Emily Henry has been a fan favorite since her New York Bestseller novel, Beach Read, was published during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2020, she has released Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers, Happy Place, and Funny Story, all New York Times Best Sellers. Since many bibliophiles love her summer romance novels, I thought it would be fun to rank them from my favorite to my least favorite.
- Book Lovers (Published in 2022)
Nora Stephen has loved books since she was little, reading with her mom in their favorite bookstore. It’s why she became a Book Publicist, she would do anything for her clients. Most importantly, though, she would do anything for her younger sister Libby. It’s how she finds herself agreeing to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for a month-long vacation with her sister. However, instead of having a relaxing vacation, she keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a moody Editor from the City. Nora and Charlie have never seen eye-to-eye about anything. However, after spending more time together, they find they can help each other more than they thought. Instead of writing a story for their clients, they begin to create a story about themselves.
Henry’s fans usually tend to favor Beach Read or Happy Place. However, I love Book Lovers the best, everything about this book is perfect. I love reading about Nora and Libby’s relationship, it reminds me of my relationship with my younger sister. All of Henry’s books have an emotional hardship the characters go through, the feelings Nora and Charlie feel in this book are things I go through too. This book makes me laugh, smile, and even cry (in a good way). I recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-written story with amazing characters and an entertaining plot.
Favorite Book Lovers quotes:
“Maybe love shouldn’t be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can’t exist without them either. Not the kind that forces two people into shapes they don’t fit in, but the kind that loosens their grips, always leaves room to grow. Compromises that say, there will be a you-shaped space in my heart, and if your shape changes, I will adapt. No matter where we go, our love will stretch out to hold us, and that makes me feel like…like everything will be okay.”
“Is there anything better than iced coffee and a bookstore on a sunny day? I mean, aside from hot coffee and a bookstore on a rainy day.”
“Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you.”
“That’s life. You’re always making decisions, taking paths that lead you away from the rest before you can see where they end. Maybe that’s why we as a species love stories so much. All these chances for do-overs, opportunities to live the lives we’ll never have.”
2. Happy Place (Published in 2023)
Wyn and Harriet have been the perfect couple since meeting in college. But now they aren’t. Six months ago, they broke up, not telling their best friends. Now, they find themselves in a cottage in Maine, with their best friends, pretending to be a couple. They don’t want to hurt their friend’s feelings and ruin the trip for everyone. They loved each other for years, can’t they pretend for one more week?
The first time I read this book, I felt disappointed and couldn’t understand why everyone loved it so much. For weeks the release of this book was all I could think about, I wanted to hear what everyone else had to say about it. When I got my hands on it, I read it front-to-back in one day. However, when I closed the book, I felt like I had missed something, why didn’t I love it? For the past year now, I have heard everyone go on about how good it was. So, this summer I picked it up again, I had to have missed something. Let me tell you, I missed a lot, this book was so good! Like I said before, Henry’s book has a lot of hardships and challenges, and this book is probably the most emotional. However, it helps you connect with the characters on a deeper level. I loved reading about two people who lost and found each other again. Every detail in this book is beautiful. This is close to Book Lovers, and I still highly recommend it.
Favorite Happy Place quotes:
“You are in all of my happiest places.”
“Things change, but we stretch and grow and make room for one another. Our love is a place we can always come back to, and it will be waiting, the same as it ever was. You belong here.”
“I want my life to be like-like making pottery. I want to enjoy it while it’s happening, not just for where it might get me eventually.”
“How many universes do you think we’re together in?… Higher than either of us can count.”
3. Beach Read (Published in 2020)
January Andrews, bestselling Romance Author, no longer believes in love. Augustus Evertt, literary fiction writer, is stuck in writer’s block. January and Augustus are polar opposites. However, they find themselves side-by-side, living in a beach neighborhood for the summer. Unable to write their own, they challenge each other to write each other’s genres, January writing Literary and Augustus writing Romance. Helping each other interview and brainstorm ideas, they begin to enjoy their time together. Can opposites really attract?
Beach Read was the first book I read from Emily Henry and influence me to continue to read her new books each year. Before reading Henry’s books, I read good books. However, after reading her books, I feel like I have walked around the setting, talked with the characters, felt every emotion the characters are feeling, and even a part of the book’s world. I connected with January and Augustus’ love for books. I would recommend reading Beach Read first, working your way from oldest to newest.
Favorite Beach Read quotes:
“‘When I watch you sleep,’ he said shakily, ‘I feel overwhelmed that you exist’“
“And that was the moment I realized: when the world felt dark and scary, love could whisk you off to go dancing; laughter could take some of the pain away; beauty could punch holes in your fear. I decided then that my life would be full of all three.”
“If you think the story has a sad ending, it’s because it’s not over yet.”
“I want to be the one who gives you what you deserve, and I want to sleep next to you every night and to be the one you complain about book stuff to, and I don’t think I ever could deserve any of that, and I know this thing between us isn’t a sure thing, but that’s what I want to aim for with you. Because I know no matter how long I get to love you, it will be worth whatever comes after.”
4. Funny Story (Published in 2024)
Daphne loved hearing her Fiance Peter tell the story of when they met, the day she fell in love with him. However, on the night of his bachelor party, he comes home to tell her he loves his childhood best friend, Petra. Now, Daphne finds herself stuck in Michigan, away from all her family, and living with Miles Nowak, Petra Ex. Daphne realizes she built her life around Peter, not allowing time to do things she enjoyed. She starts to make new friends, take adventures outside her comfort zone, and build a relationship with Miles. Could the worst thing that could have happened change your life for the better?
This newest of the collection, Funny Story, was an enjoyable summer read for me. One of the biggest parts of the book is finding joy after hardship, something I’m going through right now. I loved reading Daphne choosing to experience new things and do things she normally wouldn’t do. One of my favorite parts of Emily Henry’s books is her creative stories. To me, Funny Story is the most original story she has written. I recommend it to anyone who wants a not-as-heavy read about a girl finding life after a hardship.
Favorite Funny Story quotes:
“All those moments throughout the days, weeks, mouths that don’t get marked on calendars with hand-drawn stars or little stickers. Those are the moments that make a life. Not grand gestures, but mundane details that, over time, accumulate until you have a home, instead of a house. The things that matter. The things I can’t stop longing for. “
“You, my girl, are whoever you decide to be, But I hope you always keep some piece of that girl who sat by the window, hoping for the best. Life’s short enough without us talking ourselves out of hope and trying to dodge every bad feeling. Sometimes you have to push through the discomfort, instead of running.”
“So many decisions I made were based on the fear of what could go wrong, instead of my hopes for what might go right.”
5. People we Meet on vacation (Published in 2021)
Poppy and Alex, best friends since college, have been going on vacation together every summer for the past 10 years. However, it’s been two years and neither of them talk to each other. After someone asks Poppy the last time she was truly happy, she knows it was the summer vacation with Alex. She needs to experience memories with Alex again. To her surprise, he agrees to go on one more vacation together. Poppy has one week to fix everything that happened two years ago.
This book was also like Happy Place, after reading I was a little letdown. However, I enjoyed Poppy’s personality and relate to Alex. I recommend it to readers who want a light, relaxing romance novel. I think this book could be like Happy Place, I need to read it again, taking my time to understand and enjoy what is happening. Maybe we could read it together? Sharing thoughts and opinions? I will keep you updated.
Favorite People We Meet on Vacation quotes:
“I still have a lot to figure out, but the one thing I know is, wherever you are, that’s where I belong. I’ll never belong anywhere like I belong with you.”
“Like a good book or an incredible outfit, being on vacation transports you into another version of yourself.”
“Suddenly we’re not kids anymore, and it feels like it happened overnight, so fast I didn’t have time to notice, to let go of everything that used to matter so much, to see that the old wounds that once felt like gut-level lacerations have faded to small white scars, mixed in among the stretch marks and sunspots and little divots where time has grazed against my body. I’ve put so much time and distance between myself and that lonely girl, and what does it matter? Here is a piece of my past, right in front of me, miles away from home, You can’t outrun yourself. Not your history, not your fears, not the parts of yourself you’re worried about are wrong.”
I would recommend all of Henry’s books to anyone thinking about reading her books. Her books feel like a warm hug after reading, with her descriptive settings, unique characters, and amazing love stories. If you have read Emily Henry, I encourage you to share your ranking and why you love her books.
