Emily Henry Books in Order (Updated 2026)

Emily Henry writes in two clear lanes: adult romantic fiction (often sold as rom-com/romance-forward contemporary) and young adult novels (more speculative or coming-of-age in shape).

Because her adult books are not a numbered series, you can read them out of order, but later books can change the vibe of earlier ones if you’re trying to see her style evolve in real time. For readers who care about that, publication order is the cleanest route.

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The reading map

Choose one of these and you’ll be fine:

• Best “meet her writing” route: start with the adult novels in release order from Beach Read onward.
• Newest-first route: start with her most recent adult novel and work backward.
• YA-first route: read the YA books in release order, then jump to the adult novels.

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Adult novels in publication order

Standalone stories; no shared universe requirement. (Each line below is original and written for this guide.)

1. Beach Read (2020): Two authors with opposite styles make a summer wager that turns creative rivalry into intimacy.
2. People We Meet on Vacation (2021): Best friends with a broken rhythm try one more trip to figure out what went wrong, and what they’ve been avoiding.
3. Book Lovers (2022): A sharp-edged literary agent keeps running into the same editor until “work trip” starts looking like a life shift.
4. Happy Place (2023): A former couple fakes “we’re fine” for a friend getaway and discovers the hardest truth is what they still want.
5. Funny Story (2024): A jilted bride-to-be and the other abandoned partner strike an uneasy roommate alliance that becomes something steadier.
6. Great Big Beautiful Life (2025): Two writers compete to tell a larger-than-life woman’s story while their own partnership keeps rewriting the terms.

Continuity note: these are designed to stand alone. Any “spoilers” are more about tone and author-evolution than plot carryover.

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Young adult novels in publication order

Separate continuity from the adult novels; read whenever you want.

1. The Love That Split the World (2016): A teen is pulled between realities where one choice determines which version of love, and life, survives.
2. A Million Junes (2017): Two teens from feuding families chase the truth behind a local curse that refuses to stay in the past.
3. When the Sky Fell on Splendor (2019): A group of friends investigates a strange event that leaves their town a little warped, and their trust stretched thin.

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Co-authored work

Also separate continuity; you can slot it anywhere.

• Hello Girls (2019, with Brittany Cavallaro): Two girls go on the run after crossing a line they can’t uncross, testing whether freedom is possible without safety.

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A practical recommended order

This is the smoothest path for most readers, fast entry, then maximum payoff.

1. Beach Read: the clearest introduction to her adult voice and pacing.
2. People We Meet on Vacation: if you like friendship-to-romance tension, this confirms it quickly.
3. Book Lovers: best when you already trust her character banter and emotional turns.
4. Happy Place: lands harder once you know how she handles longing and regret.
5. Funny Story: a slightly different setup that still feels unmistakably “Emily Henry.”
6. Great Big Beautiful Life: read after a couple earlier titles if you want to notice her newer shape and scope.

Alternate starting point (if you want newest energy first): start with Great Big Beautiful Life, then circle back to Beach Read.

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When “chronological order” matters

It mostly doesn’t here. There isn’t a shared timeline across the adult novels, and the YA novels don’t interlock with them. “Chronological order” is effectively publication order within each lane.

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Reader questions

Do I have to read the adult novels in order?
No. They’re standalones. Order only affects how you experience her evolving style and themes.

Which book is the safest first try if I’m unsure?
Beach Read is the most reliable entry point because it showcases her core strengths without assuming you already like her vibe.

Can I mix YA and adult books back and forth?
Yes. They are separate continuities, and switching lanes won’t spoil anything, just expect a different tone and genre toolkit.

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Bottom line

If you want one dependable plan: start with Beach Read and go forward in publication order through the adult novels. If you’re YA-first, read the YA trio in order, then jump to Beach Read when you’re ready for her adult work.