NEW YORK (AP) — “Nothing forces you to face your demons like falling in love.”
And it’s almost always worth it, Emily Henry says during a recent interview ahead of Tuesday’s release of her latest novel, “Funny Story.” She would know, having churned out a new bestselling romance read every year since 2020.
“You find out so much about yourself by how you react to the complicated feelings of falling in love, and that can lead into something very toxic and exhausting. But it also can lead into something so beautiful and life changing,” she says.
Henry talked with The Associated Press about her journey to becoming a novelist, why people shouldn’t feel shame about reading romance and how her personal mental health journey influences her characters. She also dives into whether books are better than movies, with a few insights into the film adaptions of her books in the works.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
HENRY: You could try writing a book. That’s only halfway a joke, because I really do feel like “Beach Read” was the most meta thing I’d ever done.
There’s a reason that most of my books have ended with one or both characters going to therapy. For a happy ending to be sustained, for a relationship to continue growing and changing, you probably need some help.
Also getting on medicine was huge for me. I thought I was doing more or less OK until I found out what it felt like to be OK.
Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia
More cities to open flights to Hungary
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
Blues hold on to beat the Hurricanes 31
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University
Teresa Giudice recalls meeting Taylor Swift in VIP area at Coachella
Giro leader Tadej Pogacar wins his third stage in the first week
David Beckham DIDN'T like his Netflix documentary at first
Bichette has 4 hits, Berríos snaps 4
Poor Kenyans feel devastated by floods and brutalized by the government's response
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
Bouchard scores in OT to lift Oilers to 4