A review by shelbylynnn
Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful 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

This book was so unexpectedly lovely and everything I could ever want out of a romance.  I honestly was not expecting this to be a 5 star read but it ended up hitting me really hard. Idk if others would agree with my rating but I already know this one will have a special place in my heart for a long time. I genuinely think I read 90% of this with tears in my eyes. It was beautifully written and the characters were lovable and funny and felt like a real group of friends. I also always love an angsty slow burn romance and this one hurt!!

I didn't read the synopsis before starting this, it was just an impulse pick when I saw it was available and knew it was an author I wanted to try out. I immediately loved the writing but I was skeptical in the first few chapters because the pretending-to-be-a-couple trope felt like it could get cheesy very quickly. Instead it turned into a really beautiful story about meaningful friendships and what it's like to grow and change with people you love. 

So many aspects of this story resonated with me-realizing you've unintentionally drifted apart from your best friends as you've gotten older, struggling to find a career path and purpose in life, learning how to make yourself happy instead of relying on other people. This book really just hit me hard in the best way possible, (and also made me miss my friends SO much!!!) Def recommend for anyone who wants an emotional and touching story about love and friendship!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings