After hearing that this was so many people’s favourite Emily Henry book I was very excited to get an early copy. However I was unfortunately let down by the ending. I was really hoping that the main couple would stay apart and that she would thrive in her career

I loved this book so much, even though it felt heavier than Henry's other titles, it was just as good as any of them.

Trying to decide what's best for you and your own life is hard enough on its own. It's even messier when you've got a long-standing friend group and messy relationships in between. I loved the discoveries of self, the reinighting of a flame, and the superb way that Henry blended it all together in a way that can make you laugh, and cry.

4 Stars. Yes!

Here is my scoring system in a nutshell. Five star books are not only engaging from beginning to end, but they are also beautifully written. Four star books are well worth your time - engaging and well-written. Three star books aren’t bad- engaging but perhaps slow or clunky in parts. Two stars, I finished but it was difficult - something about the pacing, the story or the writing was not compelling. One star - just don’t!

5 STARS= Definitely YES!
4 STARS = YES.
3 STARS = Maybe.
2 STARS= NO.
1 STAR = DNF; Definitely NO!

Well I finished this book but not without skipping almost half of it. I just couldn't like the characters, which is very unusual for me with an Emily Henry book. It felt like there was lots of whining from privileged folks. I was disappointed in it, to say the least. It wasn't my happy place. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #HappyPlace

I'll always have a sweet spot for found family <3 a group of close knit friends, fake dating, soul mates, etc. I think this was my favorite of Emily Henry's books so far.

Another Emily Henry book I enjoyed! I didn’t love it as much as her others, because the main conflict dragged on for longer than I wanted. It was also a lot more emotional than I expected. The tension between Wyn and Harriet builds and builds. And I’m not talking sexual tension, but rather a tortured emotional tension. They ended with no proper closure with each person assuming things about the other. It’s like a pressure cooker and when it erupts it was so cathartic for me. And I got super emotional.

There’s a strong emphasis on the way a person loves another is influenced by the modeling they received from their parents. How do these characters overcome communication differences? How do they show love? How do they receive love? I like Henry’s books because the conflict between the lovers is grounded in reality.

I liked the friendship aspect of the book. It’s a common issue among friendship groups. As people enter new life stages, develop new personal and career goals, the dynamic between friends change. It takes effort and vulnerability to grow together. The scene with the three women huddled together was really beautiful. The love between all these characters felt extra special.

This isn’t a TW really, but this did make me feel melancholic after finishing. I’ve had social anxiety and difficulty keeping friendships my whole life. It just got harder as an adult. So even though I liked the story a lot, I did feel blue after. Sharing in case you are dealing with similar struggles. ❤️

‘Happy Place’ by Emily Henry (Review by Taylor Bridgeforth)

4.5 ST🌟RS

“Love means constantly saying you’re sorry, and then doing better.”

In a nutshell: break up to make up.

College friends/college sweethearts against the struggle of life.

Harriet, Sabrina and Cleo were college roommates and would spend some time over the summer in Maine at Sabrina’s cottage. SOLD FROM THE BEGINNING BECAUSE I LOVE LOVE LOVE FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS. They made friends turned lovers with Wyn (& Harriet), Parth (& Sabrina), and Kimmy (& Cleo). All the couples started happily ever after until their goals, jobs, etc. got too much to cater their friendships/relationships.

Although my immediate obsession was between the girlies; Harriet and Wyn–more Wyn became my favorite second. OMG! Wyn is the sweetest sweetest. My favorite romance type of man is a man who is confident in their feelings for their woman no matter what and considering Harriet and Wyn are broken up and living in separate states; Wyn stayed golden.
*insert Harry Styles ‘Golden’*

My darling Wyn STOLE THE SHOW! Harriet had her understandable problems and conflicts but it was always ALWAYS Wyn I continued to search for in the story.

My happy place was reading every piece of Wyn that was available.

Harriet has a treasure trove of friendships. My favorite and most relatable to me was Sabrina. I, myself, am a friendship girly and like Sabrina will always go above and beyond for my friendships.

I have a soft place in my heart for Emily Henry and I’ll always support her. She’s a midwestern girly like myself and I love her bangs. However, this is the first book of hers that I SUPER DUPER enjoyed.:)

How I love Emily Henry with everything in me. This story made my heart ACHE. The character growth in this book had me tearing up. What a special, heartfelt story: Harriet and Wynn are soulmates and I adored their romance story and seeing them fall back together. Emily Henry has such a beautiful way of writing where you can enjoy the magical story, yet still see yourself inside these characters. Harriet frustrated me but I FELT for her so deeply. This story is so special and definitely one of my favorites!!! Can’t recommend it enough!

Huge Emily Henry fan, belatedly reviewing! A great addition to her romantic comedy offerings! Looking forward to her 2025 title.

Slow burn romance from someone who really knows how to hook the audience. Wyn and Harriet’s relationship, shown both in the past and the present, feels so real. Their breakup, their complicated relationships with their families, and trying to hold together a group of friends that are moving in different directions. A wonderful read.

The romance in this didn't really captivate me the way I was hoping, but I think that this book captures a pivotal moment in most people's lives. When your twenties are ending, friends are partnering up, and you're leaving crappy apartments for nicer condos or homes. It's a time when people commit to or cut ties with their dreams, and start reconciling who they've been with who they will become.

I really enjoyed this, and didn't expect to speed through it as fast as I did. Emily Henry has a way with characters, and a way to make them feel seen and by extension, to allow us to see and relate to them in our own personal ways.

2.75 stars rounded up. Unfortunately this was my least favorite Henry book so far. While I food the book to be very readable and solidly written, I just didn't find myself connecting to the characters and felt like both the romantic and platonic relationships in this book felt a bit hollow.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I really struggled to empathize with people that are so oblivious? And it was frustrating to have two characters that just couldn’t communicate. Maybe next time, Emily Henry!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book did not live up to it's hype and I did not finish it because I was board.

"Happy Place" missed the mark for me. Emily Henry's writing was strong, but I struggled to connect with the characters.. The miscommunication trope—especially when based on shaky assumptions—was frustrating, and I couldn’t root for Wyn and Harriet after an eight-year relationship unraveled like a summer fling. I loved Book Lovers and enjoyed Beach Read, but Happy Place just didn’t do it for me.

This was such a fun book! I really enjoyed the read and I think it's my second favorite Emily Henry at the moment (behind Beach Read).

I absolutely LOVED this book. Emily Henry does not disappoint. If you love Taylor Swift's Maroon you will love this. I enjoyed the setting of the Maine cottage. Not only does Emily deliver a beautiful second chance romance, but she also includes a wonderful friendship group. Friendships as you get older can be so hard and I related to that so much. This book is the perfect summer read.

As always, Emily Henry has delivered! This is the perfect mix of humour, real characters, and a little romance!