Since the release of “Beach Read,” I have read every word Emily Henry has ever written, loving her even more with each new book release and “Emily’s Grocery List” blog post. What started out as picking up a book that had been circulating around on social media has easily turned into an obsession.
Aside from her novel’s stunning covers, Henry—EmHen to her fans—has mastered the art of writing a contemporary romance. She creates characters that feel deeply real with relationships that are swoon-worthy and refreshingly imperfect. From “People We Meet on Vacation” to “Funny Story,” Henry seamlessly blends humor and heartbreak, making readers laugh out loud one page then cry the next.
Her ability to eloquently capture messy, beautiful emotions is what makes her books so special and incomparable. Henry weaves romance with friendships, self-discovery and life’s quiet moments. Her stories make readers feel seen, like they’re alongside characters who are flawed, yet so lovable.
Of all her novels, all of which have been personal five star reads, “Happy Place” remains my ultimate favorite and go to book recommendation.The story follows Harriet and Wyn, a seemingly picture perfect couple who don’t tell their best friends on their annual vacation that they’re five months broken up. I adored the second chance nature of the story as it felt like the characters were rediscovering themselves all over again especially with the dual past and present timelines. The themes of grief, fear of the future and what it means to be truly happy make this Henry novel especially relatable and heart wrenching in the best possible ways.
Berkeley Publishers announced her next book “Great Big Beautiful Life” back in September. Its release date, April 22 is marked in my calendar with several exclamation marks. Based on the summary Henry posted on her Instagram, I know it will be another fan favorite.
Whether I’m rereading “Happy Place” for the ninth time or counting down the days until her newest release, Henry’s novels never fail to bring me joy while shedding a few tears. She reminds me why I love reading and how the right story in the right hands can truly feel like home.