I was hesitant going into Happy Place because of the second chance trope - it's not one I've encountered much before and I wasn't sure it was my kind of thing but I should have just trusted Emily Henry from the outset because boy oh boy did she pull it out the hat. What I love most about Henry's books is there isn't just a focus on the central romance, there is always something more and Harriet's relationships with her strong friendship circle and the found family vibes really hit home for me. As with all Henry books so far, I sat down to begin it and didn't sleep until I finished.

I have to say I was not a fan of the dual timelines - I had similar issues with People We Meet on Vacation and I was also desperately in need of a dual POV instead. It was incredibly difficult to understand Wyn's actions for the vast majority of the book, which is not actually the best position to be in with the ML (at least in my humble opinion).

So now that I've gotten my grievances off my chest, I can say that I actually really enjoyed this book, but not as a romance. I found the romance between Wyn and Harriet to be the least interesting thing about the entire thing to be honest. But the navigation of childhood upbringing, the trauma of parental mistakes and how that affects the family we create for ourselves through friends was truly beautiful and touching.

Emily Henry is an amazing writer, and the way she brought to life the very real found family we can see in this group of friends is something I truly appreciate. The only thing that would have made this book a 5-star for me is if it focused more closely on the friendship group instead of being bogged down by Wyn and Harriet's romance.

I do think that I would have been interested to delve more deeply into the relationships of the other two pairs. I think Wyn and Harriet had the most interesting relationship to use as a premise for the book - but I feel we wasted so much potential by not doing a deeper dive into the other relationships.

For those reasons it's a 3.5 star read rouned up to 4

I'm so sad, but I really didn't like this at all. Beach Read is one of my favourites, along with Book Lovers, but this didn't come anywhere near them for me. It was similar in structure as People we meet on vacation, which I also did not like, so if you like that for the structure, you may like this. The level of miscommunication/lack of communication was also way too much for me and the whole book felt very juvenile, so much about getting drunk, taking drugs etc and I didn't feel any of the relationships, either romantic or platonic. A sad two stars.

"Happy Place" by Emily Henry is an enchanting and humorous exploration of love, friendship, and the complexities of human relationships. The novel masterfully combines wit, warmth, and genuine emotion to create a captivating and heartfelt story.

Harriet and Wyn, our endearing protagonists, were once the perfect couple. They are inseparable, just like all great pairs, or so it seems. Their annual holiday with their closest friends serves as a backdrop for their bittersweet charade. Harriet and Wyn have been living a lie for six months, keeping their breakup a secret to spare their friends' feelings.

Henry's narrative unfolds with humor and heart as Harriet and Wyn pretend to be in love, all the while questioning whether they've made the right decision. The cottage, a symbol of their shared past, is up for sale, making this their last chance to be with their beloved friends in the same setting. The novel takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as they grapple with the complexities of their situation.

The story's core lies in the portrayal of friendship, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. Harriet and Wyn's dilemma is relatable, and readers can't help but become emotionally invested in their journey. The characters are richly developed, and their interactions are both humorous and heartwarming.

"Happy Place" is a testament to the power of human connection and the lengths to which we go for our loved ones. The book celebrates the art of pretending, the healing power of laughter, and the authenticity of true friendship. Emily Henry's storytelling is a delightful blend of humor and wisdom, making it an absolute page-turner.

Unfortunately this book did not do it for me, don’t get me wrong her writing is amazing and my favourite book by her is Book Lovers, but this book just wasn’t believable for me, the characters was spot on but the reason for the break up was just unbelievable and I just didn’t enjoy it.

Delightful, loved it, not my absolute favouite, but my second favourite I think! She is just getting better and better! Can't wait for the next!

I was so obsessed with Book Lovers and was worried that the next book by Henry couldn’t match up. I thought I’d be disappointed but I had nothing to worry about. I loved this book. The way Henry writes relationships is so good, especially the different kinds of romantic and platonic relationships featured in this book. I adored it and can’t wait to read more.

I loved this book so so much. Emily Henry once again proves why her books are so darn popular!

She uses a bunch of tropes but nothing ever feels cliché, she is a master of the moment - creating big impact in the little things.

I’ll read anything Emily Henry at this point but Happy Place was definitely my favourite of hers thus far. She truly is an author that gets better and better.

This book is so much more than a romance. Self doubt, trying to find your destiny, questioning your choices and so many self doubt areas are covered in this book. Emily has excelled herself with Harriet and Wyn, as they have a much deeper connection than the couples in her previous books. Would definitely recommend.

The entire premise just sounded brilliant for a start as it sounds like it is going to entertain it does not disappoint. Slink back into a comfortable place, perhaps your happy place with a glass of wine or two and get absorbed in Happy Place.

Travel to the cottage and the harbour, which is so wonderfully described (but not overly so), that it is easy to transport yourself into that place.

Harriet and Wyn have broken up and yet still go on their yearly get together holiday with friends. Awkward!!! The situation gets even more so because they haven't told a single soul and end up trying to keep it a secret. Still Awkward!!!
You get to see how Harriet and Wyn met and how they ended up being in their present situation. Along the way exploring their romance, friendship and its development that we see around certain characters is also explored and is a strong theme in what is, at times, an emotional book. It is also uplifting with humour.

I hadn't read a book by Emily Henry before, but this is so vivid and so well-written in characterisation, setting, relationships and with flash-backs dealt with well, that it won't be my last. I highly recommend Happy Place.

This is an easy read of a book so much so that I read it in a day! Haven't done that for a while! Its about a couple Wyn and Harriet who aren't a couple anymore but have ended up spending the weekend with their best friends who think they are still together.... They spend a lot of timing thinking about what went wrong in their relationship.

🪴 BOOK REVIEW 🪴

Synopsis: 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?

Review: Coming to you direct from my “happy place”. This book was heartbreaking, wholesome, and reflective. Very real-world, matter-of-fact about how found family and friendship groups grow no necessarily in the same direction. I loved Harriet, and her girlfriends characters, but I didn’t love Wyn. Nothing specific, he just wasn’t attractive to me. The book overall was really enjoyable and I loved Emily Henry’s writing as per usual. This one doesn’t beat Beach Read for me, but I have high hopes for Book Lovers! This was very Grey’s Anatomy, and I highly recommend it 😃

4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really loved Beach Read
I liked People we meet on vacation.
And the Book Lovers.
But it seems my love to Beach Read is gonna be a one time thing with Emily Henry. I keep giving her chances, hoping the next book makes me feel what the first one did but I am disappointed over and over again.
2.75/5

Emily Henry is one of the best authors of our time. Her characters come to life from the pages as you read. This book felt almost more mature compared to her earlier work.

I had seen a lots or positive reviews for Happy Place, and having read some of this authors books before, I figured I’d give this one a go as well. While it was fine, I didn’t love it. Oddly predictable in parts, I was expecting something a bit more I guess. That being said, I got through it relatively quickly, and it was enjoyable, just not my favourite! Would still happily recommend this author for anyone looking for contemporary fiction!

This book was difficult to get into. I didn't really find myself enjoying it. I would like to try more of Henry's work as I know it is very popular among others but I just really couldn't get into this one.

This is the first Emily Henry romance novel that I'm not completely in love with. It's a very strange feeling. Because this book has so much going for it. I love the set-up of the group of college friends who return to the same place every year for their summer break, a place where the real world doesn't really exist for that one magical week a year they're there.

The story is told through two timelines, one in the present and one in the past. You can see the friendships and relationships changing throughout the years. There's a message to this story, about how nostalgia for the past means you sometimes distort reality and how friendships change as you get older in such a way that you sometimes grieve a friend while they're actually still around.

And if that was the entirety of this novel, this would have been a 5-star read easily. But the romance is just so messy. It seems like the two main characters just fundamentally misunderstand each other right until the end of the story, at which point one of them completely changes their entire life seemingly out of the blue. I'm not sure that that was what Emily Henry was going for, but it is what we've ended up with.

This was still a nice read, but it can't hold a candle to Emily Henry's previous novels.

This was a sweet book, I loved it very much. It was funny too at times. Recommend this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I was so incredibly lucky to receive a copy of this book pre release and when I tell you I squealed reading it.. wow!!

I posted my review on insta on release day but I must have forgotten to post here!

Happy Place by Emily Henry releases today and in my opinion, is her best book to date! (Previous fave was book lovers)

An exes to lovers/second chance romance book that has all the feels of a Taylor Swift album!

Like her other books, this one is well written, with likeable, relatable characters all around their 30s.

This book actually reminded me of my friend group a little bit, in terms of "end of an era" vibes? Everyone is getting married/having kids etc but you still want to have that time as a group of 6 🥹 it's very very cute!!

The story follows Harriet and Wyn, who have secretly broken up and haven't told their friends yet.

They go back to the same place their friends visit every year for vacation (Harriet's Happy Place). And they soon find out it's for the last time as the cottage is being sold!

Harriet and Wyn try to keep their breakup a secret for the week in the hopes of not ruining the vacation for everyone else however, that's easier said than done when their friends are so used to seeing them cuddled up together.

Can Harriet still be happy in her "Happy Place" even if she has to pretend to date her ex fiancé?

Reasons for 5 stars ✨

🩷 Relatable characters
🩷 Maine setting (sounds like an unreal place no?)
🩷 Fake dating/ex to lovers/second romance tropes
🩷 Cute friend group
🩷 Taylor swift album vibes 😂

This is my third Emily Henry novel I have read so far and still enjoy reading this author. Although my all-time-favourite is still You And Me On Vacation Happy Place is not far behind. Relationships break for various reasons but who is to say they can never be renewed?