Following the Netflix premiere of Emily Henry's 'People We Meet on Vacation,' her romance novels continue toward screens. 'Beach Read' has cast Phoebe Dynevor and Patrick Schwarzenegger, while 'Book Lovers,' 'Happy Place,' and 'Funny Story' see production shifts and scripting progress. Her 2025 novel 'Great Big Beautiful Life' may soon follow.
Emily Henry's streak of popular romance novels—'Beach Read' (2020), 'People We Meet on Vacation' (2021), 'Book Lovers' (2022), 'Happy Place' (2023), 'Funny Story' (2024)—has drawn studio interest since 2022. As detailed in prior coverage, 3000 Pictures' 'People We Meet on Vacation' (dir. Brett Haley, screenplay by Yulin Kuang, starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader) premiered on Netflix January 9, 2026.
Recent Deadline reports highlight momentum: Three projects now have directors or key talent. Kuang is adapting and directing 'Beach Read' for 20th Century Studios (Original Film), casting Phoebe Dynevor as January Andrews and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Augustus Everett. Kuang praised their 'electric chemistry' on Instagram. Neal H. Moritz produces.
Tango optioned 'Book Lovers' in March 2023 (script by Sarah Heyward). 'Happy Place' shifted from a Netflix series (Nuyorican Productions) to a film announced January 2026, with Henry scripting. She also writes 'Funny Story' for Lyrical Media, Ryder Picture Company, and Netflix.