Your Guide to Every Emily Henry Movie Adaptation (original) (raw)
It’s impossible to count the number of rom-com authors in the ether. But there’s only one who literary lovers—particularly of the Millennial and Gen Z variety—can’t stop buzzing about: Emily Henry. The queen of the genre, Henry has mastered the joyous combination of witty, fun-loving characters, swoon-worthy relationships and the coziest of settings. (Hello, who wouldn’t want to fall in love in a North Carolina mountain town called Sunshine Falls?) No wonder readers are devoted to her words and have been begging Hollywood to adapt her books into a veritable Emily Henry movie universe.
Need more proof that these are some of the best books on shelves today? As of April 2023, the 33-year-old Henry had sold more than 2.5 million print copies of her works collectively and spent more than a cumulative 150 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She got a shout-out from Drew Barrymore and has appeared on Good Morning America. Seems everyone loves a modern escapist delight. “We were very intentional in thinking about the books as mini-vacations,” she told Today. “Part of that is just because it works, and part of that is because I myself get that huge craving every summer.”
But “EmHen” is no overnight #BookTok sensation. After graduating college, the Cincinnati native labored at her laptop in all of her off time. (That meant 5 a.m. wake-up calls, plus Saturday and Sunday writing sessions). Henry completed three young adult novels before stumbling into romance and writing her 2020 adult debut, Beach Read. Four more brightly hued works have followed, with Funny Story reaching No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list this past spring. Coming in 2025: Great Big Beautiful Life.
Now—no surprise here—a whopping five of her books have been optioned for film or series adaptations. They’re all in various stages of early development, and none have a scheduled release date at the moment, so we’re here to fill in the blanks on every Emily Henry movie. Read on to find out which movies are getting the Hollywood treatment, learn cast details and more.
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People We Meet on Vacation
VIA MERCHANT
About the adaptation
A year after People We Meet on Vacation arrived in 2021, the beach read became the first of Henry’s books to receive the big-screen greenlight. It will be directed by Brett Haley (All the Bright Places and Hearts Beat Loud). In September, Henry confirmed in her newsletter that the script, written by How to End a Love Story author Yulin Kuang, is “hilarious.” The film is being produced by Temple Hill with the studio 3000 Pictures.
One note: In a departure from the source material, the central vacation destination in the story is shifting from Palm Springs to Barcelona.
About the cast
In her August newsletter, Henry said that the casting process “had me in knots.” But the two leads for this movie are now set, with Emily Bader (from the hit Prime Video series My Lady Jane) and Tom Blyth (from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) slotted into the lead roles. “They are perfect,” raved Henry.
They’re joined by Sarah Catherine Hook (The White Lotus), Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris) and Lukas Gage (Smile 2). Rounding out the ensemble are Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why), Alan Ruck (Succession) and Molly Shannon (I Love That for You).
About the book
After a two-year hiatus, besties Poppy and Alex embark on one of their annual summer vacations in a bid to rekindle their friendship. Like two besotted characters in any great romance book, they fall in love by the time they leave paradise.
Beach Read
VIA MERCHANT
About the adaptation
While Beach Read was the first adult book in the author’s literary arsenal, it marks the most recent Emily Henry movie in development. “Who’s ready to cry,” she wrote on Instagram in April 2023 when announcing the film adaptation.
Kuang will also write the screenplay for this fizzy entry for 20th Century Studios with Original Film production—and will make her feature-length directing debut. In an April 2023 Instagram post, Kuang revealed she reread the book in Holland, Michigan, for a “_Beach Read_–inspired grand tour” of the story’s locale. “I love January and Gus and now North Bear Shores with my whole heart, and this adaptation is my love letter to all of them.”
About the cast
There’s no casting news to report yet on the Beach Read movie. Still, Henry and Kuang caused a stir in March 2024 when they both reposted a St. Patrick’s Day photo of actors Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) on their Instagram stories. To add to the excitement, Mescal said in an interview that he’d like to star in a rom-com with Edebiri.
Are these signs the actors have signed on for the film? Henry is staying mum. “I can’t confirm or deny anything with casting for any movie,” she told Variety.
About the book
Over one summer on the shore of picturesque Lake Michigan, frustrated writers January and Gus try to get out of their creative ruts by swapping genres. The challenge sees them spending time together … and, naturally, falling in love.
Book Lovers
VIA MERCHANT
About the adaptation
When announcing the news for the Book Lovers movie in March 2023, Henry explained why romance stories are so important to her: Despite having a guaranteed happy ending, the tales represent hope amid the struggles of real life. “This movie is going to be funny, cozy, moving and messy,” she wrote. “I can’t wait. Thank you for being the best audience.”
The film is being produced by Tango, the studio behind the Paul Mescal–led tearjerker Aftersun. Sarah Heyward, best known for her work writing and producing HBO’s Emmy-winning Girls and Prime Video’s Emmy-nominated adaptation of Modern Love, is attached to write the script.
About the cast
There’s nobody attached to the Book Lovers movie yet. When Henry reached out to her Instagram followers after the book’s 2022 release and asked them to “dream-cast” an adaptation, she received many suggestions. (Elizabeth Olsen and Elle Fanning, anyone?) We’ll have to wait to see the studio’s picks.
About the book
While on a sister-bonding trip in North Carolina, cutthroat literary agent Nora keeps running into Charlie, a brooding editor she clashed with back in New York City. She’s no ideal heroine, and he’s no classic Prince Charming—yet this enemies-to-lovers romance has a well-earned happily ever after.
Happy Place
VIA MERCHANT
About the adaptation
Marking a shift from the other novels, _Happy Place—which debuted in 2023—isn’t an Emily Henry movie adaptation. It’s poised to be a small-screen series. (“_Happy Place show incoming,” Henry confirmed in an Instagram post.)
It was optioned in June 2024 by Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and will stream on Netflix via Nuyorican’s multi-year first-look deal with the company. Running the show? Lelia Cohan, a co–executive producer on the Netflix smash hit Bridgerton.
About the cast
Henry shared that as of June, actors had yet to be cast in the Happy Place movie. “When they are, they will be actors in their late 20s to early 30s,” she added.
About the book
Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college. Well, they were the perfect couple. Now separated, they agree to pretend to be together during an annual weeklong vacation in Maine with their friends. Sharing a room at a quaint cottage leads to some hanky-panky, which may just renew the spark they lost.
Funny Story
VIA MERCHANT
About the adaptation
Marking her first foray into screenwriting, Henry will pen the screenplay for the film adaptation of her 2024 novel. In her August newsletter, she revealed that she recently turned in a draft for the Funny Story movie. “So things are moving there, and I’m very excited to share more with you about that soon,” she wrote.
Alexander Black and Natalie Sellers from Lyrical Media (Bruiser and How to Blow Up a Pipeline) are set to produce her script. There’s no director on board yet for this Emily Henry movie.
About the cast
Sorry to disappoint, but there’s zero casting news to share on the Funny Story movie front.
About the book
Daphne and Miles become roommates after their exes—childhood best friends Peter and Petra—end their relationships and start dating. The incensed pair hatch a fake-dating scheme to make the new couple jealous, but their desire for revenge sparks a fire with each other.
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Sources:
- Today: “It’s always vacation in Emily Henry’s world”
- WCPO-Cincinnati: “How Cincinnati’s Emily Henry captured readers’ hearts—and a spot on the NYT Best Seller list”
- Vulture: “The Women Are Smart. The Men Are Sincere. And the Ending Is Always Happy”
- Emily’s Grocery List: “Popping Up with Some More News!”
- Awards Watch: “Interview: Paul Mescal on Explorations of the Past and Creating a Natural Chemistry with Andrew Scott for ‘All of Us Strangers'”
- Variety: “Emily Henry Winks About Ayo Edebiri and Paul Mescal’s Rumored ‘Beach Read’ Casting: ‘Two of My Favorite Irish Actors'”
- Today: “Emily Henry announces casting for film adaptation of ‘People We Meet On Vacation'”
- Deadline: “Tom Blyth and Emily Bader Set to Star in Netflix and 3000 Pictures Adaptation of ‘People We Meet on Vacation'”
- Deadline: “Netflix Options Novel ‘Happy Place’ for Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican; Series in the Works”
- Variety: “Emily Henry to Adapt Her Rom-Com Bestseller ‘Funny Story’ into Feature Film from Lyrical Media, Ryder Picture Company”