Scan barcode
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
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
kayanoelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
It was actually scary how much Harriett and I are alike. In med school to be a brain surgeon (when she listed all the downsides to being a doctor I was like... don't effing tell me this girl, I'm still in denial), never learned how to fight, doesn't like to be touched, always goes along with everyone's plan because we honestly don't care and then realize it could be seen as apathy... wow. I even showed up to a very small airport way too early once and I just started laughing when that happened because... no main character has ever been this much like me.
I enjoyed the story, Emily Henrys books are always so funny and have such a cozy vibe.
I didn't like the miscommunication trope or better: the-not-talking-at-all-about-their-thoughts-and-problems-trope because it's just something I genuinely cannot get behind.
BUT overall, it was still a very good, quick read that made me smile and swoon and love the characters.
I enjoyed the story, Emily Henrys books are always so funny and have such a cozy vibe.
I didn't like the miscommunication trope or better: the-not-talking-at-all-about-their-thoughts-and-problems-trope because it's just something I genuinely cannot get behind.
BUT overall, it was still a very good, quick read that made me smile and swoon and love the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness and Vomit
hannahkiwi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Drug use
Minor: Vomit
ewalkergrace'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
displacedcactus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
This isn't my favorite Emily Henry, but I liked it enough that I was almost late for work this morning that I had to know how it ends, so there's that.
I agree with the many people who I've seen saying this is probably the least romance-like of her books. The dual timeline means we get to see Harriet and Wyn originally falling in love, but it's told in snippets and while it tells us a lot about how we got where we are, it gives us less time in the here and now. The disjointed nature of the story left me feeling not fully committed to their romance. I wanted to know if they would get back together, but I wasn't necessarily sure if they should.
In some ways, this is almost a coming-of-age story, about reaching that point in your 30s or so when you start to lose momentum and have to figure out what you *actually* want out of life, rather than what you've been doing to please your friends, family, SO, teachers, religious leaders, whoever has been shaping and guiding you since childhood. This is primarily Harry and Wyn's story, but we also get to see their four friends grappling with the fact that they're all getting older and it's harder to stay in touch now that they're scattered across the country and pursuing different goals.
If you like your summer reads to have a mix of sun-soaked vacation locales and emotional angst, this is a good one. Or even save it for winter, when you need to remember warmer times.
I agree with the many people who I've seen saying this is probably the least romance-like of her books. The dual timeline means we get to see Harriet and Wyn originally falling in love, but it's told in snippets and while it tells us a lot about how we got where we are, it gives us less time in the here and now. The disjointed nature of the story left me feeling not fully committed to their romance. I wanted to know if they would get back together, but I wasn't necessarily sure if they should.
In some ways, this is almost a coming-of-age story, about reaching that point in your 30s or so when you start to lose momentum and have to figure out what you *actually* want out of life, rather than what you've been doing to please your friends, family, SO, teachers, religious leaders, whoever has been shaping and guiding you since childhood. This is primarily Harry and Wyn's story, but we also get to see their four friends grappling with the fact that they're all getting older and it's harder to stay in touch now that they're scattered across the country and pursuing different goals.
If you like your summer reads to have a mix of sun-soaked vacation locales and emotional angst, this is a good one. Or even save it for winter, when you need to remember warmer times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Cursing
Minor: Vomit
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
readwithria's review against another edition
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
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, Cursing, Alcohol, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
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
merlesstorys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
This book had everything. The sad parts, the happy parts, the sappy ones and everything was just kinda funny.
This was my first Emily Henry book and honestly because the e-book was on sale, and I very much loved it. I liked the chemistry of Harriet and Wyn, their friend group and everything.
It was very easy to read and the journeys of Harriet and Wyn each and together were inspiring.
Also, gotta give love for Cleo and Kim being a functional sapphic couple whose history in this book didn’t include homophobia because I wouldn’t have been able to survive that as well. I was already crying on the train ride home because of this book.
This was my first Emily Henry book and honestly because the e-book was on sale, and I very much loved it. I liked the chemistry of Harriet and Wyn, their friend group and everything.
It was very easy to read and the journeys of Harriet and Wyn each and together were inspiring.
Also, gotta give love for Cleo and Kim being a functional sapphic couple whose history in this book didn’t include homophobia because I wouldn’t have been able to survive that as well. I was already crying on the train ride home because of this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
Terminal Illness means Parkinson, and Wyn’s mother has it.