Breaking Down The Emily Henry Cinematic Universe!

Emily Henry is taking over our bookshelves and our TikTok FYPs. Her novels are beloved because they can be read as stand-alone stories, but superfans know that reading them in order of publication pays off -- the Easter eggs, crossovers, and subtle callbacks weave a cozy little universe together.

With 5 bestsellers already optioned for film and TV adaptations, and her latest release not far behind, the Emily Henry Cinematic Universe (EHCU) is shaping up to be just as binge-worthy on screen as it is on the page. Here’s a breakdown of each story, the trope it nails, the adaptation news, and the little easter eggs you don’t want to miss!

1. Beach Read

Trope: Rivals-to-Lovers

Summary: January, a romance novelist reeling from personal loss, and Gus, a broody literary fiction writer, make a bet: they’ll swap genres for the Summer, and whoever sells the most wins. As they wrestle with love, grief, and writer’s block, their creative competition morphs into something neither of them expected.

Film Adaptation: A feature film adaptation is in development at 20th Century Studios, with a strong indie rom-com vibe (think "Normal People" meets When Harry Met Sally).

Easter Egg(s): A side character mentions an “up-and-coming travel writer” who happens to be Poppy (from People We Meet on Vacation).

2. People We Meet On Vacation

Trope: Friends-to-Lovers

Summary: Poppy and Alex, best friends-turned-strangers after a painful falling out, reunite for one last trip. Through dual timelines of Summer adventures past and present, the story unpacks the messy beauty of friendship and love.

Film Adaptation: Set to be adapted as a film and released on Netflix on January 9, 2026.

Easter Egg(s): During one flashback, they attend a book festival where Gus and January (from Beach Read) are on a panel; Poppy mentions knowing “a terrifyingly sharp literary agent named Nora” (from Book Lovers).

3. Book Lovers

Trope: Enemies-to-Lovers

Summary: Nora Stephens is the cutthroat literary agent who always plays the villain in someone else’s small-town romance. When she reluctantly takes a Summer trip with her sister Libby, she keeps running into Charlie, a grumpy editor she already can’t stand. Forced proximity turns their banter into something more tender.

Film Adaptation: Being developed as a limited series, perfect for capturing both the small-town slow burn and Nora’s layered family dynamic.

Easter Egg(s): One bookstore in town proudly displays January’s (Beach Read) novel; A passing reference to Poppy and Alex’s viral travel blog (People We Meet on Vacation).

4. Happy Place

Trope: Second Chance Romance

Summary: Harriet and Wyn were the golden couple, until they weren’t. Now broken up, they attend their annual friend vacation in Maine but decide to pretend to be a couple for the sake of the group. Pretending everything’s fine gives them the space to rediscover what broke them, and what still binds them.

Film Adaptation: Netflix is adapting this one into a movie with a nostalgic, ensemble cast energy (think Love Actually meets Someone Great).

Easter Egg(s): Peter and Daphne, Harriet and Wyn’s exes, get name-dropped—foreshadowing Funny Story; The vacation house has a bookshelf where one of Gus’s (Beach Read) books is tucked between travel guides.

5. Funny Story

Trope: Fake Dating

Summary: Daphne and Miles strike a deal: they’ll pretend to date to save face with their exes. What starts as a lighthearted arrangement becomes something deeply real, forcing them to confront heartbreak and vulnerability.

Film Adaptation: Currently in early development, being shopped as a streaming rom-com.

Easter Egg(s): Daphne’s ex is Peter—Harriet’s (Happy Place) former fiancé; One scene mentions a feature in Travel + Leisure about Alex and Poppy (People We Meet on Vacation).

6. Great Big Beautiful Life

Trope: Rivals-to-Lovers

Summary: Alice and Hayden, two ambitious journalists with opposite philosophies, are both chasing the opportunity to write the definitive biography of a reclusive cultural icon. Their rivalry is sharp, intellectual, and — inevitably — charged with chemistry.

Film Adaptation: Too new for casting details but already rumored to be in talks for a prestige TV series adaptation.

Easter Egg(s): Nora (Book Lovers) is referenced as having represented the author whose biography they’re competing to write; A sly mention of January and Gus’s (Beach Read) best-selling novels being taught in college courses; A side character casually scrolls through Poppy’s (People We Meet On Vacation) Instagram travel content.

Bottom line: Emily Henry is building her own universe. And whether you’re Team Gus, Team Alex, Team Charlie, Team Wyn, or (let’s be honest) Team Whoever She Writes Next, the EHCU is proof that we’re in the golden age of the rom-com revival!