35 Perfect Romance Books Recommended by Emily Henry

Published Sep 28, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Emily Henry is one of the most popular romance writers, and she has plenty of recommendations in the genre to keep you going while waiting for her next books. If you’re dying for a forbidden tryst or eager to escape into a historical love story, the romance genre has you covered. The genre is so abundant, though, that it can feel overwhelming trying to find your next read. Luckily, author Emily Henry has stepped in to help. Henry has written a total of eleven books, six of which are adult romance novels. Recently, she announced on Instagram that her next rom-com book, Modern Classic, is coming April 6, 2027, and it’s already available to pre-order now. However, her expertise in the romance genre isn’t limited to writing. When she isn’t creating a couple you’re dying to see end up together, Henry reads romance books just like the rest of us. Her preferences are extremely varied and include tropes she doesn’t write in herself, such as enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience. Henry has shared many of her favorite romance books, giving readers plenty of suggestions approved of by the beloved novelist, and these are 35 options that you can dive into, separated by subgenre. Enemies-To-Lovers & Rivals-To-Lovers Book Recommendations The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (Published: August 9, 2016 / Purchasable here): Joshua Templeman and Lucy Hutton are up for the same promotion, and they agree that the loser will walk away from the company. Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin (Published: June 4, 2019 / Purchasable here): An aspiring poet named Ayesha Shasmi unexpectedly falls for a conservative and judgmental man named Khalid. It Happened One Fight by Maureen Lee Lenker (Published: July 11, 2023 / Purchasable here): Set in the 1930s, movie star Joan Davis is forced to act with hotshot leading man Dash Howard, whom she cannot stand. The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory (Published: July 16, 2019 / Purchasable here): Alexa’s best friends, Maddie and Theo, who hate each other, have a mistaken hookup that makes things hard leading up to Alexa’s wedding. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (Published: September 3, 2019 / Purchasable here): In 1879 England, Annabelle Archer got a scholarship to Oxford, but she must recruit the calculating Sebastian Devereux, the Duke of Montgomery, to keep her place. How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (Published: April 9, 2024 / Purchasable here): Two writers on a TV show, Helen Zhang and Grant Shephard, have a troubled past, but they must find a way to work together. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (Published: November 5, 2019 / Purchasable here): A badass chronically ill and fat computer geek named Chloe Brown sets out to “Get a Life,” but she must turn to her neighbor, Redford “Red” Morgan, for help, even though he resents her deeply. Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane (Published: October 7, 2025 / Purchasable here): An award-winning podcaster and journalist named Bel is condescending to her intern in his 30s, Connor, but they have to work together to get the scoop on a big story While Emily Henry has shared romance books with various tropes, the one she’s shared most is enemies-to-lovers stories. These range from softer dislike-to-lovers to harder versions where two characters have a deep-seated hatred of each other. Many books that fall primarily into other trope categories also link back to this one. Henry’s enemies-to-lovers recommendations range from mild to spicy romances, giving readers plenty of options. Second Chance Romance Book Recommendations Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (Published: June 1, 2021 / Purchasable here): Single mom and bestselling erotica writer and award-winning novelist Shane Hall were childhood sweethearts, and they get a second chance at love when they meet at a literary event. Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev (Published: July 6, 2021 / Purchasable here): Yash Raje, California’s first Indian-American governor candidate, and India Dashwood, his sister’s best friend, are brought together a decade after a magical night together. This book is a Jane Austen retelling. Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan (Published: November 15, 2022 / Purchasable here): A divorced couple, Jasmine and Josiah Wade, have become great co-parents and co-business owners, and they kiss, reigniting their spark. Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane (Published: September 10, 2019 / Purchasable here): After getting fired and finding her boyfriend in bed with someone else, Georgina takes a job as a bartender at her former love's bar. Score by Kennedy Ryan (Published: May 19, 2026 / Purchasable here): Verity Hill and Wright “Monk” Bellamy part ways in college, and over a decade later, they have to work together on a Harlem Renaissance biopic. Sometimes relationships don’t work out the first time, but the best second-chance romances prove that it’s never too late. Many of Henry’s recommendations in this subgenre have garnered praise and accolades. Writer Kennedy Ryan appears three times on the recommendations list, twice in the second-chances category, because she’s one of Emily Henry’s favorite romance writers publishing today, according to an Elle interview. Forced Marriage & Marriage Of Convenience Book Recommendations Lady Like by Mackenzi Lee (Published: September 9, 2025 / Purchasable here): In this Regency romance, Harriet Lockhart and Emily Sergeant, two women who need to marry, vie for the same Duke but find themselves falling for each other instead. Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore (Published: September 7, 2021 / Purchasable here): Hattie Greenfield, an Oxford scholar and London banking heiress, and Lucian Blackstone, a morally gray Scottish financier, marry to get themselves out of a compromising public moment. The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas (Published: November 5, 2013 / Purchasable here): Louisa Cantwell must marry to support her sisters, and Felix Rivendale, the Marquess of Wrenworth, is the only one to propose. Forced Marriage and marriage of convenience is a fun genre because it combines fake relationships and forced proximity, occasionally even throwing in enemies-to-lovers. All three of Emily Henry’s books in the subgenre are Regency books, letting readers dive into a romanticized version of that period in British history. Fake Relationship Book Recommendations A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare (Published: March 27, 2022 / Purchasable here): Set in the Regency era, a spinster named Minerva and a Lord named Colin Sandhurst convince their families they’re in love and eloping, while embarking on a trip to Scotland. The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta (Published: July 6, 2021 / Purchasable here): A-list Hollywood actress Whitman “Win” Tagore and playboy Leo Milanowski fake a relationship to improve both public personas, but things get messy when their chemistry kicks in. Not That Kind Of Guy by Andie J. Christopher (Published: April 14, 2020 / Purchasable here): State attorney Bridget Nolan needs a date to her brother’s wedding, so she and legal intern Matt Kido impulsively go to Las Vegas. Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (Published: May 26, 2020 / Purchasable here): Hollywood actor Jo and her assistant Emma get photographed together on the red carpet, assumed to be a couple, and rumors start flying. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center (Published: July 19, 2022 / Purchasable here): Hannah Brooks is hired as Jack Stapleton's bodyguard when he gets a stalker, and they pretend to date when they visit his family so they won’t learn about the threat. A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson (Published: June 11, 2024 / Purchasable here): Laniah Thompson’s small business is failing, and she won’t accept help from her famous best friend, Isaac Jordan. So he tells the press they’re dating to get business going her way. While Emily Henry doesn’t write in the enemies-to-lovers genre, at least as of this writing, she does use the fake relationship trope frequently. Both Funny Story and Happy Place fall into the category, and they’re getting adapted as Netflix feature films. Given her enjoyment of writing in the category, it’s not surprising that it’s her second-most-recommended subgenre. Fantasy Romance & Magical Realism Romance Book Recommendations An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson (Published: September 25, 2018 / Purchasable here): An artist prodigy named Isobel falls for the fae autumn prince, Rook, and her portrait of him threatens his kingdom A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams (Published: February 6, 2024 / Purchasable here): Two artists, Ricki Wilde and Ezra, find themselves drawn to each other because their lives are uniquely linked. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (Published: August 23, 2022 / Purchasable here): A witch named Mika Moon is invited to a Nowhere House, where she teaches three young witches and falls for the prickly librarian Jamie. Most of Emily Henry’s recommendations are in the traditional romance genre, rather than a fusion. However, she has recommended three books that blend together fantasy, magic, and love. Julia Wheland narrates both An Enchantment of Ravens and most of Henry’s books. Additionally, she wrote blurbs praising both other fantasy romance books. Friends-To-Lovers Book Recommendations Star-Crossed by Minnie Darke (Published: May 21, 2019 / Purchasable here): Childhood best friends Justine, a Sagittarius horoscope skeptic, and Nick, an Aquarius horoscope believer, meet again as adults, and she meddles with his horoscope to convince him to take a chance on her. The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (Published: August 6, 2024 / Purchasable here): After many rejections, an indigenous woman named Ember lies to get an accountant job. She becomes friends with an IT man named Danuwoa Colson, but they cannot date because of corporate policies, despite mutual attraction. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (Published: June 25, 2019 / Purchasable here): A widower named Evvie invites her best friend, Dean, to stay at her home while his baseball career struggles. She won’t ask about his career, and he won’t ask about her late husband. Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren (Published: September 4, 2018 / Purchasable here): College best friends, Josh and Hazel, set each other up on terrible double blind-dates. While enemies-to-lovers brings the passionate spark, friends-to-lovers brings a much more lived-in chemistry. Books in this subgenre feature deep history and emotional safety that make a romantic relationship feel natural. These four books recommended by Emily Henry are perfect for readers who enjoy seeing friends become something more. Miscellaneous Romance Book Recommendations Love Triangles One Day in December by Josie Silver (Published: October 16, 2018 / Purchasable here): Laurie falls in love with a man at first sight, never meeting him; however, they meet a year later at a Christmas party where her best friend, Sarah, introduces her new boyfriend, Jack. The book follows the love triangle across ten years. Between Friends And Lovers by Shirlene Oubobi (Published: July 20, 2024 / Purchasable here): Instagram influencer Jo, actor/Jo’s best friend Ezra, and writer Malcolm navigate a complicated love triangle made more difficult by their public personas Forced Proximity Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (Published: August 2, 2022 / Purchasable here): An audiobook narrator named Sewanee Chester becomes the narrator for romance novelist Brock McNight in this digital forced proximity romance. Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez (Published: April 6, 2021 / Purchasable here): A YouTube travel vlogger becomes an unexpected guardian to her half-sister and gets help from her attractive lawyer next-door neighbor, Adrian Copeland. Workplace Romance Reel by Kennedy Ryan (Published: February 27, 2024 / Purchasable here): After understudy Neevah Saint gets her Broadway debut, she’s cast in director Canon Holt’s Harlem Renaissance biopic, and feelings start brewing between the two. Can You Keep A Secret? By Sophie Kinsella (Published: March 23, 2004 / Purchasable here): A young woman named Emma spills her secrets to a handsome stranger on a plane, leading to mutual attraction before she learns he’s the CEO of her company. Emily Henry has extremely varied romance tastes, and not every primary subgenre has enough books to warrant their own section. However, these recommendations are just as great as the rest. Whether you’re looking to dive into a forbidden workplace romance, two people stuck together, or an individual stuck in a love triangle, Henry has you covered with top-notch options. The writer clearly loves romance and love just as much as the rest of us. Sources: The New York Times, Radical Reads, BookBub, Elle, Today, PEOPLE, LitCheck YouTube