Happy Place by Emily Henry

Happy Place by Emily Henry is a second-chance romance book centered around a young couple, Harriet and Wyn. Both of them are trying to find their place in the world. They are unsure about what they want in life. One thing they are sure about is their love for each other.

Happy Place by Emily Henry Summary:

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?

Happy Place: Review

I loved Henry’s depiction of navigating a relationship while building your career and discovering yourself. Trust and communication are integral parts of a good relationship. Unfortunately, Wyn and Harriet had the biggest problem with their communication. That is my biggest problem with this book. Wyn and Harriet started as friends. Moreover, they had a great relationship when they were friends. But as a couple, that aspect just vanished. 

Furthermore, I would love more of their relationship after the Happy Place. Not just them as a couple but the whole friend group.

The best part of this book is the friend group. They are all flawed and make mistakes. But, realistically, friendships and relationships are challenging. For them to flourish, they need to evolve and communicate honestly. Emly Henry did a great job showing that part of life when you need to accept changes, although terrified.

I appreciated the concept of the book.

The friendships in this story are exceptional, and we see how important they are to each other despite their mistakes. But, the whole story revolves around miscommunication. Miscommunication as a plot device seemed unnecessary and only prolonged the story.

However, I would recommend the book. I breezed through it and had fun while reading it. It was funny and emotional, and the banter with Harriet and Wyn was impeccable. Although some bad reviews are about a career change, I found that part satisfactory.

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