4 Emily Henry Books to Hit Big Screen Soon! Here’s When
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Big news for beach readers and fans of Beach Read : The “EmHen” book universe is coming to screens big and small. Emily Henry ’s empowering love stories have topped the fiction best-seller charts since 2020, thanks to their bright covers, relatable characters, and sparkling storytelling. A few weeks ago, it was announced four of those New York Times bestselling novels will be turned into movies, while a fifth, Happy Place , will be a TV series. On top of that, casting was just announced for the Netflix film based on People We Meet on Vacation . Here’s who’s playing Alex and Poppy, and everything else you need to know about the upcoming adaptations.
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People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy and Alex, who reconnect every summer for a weeklong vacation despite their busy lives and evolving relationships. The Internet fan-cast Ayo Edebiri and Paul Mescal as the leads. Instead, they will get, in the words of one Instagram commenter, President Snow and Lady Jane.
“Do you want to be our Poppy Wright?” asks director Brett Haley in the reveal clip of a video call, as Bader is taken aback in surprise. “You’re lying!” she says, shaking with joy. “Stop. Wait, I’m getting overwhelmed. Are you serious?… Are you kidding? I’m going to cry.”
The director then introduces his Alex Nilsen, Blyth, who has a big grin. Then Haley surprises both stars with “Emily Henry herself.”
“I’m so, so excited you guys,” says Henry, popping on. “I have been kind of an anxious wreck about who would play these characters, and I just truly could not feel any more confident that my readers and then so many more people who don’t even know about the book are going to completely fall in love with Poppy and Alex, with you guys playing them.”
“It’s like a dream come true. We’ll do you proud,” says Bader. “Let’s go!” says Blyth.
Expect the film to debut in 2025.
Berkley
Yulin Kuang will write People We Meet on Vacation , and also penned the adaptation of Beach Read , which tells the story of two rival authors who unexpectedly find themselves living next door to each other for the summer and decide to swap genres for a writing challenge.
The screenwriter knows something about romances. Her own best-selling debut novel, How to End a Love Story , was Reese Witherspoon’s May ‘24 Book Club Pick.
“I never had a chance to organically discover Emily Henry,” she told Vogue recently. “The People We Meet on Vacation manuscript landed in my inbox before it was published, and I think that was in 2021. The things I was reading at the time for pleasure were all historical, but when I got Emily’s book it had all of that DNA that I love from romance novels. It also had more locations than a James Bond movie, so that was also kind of a fun, compelling puzzle. I was like, okay, this is a beautiful book. It has so many emotionally resonant things, and also I can see how it would be difficult to adapt. But that made me more intrigued—I like a challenge.”
No casting has been announced for Beach Read —yet.
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Berkley
Modern Love and Girls writer Sarah Heyward is scheduled to adapt the film version of 2022’s Book Lovers , which follows two literary agents who find themselves stuck together in a small town and must navigate their professional rivalry and undeniable chemistry.
TikTokers have fancast Simone Ashley and Henry Golding , or Colin Woodell and Erin Moriarty , but no official announcement has been made yet. Look for this one at the end of 2025 if we’re lucky.
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Chris Evans and Ella Purnell ? Or Dakota Johnson and Alex Pettyfer ? Who could play the estranged couple who pretend to be together for a week-long vacation with friends? TikTok fans have their own ideas about casting for Happy Place , but so far, all we know about this is that it’ll be a Netflix show produced by Jennifer Lopez ’s production company, Nuyorican Productions.
Berkley
If you’ve read this far, you no doubt will recognize the name of the screenwriter for Funny Story : It’s Henry herself. No director is attached to this one yet, nor casting, but perhaps Henry and Kuang can share notes about what makes a successful film adaptation. Shunted together at first for work purposes, they became very close.
“I think I can be kind of an intense person. If my job is to be professionally obsessed with you, I know how to do that because I come from fandom,” Kuang told Vogue , speaking about their relationship. “I was like, I’m gonna book a flight to the town that Emily was inspired by, and I’m gonna reread the book there. I didn’t realize that that was also Emily’s college town, and when I asked for a tour, these really lovely girls at Hope College were like, ‘This is where Emily’s class used to be. These are her dorms. This is her former professor…’ and I was just like, I feel like I’m seeing too much. I wasn’t supposed to go this deep! But somehow, from infinite weirdness a beautiful friendship has sprung.”
Sounds like the start of a great rom-com. Expect this one closer to the start of 2026.
The 10 Best Audiobooks for Your Next Road Trip
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Packing up the car and heading out on a road trip is a rite of passage. Many of us remember our first road trip as a kid, when we loaded up our suitcases to venture out toward a new destination. Maybe you also hit the road with friends after college, or have taken your kids on a road trip of their own, seeing the sites or exploring different national parks . But if you’re spending hours in the car—no matter who you’re with—you need something to pass the time. Music and podcast episodes can only cover so many miles, which is why you might be in the market for an audiobook.
According to Hayley Yager , bookstagrammer and blogger of Backpacking Bookworm , there are a few key factors that go into selecting the right audiobook for a road trip. To maximize your listening experience, she recommends looking for “engaging and authentic narrators,” who will keep your attention. Second, consider the genres or types of books you’re most interested in. Podcast-lovers might prefer a non-fiction pick, and if you’ve always wanted to learn about some historical or contemporary figure, a biography or memoir could be a great option. Fiction is also a great option, and you’ll find a plethora of different stories that you can immerse yourself in on a long drive.
If you’re having trouble making the right call, travel experts and book bloggers have recommended some of their top audiobook choices, which you can either purchase or borrow from your local library. Read on to find out what you should be listening to while on the road.
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Audible Studios
Anything by renowned nonfiction author Bill Bryson is worth a read or a listen. He writes about complex concepts—including the intricacies of the human body and the history of the universe—but does so in an accessible, often comical way. Of Bryson’s many worthy reads, Anthony Presti , travel writer of ValueQuack, recommends The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America .
“Follow Bill on his cross-country road trip in the United States. From the backwoods of Kentucky to the badlands of South Dakota, Bryson covers it all in this hilarious account of his journey,” Presti says.
Bryson travels across 38 states in total over the course of the travelogue, as he searches for the perfect small American town—and you’ll be waiting to see if he finds it. “If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud book to listen to on your road trip, this is the one for you,” Presti says. “It is one of the funniest books you’ll ever read, whether at home or on the road.”
Random House Audio
If you love a good modern mystery, The Flight Attendant is a solid choice for your next road trip. Full of suspense, this story follows Cassie, a binge drinker who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. It’s also been turned into a popular show on HBO Max, so you can engage in the age-old debate of book versus TV series when you’re done listening.
“Why not infuse a little ‘travel talk’ into your travels? With the release of the new HBO show based on this novel, I wanted to give the book a try before watching it,” Bryan Mullennix , founder of the travel website Feeling Vegas, explains. “It’s a suspenseful novel and makes for a good road trip audiobook because of how it is written and also the fact that it kind of relates to travel.”
This audiobook has three narrators, meaning you’ll hear different voices for different characters in this chilling and thrilling read. Looking for something even darker? You might want to opt for Yager’s thriller pick, The Night Swim by Megan Goldin .
Macmillan Audio
If you just want to be transported to another world, let TJ Klune take you there by listening to Under T he Whispering Door . Klune has quickly become a mainstay in the fantasy genre, often featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Under The Whispering Door also adds a splash of romance, humor, and some more intense themes of grief and loss.
John Hubbard , founder and CEO of the outdoor blog Urban Dare, recommends Under The Whispering Door if you want something that will truly keep your attention. “The audiobook gives you all types of feeling with every character’s unique and suitable voice,” he explains, adding that Kirt Graves , a well known audiobook reader and audio producer, narrates. “It provides a great message from life and love to death with its lovable characters.”
Hubbard recommends this for a long drive, “as it will take some time to understand the deep questions Klune’s tale poses throughout.” The audiobook has a listening length of 14 hours and 54 minutes, so it’ll get you through a good stretch of your trip. “Some listeners might find the audiobook a bit slow at the start,” he notes. “It is better to listen at 1.5 speed until you begin to understand the plot of the story.”
Random House Audio
If you’re choosing a memoir for a long-haul drive, Yager recommends selecting one that is recorded by the author. “In my experience, stories are brought more to life when read by the person who knows the book better than anyone,” she tells Best Life , suggesting Becoming by Michelle Obama as a notable choice.
The former First Lady narrates her memoir, discussing her childhood all the way through her time in the White House and after. You’ll feel connected to Obama when listening to her tell her story, and if you needed any more convincing, she won the 2020 Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for her audio edition of the book.
If you’ve already checked Becoming off of your reading list—it was, after all, the best-selling book of 2018—Presti also recommends Barack Obama’s 2020 memoir A Promised Land . “It chronicles his upbringing, his time in office, and the challenges he faced throughout his presidency,” he says. “It’s an inspiring story that will leave you feeling hopeful and motivated—perfect for a road trip where anything can happen.”
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Pottermore Publishing
One of the most beloved series of all time centers on a young wizard named Harry Potter. The stories have captivated young and old readers alike since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was first published in 1997. Presti recommends this audiobook for your next trip on the open road, especially if you’ve got your kids in tow.
“If you’re looking for a book the whole family can enjoy on your road trip, look no further than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone ,” he explains. “With its magic, adventure, and suspense, this book is sure to keep everyone entertained on a long car ride.”
As The Sorcerer’s Stone is the first installment in the seven-part series, you might also want to bring Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets along as well, just in case the kids (or you) can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Macmillan Audio
While you can’t watch a rom-com while you’re driving, you can certainly listen to one. Yager recommends The Switch , which is set in the U.K. and features a plot line that might remind you a little of the movie The Holiday . The story focuses on a newly-single grandmother looking for love in the rural town of Yorkshire and her granddaughter, who has become exhausted by life in London. The two decide to switch places, and drama, romance, and comedy ensue.
The audiobook is read by two English actors, Daisy Edgar-Jones , of Normal People and Where the Crawdads Sing , and Alison Steadman , award-winning stage, film, and television star.
“This is an easy and light listen with two celebrity narrators, which evokes familiarity,” Yager says. “The chapters are the perfect length, enabling you to get invested in one storyline before moving on to the next when the narrators switch.”
You can listen to this 10-hour audiobook on a longer drive, but Yager notes that you can also “dip in and out for shorter trips.”
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Random House Audio
Some stories are classics for a reason, and even if you haven’t picked up a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , odds are you’ve heard of it. First published in 1979, it was adapted from author Douglas Adams’ radio series and follows the journey of the only man to survive after earth is destroyed.
“Full of laughs, science fiction, and awesome ’70s and ’80s references, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the perfect audiobook for a road trip,” Tim White , CEO and founder of the travel site MilePro, says. This pick is more “lighthearted,” he adds, making it a good choice for those who don’t want an audiobook that’s too intense.
The book is just under six hours long, White points out, making it optimal for shorter journeys. It’s also narrated by English actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry , so you might recognize a familiar voice.
Harlequin Audio
Another one of Yager’s fiction picks is The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman , which has all the necessary components of a family comedy—think Little Miss Sunshine with a twist.
“This is the perfect road trip listen as the book itself revolves around a family taking a detour-heavy road trip up to Edinburgh so 12-year-old Norman can perform at the Fringe,” she says.
For those unfamiliar with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, it’s the largest arts festival in the world, dating back to 1947. In this contemporary fiction novel, young Norman is hoping to take his comedy act to center stage at the event. “It’s an absolute rollercoaster of one hilarious feat after another, yet still manages to retain every ounce of authenticity,” Yager says. “It’s a feel-good book that anyone can enjoy, making it perfect for a long road trip.”
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Hachette Audio
For those who want an audiobook that is chock-full of different stories, check out David Sedaris’ When You Are Engulfed in Flames .
“If you’re looking for a more introspective, thought-provoking read, When You Are Engulfed in Flames is the book for you,” Presti tells Best Life .
Sedaris narrates the audiobook himself, and you’re sure to be entertained by his wit as he covers topics that range from ridiculous to deeply insightful. “It’s a hilarious and poignant look at the human condition that will have you thinking about it long after you’ve finished reading,” Presti says. “Follow as David travels the world and tries to make sense of it all.”
Random House Audio
Ernest Cline’s fantastic 2011 novel Ready Player One is a must-read—or listen, in this case—for anyone interested in gaming, virtual reality, or just science fiction in general.
“If you’re looking for a lighthearted, fun book to keep you entertained on a road trip, look no further than Ready Player One ,” Presti says. “This science fiction novel follows the story of Wade Watts, a teenager who finds himself thrust into a virtual world in search of an Easter egg that will grant its finder ultimate power and control over the world. Along the way, he makes allies and enemies as he fights to be the first to find the egg.”
The novel has also been adapted into a film directed by Steven Spielberg , but the book has significant differences. S0, even if you’ve seen the movie, you should still give the book a go. “It will have you laughing, crying, and cheering—the perfect way to pass the time on a long car ride,” Presti says.
