If you’ve walked through a bookstore—or scrolled through TikTok—anytime in the last four years, you’ve seen the bright, vibrant covers of an Emily Henry novel. Now, the “Queen of the Summer Read” is officially becoming the Queen of the Box Office.
The internet is currently in a collective meltdown as details emerge regarding the massive “Henry-verse” expansion. With five of her most recent novels officially optioned for film and TV, the literary world’s favorite tropes are finally coming to life.
From enemies-to-lovers in a library to “fake dating” a roommate, here is the ultimate guide to every Emily Henry adaptation in the works.
People We Meet on Vacation
The wait is over for Alex and Poppy fans! The film adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation officially kicked off the Henry era when it dropped on Netflix on January , .
Starring Tom Blyth as the khakis-loving Alex and Emily Bader as the spontaneous Poppy, the film captures the decade-long friendship (and slow-burn romance) that had us all crying into our paperbacks. Directed by Brett Haley, it’s the perfect “friends-to-lovers” fix for your Friday night.
Beach Read
This is the one that started it all, and the casting news has already gone viral on X (formerly Twitter). Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor is set to step into the shoes of romance writer January Andrews, while Patrick Schwarzenegger has been tapped to play the brooding literary fiction author Augustus “Gus” Everett.
The story follows two rival writers living in neighboring lake houses who challenge each other to write in the other’s genre. With Yulin Kuang set to direct, fans are already predicting this will be the rom-com of the summer.
Happy Place
In a move that feels like a match made in Hollywood heaven, Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions has optioned Happy Place. While it was originally teased as a series, the news broke in January that it is now being developed as a feature film for Netflix.
Even more exciting? Emily Henry herself is writing the screenplay! The story follows Harriet and Wyn, a “perfect” couple who broke up months ago but pretend to still be together during their friend group’s annual Maine vacation. It’s messy, it’s emotional, and with J.Lo behind it, we know the aesthetics will be top-tier.
Book Lovers
For those who prefer a “city girl goes to a small town” subversion, Book Lovers is on the way from Tango. Sarah Heyward, an Emmy-winning writer from HBO’s Girls, is penning the script.
The story follows Nora, a cutthroat literary agent who keeps bumping into her professional nemesis, Charlie, in a tiny North Carolina town. Social media is already busy “fan-casting” the perfect Charlie—because we all know the brooding editor needs just the right amount of edge.
Funny Story
The most recent addition to the lineup is Funny Story, and fans are buzzing because Henry is once again taking the reins to write the script herself. The film, which is headed to Netflix, follows Daphne and Miles—two strangers who decide to live together (and fake date) after their respective fiancés run off with each other.
“I don’t think I’ve ever clicked ‘add to watchlist’ faster,” one fan commented on Instagram. “Emily writing her own screenplays is the energy we need in .”
What’s Next?
With Great Big Beautiful Life hitting shelves in , rumors are already swirling that a sixth movie deal is just around the corner. For a writer who publishes a bestseller every single year, it seems Hollywood is just trying to keep up.
Which Emily Henry hero are you most excited to see on the big screen? One thing is for sure: our Kindle highlights are finally getting the cinematic treatment they deserve.
