Book Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry

The long-awaited book review is here (okay it’s not really long-awaited, it’s only actually been a week since I finished the book). Since Beach Read, I have continued to be surprised and delighted by Emily Henry … and with each book, she continues to amaze me with her fun yet very heart-wrenching and moving and deep rom-coms. Last year, we had Book Lovers but this year, the book that dominated my bookstagram feed is Happy Place by Emily Henry.

There’s just something about her books that just tug at your heartstrings. She’s been called this generation’s Nora Ephron with her books being similar to Nora Ephron books (When Harry Met Sally and People We Meet On Vacation, You’ve Got Mail and Beach Read, etc.). Emily Henry’s books just never seem to miss. And this one is no different.

I’m not the type to pick up a second chance romance—however, with this one, I loved it. I actually finished it after loving another second chance, Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan, also which I loved. And of course, who can’t forget my love for the sixth Bridgerton book, When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn. But I’m picky about second chance romance books probably because I don’t find it realistic that two exes would find themselves back together. Maybe I’m cynical? Idk. But with these second chance romances, and Happy Place in particular, these authors place a focus on the characters’ growth and how they evolve throughout and after the breakup—and then that leads the two characters back to each other.

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?

My Review:

In Happy Place, Emily Henry introduced Harriett and Wyn. First off—the way Emily Henry wrote about Wyn’s character development and mental health journey—all from the POV of Harriett—was amazing. I love Wyn Connor with all my heart, and I think, personally, he’s the best book boyfriend Emily Henry has wrote. (Even before Gus from Beach Read.) And that’s a personal take, I know, because I know Gus is well-beloved. I have to be honest, I was going into this book thinking that there was going to be bad blood between characters; I think it may stem from the fact that Emily Henry said that the Taylor Swift song associated with this book was Maroon (I could be wrong on that??), so I thought it was going to be this toxic love and they weren’t right for each other. But I think there was a little miscommunication between Harriet and Wyn and I liked how Emily Henry slowly unfolded the problems between the two and what led to their breakup. All while telling us (the readers) about how Harriet and Wynn fell in love in the first place. It was a dual timeline, which I don’t normally like, but in this book, it was done well and appreciated and contributed to the plot greatly.

Like I said, this was a dual timeline and while it was in present day, we also learned how Harriet and Wyn got together and fell in love. I think the timeline between them falling in love being in parallel with how we were seeing them interact with each other post-breakup was fascinating to read. It made me cheer for them to get back together even harder! I kept on wanting to scream, “just kiss and make up already!”

I also loved the friendship and group dynamics that Emily Henry wrote into the book. The book features this friend group, that Harriet and Wyn are active members in, not just one of them being introduced as a romantic partner, but both are friends with every member of the group. We also get to see how the group has evolved and moved on with their lives, especially as they live in different parts of the country. Friend groups grow and friends move on … but friend groups last when everyone puts time and effort into maintaining the friendship. There’s something so beautiful about how this friend group continued to stay friends even after distance. And I really loved that.

Overall, I loved it. This Emily Henry book pulled at my heartstrings. I would definitely say this falls in my #2 rank of Emily Henry books. The list is: People We Meet On Vacation, Happy Place, Beach Read, Book Lovers. It shocks me to put Beach Read at #3, but know that these are all close behind one another. PWMOV just was on another level, specifically the character Poppy, and her development just hit home for me. However, I would have to say that Happy Place is one of the best books that Emily Henry has written.

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry 

Book Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry