(3.5 stars rounded up.) I have finally taken the plunge and read my first Emily Henry novel. Her brightly colored books with catchy titles seem to be everywhere and loved by many, so I had high expectations. In her latest installment, Happy Place, a former couple have to “fake it” to avoid ruining their best friends’ last get-together at their “happy place” - a cottage in Maine.

For the sake of their friends, Harriet and Wyn slap smiles on their faces as they share the cottage’s love nest and make googly eyes at one another whenever they are in the presence of others. Their 8 year long relationship + engagement ended due to a miscommunication between the two of them, and the only thing they seem to be communicating to each other now is that they simply are not over their break-up. Will this weekend end with them faking it until they make it … or will it break it?

Happy Place is a book that has completely given me conflicting emotions. On one hand, it is solid. I could never say that this was a bad or mediocre book. The setting, characters, and plot are there and are what you would expect when reading a romance targeted at Millennials. Henry’s writing is thorough, engaging, and deliberate - she doesn’t miss a beat.

So, what’s the problem, you ask? For me, there wasn’t enough grit - something really needed to come along to shake this novel up. Happy Place is like that old reliable friend that you ring up when you want to have a predictably good time. You know what to expect, which translates to “nothing too crazy.” So yes, Happy Place moved along much like I expected, but I personally needed something a little more raw and heart-achingly real from it.

With that being said, Happy Place is certainly swoony, and has its share of “awww” moments. However, if you get frustrated with characters who won’t get out of their own way, then watch out because Happy Place has them in spades. Also, there’s quite a bit of partying, alcohol, and drug use in this book, which really surprised me considering this friends group is in their 30s and Harriet is an honest-to-God brain surgeon! Not to say that your days of fun are done once you hit the big 3-0, but this group’s entire friendship seemed to revolve around getting wasted in order to have a good time. I had personally grown out of that by the time I was in my mid-late 20s. I would have preferred some heartfelt connection happening among them, and more opportunities for Harriet and Wyn to subtly show what they mean to each other.

In all, Happy Place is a dependable romantic read, perfect for the summer.

Emily Henry IS my Happy Place. A slam dunk! Another fantastic contemporary romance about friendship, family and of course, love.

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley & Libro.fm<i>

I’ll just say the thing everyone is already thinking- Emily Henry is one of the best romance writers in the genre today and Happy Place is close to the top of my definitive Emily Henry ranking list (I don’t think it’s possible for anything to top Book Lovers!). When I tell you that I love this book, it doesn’t feel like enough to adequately describe my feelings. We’re following Harriet and Wyn, the perfect couple since college, until they broke off their engagement six months ago and didn’t tell any of their best friends. When their group reunites for the annual vacation they’ve been taking together for the past decade on the charming coast of Maine, Harriet and Wyn decide to pretend they’re still together so they don’t ruin everyone else’s trip. For the first time ever, they’re granted the largest bedroom in the cottage so not only are we blessed with a fake dating situation, but we also get an only one bed trope for good measure. Happy Place is full of Emily Henry’s trademark witty banter and while I loved experiencing Harriet and Wyn try to deny their still present feelings and electric chemistry for one another, the friendships really took center stage for me in the one. I’ve never read another book that so perfectly captures how friendships evolve as people grow and age. It made me both nostalgic for friendships past, appreciative of my current stage in life, and reminded that striking a balance can be challenging but rewarding. I also could not have loved the setting more. I went to Maine last summer and it was purely delightful to be transported back to such a quaint place. I may have booked another trip to Maine while reading Happy Place :-). If you’re looking for a satisfying romance read with substance, I cannot recommend Happy Place enough. You will not be disappointed!

This was so different than Emily Henry's other books for me. I love the marriage in trouble/fake dating aspect of it and I love the group of characters. This book was so painful at times and definitely made me tear up more than once. I will never not love something Emily Henry writes and I am so excited for what she comes up with next.

I received an ARC of this title from netgalley in exchange for my honest review and all opinions are my own!

I am a huge huge fan of Emily Henry, however I am not sure how I feel about Happy Place. Initially I was excited to read this book since Maine is my all time happy place. However, I am not typically a fan of the relationship in trouble trope. And I think that is where this book fell apart for me a bit. Once I adjusted my expectations a bit, I did find my rhythm with this book, but in the end this book was only ok for me.

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

Oh my, Happy Place was so, so good!! I loved Book Lovers, so I knew I was going to love this one as well, but it really took my emotions by surprise. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me so frustrated with Harry wasn't able to express herself...and then finally opens up. I loved the relationship between all of the friends and how, eventually, they all learned it was okay to express your feelings. It was the absolute perfect read!!

It took me far too long to get into this book (like a month!) but once I was hooked into the story, I couldn't put it down. Even though it was so sad and gave me such a stomach ache the whole way through, I really did like something about this one!

I really enjoyed this book! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it gave me all of the emotions. I feel like this book was more emotional than her previous books, which gave it more depth for me even though the ending was pretty predictable. I loved the story and the idea of the characters, but I wish the friends were fleshed out more. I feel like we did not get to know them much even though they were consistently a part of the story. Regardless, I loved Harriet and Wyn and the ending gave me all of the feels.

I am an Emily Henry stan through and through so Happy Place was probably my most anticipated book of the year and of course it did not disappoint. This book feels like the epitome of a summer romance. I feel like what sets it apart is the fact that the side characters feel just as strong as the main couple, the feel fully developed and I was truly invested in everyone's story.

Had to DNF. I get that EH likes to write characters that are angsty and pining, but if I make it to 25% and I haven't figured out why the MCs like each other, I cannot get invested.

Thank you SO MUCH to Berkley Romance, PRHAudio, and Netgalley for providing advanced copies of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Will there ever come a time I don't love an Emily Henry book with every fiber of my being? Not likely.

There is something about her books that just hits so well with me every time. Her humor works perfectly for me and the themes that she covers are so timely for my life (hello other millennials)

I listened to this on audio - because Julia Whelan is a gift to the audiobook world - and it did not disappoint. The story came to life and I can't recommend reading this via audio enough.

I also listened this in 1 sitting (and stayed up way too late doing so). This is one of those stories you can't fathom putting down until the last page. I sobbed my way through the last 4 chapters (full ugly tears) but it was 100% worth it.

This follows a couple who called off their engagement but have yet to tell there friends. While on vacation with their friends, they find themselves pretending to still be a couple.

While this is FULL of miscommunication, I found that I actually enjoyed the angst it brought to this story. There is just something about the way Emily Henry crafts her characters and plots that makes everything feel so organic and realistic that I can't help but believe that this is exactly how this scenario would pan out.

That, plus the way she mixes humor with romance and hard hitting moments, is the perfect combination every time.

I think People We Meet on Vacation will forever be my favorite, but this definitely gave it a run for its money.

If you're an Emily Henry fan, don't miss this one. It's beautifully written, insanely romantic, and will leave you hanging on until the final page.

Emily Henry's writing always gets me right in the heart and makes me feel all the emotions her characters are feeling. I cried so much reading this book. While it was a little slow to start at first, once I got into the story and things began unraveling and weren't so vague I couldn't stop reading. The characters were complex and all had their own hangups, yet they all accepted each other for who they were.

Another very good read from Emily Henry.

Harriet loves her best friends. They take an annual trip to Maine and have been since they were in college. But after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, another part of the group of besties, Harry stops responding to her friends. She doesn't tell her best friends that they've broken up and then doesn't realize that they've insisted that her ex comes along for the trip, because two of the best friends have decided to get married THAT WEEK. Now she's got to deal with not telling her besties they've broken up so she doesn't mess up her friends' wedding.

Boy, a lot of Harriet's troubles stem from trying to live up to familial expectations. That's really a b*tch, isn't it? My heart breaks for her a little bit, but when someone is solely focused on doing what their parents want, this story is definitely an example of the possible result.

I love that this is a love story about FRIENDS, as much as it is about Harriet and Wyn. I love Wyn's character in general, and I love that the best friends aren't just flat caricatures, but have some depth and interest to them. I also appreciate that Emily Henry doesn't rely solely on a steamy sex scene to get across the fact that the main characters are in love and have the hots for each other.

I love Emily Henry's writing. I'm so glad I picked this one as my next read. Highly recommend.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Happy Place by Emily Henry starts of as a lovers to enemies hiding secret break up back to lovers, but there is a little more going on under the surface. This friend group, of which Harriet and Wyn had been a part of since college, has been getting together at a family house in Maine every year, but now the family is going to sell it. They want to have one last hurrah and do everything they used to do every year, but they realize that they don't love to do that anymore. They are growing up, and moving forward, into adult lives. It was a very poignant story when looked at in this light and the characters had a hard time accepting the changes. It was a coming of age book into adulthood

Breakups are hard. Breakups are especially hard when you're part of a tight-knit group of friends. Friends who get together often at the place that Harriet considers her happy place. But now she's going to ruin their happy place because Harriet and Wyn are no longer together. They actually broke up six months ago but didn't tell anyone. Now she's on vacation with their friends alone. But hers isn't the only big news; the cottage is for sale and their weeks of halcyon vacation days are about to be over.
There was a lot of anxiety built into this book: Am I enough for the other person? For my group of friends? And, while we saw a bit of "past Wyn," I would have liked to see more of "present time Wyn;" just a little more romance. Or maybe more of the friendships. Henry has beautiful writing but also strong character connections and this book revolved more around Harriet than anything else.

Three stars
This book comes out April 25, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Lovely. Emily Henry never disappoints. This second chance story gets the yearning just right. And those summertime vacation vibes, too.
We really enjoyed interviewing Ms. Henry on the #amwriting podcast!
https://amwriting.substack.com/p/very-serious-about-fun-reads-ep-333

This book was extremely well written. I enjoy Emily Henry's writings very much and this was no different. I enjoyed the depth of the main character - which gave it a slightly different feel than Henry's other books. I would definitely recommend this book to others!

It's quite possible that Emily Henry will never top BOOK LOVERS for me, as it is a pitch-perfect romance that contains everything I love most about the genre... that being said, I loved reading HAPPY PLACE! I'm very impressed that Henry managed to make my least favorite plot device ('we're keeping a huge secret from our friends/family and also lying to them about it') into a compelling and utterly charming book. No one does banter like Henry, and I definitely swooned over Wyn at many different moments. The third act in particular sold me!

Emily Henry does it again! Readers who love her witty banter and adorable characters will love this story of second-chance love and friendship. I particularly enjoyed the latter--Henry deftly explores the second coming of age we experience as our friendships of youth change in adulthood.

Harriet’s life is a mess. But it doesn't matter because she is on her way to her happy place—the beach house in Maine where she and her best friends Sabrina and Cleo visit every summer since that first year they met in university. This year is different. This year Harriet is trying to the long hours at the hospital, her lonely apartment, and her bitter feelings about her ex fiancé behind her. But when she arrives, her plans go right out the window because there he is. Wyn was also invited for the summer and the worst part? Their friends didn’t know they have broken up.

Harriet and Wyn try to muster up the courage to tell their friends the bad news when Sabrina shares hers first—her family was selling the beach house. This would be there last summer there together. Losing her happy place is bad enough, but to keep Sabrina in good sports Harriet and Wyn pretend to still be together just long until the vacation is over.

Happy Place is another Emily Henry classic—witty and heartfelt and full of romance that makes your heart ache. Emily Henry never disappoints!