tier ranking every romance book i've ever read 💘30+ book rants/reviews

[@emmiereads]

Read I Made a Deal with the Devil on Tapas: bit.ly/tapas-emmie The first 100 to use EMMIEREADS can read 30 chapters for free. See the video description for more details! :)

[@dappled_blue1608]

FAHRENHEIT 451 IS SO CREATIVE WHATTT 😭

[@readingwarlock]

“If this is love, let it pass me by” hahaha TOO GOOD

[@-alittletoowildinthe70s-]

The three cups of tea is so real Emma. One mug is never enough‼️😤

[@emmiereads]

multiple mugs are a need lol

[@Arawn505]

One mint, one nettle, one green. (that's how I would do it)

[@PARIWESHJAMAL]

​@@emmiereadsI would be very glad if you helped me. I want to read a novel or story that has suspense, romance, and mystery. The female lead is very insecure but loves the main lead and vice versa. The second lead also loves her so much selflessly and secretly but she never notices his love.

[@lauramarie7020]

Have you read the Shadow Hunters Series by Cassandra Clare?​@@PARIWESHJAMAL

[@AlexATheEngineer]

Ali Hazelwood's writing above Emily Henry's is wilddd but your takes as always are so fun hahah. I'd recommend trying Book Lovers by Emily Henry before writing her off! There's some hilarious banter that aligned so much with my sarcastic humor, as well as prose about the responsibility of being an eldest daughter, on love, etc. that pierced straight to the heart.

[@bleuereen]

Seconding this! Book Lovers is a great entry point to Emily Henry because the plot is clear from the start and it stays that way. The banter comes off naturally between Nora, a fierce literary agent, and Charlie, an editor at a publishing house. I really hope you could give this a try, and hopefully, it'd change your mind on Emily Henry's writing!

[@mollybrewer8098]

Third vote for Book Lovers. It surprised me how much I liked it.

[@readingwarlock]

was about to comment Book Lovers then saw this so I’m just adding my vote haha I’ve read it recently and it’s the first contemporary romance with a straight couple that I’ve rated 5 stars. Loved Nora and Charlie’s banter!

[@Vanessa-fs7oz]

Just finished the Book Lovers audiobook yesterday and I really liked it. The characters had some depth and the banter was fun and authentic. It's the only Emily Henry I've read so I can't compare it to Beach Read.

[@m.469]

emily wilde's map of the otherlands is the most giggling and kicking my feet book I've ever read I was filled with joy it was SO cute

[@denisaord4368]

Do I read romance? No. Do I intend to read some romance books? No. Was I exited for this video and watched it and loved it? Yes.

[@Willy_Potter]

“A glass of drink” is absolutely hilarious. This should be merch

[@emilphant]

If a guy looked at me differently while I was munching down on a corn dog I'd just assume he had corn dog envy

[@MidEri.]

the only emily henry i've read is happy place and it's a second chance romance, so if you like those i might give it a try. I have read so few romances, so i have very little perspective, but i thought it was really sweet! And it's actually just as much about a trio of female best friends, which was super refreshing

[@TheAlyconaria]

I just finished funny story by Emily Henry, it's good

[@anadajovic]

Love that you said The Hating Game by Sally Rooney😂

[@santaberbs]

I was so confused lol. I don't like Rooney, so I just thought like yeah.. that checks out I guess?

[@sequoia504]

This was such a fun video! Would you ever do a spooky/horror book tier list? ❤

[@supersnek5]

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton had me giggling and kicking my feet 😊 so I'd definitely recommend it

[@delliekeen]

You might enjoy A Pho Love Story! It’s a high school romance where the main characters work in their families’ competing restaurants. It’s a little forbidden romance with a side of art student. Very giggling and kicking your feet ☺️

[@evacortes9580]

PLEASE READ YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER AND SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE THOSE ARE SECOND CHANGE ONE MORE MATURE THAN THE OTHER BUT ARE SOOOO GOOD

[@spectacularcat3]

For a fun regency romance adventure in the vein of Half a Soul, try Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia C Wrede. For time travel + historical + very good writing = To Say Nothing Of the Dog by Connie Willis (the romance is more subtle but it's so good!) And Crosstalk by the same author has a criminally underrated romance.

[@magda_mf]

Reading Crosstalk right now and really enjoying it!

[@munirafatima3414]

‘cringing through the smut’ SO TRUE about Beach Read! there were scenes in which they were emotional(low-key crying) about their family issues and the protagonist couldn’t stop fantasising about making out!?? I was so excited to read Emily Henry novels but I picked this one up first and now I don’t feel like reading anything else lmao

[@Haru_6418]

Same beach read was damn boring

[@JemimaRose]

yes! like when they sleep together moments after visiting where a bunch of people died😭😭

[@munirafatima3414]

@@JemimaRose EXACTLY I was so weirded out! also I don’t remember the specific moment but I remember vaguely about her crying about her deceased father and then it immediately moved to her checking him out in a flirty way? I hope her other books are better because I ordered a box set 🥲

[@Tina-cn6bc]

oh no i just bought beach read last month from the amazon sale 😭 Was going to save it for summer but maybe i should return hmm. I'm most interested in funny story but I'm waiting for paperback.

[@melaniediel7540]

ahh i love tapas! this was a fun vid, emmie

[@lubalsells8273]

I think you'll love the Innkeeper chronicles by Illona Andrews. It has romance but the main character of most of the books is the owner of an inn that serves as a nexus between the earth and other planets and the inn is described as a sentient being and she customizes the rooms for the visitors based on their culture and customs.

[@vanessacastrillonvierle3653]

I love this series 😍, it's such a shame that it's not more popular

[@hyemiyah]

YES, PLEASE! just because it's dark romance doesn't mean it has to be misogynistic ;___; also, just read half a soul and i enjoyed it so much!!! i even read the novellas and the sequel (that didn't live up to the first book, sadly.)

[@lavan6298]

this video could NOT have come at a better time! i've been in such a mood for good romance after watching (the terribly written romance of) Emily in Paris

[@kaygreig656]

Old school but so good - Georgette Heyer Frederica and The Grand Sophy. Both will make you laugh out loud and the romance isn’t soppy.

[@lintickk]

Heyer ruined me for romance because nothing will make me feel as giddy as The Grand Sophy did!!

[@Kelsk3825]

PLEASE PLEASE read an Abby Jimenez book. Just for the Summer is my favorite, but she has a therapist look over her work and she portrays people with such nuance but also fun cheesy romance too. They are super quick fun reads with heart!

[@GalaGrey-fp3gv]

You asked for Venice recommendations on the last video, but I'm commenting this here, too, so that you might actually see it: My Venice recommendation has got to be The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. I was brought to tears by this short, simple story. It's a tale of a young Henri, who cooks chickens for Napoleon, and Villanelle, a Venetian cross dresser who sweeps him off his feet. It's SO good. I recall you liking Winterson with your read of Lighthousekeeping. I haven't read that one myself, but I've read a handful of others, and I can say, personally, that if you liked one of her books, you'll probably like them all (a little biased, yes, but still). Her style is magical yet succinct. The Passion swept me away, and I reread it every year now. One of my all time favorites.

[@anushvardazaryan2601]

OMG!!!!! I have started to read books this year and I haven't read much romance (maybe almost 5 books) and I was so curious what kind of romances would Emmie recommend. Here we are! Thank You Very Much! 💚 💚💚

[@jamiec4392]

A Million Junes by Emily Henry is really beautiful. It’s YA (don’t let that dissuade you!) and full of magical realism. The vivid summer night descriptions are wonderful, and it contains an absolutely adorable romance. It’s wholesome (you might shed a few tears) and makes you believe in love ❤

[@vonhammershark]

Ooh consider reading The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka! It’s about two writers- basically what Beach Read wanted to be but so, so much better. It consists of: dual pov✅ dual timeline✅ second chance!!✅ And the two authors who wrote this book are actually a couple, so it’s very meta hehe

[@emilypf99779]

I've read Even If This Love Disappears Tonight and I absolutely loved it! ❤

[@erinjones4902]

I'm happy that my romance tbr on goodreads mostly lines up with her top choices. We got good ones to look forward to

[@letsichigo]

i love that you also loved magnolia parks because booksandlala just read it and gave it 4.5 stars and i wouldn't have expected either of you to enjoy it and that makes me want to read it so badly haha

[@lexynope]

I'm very critical of books but I eat up magnolia parks 😌 something about them gets to you. I really recommend the audio books they are the best!!

[@Brianna58321]

oh i am absolutely seated for this

[@annisanr7973]

emily henry has a new book and it has the second chance romance trope! it's called happy place and i've only heard good things about it (genuinely) and i think you would like it too! you could give it a try teehee

[@natalialima716]

you saying you don’t mind reading darker romances made me remember of manacled (a dramione fanfic on ao3 lol) which is actually a pretty good dark romance. not a fan of hp that much anymore and even less of a fan of this ship but this story is very well told and written. obviously it reads very much fanfic-y, in the sense that most of the story does come from the source material and from the handmaid’s tale, but the intricacy in which the details are written and the characters are bulit is so worth it. i’m leaving this comment as a recommendation if you ever feel up to read something like it

[@bubbllehead6019]

I don't know if you've read the last book in the Brown Sisters trilogy, but it focuses on the youngest Brown sister, Eve, and her character development from a non-committal and jaded person to a young woman who believes in herself and finds that she can actually be trusted to be responsible and effectual. The romance is between her and Jacob Wayne, the guy whose Bed and Breakfast she ends up working at as a chef. She is very silly and insouciant and he is very severe and uncompromising and the plot and chemistry aren't bad. I gave it three stars, but I liked it better than the two previous stories. Thank you for making these videos, by the way. They always remind that I don't need to read what I don't like and it's important to find what clicks for me rather than what is popular or ubiquitous.

[@lilkakow]

For romance I would recommend open water, katharine by anya seton, I capture the castle, blind earthworm in the labyrinth, veil manga, gideon the ninth, possession a romance, poison ivy g willow wilson, notes of a crocodile, last words from montmarte, the color purple, under the udula trees, patsy, fair play and winter love by han suyin

[@pepokidden]

Fahrenheit 451 😂😂😂 Salty Emma is wonderful 🤣

[@jassymayreads]

Start over Emily Henry with happy place!!!! Honestly it’s soo good and I enjoyed beach read but I completely understand what you are saying and it wasn’t my fav romance but HAPPY PLACE omg it’s incredible! Plus it’s second chance romance!!!!

[@ohladysamantha]

I think you might enjoy Radiance by Grace Draven. It's fantasy romance, arranged political marriage, they are really friends first because they are different species and think each other are repulsive but make an effort to get to know one another and they end up falling in love. I'm not huge into fantasy romance and i adore it. Also I hope you'll read Eve Brown because I also don't love Dani's book (happy for people who do, it is some folks' fave in the series) but Eve and Chloe Brown are vying for my favorite. Talia's Hibbert's books are so great overall I'd advise checking out more of her backlist.

[@KenyaDellar]

this format really suits me

[@oliviac712]

Sadly, I'm not much of a romance reader so I appreciate the recs! One of the best modern romance books I read was 'Love in Colour' by Bolu Babalola and I absolutely loved it. It's a short story collection based on various myths with love at their heart and I just found them to be so happy and empowering. I FINALLY found a romance book that doesn't have shitty men or women as the main love interests. It restored my faith in love and humanity, so if you don't mind short stories I would definitely recommend!

[@haerhawk]

We need a tea ranking video

[@abrarhw]

Loved the change in your personality after too much tea 😂😂

[@artfuladjunct8224]

OMG I spit out my Tension Tamer tea: "If this is love let it pass me by" - sums up my dating history so well. Hahahahaha! I think I could put every date I have had into one of these categories. Love it!

[@camilaavila16]

One day, if you decide to give Emily Henry another chance, you should definitely read her second chance novel, Happy Place. You'll either love it or hate it, but I really liked it, not only because of the romance, but also the friendship

[@siobhan110]

emma always making my day

[@jcucumbera8066]

I am always craving for a romance with vibey,magical writing, the undertaking of hart and mercy, butcher and the blackbird looks interesting. And as the other comment recommended,crosstalk looks interesting too. As someone that really empathize a lot with your review, I’ll try them out 😊

[@catherinek5102]

Excited for this!

[@cassieblack5640]

love the format，so creative

[@laurakuhlmann1626]

Emily Henry is for me the only modern romance writer I like. I do think she's worth another try. Book Lovers is one of my favorites from her

[@anjamelnjak3636]

Maybe you would like Funny story by Emily Henry, if you wanna go for one of her books again? Idk i feel like it has the most honest character development of all Henry's books.

[@HaroldAurora]

read the forbidden book Magnetic Aura on Borlest, and you'll see the secrets they're keeping from us.

[@fernandapaveltchuk2068]

Oooooo I'm so happy you posted a new vid!!!!! Thanks, just what I needed! ❤ Hope you're alright there, buddy, wishing you all the best!

[@mariamironova3095]

PLEASE READ A LADY FOR A DUKE. It has the yearning and kicking your feet feeling like the Pride and Prejudice movie. Don't let the bad cover fool you.

[@delliekeen]

Ooh Emma you should try Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater, particularly the audiobook! It’s a sequel to Disney’s Brave (Merida) and has some strong mythical influences. The romance is not the main focus but WOW does it deliver!!

[@Cubehead27]

Ohhh hell yes a tier video! Bummer that I will have to put off watching most of it 🙁 I am currently stuck reading the opposite of a romance novel (an extremely depressing book of 20th century Eastern European history) Anyway I need to read more romance probably but I can't wait for you to get around to Love in the Time of Cholera ❤

[@vikkisgrotto]

Such a fun video, I've been really into romance lately so thank you for helping me figure out what I should and shouldn't prioritize! As far as Emily Henry goes, Beach Read was my first read from her as well and I was not thrilled with it, but I've since read Funny Story and People We Meet On Vacation and I loved them. They're still a bit cheesy and cringe at times, but I think I like the characters in the latter two more than the ones in Beach Read, which helped me tolerate it more 😅

[@Emiliemooles]

Definitely agree with Emily Wilde’s series and Happy Place by Emily Henry. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is cosy fantasy with some romance and I loved it! The Stariel series by A. J. Lancaster has a human-fae exiled prince romance. Highly recommend. I loved hearing your thoughts on these books. I really want to read Half A Soul and The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy now. Thank you for bumping these up my TBR list!

[@veera7522]

ive read most of emily henrys books and beach read is easily my least favourite so i would recommend giving her other books a try. book lovers and funny story are 5 stars for me. also you have to read act your age, eve brown its the best one

[@erinsulla4123]

Juhea Kim’s upcoming novel City of Night Birds is not really a romance (it’s basically an anti-romance lol), but I think you’ll really like it based on your taste & comments about From Lukov with Love / ice dancing. it’s about a Russian ballerina who’s trying to mount her professional comeback with a man from her past and it’s very evocative and melancholic with great writing.

[@Brutishandshort]

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation novels are my current romance obsession 😍🥰

[@mairavelasquez4460]

Thank you I needed a serotonin boost ❤

[@jasminesmith6361]

I love your ranking videos! As for Emily Henry I think you should give Happy Place a try! It's a second chance romance, almost a fake dating situation in a way, lots of emotions, and it takes place at their childhood beach house like you were talking about with The Summer I Turned Pretty! Hopefully you like it haha 🩷

[@maddiesokoloski7586]

You should read cleat cute it’s a sapphic soccer romance and it did tropes really well. There’s miscommunication but it works out for both parties like it’s a silly misunderstanding and not the end of the world

[@bleuereen]

I think Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez is a great contemporary romance! Her characters, imo, have more depth than Emily Henry's - though I appreciate the latter's writing style more. Jimenez also deals with mental health issues, and she consults psychologists and medical practitioners alike to ensure her depictions are accurate. Found myself kicking and laughing bc of how cute the chemistry was. ☺

[@readingred9]

You should try you deserve each other by Sarah Hogle for second chance romance! It has a really good banter but slightly infuriating miscommunication trope.

[@lisasstitchingandsuch]

Ah the timing of this is perfect. I finally succumbed and entered the world of "romantasy" via ACOTAR by Sarah J Mass. Flawed for sure but also so much fun. Up to book 4 and I'm definitely giggling and kicking my feet.

[@upasanasharma7564]

BOOK LOVERS is my first Emily Henry novel and the only one I liked. You can read that, Emma. It's definitely better than Beach Read.

[@osirismind]

I felt your hate for "the unhoneymooners" with my entire being. I feel so seen!! The fact that you ranked beach read in the same category broke my heart a little tho...

[@andreacope8017]

I didn’t like beach read either. . . However regarding Emily Henry- I LOVED book lovers and funny story. I laughed out aloud for both of those books. And Emmie- happy place is both a fake dating and second chance romance it also has very fun side characters. I would recommend trying that.

[@zarante5640]

I recommend reading the Space Wolves Omnibus to get all of Ragnar the Blackmane’s story

[@Sophia-jo8tv]

Based on the books you've liked you should try Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonham Young, if you haven't read it already. It's so sweet, definitely giggling kicking my feet tier

[@AyezasAfterword]

omgg yess I literally can’t understand the unhoneymooners hype😭

[@carolinasiqueira752]

If you like second chance romance, you should try Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley. It's the second in a series but you can read them in any order.

[@c_r_i_ss_y]

I’m living for the jaunty roasting present in this video

[@carolhamano2549]

Happy Place by Emily Henry was one of my best romance reads of 2024! In comparison, Beach Read is actually kind of weak, so if you really want to give her another go, I think you should try this one!

[@jamgart6880]

My favourite recent romance was an LGBTQ romance I read on kindle. Red Dirt Heart by NR Walker. Set in Australia between a ranch (station) owner and a visiting American agronomy student. I know it doesn’t sound exciting but Oh My Heart! I wish I felt like that about someone and I wish someone felt like that about me. Chemistry in buckets! Really really enjoyed the whole series (4 books i believe) couldn’t put them down!

[@carolvarela1940]

please read happy place by emily henry! it’s a second chance romance and it’s definitely her best work i’ve read so far. it’s more mature than her other work, i think.

[@clarissaposirilova899]

I've read the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy based on your recommendation and i enjoyed it a lot. The audiobook is not bad at all, just had to get used to the voices.

[@fernandapaveltchuk2068]

Just got to the part about Beach Read and oh boy do I have some comments! 1) The girl's name unfortunately is JANUARY D: 2) I've read Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation and honestly didnt like either. It felt, um, hollow? Idk. It felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie when I wanted to read a Richard Curtis one. Frustrating. 3) I would think that even if the book is not that good, you would have liked August! What a surprise to know that you didnt like him. He seemed like... edgy? Had he been well written, would you have liked him?

[@tiredteo]

emmie tier ranking video??? I'm sat

[@willavclem]

if you liked the pirate romance maybe you can give to kill a kingdom a try! i read it a while ago but i remember really liking it it’s about a siren princess sent to kill a human prince who is also trying to kill her but ofc they end up in love .

[@redpixi07]

I wonder if you'd like The Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier. It starts with the book Daughter of the Forest. I've read even less romance than you and this series is the only thing that I've found that really does it for me. The romance is situated in an English/Irish lore-heavy fantasy world, a little dark, perfect for autumn in my opinion. It's definitely high-stakes rather than cutesy but to me the love is so deep and beautiful.

[@catprincess]

Happy Place is my fav Emily Henry book. Although I don’t think you’ll like it. Just for the summer by Abby Jimenez had me giggling and kicking my feet. Also for some dramione fanfic that is the opposite of Manacled 😂 please read Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love. If you haven’t read/heard of this yet, I think you would actually like it (except for some weird stuff at the end but hey nothing’s perfect)

[@evastrange]

Since 'tis the season, or 'twill be soon: A recommendation for a gay romance novella with a touch of magic. The Solstice Cabin by Arden Powell is set in the wintry wilderness of Nunavut. It's kind of cosy, kind of not, because of the harshness of the setting. There's a dog and a bear and spirits and magical fire and of course the northern lights. If you like that one, there's also The Farie Hounds of York by the same author, which is also wintry, put spooky on top.

[@AChilly]

When you forgot you read Neon Gods because you hated it so much haha. Love the video as always, Emma!

[@byunracha]

beach read was my first emily henry and i also hated, but i read the other books and really enjoyed. my favorites are book lovers and funny story, you should give them a try :)

[@jennabirdbooks]

If you like second chance romance with regency vibes I think you would like The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour!

[@theodors6808]

You need to watch the mini series of One Day!!!

[@nina93102]

I have a silly story to tell. Fun fact about me: I don't typically read romance. I especially do not read spicy romance, nor do I like books that are really dark/graphic. I heard you mention Sea of Ruin in I think a book haul and I was listening to the video in the background while cleaning my room. All I heard was "something something pirates" and I thought "oh lovely! a book about pirates!" and I decided to start reading without looking at any plot summaries or reviews. That was certainly one of the days of all time. Thank you for adding the trigger warning in here for people lol, I do not recommend doing what I did

[@itsjanolli]

I hope u read the third brown sisters book!! I hate most adult romance books but that one was of my faves ❤

[@mags31]

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh has been pretty good! Almost finished with it. Sherwood by Meagan Spooner. They'd both probably be under the enemy's to lovers trope, but the hate is so on the girls side for pretty legit reasons,l (like their best friend being murdered). Pretty predictable, but the way they get to the end is well done and not because "oh, they're hot, they can't have done wrong"🙄. Highly recommend both!:)

[@melindamiller182]

Book Lovers, Happy Place and Funny Story I all prefer over Beach Read or People we Meet on Vacation for Emily Henry books

[@XeniaEstherr]

really liked this video

[@Dkara9]

Nocticadia by Keri Lake is a much better version of Gothikana, I think you may enjoy it if you feel like a dark academia romance. Loved this video ❤

[@mouminysn]

Have you NOT read The Fault in Our Stars? I'll also add 'Eleanor & Park'. You should turn this video into a series, I'd love to see a YA ranking.

[@mariajosefin]

I'm reading Out on a limb by Hannah Bonnam Young right now and IT'S SO GOOD. Great disability representation. Absolutely giggling and kicking my feet - you should give it a try! I really enjoy the audiobook.

[@evajean7568]

since you said you enjoy second chance romance, i would recommend happy place if you want to try emily henry again. i enjoyed it when i read it (though it hasn’t particularly stuck with me)

[@aishaqidwai]

I would highly recommend Happy Place. It's a second chance romance and the only Emily Henry book I really loved. I don't really like her other books. Atleast the ones I've read

[@GlaauAguiar]

I listened to A touch of darkness on audible and even though I found Persephone insufferable I kept reading because of the other gods and it gets SO good on the second half of the second book! Maybe try to read Hades' POV it is a lot better

[@jennifermccarthy6539]

I would recommend Honey and Spice by bolu babulola for a good fake dating romance where they are just so sweet to each other and they have a great friendship