From Worst To Best: Ranking Emily Henry Books

Summer reading usually involves at least one Emily Henry novel. If you’re unfamiliar with the works of Ms. Henry;

1. I am jealous because you get to experience her for the first time.

2. You may think Lit-Chic/Rom-Com/Insert Sexist Female Genred Book Type works are beneath you - perhaps it’s time to broaden your mind. Dip your toes into something fun.

Typically, Emily Henry releases a brand new novel just in time for summer. Alas, this summer there were no new releases from Ms Henry, as she was busy wrapping up producing the Netflix version of her book, People We Meet On Vacation and working on her next title. As well as being actively involved in her next movie adaptation, Beach Read (more on that in a bit). One would imagine she was a little bit occupied.

So in honour of Queen of Summer Novels (unofficial and quibble-able), I’m going to rank Emily Henry books in order from worst to best. (Worst is quite a strong word? Least best? So-So?)

As always, reading is subjective! What might be my favourite might be your least, so on and so forth.

Note: I’m only ranking Emily Henry’s adult novels. Her YA books aren’t being ranked here.

Whomp whomp whomp. Emily Henry tried something new, and most people seemed to be on the same page when it came to reviewing it. Great Big Beautiful Life just didn’t cut the mustard. At all.

It sat somewhere between wanting to be The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with an added dash of close proximity/forced to work together until they fall in love. Alice and Hayden (had to look up their names) sit on the page, and unlike other notable characters like Daphne & Miles from Funny Story or Gus and January from Beach Read, feel flat and unrootable. It’s hard to care for them when the other half of the book is so uninteresting. Alice and Hayden are vying to write the biography of Margaret Ives, a reclusive heiress who was tabloid fodder during the 50’s and 60’s before disappearing.

Not even secretive Margaret Ives’ back story can save Great Big Beautiful Life (spoiler: it’s deathly dull).

My Rating: 1/5

Goodreads Rating: 3.95

This may upset a few people, but Happy Place was not my happy place. Harriet and Wyn have been a couple since forever, until they break up. With their yearly retreat with their group of friends on the horizon, Harriet and Wyn have to pretend they’re still a happy couple and break the news to them in person that they have, in fact, broken up.

Why Happy Place isn’t one of my favourites rests on the reader’s lack of backstory of Harriet and Wyn before they became Harriet and Wyn. I wanted to see them fall in love, understand why their connection was so strong, and instead I kind of hoped they wouldn’t fall back in love with one another, that they’d realise that they had in fact grown apart.

The focus on Happy Place is the changing of group dynamics, friends getting engaged, married and moving, and these were the parts I liked the most. Trying to keep everything the same, when in reality, people change, move on and leave you behind. These sections of Happy Place were the strongest and most enjoyable aspect of Happy Place. I could have done without Harriet and Wyn.

It’s also the only Emily Henry that I don’t own a physical copy of. Take of that what you will.

My Rating: 2/5

Goodreads Rating: 3.93

I’ll admit it’s been a while since I first read Book Lovers, and my initial feeling towards it was positive. A consistent theme running through Emily Henry’s books is that the female protagonist works in publishing, as a writer, or in a library. They are always involved in some form of writing and books, and as a certified bookworm, this gladdens my heart tremendously. I love how Emily Henry champions the written word.

Nora is a literary agent who grew up above a bookstore (the dream!). Charlie is an editor and their first meeting didn’t go exactly smoothly. So when Nora and her sister escape to the small town of Sunshine Falls for a month-long break, why does Nora keep bumping into Charlie everywhere she goes?

The strongest part of Book Lovers is Nora’s relationship with her sister, Libby. Growing up with a single mom, the sisters are incredibly close, and Nora feels throughout the book that Libby is withholding something from her that brings her closer to Charlie. Aside from bookish themes throughout her work, Emily Henry deals with a variety of familial relationships that capture a spectrum. Broken families, single families, seeking approval from family, friends as family. Emily Henry covers them all.

I’m due a reread of Book Lovers, and I wonder where it will sit after I’ve completed it.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Goodreads Rating: 4.09

A divisive rating that may anger some of the Emily Henry hardcore readers. I came late to the People We Meet on Vacation train, and it wriggled its way into my bookworm heart. Poppy and Alex are hilarious, the type of couple that you can’t help but root for. We follow Alex and Poppy over 12 summers as they become friends, travel the world, fall in and out of relationships with the wrong people, waiting for the moment when it’s their turn. Until one summer when it all goes wrong, and they haven’t spoken since.

Interestingly, People We Meet on Vacation (PWMOV) is one of Emily Henry’s lowest-rated books on Goodreads. Not that that means much. What I’ve always enjoyed about PWMOV is the dynamics between Poppy and Alex, the build-up of connection over the years. It’s their friendship that gives this book legs and carries them to the end. I’ll always have a soft spot for PWMOV, even if it’s one of her least liked books. It’s always what I love about reading, what tickles my fancy; it may not tickle yours.

If you enjoyed the book, the Netflix movie is adorable and worth a viewing. Emily Bader is magnetic as Poppy.

My Rating: 4.75/5

Goodreads Rating: 3.84

I want to be bold and say that most people’s favourite Emily Henry is Beach Read. Did I make that up? Absolutely. It was her first adult book, and it felt like it had gone mega viral by the time I got around to reading it. I reread Beach Read last year, wanting a palate cleanser between some heavy reading and it did the job.

The chemistry between Gus & January is electric. They feel like actual people, and despite the snark and venom, you’re eagerly seal-clapping each scene that follows. January, a romance writer, is dealing with the death of her father and the unravelling of a double life that has left her reeling. Her motivation to write anything lovey-dovey is at an all-time low. When she arrives at her father’s lakeside cabin, staying next door is Gus, beloved literary fiction author and former ex-classmate. It’s classic Grumpy x Sunshine, and when done well, it’s delicious. Emily Henry nails the trope with aplomb.

Gus & January attempt to put their dislike for each other behind them and strike up a deal to overcome their writer’s block. They will take on each other’s genres and produce something neither of them thinks is possible. Gus will write something happy, and January will write the next Great American Novel. And neither of them will fall in love. At all.

Beach Read is Emily Henry at her all-time best.

Sidenote: Beach Read is currently in production, and the casting has sparked quite the online discussion. Patrick Schwarzenegger has been cast as Gus, and when I say the backlash to this decision has been divisive, I mean, people were almost on the streets burning the place down. Obviously, only time will tell, but Patrick Schwarzenegger gives more Patrick Bateman than sweet Gus. Not a fan.

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Rating: 3.96

Oh sweet, sweet Funny Story. How I love thee. Choosing between Beach Read and Funny Story is the Sophie’s Choice of Emily Henry Books. How do you even go about it?

Vibes is my answer.

Funny Story pips the post by a fingernail. I’m completely biased, but Daphne is a children’s librarian and, until quite recently, I was one too. I also love Miles a smidgen more than Gus from Beach Read.

Daphne has uprooted her life to move to the small lake town of her boyfriend Peter. Together they live in Peter’s beautiful home, and Daphne has her dream job. Until Peter realises that he is deeply in love with his childhood best friend, Petra.

Bewildered, bereft and more than a little pissed off, Daphne finds a new roommate in Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles. Finding an unlikely ally in one another, Daphne and Miles hatch a plan to win back both their exes. What if they pretended that they had fallen in love, posting their adventures and newfound happiness, all while trying to make their exes jealous? It couldn’t possibly work, could it?

I think it might be Emily Henry’s steamiest book to date. It’s the right level of horny that will leave readers excited and not skimming the pages with constant moans, groans, and inventive ways to describe how well lubricated the lady is.

Daphne and Miles will have you cheering and laughing out loud. J’adore Funny Story.

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Rating: 4.18

So my friends, thoughts? If you’ve read her work, where do my ratings sit with you? Agree? Disagree?

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