Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Happy Place

My most bittersweet read of 2023, and maybe my favourite. I shed a tear almost every chapter even when it was a happy one. The portrayal of adult friendships, found family, childhood trauma and long-term love was heartbreaking but healing at the same time. Such a funny, beautiful and sad story. Wyn and Harriet are soul mates in every sense of the word and I adored them - all the characters felt so real & it makes you want to be in the book with them. Just when you think Emily Henry can’t do better; she does.

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cwerber's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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tabeahaefliger's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I ate this up! Totally worth 5 stars

I literally read this in like three days and my heart is just light, warm, and full of love. It contained funny lines, that made me giggle. I loved the time jumps and the way Emily Henry made their relationship and it’s development so relatable and humane. Where they finally kiss each other again??? Oh my god, got me giggling, screaming and kicking my feet!

Wyn was such a good and true male main character and Harriet was just so empowering and light and sympathetic. Their whole friend group just gave me the feeling of wanting to be part of them. Also the diversity of the characters, per example lesbians or ppl of color was also amazing to see. There were some really good and heartwarming true quotes that weren’t cheesy or over exaggerated at all.

All in all I loved Emily Henrys writing style, I loved the storyline and the story coming to life in my head. Made me want to be in their world so bad. I just totally ate this up and felt lighthearted but still morally questioning society and family, this was the perfect mix. Totally recommend, especially when craving a little but still so fulfilling summery holiday second chance romance that makes you smile :)

Content Warnings

trips's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-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

As per my 3 year Christmas tradition, I read the Emily Henry book that was published that year.

This year was Happy Place...and I kinda wish I went back and read Beach Read instead...

Ok look, I actually think what Henry was trying to achieve in this book was very ambitious. In my opinion, too ambitious. There are a lot of interconnecting relationships and not all of them pay off.

Parth in particular comes off as just like...existing...he hardly has a character other than being exasperated or excited. Sabrina as well seems to be parsed down to the trope she seems to be embodying. Cleo and Kimmy are fine, we love mostly unproblematic lesbians.

The relationship between Harriet and Wyn is sweet at times, especially the scenes in the past. In the present, I found myself being angry with both of them the entire time because holy shit, just have 1 single conversation about how things actually are between you two and you would've been fine??

I had a hard time with Harriet because she is just so unaware of herself to the point of unbelievability for her age and experience in life and Wyn is just sad puppy hours through the whole book. He kinda made me feel like he wasn't worth it as he didn't want to fight for their relationship in the first place (neither did Harriet at times but at least she came around to it).
I guess I wanted more out of them finally talking their feelings out?

I dunno, I'll still keep up with my Christmas tradition, this one was sadly just not as fun as the other 2 I've read from Henry.

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