Best-Selling Author's Debut Named Favorite Enemies-to-Lovers Novel by the ‘Queen of Beach Reads'
Bestselling author Emily Henry is the queen of beach reads. From her aptly titled Beach Read to her last-chance romance People We Meet on Vacation, the woman knows how to construct a page-turning love story.
Which is probably why The New York Times recruited Henry to recommend a handful of enemies-to-lovers novels for us all to devour this summer.
Topping Henry's list is a gem from Sally Thorne called The Hating Game. Originally published in 2016, the story follows Lucy and Joshua, two executive assistants vying for the same job. Bitter rivals, the two embark on a game of passive-aggressive stunts before the pair ultimately turn their hate into something else that steams up the office.
"Reading this novel is like viewing the concept of a ‘crush' through a fun house mirror," Henry shared. "With a punchy, effortlessly fun voice, Thorne makes a compelling case that the line between love and hate might be flimsier than we think."
Thorne's instant best seller received the big-screen treatment in 2021, with Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell starring. No stranger to Hollywood phone calls, Henry has also seen her romance lit transferred to the screen.
Both People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read have film adaptations - the former courtesy of Netflix and the latter in the works with Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor and The White Lotus' Patrick Schwarzenegger in the leading literary-rival roles.
Other books on Henry's list include Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, and Lady Like by Mackenzi Lee.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 7:39 PM.