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neliadiedenise's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief
jo_22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a bit slow-going for me at first (relative to other Emily Henry books) in how it took me farther into the story to really connect with the characters. They were enjoyable characters but frustrating at times when they didn’t communicate; and I think the I wasn’t as engaged in the plot til probs 50% of the way through. Listened to it on a 9 hour solo drive and despite my early frustrations, it was the perfect book to immerse in!
And the last 20%…oof <3 had great (albeit very rushed) character development, and relatable POVs/elements. (Career, life, love, boundaries, happiness, generational trauma, friendship, how to argue, secure attachment, growing up & adulting).
It was slightly triggering for me at some points which is reason for 4.25 stars instead of 5 stars.
Overall feelings are:
• omg this was enjoyable
• I want to talk to others about this book
• thanks han for pushing me to read it and putting me on EH
• the timeliness of me reading this is wild
• Harriet was frustrating in how she didn’t communicate or made assumptions / didn’t do relationships well. However I could relate at times so it didn’t bother me as much as other novels with this trope.
• I didn’t like Wyn in ways I liked other EH male romantic interests
• I like how much this focused on healthy relationships & friendships in particular way more than her other novels - it added a new dynamic & I enjoyed that variety. The characters didn’t often portray healthy relationships but I liked how EH explored that
• I NEED to own the paperback so I can reread and highlight impactful parts / quotes (There were so many moments where I paused the book to process or hype or reflect on)
And the last 20%…oof <3 had great (albeit very rushed) character development, and relatable POVs/elements. (Career, life, love, boundaries, happiness, generational trauma, friendship, how to argue, secure attachment, growing up & adulting).
It was slightly triggering for me at some points which is reason for 4.25 stars instead of 5 stars.
Overall feelings are:
• omg this was enjoyable
• I want to talk to others about this book
• thanks han for pushing me to read it and putting me on EH
• the timeliness of me reading this is wild
• Harriet was frustrating in how she didn’t communicate or made assumptions / didn’t do relationships well. However I could relate at times so it didn’t bother me as much as other novels with this trope.
• I didn’t like Wyn in ways I liked other EH male romantic interests
• I like how much this focused on healthy relationships & friendships in particular way more than her other novels - it added a new dynamic & I enjoyed that variety. The characters didn’t often portray healthy relationships but I liked how EH explored that
• I NEED to own the paperback so I can reread and highlight impactful parts / quotes (There were so many moments where I paused the book to process or hype or reflect on)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
yvo_about_books's review
3.5
Finished reading: June 18th 2023
"Love means constantly saying you're sorry, and then doing better."
There has been such a hype around Happy Place, and I honestly can't believe it has already got over 200.000! ratings on Goodreads. I mean, Happy Place has only been published for two months or so... Anyhow, I can't deny that I've been looking forward to read this one, because I really enjoyed my time with her previous books. I loved the sound of the blurb with the group of friends getting together and the Main cottage setting, and I had high hopes for it. Now that I've read it, I'm not sure if those expectations were actually met though... I'm not saying that it's a bad read and I initially did love my time with this story. There was something about this close group of friends that made me want to spend time with them. The main focus is on Wyn and Harriet of course, and they have the biggest character growth as a result, but I feel that the rest of them are still quite complex as well. I wish more time would have been spent in the present though, because the many flashbacks could get a bit tedious. The miscommunication trope ended up being a bit too much for me as well, because it was just too present not only in Wyn and Harriet, but in the group in general. It distracted from the other issues and only started to make me feel frustrated by the whole situation. Especially when it was not clear why they broke up in the first place and is was way too obvious they still love each other. That said, it was the last 20% or so of Happy Place that really let me down. Not only did I find this particular outcome to be highly unbelievable, but not satisfying at all either. I just couldn't believe that Harriet would make such a big decision on the fly, after only a week in Maine and without considering all her options. A slower build up would have made her decision a bit more credible, but still... This was NOT how I hoped this story would end. I can't deny that there were parts of the story that I loved, but Happy Place also ended up having more issues for me than expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Abandonment, Drug use, Mental illness, Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Medical content, Vomit, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
kcarney86's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, and Abandonment
Minor: Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Classism, and Gaslighting
miggyfool's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Death, Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness and Pregnancy
stellakay's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a phenomenal book about pushing away the ones you love when you feel hopeless
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
One of my favorite things about an Emily Henry book is that they always feel unique in the way that she approaches an overdone trope with a fresh spin. This one falls a little short for me. There’s nothing innately wrong with it, the story is fine and the characters are fine but that’s just it, it’s all just fine. The storyline here is tad too predictable, and even though we get [a version of] a happy ending it doesn’t feel satisfying. I’m perfectly content with having read this, but I think my hopes were too high. They can’t all be 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Cursing
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
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
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
3.5
This was my first Emily Henry book and it was not what I was excepting. To me Happy place is and is not a romance. This was so emotional both romantically and within the friendships of the book. The friendships Henry crafted in the book are very raw and real as well as the relationships. I do love that there was a sapphic side couple. But it felt like there was a bit too much emotional turmoil happening all at once. Plus I don’t particularly like the miscommunication troupe. I think many people will be torn between liking and not knowing how they feel about this book.
Cw
Gaslighting
Sexual content
Emotional abuse
Toxic friendship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness
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