Discover authors like Emily Henry for adult romance novels with engaging plots and provocative prose!

If you are looking for something a little more steamy in your next Romance, our list of authors like Emily Henry offers mature romance books with spicy plots and open-door smut. 

Emily Henry is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, and Book Lovers. Her works are humorous, infused with witty banter, and unpredictable. Henry’s books are well-loved by readers worldwide, and three of her romance novels have already been optioned for film adaptations.

Henry advises aspiring writers to read and evaluate different books to help you find your own style. She said, “Write what you are excited about, and over time, learn to trust yourself and your vision.” 

According to Words Rated, 46.4% of romance readers read at least one novel per week. So, read on and discover your next romance book now!

If you’re a hardcore fan of romance, why not explore a darker side of love? Check out our best dark romance books!

Authors Like Emily Henry

1. Jasmine Guillory, 1976 – 

Jasmine Guillory is the bestselling author of the popular series The Wedding Date. Her novels frequently appear in the Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, and New York Times bestseller lists. She has a style similar to Emily Henry’s, penning contemporary romance with complex and steamy stories, but Guillory is known for novels featuring women of color.

Guillory’s debut novel, The Wedding Date, was critically acclaimed and received the Goodreads’ Choice Award. In her interview with Time Magazine, Guillory emphasizes the importance of Black fiction to fight against racism and to celebrate Black lives. 

Doing this makes them more relatable to the readers.

“Just because their standards are low does not mean that we should lower ours.”

Jasmine Guillory, The Wedding Date

2. Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood is the bestselling author of Love Hypothesis and Love, Theoretically. Aside from being New York Times bestsellers, both are Editors’ Picks on Amazon. Hazelwood writes contemporary rom-com novels with clever banter and is a recurring Goodreads Choice Awards nominee. 

Hazelwood is also referred to as a STEMist author as she writes about women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. In 2022, Bisous Pictures announced that her Love Hypothesis will have a screen adaptation soon.

“Expiration dates are for the weak.”

Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis

3. Taylor Jenkins Reid, 1983 –

Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote seven New York Times bestsellers, including Forever Interrupted, After I Do, and Carrie Soto Is Back. Moreover, her Daisy Jones & The Six and One True Loves already have screen adaptations. She writes easy-to-read novels with flawed but relatable characters. Moreover, she’s not afraid to use a diverse cast and delve into heavy topics. 

Reid’s 2017 hit novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo reached more readers thanks to the social media platform TikTok. Over two million people have read the historical love story of Evelyn Hugo and the struggles of being bisexual during the Golden Age of Television.

“Men often think they deserve a sticker for treating women like people.”

Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & The Six

4. Christina Lauren

The duo behind Christina Lauren (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) are New York Times international bestsellers with almost 20 books in their repertoire. The pair’s latest work is Something Wilder — a historical rom-com novel about Lily, who’s on the hunt for a treasure in Utah, and Leo, the man who broke her heart and is her tour guide.

It’s fun to read their novels because they use interconnected characters. For instance, when reading about Hanna and Will (Beautiful Player), you also get a glimpse of what Sara and Max (Beautiful Stranger) are up to. It’s like knowing everybody’s secrets all at once.

“Destiny could also be a choice, she realized. To believe or not, to be vulnerable or not, to go all in or not.”

Christina Lauren, The Soulmate Equation

5. Abbi Waxman, 1970 –

Abbi Waxman is an English author of four USA Today bestsellers, including Bookish Life of Nina Hill. It’s a small-town, lighthearted novel about the bookish Nina, who thought she had a perfect life until she discovered her biological father, whom she never knew. Waxman based the character on herself — an introvert and bookworm. 

Although she only has five books published to date, she has already received numerous nominations. This includes the RUSA, Goodreads, and Women’s Fiction awards. Read Waxman’s tales if you want humorous stories that also tackle weighty issues like mental health and abandonment.

“Someone once told me that anxiety lives in the unknown future, depression lives in the unforgettable past, and peace lives in acceptance of the present moment.”

Abbi Waxman, Adult Assembly Required

6. Katherine Center, 1972 –

 If you want a pick-me-up novel, look no further than Katherine Center. She’s a ten-time New York Times bestseller of compelling contemporary romance, including The Bodyguard. It’s an extraordinary rom-com that Emily Henry described as the “perfect 10 of a book.” 

Another notable work from Center is Happiness for Beginners, a story about a 30-something woman who goes on a wilderness survival course to rediscover herself. In 2023, Netflix adapted it into a romantic comedy movie led by Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes.

“The things we remember are what we hold on to. And what we hold on to becomes the story of our lives.”

Katherine Center, Happiness for Beginners

7. Josie Silver, 1972 –

Josie Silver is a two-time #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author who wrote One Day in December. It’s a heartwarming story of Laurie, her best friend Sarah, and Sarah’s boyfriend, Jack. Jack is the same man Laurie has been looking for since she fell in love with him at first sight a year ago. The novel also has an audiobook version with a 4.5-star rating on Audible. 

Readers looking for palpable tension and romance should check out Silver’s books. Her novels offer a poignant and fresh exploration of love, hope, and second chances. 

“There comes a point where you have to make the choice to be happy, because being sad for too long is exhausting.”

Josie Silver, One Day in December

8. Sally Thorne, 1981 –

USA Today bestseller Sally Thorne established her name in the rom-com genre when she released her debut novel, The Hating Game. The novel reached over 25 countries and was adapted into a movie starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell in 2021. It’s considered one of Thorne’s best books and even earned a spot in the Washington Post’s Top 20 Romance Novels of 2016 and Top 7 Romance Novels of All Time by Oprah Magazine in 2019.

Thorne’s use of dialogue in her novels is nothing short of amusing. Her sarcasm and characterization make her storytelling stand out in the genre.

“It’s amazing how life works. You can wake up in your current existence and then go to bed with everything changed.”

Sally Thorne, Second First Impressions

9. Elin Hilderbrand, 1969 –

Elin Hilderbrand or the “Queen of Beach Reads,” as The Cut called her, is a beloved American author and New York Times bestseller. She masterfully combines historical fiction, family drama, and spicy scenes in her novels. 

Besides her books, Hilderbrand engages with her readers through social media and the podcast Books, Beach, & Beyond. One of her best works is The Five-Star Weekend, a novel about five women with the protagonist, Hollis, at the center of everything, hosting the trip for her best friends.

“When you’re not sure what to say, you should say nothing.”

Elin Hilderbrand, The Five-Star Weekend

10. Sophie Kinsella, 1969 –

Sophie Kinsella has been topping UK and New York Times bestseller lists since 2000. She has sold over 45 million copies in over 60 countries since then, with novels available in over 40 languages. Like Emily Henry, Kinsella’s books draw readers in with her witty writing. For instance, her I’ve Got Your Number is a read-alike of Henry’s rom-com, featuring charming characters and unpredictable plot twists. 

“There’s no luck in business. There’s only drive, determination, and more drive.”

Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

11. Emily Giffin, 1972 –

With the success of her debut novel, Something Borrowed, Emily Giffin immediately shot to prominence. She was even labeled the “modern-day Jane Austen” by Vanity Fair. Something Borrowed hit the big screens in 2011, starring Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and John Krasinski. 

Giffin is a New York Times bestseller of nine romance books and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Like Henry, Giffin pens realistic characters and imbues her storylines with humor and fluff. In 2024, Giffin will publish her new book, Meant To Be.

“Maybe the thing to do after you roll the dice — and lose — is simply pick them up and roll them again.”

Emily Giffin, Something Borrowed

12. Casey McQuiston, 1991 –

Casey McQuiston is a new face in romance writing, much like Emily Henry. She’s best known for her queer novels, with Red, White & Royal Blue as the most notable. It was an instant hit, becoming Goodreads Winner for Best Debut Novel and Best Romance of 2019. In 2023, the novel became a rom-com movie. 

Another LGBT romance novel from McQuiston is One Last Stop. It centers around August’s mundane life until she meets Jane, the gorgeous girl on the train.

“Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it because it deserves to be felt.”

Casey McQuiston, One Last Stop

13. Carley Fortune

Carley Fortune’s urgency to “reclaim her creativity” during the coronavirus pandemic pushed her to write for herself. Just nine months later, she landed her first book deal.

Today, Fortune is a New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author, with over one million copies of Every Summer After sold worldwide. It’s a small-town friends-to-lovers novel highlighting the thrill of first love and heartbreak. This second chance romance fic was a Goodreads nominee for Best Debut Novel and Best Romance of 2022. Fortune may be new in this career, but she’s already serving first-rate young adult novels.

“Betrayals don’t cancel each other out. They just hurt more.”

Carley Fortune, Every Summer After

14. Talia Hibbert, 1996 –

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller Talia Hibbert is best at writing steamy romances with diverse characters. She aims to be inclusive and represent marginalized groups in her works. This brilliant writer has 15 books to read in print, ePub, and audiobook versions.

Like classic Emily Henry books, Hibbert infuses humor into her stories to lighten emotional themes and curate an enjoyable atmosphere. Hibbert’s Highly Suspricios and Unfairly Cute and  Get a Life, Chloe Brown are similar to Henry’s books.

“Love is certainly never safe, but it’s absolutely worth it.”

Talia Hibbert, Get a Life, Chloe Brown