Why Emily Henry Thinks It Would Have Been ‘Terrible’ if BestsellerBeach ReadWas Her First Novel

Mar. 15, 2025

Emily Henry and the cover of ‘Beach Read’.Photo:Emily Henry/Instagram; Berkley

Emily Henry/Instagram; Berkley

Emily Henryis looking back on her publishing journey — and why she’s glad it didn’t start somewhere different.Speaking with authorElin Hilderbrandand Tim Ehrenberg on the Sept. 3 episode of their podcastBooks, Beach, & Beyond,the bestselling writer discussed her career, which began in 2016 with the publication of her debut young adult novel,The Love That Split the World. Henry would go on to write multiple young adult books, including 2017’sA Million Junesand 2019’sWhen the Sky Fell on Splendor, before she transitioned to other genres.“I got to a point where I just sort of felt like I had said everything I had to say at that point about that time in life,” Henry said. “I also was entering my late twenties at that point, and was just experiencing what I would now call my second coming of age.”

In 2020, Henry published the breakthrough romance novelBeach Read, which launched her into the literary spotlight. Henry’s books, also including bestsellersPeople We Meet on Vacation(2021),Book Lovers(2022),Happy Place(2023) andFunny Story(2024), have sold 7 million copies since 2020, perThe New York Times, and have garnered Henry a dedicated fanbase.

Emily Henry in 2023.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

The author said that having cut her teeth in YA left her “really grateful,” because she was able to understand what the publishing industry was like as a debut writer before her later success.“I do think it would have been terrible for me ifBeach Readhad been my very first book,” she said. “I don’t know if I would have even been able to publish again.”

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“I feel like it’s just better for people to know what it’s generally like out there publishing before they have the dream experience,” she added. “Because sometimes you meet those debut authors who don’t know how hard it is for other authors.”

Henry added that being a reserved personality in the spotlight can also be challenging.

Emily Henry with her 2024 novel ‘Funny Story’.Emily Henry/Instagram

Emily Henry/Instagram

“I’m definitely an introvert,” she said. “I also love my readers … so it is a weird thing because when you’re in that space, when you’re getting to meet readers, it’s like you feel so alive and so energized. And then the second that it’s done, it’s like you’re in the car silent for the whole ride home. Like, I’m gonna sleep for three days.”

“That piece of things is really gratifying, but it’s also really intimidating, because I just never saw myself becoming some kind of public figure or a persona or having people’s ideas of me mapped onto me,” Henry said, adding, “It’s gratifying, but it’s scary.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Henry also explained that her “devoted readership” and their loyalty is what propels her and her work forward.“You want to do it for them because it feels like even though you are an artist and you wanna make things that you totally believe in, there’s also this symbiotic relationship happening where there are people who have been so supportive of you and have given you this career you love and have given you this life in many ways,” Henry said. “And you want to honor that and to make sure you’re not putting something out that isn’t up to par.”

source: people.com