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kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Title: Happy Place
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: April 25, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Summery • Heartfelt • Lackluster
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Well, well, well it looks like I am in the minority... yet again when it comes to an Emily Henry book. After finishing this one I actually sat and contemplated why I just don't love her books like everyone else seems to. Happy Place to me was just okay, nothing absolutely amazing.
I will start out by repeating myself, that Emily writes banter unlike anyone else. And she also does supporting characters very well. I loved the friendship aspect and the idea of an annual friends getaway. But that also left me wanting more of supporting characters' stories (which I kind got in the third act conflict). Another thing this book did incredibly well? Make me want to visit coastal Maine. The descriptions - sights, smells, food, beauty - all of it made me want to road trip.
And yet, I just didn't buy what Harriet and Wyn were selling. The romance didn't seem believable. In the beginning I preferred the past timeline way more than the present day, and halfway in that switched. It's quite possible my expectations are always way to high going in, but it felt forgettable.
After reading all of Emily Henry's adult romance novels and not fully understanding the hype, I think I am finally convinced her stories are just not for me. And yet, here I am already having added her 2024 release to my TBR, so the marketing team is definitely doing something right. Don't let my experience deter you from picking this up, because this book has certainly garnered its fair share of love.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the second chance romance trope
• Emily Henry die hards
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Everything is changing. It has to. You can't stop time."
"Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters."
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: April 25, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Summery • Heartfelt • Lackluster
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Well, well, well it looks like I am in the minority... yet again when it comes to an Emily Henry book. After finishing this one I actually sat and contemplated why I just don't love her books like everyone else seems to. Happy Place to me was just okay, nothing absolutely amazing.
I will start out by repeating myself, that Emily writes banter unlike anyone else. And she also does supporting characters very well. I loved the friendship aspect and the idea of an annual friends getaway. But that also left me wanting more of supporting characters' stories (which I kind got in the third act conflict). Another thing this book did incredibly well? Make me want to visit coastal Maine. The descriptions - sights, smells, food, beauty - all of it made me want to road trip.
And yet, I just didn't buy what Harriet and Wyn were selling. The romance didn't seem believable. In the beginning I preferred the past timeline way more than the present day, and halfway in that switched. It's quite possible my expectations are always way to high going in, but it felt forgettable.
After reading all of Emily Henry's adult romance novels and not fully understanding the hype, I think I am finally convinced her stories are just not for me. And yet, here I am already having added her 2024 release to my TBR, so the marketing team is definitely doing something right. Don't let my experience deter you from picking this up, because this book has certainly garnered its fair share of love.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the second chance romance trope
• Emily Henry die hards
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Everything is changing. It has to. You can't stop time."
"Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Chronic illness, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Death, and Death of parent
karirae7's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Mental illness
haley49's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was so good!! I have been converted to an Emily Henry fan. This wasn’t explicitly a romance novel but a relationship novel. Everything felt so real and intricate. Emily Henry is so good at making her characters have real likes and quirks that they actively know about each other in a way that doesn’t feel overly forced. They just exist??? The friend group was so well done and no one felt annoying or caricatured. Their relationship struggles were so relatable and I cried multiple times. Such a great read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Drug use
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual assault
dev921's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Classism, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Sexual content
kimmy0__0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. A story of love, loss, friendship, the changes of growing up, and the memories we hold dear. Emily Henry fans will enjoy. I do wish that Harriet would've learned to communicate earlier in the book. There were several points where I thought "Finally, she's being open and some of the conflict will resolve" but then she kept getting in her own head. I do think there was some missed opportunity to explore the other characters backstory/feelings/changes over the years, but I get that the author wanted only two main characters. Find your Happy Place ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Cursing, and Infidelity
mallory10100's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Cursing, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Grief
martapsalvado's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Emily Henry be like "here's a summer read", then makes you cry on the beach
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Infidelity
kaitlynnnng's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book makes me want to travel to Maine and eat lobster rolls with my friends…and I don’t even eat lobster!
I didn’t dislike this book, but I definitely didn’t love it either. It took me about 3 weeks to read this book, and I usually take around only 1. I’m not sure how much of that is because of my busy schedule versus my general lack of interest in this book—I had to talk myself into picking it up and reading most days. The most exciting parts of the whole book were the group’s “fight” and Harriet and Wyn’s intimate scene.
Wyn and Harriet’s entire fallout being caused by miscommunication/lack of communication/accidentally pushing people away when you’re trying to do and be what you think they need was disappointing. While I can somewhat relate to the characters and their struggles, I was expecting more.
The characters were likable, I guess, but I didn’t really care that deeply about them.
I didn’t dislike this book, but I definitely didn’t love it either. It took me about 3 weeks to read this book, and I usually take around only 1. I’m not sure how much of that is because of my busy schedule versus my general lack of interest in this book—I had to talk myself into picking it up and reading most days.
The characters were likable, I guess, but I didn’t really care that deeply about them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
readwithria's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Happy Place was everything I needed it to be and more. It was messy and full of love and I loved it and I have no words for how good this book is.
Emily Henry keeps getting better and better. Her stories are so full of love in all forms, and Happy Place was no different. The found family was so strong, and I loved all six of our main cast.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this book other than it Mae me feel so seen in so many different ways. I loved it. Read it. 5 stars.
Emily Henry keeps getting better and better. Her stories are so full of love in all forms, and Happy Place was no different. The found family was so strong, and I loved all six of our main cast.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this book other than it Mae me feel so seen in so many different ways. I loved it. Read it. 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
dianaschmidty's review
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
These characters are all manipulative idiots and this entire book could have been avoided with a combination of a simple conversation and some therapy. They all really need therapy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity