4.5. This is a nice mix of Emily Henry's previous books; there's melancholy and emotional depth, but the banter feels light and cheesy in a lovely way that made me want to immerse myself in that charming, cozy Maine town and the lives of those tight-knit friends. As a couple, Harriet and Wyn feel a little fated-mates to me, but I appreciate how Henry explores the flaws in their relationship and the other factors that lead to their inevitable relationship status. It was also refreshing to read about friendships growing and changing even as those involved resist such change; it feels visceral and relatable.

With everything happening in the world (and, on a personal note, impending changes happening in my life), it was nice to read a reliably good Emily Henry romance. If you've enjoyed her other books, you'll enjoy this one too.

Harriet broke up with her fiancée Wyn, but hasn't told any of her friends. When they have their last hurrah vacation, Wyn shows up and they must pretend to still be together for the sake of their friends. With romantic tensions high and emotions running hot, who knows if they can manage through cozy book shops, vulnerable interludes, and friends growing apart.

Alright, Emily Henry. I get it. You are the queen of romance tropes and emotional vulnerability. I bow before you. Seriously though, what a wallop this book packed! The second chance romance, meddling friends, fake dating, one bed, forced proximity, it had it all. Harriet and Wyn were an intriguing couple, both bringing flaws and wonder to their relationship. Not to mention the growth both need to go through in order to make the HEA work (and it does work ... I think)

What I truly enjoyed about this book was the found family and Harriet's friends Cleo and Sabrina. It's so hard to keep up with your friends/ chosen family as real like sneaks in and destroys all your hopes and dreams. This book really hits home for that. It's about expectations and understanding and knowing that friends will love you no matter what. That's what I really pulled from this book. That and that emotional trauma comes in all shapes and forms and we should be mindful about how that shapes us as people.

I liked the back and forth in the plot, the real place versus happy place versus bad place. It helped to navigate where we were and where things were heading which helped me a lot as I read. The vacation home sounds like a dream and a cozy Maine town is always a delight to be in.

I've been waffling on how I liked the ending of the book, going back and forth between she did the grand gesture of coming to be with him or maybe she should've taken a little time to find herself, but I digress. Overall, a stunning read from Emily Henry!

I adore Emily Henry, and it's a testament to her skill that I stuck with this book that centers a second chance romance AND leans heavily on the miscommunication trope. It all came together for me in the end with some lovely reflections on friendship and chosen family as we grow up.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly April New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago, but neither wants to tell the best friends they share. And since everyone lives far apart it doesn't matter... until it does. It matters a lot on their annual friend vacation. This year everything is changing, not just Harriet and Wyn.

Emily Henry cleverly weaves together past and present- a time when everything seemed perfect and carefree, and now when the burden of responsibility hangs over everyone. As past and present converge their is hope to be found in the growing and changing that is creating something new- and old.

Harriet and Wyn are seen by their friends as the perfect couple, they never fight, they are madly in love, and support each other through thick and thin. But when they join their friends on their annual vacation to their "happy place" they agree not to reveal to a secret that would flip everyone's world upside down; Harriet and Wyn broke off their engagement six months ago.

When I say this heart wrenching second chance romance had me sobbing for the last 30% of the book, I truly wish that were an exaggeration. Told in duel timeline of "Real Life" aka current time, and "Happy Place" aka the events over the past 10 years, Emily Henry tells the story of complex friendships, mental health, love, loss, expectations, and discovery of passion. To say this book is so much more than a love story would be putting it lightly, however, Harriet and Wyn's relationship is both the catalyst of each theme and moment of discovery as well as the heart creating a strong and steady beat. From the moment we first see the two of them on page to each scene revealing more about their character, we see two people reaching desperately to each other without knowing the right words or actions to reach the other. It is messy and raw and oh so real in the way they need the other. I spent so much of the story holding my breath and waiting for them to finally find the words to ask for what they need from the other, and when we finally reach that tipping point it feels like the entire book releases a long exhale.

I loved how Harriet's entire friend group also has a long and complicated relationship with each other. There is an emphasis on how friends and friendships change and grow of there the years and how there is an expectation for everything to between friends to stay the same, which is just unrealistic. I appreciated how not one person is to blame or at fault for their communication, or lack there of, and the growth we see from everyone involved.

Finally, running through the romance and friendship, there is a central thread concerning mental health and self worth. This aspect of the story is told with so much care and love that just felt so healing to read about.

As alway Emily Henry consistently creates such relatable and beautiful stories and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a disappointing one, not going to lie.

- BUT -

The only reason I was disappointed was because it is not like the other works by Emily Henry.

Her other books are light, upbeat (for the most part), and smuttyyyyyyy.

This one was a more somber, anxiety-filled knot of a relationship. With a happy ending :)

So if you want more of her writing, but sadder, go for it!

HAPPY PLACE 🌷💞

This is the theory….
If you loved People We Might on Vacation; you’ll love Happy Place.

In case you don’t know, this is about two exes who pretend to still be together on a vacation with their college friend group.

The #1 reason this book will stick with me is surprisingly not because of the romance - it’s because of the friendship. Particularly the group dynamic between this pack of 30-somethings that felt so real.

I almost wanted more of this & less of the romance (who am I)? But don’t worry. The romance is perfectly swoony. But a little too realistic to be escapist-romance, in my opinion 😎 For a girl who loves realism, I’m okay with that. TW: breakups lol.

Other things I loved:

💞 FLASHBACKS. This is not everyone’s thing, but personally I’m a fan. I loved getting an inside look at Wyn & Harriet’s origin story compared to where they are present day
💞 Would it be an Emily Henry novel without complicated parental relationships??? Nope, and I wouldn’t have it any other way - this adds such a realistic element to romance & the way our parents affect the way we love.
💞 I loved the entire idea behind a “happy place” and what that means for this couple specifically

(Last pic is me in my happy place).

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free copy, Happy Place is on sale 4/25!

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. I have heard a lot about this author so I was really looking forward to reading this book. I am sorry to say that I was somewhat disappointed. The book was okay but did not pull me in. When I find excuses to do other things rather than read a book, I know that the book has not gripped me. The story was good and I cannot say why it didn't grab my attention. It could possibly be that this author has been so hyped to me that I was expecting so much more and had built up the expectations in my head so high. I can see how this story would grab some people, as it is a good romance story. I think it was just too predictable for me.

As much as I hate to not fan girl over the latest from Emily Henry... this was a disappointment to me. I wasn't expecting Happy Place to be sad and angsty, with whiny and complaining main characters for 75% (or more) of the book. The author's typical wit and storytelling ability held this book up when I was tempted to DNF it, but overall this was not my favorite book of hers. The description of the book (and the title) made it seem like the story would be full of happiness and a bit of comedy as Harriet (Harry) and Wyn try to hide their breakup from their friends, but that was not the case at all.

This book was redeemed from a two star to a three star book for me for two reasons. 1) There was some redemption in the last quarter of the book as Harry and Wyn FINALLY had some honest communication with each other, themselves, and their friends. But the reason behind the angst and their breakup was just... dumb (if I can say so). Yes, they experienced real heartache, mental illness, and family of origin issues but the rationale felt incomplete and unnecessary. And 2) I liked the emphasis on friendships changing and growing, not just staying stagnant and stuck in college days.

You may read this book differently than me, but I was expecting something different, I'm still glad I read it though!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I've always loved Emily Henry's book and this one was no different. The storyline finds a group of friends in their happy place one last time and really digs into the complexities of family, friends and the natural evolution of relationships. Emily Henry always does a great job of digging deep into the history of the characters and I always fall in love with the bond that the main couple have

sweet & succinct buildup combined with heart-wrenching angst (the kind that gets you sobbing non-stop from 2-4am in the morning), it's everything you want from a second chance romance book written by emily henry.

complemented with realistic and highly relatable characters & relationship dynamics, this book deserves nothing less than 5 stars.

thank you to berkley and netgalley for providing this arc!

Honestly for my first Emily Henry book, I loved this so so so much. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Happy Place!

If there's one trope I never knew I would eat up it would be the 'we used to date, but we're not anymore, but we're hiding it from everyone, but we still love each other' trope. I loved everything about Wyn and Harriet sneaking around and making each other jealous but still seeing the true and insanely deep love they have for one another. I also loved how this book wasn't just about romantic love it highlighted the special love that comes out of friendships and the bonds you grow up with (which really are something so so so special.) I think I really just loved the writing style in general. It was funny, fast paced, and I enjoyed the characters storylines so much. I was really happy that this turned out into a good experience for me and I will 100000% be looking into her other books now!

Harriet and Wyn's relationship fell apart months ago, but they haven't quite found the right way to break the news to their shared friend group. So when they both have to go to the same summer getaway, they're forced to pretend everything is fine. But how long can they keep up the act without real feelings getting involved?

This book didn't have quite the same whimsy and playfulness as what I've come to expect from Emily Henry's romances. Instead, it felt more grounded, realistic, and earnest. These felt like real people with real messy histories and complicated ties to each other. It's still got some laughs, of course, and it pulls on all the heartstrings as only Emily Henry can. It's immersive and full of characters that feel like hanging out with your own best friends.

As a long-time fan of Emily Henry, I was beyond excited for the chance to get my hands on this ARC. And while it did have a bit of a different feel compared to her previous works, I still enjoyed it a ton (so much so that I read it in a single sitting!). Harriet and Wyn ended their engagement and split up months ago, minor details they failed to mention to their four friends—Sabrina, Cleo, Parth, and Kimmie—before embarking on a week-long reunion in the close quarters of Sabrina’s family home in Maine. The combination of the forced proximity to her ex-fiancée combined with her desperation to keep up the appearance that she is still totally in love and engaged, thank you very much creates a perfect pressure cooker of a situation for our beloved narrator Harriet. This is further compounded (Emily, you’ve outdone yourself) by the split perspectives from which the story is told: past and present Harriet. Though the situations with Wyn in present day can be challenging to get through, especially when the reasons for their split are still unclear, it’s impossible not to fall in love with him right alongside Harriet during the flashbacks of their time together.

Happy Place has a more meditative, even melancholy, feel than most of Henry’s other works. In that sense, it strays from her typical rom-com narrative and encourages us to look at things in a more nuanced way. Harriet and Wyn are perfect for each other. Sabrina, Cleo, and Harriet are the perfect trio of friends. Unfortunately, nothing is literally ever that simple in life. It’s inevitable that these characters—like us—face obstacles of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, inevitably, they handle challenges poorly or make decisions that are just plain bad. But throughout the book Henry truly did a great job of demonstrating how truly this trio of friends knows, cares for, and supports one another. And she does an amazing job of demonstrating how deep the love runs between Harriet and Wyn: at their best, at their worst, and at their most mediocre-but-trying-to-be-best. It was a lovely rumination on how love, in all its many forms, can pull people together and hold them close through the good and the bad.

What a delight this book was! Harriet and Wyn have broken up, but their tight knit group of friends don't know that when they all go on a trip to Maine. The story flips between current day and the past, sharing little but important moments in the years Harriet, Chole, and Sabrina met in college and grew together, then apart. Yes, this is a steamy romance book but what make it stand out is the excellent way the author describes the friendships between the group. I devoured this in a day, highly recommend!

Happy Place by Emily Henry is a delightful romantic comedy that will have you laughing, crying, and rooting for the characters from beginning to end. Harriet and Wyn have been the quintessential couple since they met in college, but for reasons unknown, they broke up six months ago and haven't told their best friends. When they all gather for their yearly vacation in Maine, Harriet and Wyn find themselves sharing a room, pretending to be together and trying to resist their lingering feelings for each other.

Emily Henry's writing is witty, charming, and insightful, exploring the complexity of relationships, friendships, and the struggles of adulting. The story is told in alternating points of view, allowing the reader to understand the perspectives of both Harriet and Wyn. The author also does an excellent job of developing the other characters, making them feel like real people with their own quirks and flaws.

The setting of the Maine cottage is described beautifully, making you feel like you are right there with the characters, enjoying the ocean views, seafood, and wine. Happy Place is a heartwarming and uplifting novel that will leave you feeling satisfied and content. If you are looking for a romantic comedy with depth, humor, and heart, this book is definitely worth checking out.

I need to start by saying that I didn't love Beach Read or The People We Met on Vacation. I thought Book Lovers was good, and Happy Place was GREAT! Emily Henry just keeps getting better!

Happy Place is about three college friends who have traditionally spent time each summer at a family home in Maine. This is the last summer as the home is being sold. The MC gets there and is surprised that her ex-boyfriend is there even though she never told her friends they had broken up. Over the course of the vacation we see how perfect these two are for each other and learn about their struggles. It felt very real and honest.

Emily Henry has done it again! This book broke me in the best way possible. I cried, I laughed, I found myself falling for this beautifully painful love story. Harriet was such a relatable character, she's a people pleaser, a mirrorball (for my swifties), all she does is try try try while on the other hand, Wyn he just wants to be enough for someone, someone to be proud of (also ms. emily henry definitely had gold rush in mind when she wrote him). I could find myself relating to both of the MCs. I love that this story was about how two people can yearn for each other regardless of how much time has passed by, how two people will and can find their way back to each other.

My favorite quote from this book is when Harriet says "No one else's happiness is yours to grant" it really just hit home for me. We are not the makers or responsible for other people's happiness we can only work at our own.

Also CHAPTER 32 is all I can say without giving away too many spoilers.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, I received an ARC of this book from them in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly say that this was my most anticipated book of the year. I LOVE Emily Henry's books.
Book Lovers is MY FAVORITE. But this one, will be the second favorite.

I started reading this book about a month ago and couldn't get into it. It felt...different than her others. Emily Henry is firmly in my rom/com contemporary romance category. I went into this book expecting that.

But this one is more melancholy. More angst if you will.

It's not just about the loss of a romance, but of friendship, of growing up , of growing apart, of expectations not met, of not being a disappointment.

I loved Harriot and Wyn, even though it took about 75% of the book before I understood them. And the WHY of their breakup. What was apparent, getting through all of that was how desperately these two still loved each other. The way the sexual tension was written SO SO SO GOOD.

All in all, I might have to give this 5 stars. I just might.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing group for this ARC. All opinions are my own.