If you are looking for something to add to your TBR while you wait for Emily Henry’s next book, here’s a list of reads recommended by the queen of romance herself. From bookish enemies-to-lovers, painfully perfect love triangles, and sultry second chances, these books have all been blurbed by EmHen and come She Reads approved as well. 

Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson

Parker Navarro’s debut novel went from defining his career to flopping all thanks to critic Selina Chan’s bad review. His next book, now four years later, is Parker’s chance to redeem himself, but yet again Selina leaves him a scathing review, beginning a very viral feud with one another. The literary world is spurring on their public argument, but in the midst of that, a quieter conversation begins. It is a conversation to challenge everything they believe they know about success and each other. 

“The rare kind of book I can’t believe doesn’t already exist . . . [a] clear, clever voice and incisive social commentary elevate the book’s irresistible will-they-won’t-they romance to a once-in-a-lifetime read about truth, art, vulnerability, and all the sticky places they intersect. Bad Words left me buzzing.” – Emily Henry

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Coming from a wealthy Atlanta dynasty of a family with famous socialite sisters, Ricki Wilde seeks a much quieter life. Taking a different path, she moves into a Harlem brownstone in pursuit of her dreams to open a flower shop. One evening Ricki’s life is thrown out of whack when she meets a mysterious, handsome gentleman.

“Funny, sexy, and breathtakingly romantic. This book is a sexy, electric, moving romance. There’s a slightly magical twist, and there’s also a really steamy scene involving a piano.” – Emily Henry

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Reel by Kennedy Ryan

After a famous film director sees her on Broadway, Neevah Saint goes from a lucky understudy to a Hollywood star. She’s cast amongst stars in a Harlem Renaissance biopic. Scandal, forbidden attraction, and forces out of her control threaten Neevah’s first big shot, but the role of the lifetime could risk the love of a lifetime. 

“It is so profoundly emotional and healing and the audio is fantastic. There’s dual narrators who do a wonderful job. The original music from the book is performed on the audio. It won an Audie in 2022.” – Emily Henry

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Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Vanessa Price is seizing the day. Both her mother and sister didn’t live to see thirty so she doesn’t want to take a single day for granted. She quits her job to travel the world gaining an unexpected amount of Youtube followers. What is really unexpected though is her half-sister leaving her baby daughter in Vanessa’s custody. Now Vanessa’s life has gone from traipsing around the world to learning how to manage a baby. Shockingly, her neighbor, a hot lawyer named Adrian Copeland, is volunteering to help with his hidden baby skills. As they spend every day together, Vanessa is feeling things for Adrian that she never wanted to feel.

“It is really, really funny while also dealing with real-life serious issues in a really lovely, empathetic, generous way.” – Emily Henry 

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Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi

Josephine Boateng is the brilliant self love expert Dr. Jojo to her thousands of social media followers but in real life, she has an unrequited crush on her best friend and romcom actor, Ezra Adelman. When Ezra brings her childhood bully as his birthday date, Jo realizes that it is time for her to listen to her own advice. This is where Malcolm Waters, literary sensation, comes in. As an introvert, a Hollywood party is the last place he wants to be until he bumps into Jo. They very quickly realize their chemistry is too good to ignore. The lines begin friendship and love begin to blur especially as Ezra decides he wants something more with Jo. 

“Between Friends & Lovers was an absolute joy to read, with messy, realistic, and deeply lovable characters. . . . Obuobi’s perfect balance of humor and wisdom made this one a true standout.” – Emily Henry

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Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan

Sewanee Chester’s dreams have changed after a tragic accident. She has gone from film sets to a sound booth as an audiobook narrator. After arriving in Las Vegas for a book convention, Sewanee spends an exciting night with a stranger. On the way home, she learns that a beloved romance writer wanted her and Brock McNight, an hot and secretive well known audiobook narrator, to perform her last book. Sewanee has sworn off romance novels after her own dreams were cut short but in her love for the late author and the chance to help her ailing grandmother, she accepts. As she begins her work in the sound booth, Sewanee and Brock are forming a connection behind their working aliases. Sewanee finally lets herself dream again but secrets coming to light threaten the hope that was rekindling. 

“It’s a book about audiobook narrators working on a famous romance novelist’s final novel. It’s the most delightfully meta book ever, and especially on audio, because this was written by Julia Whelan, one of the best audiobook narrators out there. She also narrates all of my books.” – Emily Henry 

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The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Hannah Brooks might look super sweet but as an Executive Protection Agent a.k.a. a bodyguard, she could kill you easily. She’s been hired to protect crazy famous Jack Stapleton from his stalker. Jack disappears from the public eye when his mom gets sick, immediately hightailing it home to Texas. He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker or that Hannah is his bodyguard so he proposes that she pretend to be his girlfriend. She begrudgingly agrees even though her ex says no one will believe it. The more they spend time together on the family ranch, the more real it feels, and that’s where the heartbreak lies. Hannah can protect Jack easily, but she doesn’t know how to protect her heart. 

“My perfect 10 of a book. As funny and sweet as all the very best nineties rom-coms… A shot of pure joy.” – Emily Henry

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The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas

The ideal gentleman and the Marquess of Wrenworth, Felix Rivendale almost believes this perfect public image himself, but underneath he is a damaged soul. Louisa Cantwell is feeling the pressure to marry well in order to support her sisters. She doesn’t trust Lord Wrenworth even if he is one of the only people showing interest in her. Something about his supposed perfection and reputation is suspicious to her but when he is the only man at the end of the season to propose, she accepts hesitantly. Louisa knows that her husband is keeping secrets from her, but she can’t deny the physical pleasure he brings her. 

“The angsty, sexy historical romance of my dreams.” – Emily Henry

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The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

Ember Lee Cardinal has been rejected from jobs one too many times so she tweaks her applications just a little bit. Though it might be a small lie, no one wanted to hire Native American Ember, but white Ember landed her dream job in accounting. She is thriving in corporate life and has a work crush too. Fellow native Danuwoa Colson is interested in her too so they begin to sneak around the office no-dating policy. When they are caught on a business trip, a colleague begins to threaten to expose them, making Ember’s web of lies grow larger. She must decide whether or not she should stay silent or risk everything by telling the truth.

“The Truth According to Ember is a truly funny and wonderfully heartfelt comedy of errors with a plucky, lovable heroine I rooted for from page one. Danica Nava is a fresh, exciting new voice in the world of romantic comedies and I can’t wait to see what she does next.” – Emily Henry 

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How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

In the thirteen years since a tragic accident connected their lives, Helen Zhang and Grant Shepherd haven’t seen each other once. Helen has become a best selling author scoring a TV adaptation of one of her novels where she gets to be a part of the screen writing. She’s not expecting Grant to have become a screenwriter, move across the country, and take a job working on Helen’s tv show. They are exactly how the other remembers and find working together to be electrifying. Helen’s parents have never forgiven Grant though. Secrets threaten any possible romance but maybe they can just hold on to each other in the moment.

“This book is really heart-rending in moments, but it’s also so funny and fun and romantic. It’s just like very life affirming. I think about this book all the time. It’s just–there’s nothing else like it.” – Emily Henry

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon