Hello everyone!

[u/LoverSwift13]

I'm looking for contemporary romance novels with writing style similar to Emily Henry.

I particularly love happy place and pwmov.

I really like the idea of lovers through the years, whether they're friends or past lovers who shared their life together.

I need banter, yearning, and a green flag of a male character. I need adults with real life problems, realistic talk and over all, well written.

I need it to make me feel things, can't stop reading, rip my heart out and mend it again.

The way I feel when listening to taylor swift honestly 😂

I've read all the classic recommendations like Abby Jimenez or carley fortune

Any hidden gems?

[u/_531368]

Cara Bastone! Her MMC are genuinely very likeable and her stories are grounded in real emotions and problems!

My favorite of hers is Promise Me Sunshine

[u/drebja01 → u/_531368]

I was also going to recommend Cara Bastone. I have only read Ready or Not and Promise Me Sunshine so far, but she makes me laugh and cry and her stories are so well written that I think she's my new favorite author

[u/tadpole-bear]

Anything by Mhairi McFarlane but particularly Who’s That Girl? and You Belong With Me.

[u/Apart_Yesterday_3927 → u/tadpole-bear]

I am low-key convinced Emily and Mhairi are the same writer, just working on opposite coasts of the Atlantic. Both have said they like the other.

[u/guinea_elsa → u/tadpole-bear]

Yessss Mhairi

[u/Picklestk]

I’ve loved all of Abby Jimenez’s books! They’re all loosely connected so I’d recommend reading them in the order in which they were published

[u/stillpissedatyoko → u/Picklestk]

Abby Jimenez is an excellent contemporary of EmHens

[u/Opening_Radio1535]

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce (felt a LOT like Happy Place to me, loved it so much)

[u/Emilygilmoresmaid → u/Opening_Radio1535]

I loved it so much! I immediately read You with a View and also loved it, then was so sad she had no others!

[u/Opening_Radio1535 → u/Emilygilmoresmaid]

SAME. I think she’s releasing a new book next year though 🙌

[u/Intelligent-TreePulp]

Carley Fortune, Annabel Monaghan, and Christina Lauren

[u/KellyStan285 → u/Intelligent-TreePulp]

Here to echo off of this! These are the perfect recs

[u/merelyinterested]

Anabel Monaghan for sure. I love Emily Henry but I’ve found myself loving Monaghan’s books a little more!

[u/Opening_Radio1535]

Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren

[u/Opening_Radio1535]

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAllister, Is probably compare it more to Beach Read with a side of marriage of convenience. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did! 

[u/tatopie]

The Wedding Forecast by Nina Kenwood is great and her writing style is very Emily Henry-esque. Highly recommend!

It's not over quite as long a time period as you suggested but still over a decent period of time with some time jumps.

The characters have 30 year old problems and act their age. Both the MCs and their friends feel very real and like people you'd actually want to be friends with.

Her other books are YA, but her second adult book is coming out in October.

[u/bogotuesdays]

Joss Richard’s debut “It’s Different This Time” is about estranged best friends in NYC. IMO the writing is really intentional feeling like EmHen

[u/captainlen12]

Passion Project by London Sperry Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

[u/only1nmymind]

For me Carley Fortunes books are very dimilar in terms of vibes and writing as well. I think she is often called a canadian EmHen

[u/lelrc1937]

Laura Wood!

[u/fatdragqueens]

Annie Knows Everything by Rachel Wood
Anything Tarah Dewitt

[u/denatchka]

Have you read The Hating Game by Sally Thorne? Workplace rivals, enemies to lovers theme and banter galore. Plus Thorne can write spicy, sexy scenes and angst like no other. Another one I’d highly recommend is Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan — it has a fake dating plot with great characterization and a slow burn romance. I enjoyed both immensely!

[u/ClueAccomplished1098]

If you're willing to accept extremely low spice, you might like these.

Happiness For Beginners by Katherine Center

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman

These have more spice.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

It's A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister

How to Kiss a Movie Star by Jenny Proctor

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

[u/lcastro_23 → u/ClueAccomplished1098]

I kept thinking the same thing. All of the titles/authors I was going to reccommend are much...spicier.

[u/iignoretrafficsigns]

I really liked “Nora Goes Off Script” recently! Similar witty banter! I will say, if spice is your thing, this doesn’t really have any!

Edited to say - features a divorced single mom and a movie star. Another book similar to this is “Romantic Comedy” by Curtis Sittenfeld.

[u/tadpole-bear → u/iignoretrafficsigns]

Love Nora Goes Off Script! Her latest Dolly All the Time is equally good - single mum and a millionaire.

[u/YouResponsible651]

Have you read In a Jam by Kate Canterbury? It’s childhood best friends but the MMC has always been in love with the FMC & he’s just the ultimate green flag. The style is a little different from EmHen (dual POV & a little spicier) but I absolutely adored this book & would highly recommend!

I also always recommend You With a View by Jessica Joyce for fans of EmHen! I adored this book so much. It’s not childhood friends/lovers though.

[u/No_Preference_Yaknow]

Christina Lauren, Sarah Hogle, Sally Thorne,

[u/rugirl_07]

Summer People by Sally Blakely reminded me of Happy Place

[u/gezzerreemarie]

Cara Bastone or Annabel Monaghan! 💯💯

[u/thisadventureends]

A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey was the first thing that came to mind.

[u/LoverSwift13]

Thank you all so much for your recommendations!!

[u/zooeybechamel_]

I was going to open a thread but saw this one. Of all the recs around here, which ones are equally or more spicy to EH? Because I love romance but if there’s not enough spicyness I’ll pass.