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sandysmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Pregnancy
juliaaaaaa's review against another edition
- 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
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?
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
- 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
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.)
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
m_newton's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Grief
damla_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Grief
kailiyahknight's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
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
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
klandry98's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy
capsandclauses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Look, I haven't been touching Emily Henry books with a ten foot pole. I had a bad (probably COVID influenced) experience reading Book Lovers and haven't felt any desire to pick up a book since. But I saw the audiobook of this was available on Libby, and I thought I'd give it a go.
Happy Place is the story of Harriet Kilpatrick & Wyn Connor. They fell in love in college but for some reason unknown until the third act broke up months before. Now, their friend group trip is coming around and neither one wants to tell their friends about the split. The solution? Fake dating, of course.
This book was a lot more emotional than I thought it would be. It verges on the line between Romance and 'women's fiction.' It explores grief, loss and finding a sense of belonging as you establish yourself as an adult. Changing your mind. Harriet & Wyn are flawed characters for sure. They don't communicate. They make mistakes. But they find their way.
“Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters.”
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
kendal_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy