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juliaaaaaa's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
Adults that act like adults instead of acting like teenagers?? and all of the characters have personalities?? love
the pottery seemed kinda weird tho, why couldn't she just find a similar job next to wyn? ok she doesn't like it.. but why do writers have to make women working in stem quit?
the pottery seemed kinda weird tho, why couldn't she just find a similar job next to wyn? ok she doesn't like it.. but why do writers have to make women working in stem quit?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Look, nothing I say here will be groundbreaking or revolutionary with the 47 gazillion other reviews already out there. But I finished this last night and I'm actually writing a review for it, so applaud me, please.
Happy Place is a second chance romance between Harriet and Wyn, who broke up five months ago, but no one knows. One of their best friends, Sabrina, organizes their annual friend vacation, so Harriet and Wyn are playing pretend for the week.
I hate the miscommunication trope. Despise it. And this book is full of it. Miscommunication, or rather, lack of communication at all, led to their downfall and they're clearly still in love with each other and STILL holding back.
That being said... I somehow still really enjoyed this book? Wyn and Harriet's banter was hilarious and exquisite. All of the friends' adult problems felt real and relatable. The writing was lovely without being overly flowery or pretentious. And despite being a little too long, it's a quick read.
I originally gave it 4, but some things did bug me, so maybe it's more like a 3.5. Do with that what you will. 🤷🏻♀️
Book Lovers is still my favorite EH so far! (Have not read Beach Read or Funny Story yet.)
Happy Place is a second chance romance between Harriet and Wyn, who broke up five months ago, but no one knows. One of their best friends, Sabrina, organizes their annual friend vacation, so Harriet and Wyn are playing pretend for the week.
I hate the miscommunication trope. Despise it. And this book is full of it. Miscommunication, or rather, lack of communication at all, led to their downfall and they're clearly still in love with each other and STILL holding back.
That being said... I somehow still really enjoyed this book? Wyn and Harriet's banter was hilarious and exquisite. All of the friends' adult problems felt real and relatable. The writing was lovely without being overly flowery or pretentious. And despite being a little too long, it's a quick read.
I originally gave it 4, but some things did bug me, so maybe it's more like a 3.5. Do with that what you will. 🤷🏻♀️
Book Lovers is still my favorite EH so far! (Have not read Beach Read or Funny Story yet.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
kailiyahknight's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Mental illness
Minor: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Vomit, and Pregnancy
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
Six friends (3 couples) spend a week at a cottage together. Unbeknownst to the other four, Harriet and Wyn actually broke up months ago. Now they have to hide it in order make sure the week is perfect.
This is a story about self-discovery and putting ones self first when you are a perpetual people pleaser. When you have lived your life for others, it is difficult to figure out what actually makes you happy and brings you joy.
Harriet grew up in a home where her parents valued success and rarely expressed their emotions. She became the peacekeeper in her family, always overachieving to fulfill her parent's dreams. So, when she begins a relationship with Wyn, she doesn't have a healthy example to learn from. She hides her feelings from him thinking that's she is making his life easier by not putting her problems on him. Unfortunately, all it does if form a chasm between them. She needs to learn that you cannot live your life for others and lack of communication is relationship destroying.
Wyn has always thought he was less than. His sisters are very smart and he never felt like he could keep up. So when he met Harriet, he didn't think he was good enough for her. He always puts himself down and thinks that she deserves better. So, he pushes her away and doesn't really let her in.
I think the friendship in this book are so special because they are more than just friends, they are family. They may be at different places and phases in life, but they always have a space and place for each other.
Many of the relationships in this book are a perfect example of how you can love each other so deeply, but unless you have open communication and are honest about your feelings, you will drift away from each other. I was really frustrated with all the secrets and lies. Once the dam breaks and they all come clean, their relationships become so much stronger.
I get why Sabrina lied, but I think it was a really shitty thing to do. Let's have a conversation about how you know they have broken up and try to support your friends instead of forcing them into this incredibly uncomfortable situation. I don't understand why on earth Wyn and Harriet would "fake" their relationship, that is so awkward. I could never.
Tropes: second chance, found family, small town, mental health rep
This is a story about self-discovery and putting ones self first when you are a perpetual people pleaser. When you have lived your life for others, it is difficult to figure out what actually makes you happy and brings you joy.
Harriet grew up in a home where her parents valued success and rarely expressed their emotions. She became the peacekeeper in her family, always overachieving to fulfill her parent's dreams. So, when she begins a relationship with Wyn, she doesn't have a healthy example to learn from. She hides her feelings from him thinking that's she is making his life easier by not putting her problems on him. Unfortunately, all it does if form a chasm between them. She needs to learn that you cannot live your life for others and lack of communication is relationship destroying.
Wyn has always thought he was less than. His sisters are very smart and he never felt like he could keep up. So when he met Harriet, he didn't think he was good enough for her. He always puts himself down and thinks that she deserves better. So, he pushes her away and doesn't really let her in.
I think the friendship in this book are so special because they are more than just friends, they are family. They may be at different places and phases in life, but they always have a space and place for each other.
Many of the relationships in this book are a perfect example of how you can love each other so deeply, but unless you have open communication and are honest about your feelings, you will drift away from each other. I was really frustrated with all the secrets and lies. Once the dam breaks and they all come clean, their relationships become so much stronger.
I get why Sabrina lied, but I think it was a really shitty thing to do. Let's have a conversation about how you know they have broken up and try to support your friends instead of forcing them into this incredibly uncomfortable situation. I don't understand why on earth Wyn and Harriet would "fake" their relationship, that is so awkward. I could never.
Tropes: second chance, found family, small town, mental health rep
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
klandry98's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy
literarypenguin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Happy Place was a very interesting book, I applauded Emily Henry's attempt at trying something different for one of her books. While it might not be one of my favorites of hers it was still a lovely inspiring read!
One of the parts I loved about Happy Place was its setting. The beach town of Maine and all its shores was truly a beautiful place to imagine being. I could completely understand why our characters loved being there and why the place was so special to all of them. A place can hold a lot of memories for a group of people, it was nice to see those memories come to action in certain chapters.
The characters there was some good and some bad in that. The bad thing for me personally was I felt like some characters were too similar and at time I couldn't really tell the differences between them. I wished we maybe got some more differences so we could tell them apart better. The main couple Wyn & Harriet were really nice and interesting to follow along in this story. It was a refreshing take to read about a couple who were already in a relationship and trying to navigate how to be friends after the breakup. How to move forward after all that they have been through. It showed how their relationship progressed into something truly lovely and heartwarming. The moment where things did seem to get rocky which lead to the breakup. Each of them individually were amazing characters and it was nice to see them grow as individuals especially Harriet. Her personal journey was great to read about, how she had to analyze herself and find what she really wanted instead of what other people want for her.
One of the other things that didnt really sit well with me was the ending, I thought the ending didnt really make much sense. It felt like Harriet had to do most of the compromising in the end instead of both her and Wyn making compromises for each other. I just felt like it could have been written a little bit better, which Emily Henry has such beautiful writing. It definitely shows in this book. That is one thing she excels at in all of her novels, her writing is spectacular and really has whole passages that are in my mind for months after I have read the book.
I was glad to be able to read this book as a part of Emily Henry's current published works. I really enjoyed this one even after its couple of flaws. Can not wait to see her next book!
One of the parts I loved about Happy Place was its setting. The beach town of Maine and all its shores was truly a beautiful place to imagine being. I could completely understand why our characters loved being there and why the place was so special to all of them. A place can hold a lot of memories for a group of people, it was nice to see those memories come to action in certain chapters.
The characters there was some good and some bad in that. The bad thing for me personally was I felt like some characters were too similar and at time I couldn't really tell the differences between them. I wished we maybe got some more differences so we could tell them apart better. The main couple Wyn & Harriet were really nice and interesting to follow along in this story. It was a refreshing take to read about a couple who were already in a relationship and trying to navigate how to be friends after the breakup. How to move forward after all that they have been through. It showed how their relationship progressed into something truly lovely and heartwarming. The moment where things did seem to get rocky which lead to the breakup. Each of them individually were amazing characters and it was nice to see them grow as individuals especially Harriet. Her personal journey was great to read about, how she had to analyze herself and find what she really wanted instead of what other people want for her.
One of the other things that didnt really sit well with me was the ending, I thought the ending didnt really make much sense. It felt like Harriet had to do most of the compromising in the end instead of both her and Wyn making compromises for each other. I just felt like it could have been written a little bit better, which Emily Henry has such beautiful writing. It definitely shows in this book. That is one thing she excels at in all of her novels, her writing is spectacular and really has whole passages that are in my mind for months after I have read the book.
I was glad to be able to read this book as a part of Emily Henry's current published works. I really enjoyed this one even after its couple of flaws. Can not wait to see her next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
Minor: Pregnancy
kendal_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy
oliviapincin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
carlyjoann's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
4.75
What I love most about Emily Henry books is how alive all the characters feel. We get to know them so well and they jump off the page at you. This setting is not like anywhere I have ever been but I could picture it perfectly. I could feel the love between the characters and feel the heartaches. The issues all of the characters are facing are so real they hurt to read.
It was predictable but I didn’t even care, I loved this book so much.
It was predictable but I didn’t even care, I loved this book so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy
valpyre's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i was definitely in the mood for this book, plus i tend to love a breakup-makeup storyline, so this was a very enjoyable read for me.
other reviews have definitely put into perspective some of what was lacking for me -- i loved the friend group in this, but felt like a lot of the side characters had more substance in flashbacks as opposed to the present. i was really drawn into the little bits of their present day lives and how they had their own struggles, and wished there was more development in that by the end, as opposed to a generic wrap up. the moment when harriet went to sit with parth and he told her she was family took me a little aback, because i hadn't really felt the development of their relationship compared to the others at all, even though it was a sweet sentiment. and through the Plot Twist, it was pointed out how harriet and sabrina had barely had anytime alone together to catch up and i was bummed that we didn't really see that resolve on the page by the end. i liked the group as an ensemble though.
the feelings, though, those kept me going. EH's writing just drew me in with her descriptive writing. i was so into harriet and wyn's love, even if harriet constantly being overwhelmed by wyn everytime he was near was a liiiittle over the top -- i was all there for it! they were obsessed with each other and it was great. i was waiting for a miscommunication shoe to drop for me though, one that went isn't this a little much? couldn't y'all have just talked about it? but i guess i relate a little too hard to Not Talking About It, so it was a fine balance for me. i was also so delighted whenever wyn showed up exactly when harriet was thinking of him, who cares if it was realistic/practical or not!
i'm not sure if i'll reread it, but i'm glad i read at all.
other reviews have definitely put into perspective some of what was lacking for me -- i loved the friend group in this, but felt like a lot of the side characters had more substance in flashbacks as opposed to the present. i was really drawn into the little bits of their present day lives and how they had their own struggles, and wished there was more development in that by the end, as opposed to a generic wrap up. the moment when harriet went to sit with parth and he told her she was family took me a little aback, because i hadn't really felt the development of their relationship compared to the others at all, even though it was a sweet sentiment. and through the Plot Twist, it was pointed out how harriet and sabrina had barely had anytime alone together to catch up and i was bummed that we didn't really see that resolve on the page by the end. i liked the group as an ensemble though.
the feelings, though, those kept me going. EH's writing just drew me in with her descriptive writing. i was so into harriet and wyn's love, even if harriet constantly being overwhelmed by wyn everytime he was near was a liiiittle over the top -- i was all there for it! they were obsessed with each other and it was great. i was waiting for a miscommunication shoe to drop for me though, one that went isn't this a little much? couldn't y'all have just talked about it? but i guess i relate a little too hard to Not Talking About It, so it was a fine balance for me. i was also so delighted whenever wyn showed up exactly when harriet was thinking of him, who cares if it was realistic/practical or not!
i'm not sure if i'll reread it, but i'm glad i read at all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy