slow-burn, friends-to-lovers tropes.
- Pick Happy Place if you want romance with a side of found family and nostalgia.
And if you want my personal ranking of all six adult romances? I’ve written a separate post where I ranked them from best to “still great” and explained why (spoiler: I’ll defend my #1 pick forever). You can read that here: Emily Henry Books Ranked.
FAQs About Emily Henry Books
Do I have to read Emily Henry’s books in order?
Nope! Each one is a standalone. You can jump in anywhere, though many start with Beach Read or People We Meet on Vacation.
Which Emily Henry book is being adapted?
People We Meet on Vacation is currently optioned for film, and fans are buzzing about who will play Poppy and Alex.
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Is Emily Henry still writing YA?
Not right now-her focus is adult romance, though her YA novels are still widely loved.
Which book is the funniest?
For pure laugh-out-loud moments, I’d say Book Lovers. But Funny Story lives up to its title too.
Final Thoughts
Emily Henry has become one of my comfort authors-the kind of writer I know will deliver humor, heart, and hope every single time. Whether you’re starting fresh or catching up, her books are perfect for cozy weekends, beach days, or anytime you need a love story that feels both swoony and real.
So tell me-what’s your favorite Emily Henry book? And if you’re just diving in, which one are you starting with?
