The recent release of the book-to-screen romance movie People We Meet on Vacation on Netflix has sparked major buzz around the author, Emily Henry. With her large repertoire of best-selling romance books, we’re glad she’s finally getting her moment. Here is more about her and her books.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Her Background
She was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although she initially attended Hope College to study dance, her creative writing scholarship soon revealed her natural talent for writing. After a writing residency at New York Center for Art & Media Studies, she returned to Cincinnati, where she currently writes and lives.
Debut Novel
By 2016, Henry was a full-time writer and proofreader. Her first book, The Love That Split the World, was published in January 2016. After that, she wrote several more young adult novels. She published her first adult romance novel, Beach Read, in 2020, and the book quickly achieved great success.
Beach Read is a contemporary romance about two writers with very different styles who end up living next door to each other for the summer. While they are both struggling creatively and personally, they come up with a plan: they will switch genres in hopes of breaking their writer’s block. This rivalry-turned-collaboration-turned-romance is thoughtful, funny, and honest. And yes, it does make a great beach read.
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Success in the Genre
Adult romance novels are clearly her thing, because as she continued to write, she continued to be acclaimed for her writing. Buzzfeed, The Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, and more have all sung her praises.
In 2021, People We Meet on Vacation was published. This romantic comedy follows two best friends who could not be more different. Opposites attract in this novel that spans years: connection, personal growth, and a possible love story.
In 2022, Book Lovers, a professional rivalry turns romantic when the career-driven, devoted literary agent Nora visits Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. There, she crosses paths with Charlie, a brooding book editor with whom she has a professional history.
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In 2023, her fans were continually fed with Happy Place. Yet another sweet beach read, this novel follows a couple who recently broke up but didn’t tell their friend group. When the group plans its annual summer trip to a cottage in Maine, the pair agrees to attend and pretend they never broke up. Of course, this brings up complicated emotions and possible second chances. This is my personal favorite of her collection!
As of 2023, she had sold more than 2.4 million books collectively!
2024 brought Funny Story, a book of unexpected connections amidst heartbreak. Utilizing the classic trope of fake-dating to real-feelings, this book is yet another hit from Henry. Humor, heartfelt moments, and self-discovery are all themes in this release.
In 2025, the author released Great Big Beautiful Life. The novel follows an ambitious journalist and a Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer as they travel to a remote island to meet a former celebrity who lives there in seclusion. Though they are competing for information, they develop feelings for one another as they collaborate to piece together the story of her life.
People We Meet on Vacation: The Movie
This recent Netflix release is a “breezy adaptation” with “charming leads,” played by Tom Blyth and Emily Bader. I watched this movie recently, and my only critique is that I wish it were a limited series, not a movie. I’m hungry for more! No matter what you think of the main characters, the story is undeniably charming, and the leads are captivating to watch.
