If you’ve ever been scrolling through a list of book recommendations online, or even stumbled upon a romance reader’s Bookstagram account, it’s highly likely that you would have seen the name Emily Henry before.

Personally, I like to call her the Queen of Romance, though others prefer the term ‘New York Times Bestselling Author’. With a wide range of titles such as Beach Read, You and Me on Vacation, and much more, it’s guaranteed that you will have heard of one of her books. Her emotional and romantic novels will make you both swoon, laugh, and cry – the exact fun summer romances that you need to get through the winter months!

So you want to read her work, but you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with the range of titles available to you? Don’t worry – keep reading for a beginner’s guide to Emily Henry!

For those who long for summer vacation . . .

You and Me on Vacation

While many Emily Henry books follow the general theme of summer holidays and travelling to new and exciting places, You and Me on Vacation is the one most likely to make you want to quit your job and hop on the first plane to Croatia (if you know, you know).

Poppy and Alex are complete opposites, but somehow they are the closest friends in the world. They always travelled together, a recurring trip once a year . . . until two years ago, when everything changed and their friendship was forever altered.

Now Poppy feels lost, even surrounded by the bright lights of New York City. She and Alex aren’t speaking, but in her heart she knows that the last time she was truly happy was on her final (ill-fated) trip with Alex. So she reaches out to him, after two years of radio silence, and suggests one more trip together – for old times’ sake. Somehow, he agrees and off they set for one final trip, one last chance for them to fix everything that went wrong between the two of them.

What could possibly go wrong?

For those who need a break from . . . everything . . .

Beach Read

January is a romance writer who used to be Cupid’s biggest fan – a firm believer in true love. But now she’s lost and no longer thinks that love exists. Gus is a cynic – a literary writer who is stuck in a rut. Polar opposites, they hate each other.

That all changes when the two broke writers with deadlines creeping up on them find out they're staying in adjoining beach houses. To try and overcome their writer's block, they make a deal. Gus will finally write something happy, that doesn’t end with the entire cast dead, and January will try to write the next great piece of literary fiction. However, one thing they didn’t plan for is that this project will result in them spending a lot more time together . . . And is it possible that January could fall for her long time enemy – the man who thinks that happily ever afters are a myth?

Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love . . . really.

For fans of a second chance romance . . .

Happy Place

I first read this for my book club this year, with a time crunch of a week to read it. Turns out I didn’t even need that, because I finished it in one afternoon – it’s that good!

Harriet and Wyn were the perfect couple – they went together like bread and butter, like PB and J. All until they broke up six months ago . . . and they still haven’t told their friends. The group of them are like a second family, a chosen family, and Harriet desperately doesn’t want to hurt them with the news.

However, when their friends suddenly spring on them that they’ll all be staying together in their beloved beach house for a week, Harriet and Wyn realise that they’ve royally effed up. Because now they have to share a bedroom for a week and, most of all, act as if they’re hopelessly in love with one another. Old feelings arise but they refuse to admit just how much they both still want each other. However, it’s just one week – that shouldn’t be too hard . . . right?

After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week . . . in front of those who know you best?

For those who love to get drawn into a new book . . .

Book Lovers

As a cutthroat literary agent, Nora has come to terms with the fact that she may not be the sweet, ‘good girl’ heroine in the story of her life. But that’s okay – all she really wants to be is a fighter for her clients.

But when she agrees to go on a girls’ trip to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina with her younger sister Libby, there is the possibility for all that to change. Libby strongly believes that all Nora needs in order to be happy is to take out her tight blonde ponytail and relax with a bit of small-town charm.

However Nora has barely any time to frolic in the meadows, as she keeps running into Charlie – her literary nemesis and a brooding editor from the city. Both are very open with their distaste for one another, however after repeatedly getting thrown together over and over again, new feelings arise. Is there a side to one another that they’ve been hiding in the proof copy of their stories?

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming....

Finally, for the ones who know not to judge a book (or a person) by its cover . . .

Funny Story

The thing Daphne loved most about her ex-fiance Peter was the way he told their story. He was always excellent at making their story seem ridiculously romantic … up until he realised he had been in love with his childhood best friend Petra the entire time they were together.

Now Daphne is left alone in Waning Bay, Michigan – not knowing a single soul except for her roommate Miles. Who is also Petra’s ex, the only person who could possibly understand the range of emotions she’s feeling. One ridiculous night, the two of them form a plan. They begin posting misleading photos on social media and . . . oh well, it isn’t their fault if Peter and Petra misread them and start getting jealous.

Buttoned up Daphne convinces herself that it's all for show – it’s just a ploy to get revenge on Peter and (who knows) maybe one day get him back. Because there’s no way she could possibly start falling for Miles – the scruffy bartender and her ex-fiancé's new fiancé's ex . . . right?

Sometimes you can find love in the most ridiculous places . . . and in the most unlikely people.

Saskia de Leeuw Kyle is a member of the 2024 Readings Teen Advisory Board.