people we meet on the set of emily henry adaptations
my deep love for emily henry novels & explicitly who i think should star in the film adaptations
Every time an Emily Henry novel gets optioned for a film or tv series, a romance reader gets their wings. Or something like that, right?
I’ve always been a romance reader; it’s practically encoded in my DNA. When you grow up finding books more interesting than people, or what’s on tv, or even the baseball game in front of you (true story- one time the hardcover i was reading at my brother’s baseball game was smacked by a foul ball because i wasn’t paying enough attention) it’s easy to fall into the easy rhythm of rom coms. There’s something perfectly satisfying about their twists and turns that eventually end up with, well, a happy ending. As I’ve gotten older, that hope for a happy ending and the creation of worlds where you believe it could really happen hasn’t changed, but I do pay attention at baseball games now if you’re curious.
In 2021, I discovered Emily Henry with the release of her second adult romance novel People We Meet On Vacation. Which then led to me reading her first- Beach Read. And then, subsequently all of the following novels that have come from her brilliant mind. Reading doesn’t seem strong enough a word to describe what I do with her books, though– it’s more like I turn into a black panther stalking prey in the form of having all of her post notifications on, and jumping to attack when a new release hits shelves. The only logical next line of action is devouring the book whole in record time, and then wishing I would have savored it a little more because it’ll be like a year before I’m rewarded with another.
This, I feel, gives me a certain amount of authority to give my two cents when it comes to the film and tv series adaptations of these novels, particularly when it comes to casting. All five of her romance novels for adults have been picked up by production companies- four for films, one for a tv series– god, even just saying that makes me VIBRATE with excitement.
Don’t ask me which one I’m most excited for- or which EmHen is my favorite, for that matter. To me, that’s akin to ranking Taylor Swift albums: impossible, because it changes basically every day based on what kind of mood I’m in. What I will say is this– like TSwift, I consistently feel that each EH release gets better and better. That’s about as far as I go into it, thank you.
So, here it is. My not-so-humble opinion on who should star in the adaptations. Based literally on my very selfish opinions, and my very individual reading experiences, because I fear everyone pictures something different when they’re reading.
Beach Read:
January: Taylor Russell
Gus: Dylan O’Brien
Truthfully, when I think about reading Beach Read (the first time and all the rereads) I know in my soul that I imagined Taylor Russell as January. And that’s incredible because during my first read I didn’t even know who TRuss was. In my mind, she could tap into January’s energy so wholeheartedly. On the flip side, I truthfully don’t remember how I originally pictured Gus, but isn’t it everyone’s dream to see Dylan O’Brien as a good ol’ fashioned rom-com boyfriend like this? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
People We Meet On Vacation:
Poppy: Ayo Edebiri
Alex: Paul Mescal
Now… even just thinking about this makes me … feel some type of way? The rumors going around during St. Patty’s Day this past March after EH posted a photo of everyone’s favorite Irish actors… let’s just say I related deeply to the tweet that said “lots of blood will be spilled if this is some kind of sick joke.” Now I knowwwwwww (lots of emphasis here) everyone had them pegged as January & Gus in Beach Read, but I have to say it. I dissent!!! I am the minority!!! I just feel they would work so much better as Poppy & Alex from PWMOV. Not only do I feel particular about the casting for this one, as it was my first EmHen read, I just also feel that because Ayo and Paul are supremely talented and also incredibly of the moment, they would knock it out of the park.
Book Lovers:
Nora: Florence Pugh
Charlie: Dev Patel
Does there exist in the depths of my Snapchat memories, recorded evidence of me threatening to throw my paperback copy of Book Lovers out the second story window of my family’s beach house if EH did not fix the third act separation happening as I was reading? Yes. Does it remain one of my funniest, most favorite reading memories? Also yes. I was deeply committed to Nora and Charlie as a couple and I was willing to be dramatic about it too. I’m sorry that a lot of this is just “It would JUST MAKE SENSE.” but like. If you read the books, you’ll know what I mean. Or maybe you won’t. But you might be able to see the vision. Florence Pugh would totally be able to fit the part of the blonde literary agent shark that is Nora, and Dev Patel… well let’s just say I will never shut up about wanting him in a romcom. This is extremely selfish, and I do not really care.
Happy Place:
Harriet: Emma Mackey
Wyn: Ramy Youssef
There’s just something about Emma Mackey. This came to me in a dream, or something like that, while I was pondering who could possibly embody Harriet’s nature, and her anxious inability to change for what she really wants. Lightning bolt moment- Emma Mackey. I just think she could do it splendidly. Landing on Ramy Youssef was a similar experience; his talent as a comedian, as well as an actor and director, would bring to life the quietly sarcastic banter that flows through Happy Place.
*btw : the line “in every universe, it’s you for me. even if it’s not me for you.” completely changed my life multiple times over. i think about it a lot. EH really wrote this for girls who listen to the archer too much.
*btw #2: I also had specific visions of Sabrina, Cleo, and Kimmy- here are those suggestions too!
Sasha Lane as Cleo (i envisioned her the literal *whole* time reading)
Suki Waterhouse as Sabrina
and Nicola Coughlan as Kimmy
(undecided on Parth, but decidedly a man too good looking for his own good)
Funny Story:
Daphne: Rachel Zegler
Miles: Logan Lerman
I’ve read Funny Story twice now since its release, and shhhh… but it might be the front of the pack for me. Rachel Zegler, I fear, would make the perfect Daphne and Logan Lerman the perfect Miles. It would be fun to see Rachel Zegler (human ray of sunshine) fill the role of a character who is self-described as “cold and bracing.” Additionally, Logan Lerman sits at the same table as Dylan O’Brien- internet boyfriend who we would all delight in seeing in this kind of role.
*btw: would Jennifer Coolidge as Starfire be a little too on the nose? Lol.
*btw #2: Peter & Petra are too important to the plot not to mention- I think Glen Powell is literally the only person that would make sense to be Peter because he’s movie star hot just like he’s described to be. As for Petra, Kaia Gerber would be a slay and a half- I think she has it in her to give off the airy, free spirit vibes of Petra.
So what do we think? Am I a genius, or what? EH, if you ever read this please let me know how close I am to your own interpretations. Okay, even if you aren’t EH, lmk if this is on par with what you’d like to see. Maybe I’ll revisit when we eventually get our grubby hands on all the adaptations and see how close or far off I am, and how disappointed or excited I am at what we end up seeing on the screen.
PS yes i am currently awaiting what emily henry writes next, it is always on my mind, it’s on my mind rn as i’m typing this…
PPS do not discount my position as a harry styles stan from this list; it would have looked bad to simply make a list that included harry as every male lead, so i refrained from making myself choose which of them i would prefer him as. just know mr styles as any of them would make me happy in a way that would make my parents fear his impact on my life
I’ve only read Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation but I can say your choices for casting are superb and I support and would gladly watch