Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry
Thank you Berkley Romance for my copy of Happy Place! All thoughts are my own.,
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the Book-ternet in the last three years, it’s that everyone has very strong feelings on Emily Henry’s books. I have a definitive ranking of favorites and I think Happy Place has made it close the top. I have been craving these Romances that are grounded in reality lately and this definitely fit the bill. Not to say that all Romance isn’t real, but I’ve been in the mood for something with a little more…more.
I was sucked into the story of Happy Place, the friend group and their annual vacation. I loved the sense of family and the very real fears of thinking that you’re growing apart from the people who mean the most to you. I found the book to fun and flirty, heart wrenching and romantic, desperate and sad. Plus, the Maine setting is dreamy and perfect to enjoy on vacation this Summer.
Synopsis:
“A couple who broke up months ago pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.
Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.
They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.
Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—Though the book takes place in multiple places, they’re all equally dreamy. College in Vermont, post-grad in NYC, trips to Montana, and of course the cottage in Maine. I love how Emily Henry weaves the setting seamlessly into the emotions and experiences of the characters, almost personifying the highs and lows through the lens of the places where they take place.
The Internal Dialogue—I could really relate to Harriet and the pressure she puts on herself.
Wyn Connor—I know he won’t be for everyone, but boy oh boy was he for me. I was utterly charmed by Wyn the whole book.
What Didn’t Work For Me:
Wanted More from the Friend Group—Based on other reviews I saw, I thought the romance would come second to the friend group. In truth, I felt the other way around but that the two plots were completely interconnected and entwined, which I think was a the greater message of the book.
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Content Warnings:
death of a parent, estranged parental relationships, grief