Happy Place by Emily Henry is a poignant and funny romance story, about love and friendship. It’s quite an emotional roller coaster full of angst, memories, and happy moments.
My Overview
Harriet and Wyn were together for eight years. They met while in college and had the same friends group. Unfortunately, it appears the relationship ran its course and they decided to call it quits six months ago. The relationship between them has ended, but their friends group remains the same. Harriet and Wyn haven’t found the right time to tell their friends that they’ve broken up. This summer, as the group gathers at the cottage they’ve been visiting for years, for one last week of fun before the cottage is sold, Harriet and Wyn end up having to pretend they’re still together for the sake of their friends.
What I loved about this story:
- The banter between Harriet and Wyn was top-notch.
- The alternating timelines between happy place (past) and real life (now).
- The well-rounded group of characters truly wanted the best for each other.
- The beautiful setting in a small coastal town in Maine.
This is a character-driven story that takes place over the span of one week, but uses alternating timelines from past to present, which adds background and depth to the story. The result is a full view into the relationship between Harriet and Wyn, and the dynamics within the friends group. I loved how well each of the characters were portrayed and how unique they were. By the end of the story, I truly felt like I knew and understood Wyn, Harriet, Sabrina, Parth, Chloe, and Kim.
My Recommendation
I’ve read all of the books by Emily Henry, and this one’s by far my favorite. The character development, humor, and poignant storyline is what I loved about this one. I highly recommend it. It’s a beautiful story about love, friendship, and believing in yourself. The audiobook is read by Julia Whelan, one of my favorite audio narrators. Needless to say, I opted for the audiobook and loved it.
Have you enjoyed this book yet? Did you listen to the audiobook?
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer
I just finished this one this morning and I loved it, as well! Beach Read has been my favorite of Henry’s books, but this one finally matched it! Great review!
Lucy
Thank you! Glad you loved this book too. Of all of Henry’s books, this one’s my favorite.
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads
Completely agree with your review! I also listened to this on audiobook and LOVED it so much,.
Lucy
Yay! Glad it was a winner for you too 🤩.
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Yes! I think this and Book Lovers are tied for my favorites by her. This was so good! Thrilled to see you loved it too!
Lucy
I didn’t like Book Lovers as much as you did, so Happy Place is the clear winner for me. Glad you loved them both!
Lark
If this is your favorite Emily Henry book that says a lot! I’ve loved her other books and can’t wait to read this one, too. 😀
Lucy
Yay! You’ll definitely love this one then 🙂
Sam@WLABB
YEAH! I have nothing but love for this book. My heart ached and my emotions ran high as I rooted for this couple. It was fantastic! I was excited about the setting because I visited Maine last year. They even went to the popover place I visited in Acadia. I love saying “I was there”
Lucy
How fun that you visited Maine recently! It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, but the setting reminded me of my visit. I also love when stories are set in places I’ve visited 🙂