I adored this book. Compared to other books by the same author this book’s topics felt a little heavier however, there was plenty of little laughs throughout. I loved the found family aspect, I loved all the characters. Easy read I loved it!

MS EMILY HENRY YOU ARE A GOD!!!! nobody does it like you ma'am.

okay, so lets start with the fact that I got this book at all, Georgia Taylor you are on my good karma list from now until forever! My sister can attest to the fact that your e-mail left me floored and if I failed my exams it's because you put me in a fugue state. But the book pulled me out!

Okay, so let's start with the fact that Happy Place is very different to other Emily Henry books. Not in a bad way, it's intriguing, but it's definitely a switch in my opinion. Because in this book our main character and her man have been together in the past! In fact they were together for like eight actual years. That is a long time! But do not fret, the banter in this book is just as good as you expect from Ms Henry, so good it had me in tears at times. But there's also this suspense, which I found to be thrilling. Because you don't know why these two broke up in the first place. In all the flashbacks Wyn and Harriet are obscenely happy, so you wonder, what broke these two up? It's an interesting shift from Emily Henry's other books.

As for the characters, I loved loved loved Wyn. Wyn is me, except a man and with much more charisma. And richer friends. Which can be related to the charisma, so that's just my bad. Harriet is very much not me, if anything I think I'm rather like her sister Eloise. That in itself was a revelation for my relationship with my little sister, so thanks for that Ms Henry. Harriet is studious, intelligent, insecure but also very very funny. She said some of the funniest things in these books. She's also not in any bookish business (nor is Wyn) which is a diversion from Emily Henry's usual characterisations of her characters, but I liked it! Everything from the setting, to the characters to the plot felt like a new Emily Henry, dare I say, an improved Emily Henry. I don't know how much this woman must be in tune with her own emotions, because she hurts me deeply with every book.

This book was a breath of fresh air, to me. After reading 'fine' books these past few weeks, as well as being busy with uni, this felt both like coming home from and going on an adventure. It was sitting by the fire with a blanket and tea, but also feeling the wind rush past you as you reach the summit of a hike. I loved it.

I said it once, and I'll say it a thousand times, Emily Henry the woman you are (!!!!!!!). Much love to you and yours (and Georgia!! Kisses to you Georgia)

Emily Henry has done it yet again! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review; thank you to those at Emily Henry and Penguin's publishers for giving me early access to this arc. I have absolutely loved every single one of Henry's previous novels, and she somehow keeps managing to improve her novels each time. I absolutely fell in love with Book Lovers when I received an arc of it, and thought she wouldn't have been able to top it, and yet I stand corrected. As soon as I saw I had received a copy of the arc, I put everything aside and devoured the novel as soon as I could; safe to say I was not disappointed! This book has everything you would want in an Emily Henry book, from the friendships the main characters have, to of course the main romance plot. Everything about this novel was perfection, and is the kind of book anyone would enjoy, even if romances are not something you would typically go for, as there are so many other aspects to love as well as the main romance plot, with Henry always manages to think through and add so effortlessly, making you fall completely in love with the characters, even when flawed, and even more so the story. This, along with all of her other novels, has immediately made its way to one of my favourite reads of all time, not something easily accomplished, and yet here she is with multiple of my favourites! I could not recommend this book enough, and would highly encourage anyone to read it, especially if you have loved any of Emily Henry's books previously. With everything I have said in this review, I imagine it is not a surprise that Henry has earned another 5/5 star review from me. I cannot wait to see what else Emily Henry has to offer in the future.

I couldn’t believe it when I got this in my email, I am so grateful to have read this before the release! Words can’t even describe how much I loved this book. If there was a six star rating, this would get it without a doubt. As always, the setting was incredibly described. Reading this book transported me to the cottage and Knott’s Harbour and I wish I could go and visit!

As for the characters, I saw my self so much in Harriet. I absolutely adore her. I would love to be a part of their friendship group, they seem like so much fun! Also, where can I buy a Wyn? I want one please!! He’s possibly my favourite Emily Henry love interest so far! I loved HarrietWyn and their love story <3

I really enjoyed the structure of this book and seeing how the story and their friendship/relationships evolved over the years. The topic of friendship was really well explored and the entire story was so full of feeling and emotion, I even cried at some points. It was extremely well written.

Reading an Emily Henry book is like putting on your favourite comfy hoodie; so comforting and familiar in the best way. I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

I made a playlist of songs that I listened to whilst reading, you can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7BoKGGvs9LXQMMqoN5e1iX?si=r4cf6dTbRtuAr1HNUhXOdQ (Taylor Swift is heavily featured, obviously).

Thank you so much to Georgia Taylor and Viking books for the arc!

I would like to offer an official apology to Emily Henry because there was a split second, whilst reading the blurb, that I doubted whether I would enjoy Happy Place. I had panicked that this would be the first of her books that didn't appeal to me. In reality I don't think I have ever been more wrong about anything ever.

Within the first few pages Happy Place latched onto me and I haven't been able to shake it loose since (and quite frankly I don't want to). This book is EVERYTHING to me. It has become my standard. This will be the book that I will compare every single future romance against.

This is one of the most believable relationships I've ever read. Emily Henry so effectively captured the hope, longing and excitement of the start of a relationship, when a couple are in their will they/won't they stage and are just discovering each other. It was so honest and raw and real, that I felt like I was there falling in love with them too. And this is only such a minor part of their story told through flashbacks/memories.

These characters and their relationships and friendships are written so well that I don't think I will ever recover. The layers of past and present so succinctly form the picture of their lives that I feel like I have lived my life alongside theirs and will forevermore.

With every word I could feel Harriets heartbreak as if it was my own. I ached for her when she saw Wyn for the first time, I struggled with her when she realised it would be even harder to walk away from him at the end of the trip and I mourned with her when it became clear that sometimes our parents don't always give us love in the form we need.

This book is comfort and tension and complex and truth and love and hope all rolled into one and I cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC, you've have made my year and given me a new favourite book all at once.

How is it that every time Emily Henry brings a new book out into the world, I end up loving it more than the previous one (which I always think is impossible)?
Happy Place is a second-chance romance masterpiece. One that will hit you in the feels right from the beginning. Harriet and Wyn have broken up six months and find themselves at their yearly getaway with their best friends, having to pretend to still be together as they have not announced their break-up to anyone. Except, they're not over each other.
There are many layers to who Harriet and Wyn are, and consequently to their relationship. This is shown through the time-jumps between now and the different stages from the time they meet up to the present. And it is a lovely journey, with ups and downs, and poignantly beautiful moments that had tears streaming down my face.
Wyn is so intricately woven into Harriet, that the lack of his pov is not noticeable. Not even a little! I didn't even realise it until a friend pointed it out. Brilliant work by Emily Henry 👏🏼
And the smart, witty banter? Signature Emily Henry. The best friends - Sabrina, Parth, Cleo, Kimmy - all bring their own into the story.
You thought you loved Henry's leading men from her previous books? Brace yourselves because you're not ready for Wyndham Connor.
I know I've said it before about Henry's books, but Happy Place is not only a story, it's an ✨️ experience ✨️. It is outstanding artwork. All the stars for this book. All of them. One of my top 3 reads of 2022, and one of the other two is Book Lovers.

Thank you to Penguin Books UK and the author for the ARC via Netgalley UK. All opinions are my own.

I quite literally squealed when this hit my inbox, best surprise ever! This book was filled with all the usual warm fuzzies and giggles I've come to expect, and so much more emotional depth. It explored love on so many different levels; how our past experiences bring emotional scars into both relationships and friendships, how this has a consequence so much later in life. The love story was as always beautifully developed and most importantly perfectly paced, unwrapping deliciously slowly intersected with flashbacks of the past. Another fast favourite, can't wait for the next one! Welcome to the Emily Henry Universe Wyn and Harriet ❤️

Simply one of the most beautiful, romantic, heartfelt books I’ve ever read.
Harriet and Wyn’s story is passionate and tender, it's oh-so-compelling and everything you’d want in a relationship (except for the reasons they’ve split up of course). They’re witty and tactile and have that perfect banter of two people who have known each other for ages and simply fit together. I loved them both from the off.
But the story is about so much more; heartbreak, heartache, friendships, knowing yourself, learning to recognise your flaws, the complexities of growing up, of growing apart, of fitting back together as you change.
As with her earlier books, Henry’s writing is gorgeous- whether it’s dialogue, description, scenes, locations or mood- the romance weaves through every paragraph. Her word choices and her observations are perfect. I’ve never been to Maine, but I completely felt I was there, sharing this last summer – the nostalgia, the joy, the lamenting sadness- with this wonderful, funny, messy, diverse gang of college friends.
When I get the paperback it’ll be reread until it’s falling to pieces and I’ll be trying that tabbing thing too. Just order it already.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Firstly, I want to say thank you ,thank you ,thank you.Thank you for sharing this masterpiece early with me.I will forever be grateful .

I have no words to describe how much I adored this book. I am forever ruined for all the other authors and other books.Past,present and future. To be honest I feel whatever I say would not be enough .Words can’t do this book justice and could not describe the emotions I have experienced while reading . One needs to experience this on their own as it is an emotionally charged journey. I can’t wait for everyone to experience the roller coaster of emotions that this book takes you on. Absolute perfection . Already preordered the physical copy. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone and would rate it infinite stars if I could.

I don’t know where to start. I so desperately want to do this book justice, so bear with me.

I went in blind, knowing nothing about the plot and not wanting to look it up either. From the start, I was drawn in by witty banter and funny dialogue (I will be getting my own “virgin who can’t drive” t-shirt, thank you very much). I immediately found a piece of myself in Harriett and couldn’t let go. My jaw immediately dropped when we find out who Wyn is. From there on forward, it was sweetly painful to keep going. It was so good it hurt. I could feel these characters in my bones.

On the one hand, I kept relating to sides of the characters’ lives (like Harriett’s sadness at barely knowing her own sister), and on the other, I became a witness to Emily Henry’s mastermind. I cannot put into words how deeply I started rooting for the characters and what I physical and visceral reaction I was having at watching it all unfold the only way Emily Henry does it, beautifully.

There was a point where I was not ok to put the book down, my heart cried for this lovely group of friends. I hated that Wyn had a good reason for doing what he did. I loved that Wyn had a good reason for doing what he did. Also, now I have to like the name Wyn for the rest of my life, unfair lol.

I spent the last 20% of the book holding back tears, but if I’m beings honest, I started shaking way before that. It may seem like to much, but we all know books that have the power to break us and then put us back together with an even better understanding of ourselves. Emily Henry did, she continuously does.

I wanted to get to the end because I wanted needed them to get the happiness they deserved, but I was also sad: I wanted to keep relating to them for a bit longer, as I’m not sure I’m ever going to get to my own hea.

Friendship is hard. Silence is easy.

If my own pain hadn’t stared back at me from the pages, maybe it would have been less heartbreaking. In that case, the downside would be how less beautiful the book would end up being.

You might think this book is about a broken-up couple pretending to still be together whilst vacationing with their group of friends. You’d be wrong. It’s about pain, and life, and friendship, and careers, and doubts, and fears, and love, and finding out who you are (or who you aren’t), and identity, and belonging, and kindred spirits. Just life in all its beauty and pain.

Side-note: I might quit my job despite it not being the most financially responsible decision.

There are so many good and heartwarming quotes in the book. I don’t feel comfortable sharing them yet since the book will be out in quite a few months still, but I can’t wait.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this absolute privilege. Thank you Emily Henry for existing.

YOU, YOU, YOU.
What a wonderful and fantastic book.
FIVE stars for this beauty.
Not only does this book have this perfect fake engagement, second chance romance plot, but it also has a very unique book layout, with snippets every other chapter of a different time and place that is ultra captivating.
This book had me gripped from the first page, but I already knew that because every Emily Henry book is wonderful.
This book was absolutely amazing and I truly think all the people patiently waiting for this book release next year will be pleasantly surprised(or not so surprised if you're familiar with the greatness of Henry's work) and won't be let down at all.
While I did feel quite heartbroken at times, the book healed me all over again and left me so, so happy. Wyn and Harriet were an adorable couple to follow and I wish I could have stayed in this world longer.
I loved the growth of all of the characters, the mental health issues tackled by the characters, and the overall plot of the book was well timed, well planned and perfectly executed.
If I could go back and read this book again for the first time, I 100% would. For those of you who have to wait until next year to read this book, I promise, it is worth the wait!!!
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Happy Place by Emily Henry through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Happy Place ♡ I screamed with excitement when I got an email from @penguinbooks about an earc of this book! It absolutely lived up to my high expectations, I read it in a day and it made me cry so many happy/sad tears. @emilyhenrywrites is so talented, this book felt different to her others and it is my favourite 😍 5/5 stars, I can not wait to buy a paperback in April next year so that I can highlight.

Emily Henry did it once again.

Happy Place has some of the most believable, authentic characters I’ve ever come across in a romance novel, and it is this quality that makes Henry’s writing so compelling. Yet again she has managed to write a romance that feels fresh and inventive, with characters you won’t forget any time soon.

This novel felt a little bit deeper than her other novels, in the way that it truly delves into the lives of each character. I loved how multilayered the plot was; dealing not only with the main character, Harriet, but also with her best friends and their respective lives. But the thing I appreciated the most, was Henry’s take on the second-chance romance trope. It worked perfectly in this novel, primarily in how it showed that a happy ending is not as easy as you might think. Normal people have their own issues, and their own lives to take care of, and that can make us hurt the people we love. Henry depicted this beautifully, and I really enjoyed reading a romance novel that wasn’t just rainbows and sunshine.

In all honesty, I am already in desperate need of another novel of hers.

Boy was I excited to be able to dive into another of Emily Henry's books, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I sat here this rainy Sunday and finished the whole book!
The story is about a group of friends about to hit an end note on an important part of their friendship, namely a specific place they all go to every year, which won't be available to them much longer.
But it centres around one couple, in particular, Harriet and Wyn. From the off, there was an unwritten rule that you didn't date your friends, or things would go weird if it ever finished.
They were the first couple of the group to break that rule, and now, they are desperately trying to hide the fact that it didn't work out, so everyone else can have a good time together.
The whole group of friends were an excellent bunch, and the way Henry has woven in the intricacies of long-standing friendships as well as a second-chance romance, is just brilliant.
Oh, and I want to go to a Lobster Festival, too, now. (And I don't ven eat seafood!)
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life and Penguin Business for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars.

Emily Henry has the gift of writing characters who set such high unrealistic standards while also simultaneously portraying the core of human relationships in such an extremely realistic way.

So for now, let’s just say that after reading this I feel like I came out of a therapy session as a changed person.



(PS: seriously though I still can’t get over how hard I got slapped in the face about how hard adult friendships (and relationships) are by a rom-com.. and I loved it)

As a giant Book Lovers fan, I was so excited to be given the opportunity to read Happy Place and Emily Henry did not disappoint!

I now fully love this friendship group and see myself in each of the characters, learning about love, loss and growing up all in one. Harriet and Wyn are so perfectly perfect together and each of their journeys towards finding happiness both admirable and inspiring.

A giant thank you to Emily Henry for this one!

I might be a little biased because Emily Henry is my favorite author and I usually automatically love her books from the moment I start reading them. And it was no different this time. From the start, she has proven that her writing style is just amazing and beautiful, her storyline innovative and characters well built. The banter she writes never disappoints and it was again funny and witty.
At first, when it was hinted, that there was a miscommunication between Wyn and Harriet (about their breakup), I was a little skeptical, because this usually doesn’t turn out good or is executed poorly. But Emily Henry has done the opposite. It made me cry, when I was reading about their breakup and in what dark places they both were. This made the characters seem like real people with struggles. I actually related to both Wyn and Harriet – the fear of being loved and then the person leaving all of a sudden and being heartbroken, but also pleasing parents and making everything right between friends.
The friendship between Harriet, Cleo and Sabrina was imperfect in the present time, but it was beautiful. I think everyone wants this kind of friendship, that feels like family. They fight, they are different and might grow apart with years, but will always love each other nonetheless.
This book taught me so much about friendships, relationships and love and mostly putting your happiness first. It was like a warm hug, and even though I was sobbing during the last third of the book, it kind of soothed me at the same time.
I remember Emily Henry asking us to be gentle with her people pleasing, Mirrorball girl Harriet: I was. I adore her. And I also adored the scared, but wonderful Wyn.

(Also, the mention of January and Gus? I lost it.)

I really enjoyed Happy Place, which I received early for review on Netgalley. There was something nostalgic about the atmosphere, and though it was melancholic in tone it was also hopeful. I really liked how this focussed on a friendship group who were struggling to keep themselves together even though they were growing up and growing apart. The balance between the then/now storylines was really well done; I didn't feel like I was taken out of the story during the timeline shifts. I liked that we got to know all the characters fairly well, despite it only being told in the first person. This book felt different to other Emily Henry's due to the larger cast but I really enjoyed it.
I found the characters/ struggles really relatable; I think this book will stick with me for a long time - I'm keen to buy it when it comes out in April 2023!

I was absolutely ecstatic to get an ARC of Happy Place by Emily Henry - thank you, thank you, thank you Penguin General Books! I have just inhaled it in a matter of hours! I read it on an autumnal Saturday afternoon in Ireland but was transported to Maine on a get together with Harriet, Sabrina and Cleo and their respective partners. Emily Henry’s stories are always so perfectly observed that they play out like films in your head while you are reading them. Happy Place is no different - it deals with a week long get together for college friends that always used to holiday at Sabrina’s father’s house. Harriet and Wyn have been together for so long that they can’t bring themselves to tell their friends that their relationship has ended. The week puts strain on all the friends as they try and recreate the magic of previous holidays whilst not being completely honest with each other. As to be expected from Emily Henry, the chemistry and tension between Harriet and Wyn is perfection. Happy Place does not topple Book Lovers from its top spot in my list of favourites but I’m not sure anything will!. 4.5/5 🌟

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m pretty sure my entire street heard me scream when I woke up to this treat in my inbox! How did I get so lucky? I’m going to go back in time and tell my 10 year old self that being a book nerd really does pay off.

Happy Place had me FEELING. Hard.. I found it to be the heaviest of Henry’s books yet, with one of the strongest messages. To me, it was about being in charge of your own happiness and the power of expressing your feelings - but I know others will get something different out of it too! (Eg strength of friendships)

The second chance romance with all its hurt and pain lifted right out of the page into my chest and I was *in* this story with the characters. I cried A LOT. I felt a physical ache for Wyn and Harriet.

Things I loved:
- The signature Emily Henry dialogue - sharp as ever, high quality banter. And so funny. Wyn and Harriet’s in-jokes had strong PWMOV vibes!
- The beautiful friendship group and the personalities of all of the characters. I felt jealous that I missed out on a friendship circle like that!
- The timeline jumps badged with “real life” “happy place” “dark place” - a clever way to indicate the feeling of the chapter and place in time.
- The stunning setting - it was so vivid for me, a testament to the writing quality.

I did find it a little long, although I have no idea what I’d cut. I think I just struggled feeling the hurt and tension for so long - and this might relate to my own personal experiences with the idea of a second chance. I also predicted one of the plot points. However - what’s this genre without a little predictability?

This book was another win by Henry - she’s a master of the contemporary romance genre, combining intelligent writing and sharp banter with a big ol’ dose of feeling.

I can’t wait to buy the 3 copies I’m inevitably going to get (Aus edition, US edition, and the audiobook (it better be Julia Whelan!)) - hurry up April 2023!