Ranking Emily Henry's Romance Novels

Emily Henry has established herself as a dominant figure in contemporary romance literature. Since 2020, she has published six novels, all of which achieved significant success. These titles include "Beach Read," "Funny Story," and "Book Lovers." The novels have sparked considerable conversation on BookTok, and five of the six have been optioned for film or television adaptations.

A comprehensive ranking of these six adult romances places them in order from weakest to strongest. The evaluation considers character development, plot premises, and reader reception. The ranking highlights the evolution of Henry's writing style and the varying themes she explores, from group dynamics to classic romantic tropes.

The ranking begins with the novels considered the author's least effective offerings. "Happy Place" (2023) is placed at number six. This novel represents a shift from previous works by focusing on a group of friends rather than a single romantic relationship. The narrative involves a couple pretending to still be married during a group trip after they have divorced. The reviewer felt the friend group was not fleshed out enough to be compelling and found the premise difficult to believe.

At number five is "Great Big Beautiful Life" (2025). This book utilizes a dual narrative structure. It follows Alice Scott, an aspiring author, and the flashbacks of Margaret Ives, a reclusive heiress. The reviewer preferred the historical flashbacks over the contemporary storyline. The chemistry between Alice and her rival, Hayden, was described as forced and "insta-lovey." Additionally, the book's twist ending was viewed as predictable.

Ranking fourth is "People We Meet on Vacation" (2021). This title is Henry's most popular book and was the first to be adapted for the screen. The story follows two former best friends and travel buddies reuniting after a falling out. While the banter between the main characters, Poppy and Alex, was praised, the reviewer did not connect with them personally. It was described as a decent read but not a personal favorite.

The third position is held by "Book Lovers" (2022). The plot centers on Nora Stephens, a literary agent who visits a small town at her sister's insistence. There, she meets Charlie Lastra, an editor she dislikes. The reviewer adored the relationship between Nora and Charlie, as well as Nora's bond with her sister, Libby. The descriptions of the fictional town, Sunshine Falls, were noted as evocative and full of care.

Securing the second spot is "Funny Story" (2024). The premise involves Daphne and Miles, who have both been dumped by their significant others, only to discover their exes have fallen for each other. To cope, Daphne and Miles become roommates and decide to fake date. The reviewer highlighted the exceptional chemistry and flirting dialogue between the leads. Daphne was cited as the most relatable protagonist, and the book has been optioned for a movie with Emily Henry writing the screenplay.

Taking the number one rank is "Beach Read" (2020), the author's first romance novel. The story features two rival authors, January Andrews and Augustus "Gus" Everett, who challenge each other to swap genres. The reviewer praised the believable issues the characters work through and their hard-won happily ever after. The book is currently set to be adapted into a film directed by Yulin Kuang.

The influence of these novels extends beyond print. "People We Meet on Vacation" is the first to make the jump to screen, with a movie adaptation scheduled for Netflix in January, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth. "Book Lovers" is also confirmed to be adapted into a film in the future. "Happy Place" is anticipated to be adapted as a Netflix series as well.

Emily Henry's transition from fantasy and YA author to romance queen has resulted in a significant cultural footprint. Her ability to generate discussion on platforms like BookTok demonstrates her resonance with modern readers. Despite varying opinions on which book is best, the consistent success of her releases solidifies her status in the genre.