Thursday, May 4, 2023

Review - - Happy Place

Happy Place
by Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Reviewed by Santa



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?

Santa Says: 

Emily Henry has written another five star book. Happy Place is about second chances and found families, salty sea air and lobster rolls, firepits and being wrapped in warmth of life-long friendships. We all have our happy places. A favorite vacation spot. The friends who, no matter the situation, make everything all better. 

Harriet and her college roommates have always gone to Maine every year; hence, the salty sea air and lobster rolls. It’s also where she met the love of her life, Wyn. At least, he was up until 5 months ago but we’ll get back to that shortly. This found family sustains Harriet. They all feel the bond to one another.  

And sometimes things change in life and now the house they stay at for their week away will soon be gone. How will Harriet and Wyn break it to everyone that they are no longer together? They were THE couple, ten years together and engaged for years to boot. They decide to keep it from their friends as long as possible but they’ll be sharing a room and, yes, there is only one bed. So close proximity and true love have other plans for them. 

Being at their happy place works to bring Harriet and Wyn to be more open and honest with one another and themselves. This is something their perfect relationship lost over time. Emily Henry’s chapters go back and forth in Harriet and Wyn’s life so that the readers get a vivid picture of the trajectory of their lives. 

Do not think that Harriet and Wyn magically come together at their happy place. Emily Henry makes her characters and readers work. I honestly thought that an HEA or an HEAFRN wasn’t in the cards for them. It was heart wrenching in some spots.  

Complex and relatable people inhabit Emily Henry’s books. That relatability speaks to me as a reader. I feel like I know these characters outside of her books. This is my second book by this author. I am fast becoming a fan. I have some catching up to do. I look forward to reading more of her books.

5 comments:

  1. Just finished reading Happy Place last night. I had to set the book down a few times during the heart-wrenching parts near the end, but it was definitely worth the reading journey.

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    1. Exactly and no matter how she torments me, I would still pick up her next book again and again.

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  2. New to me author. This story sounds interesting. Thanks for the terrific review. As always, y'all do good stuff.

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  3. Thank you! I hope you do get to read it!

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  4. On hold at the library, looking forward to reading!

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