I am a huge Emily Henry Fan. I have read all four of her romance books now that “Happy Place” Has came out. Looking back at my ratings for all her book I have given all of them five stars but if I am honest with you I think I would probably rate “People We Meet on Vacation” A four star read now as I honestly thought that was the true rating I gave it and it is for sure my least favorite of her books but it was still a great read.
“In every universe, it’s you for me. Even if it’s not me for you.”
Emily Henry, Happy Place
About The Book
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley
Published Date: April 25th, 2023
Page Count: 400 Pages
Main Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
GoodReads Rating: 4.40
Format: Physical Book
“Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters.”
Emily Henry, Happy Place
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 six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest 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, blue 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?
Synopsis From GoodReads
“Things change, but we stretch and grow and make room for one another.
Our love is a place we can always come back to, and it will be waiting, the same as it ever was.
You belong here. ”
Emily Henry, Happy Place
Rating
“I imagined them all thinking it was worth it. Telling me how much they loved me. All my life, when I thought of my future, that was what I pictured. Not a career. The things I thought would come with it. Happiness, love, safety. And that dream had been enough for a long time. What was school if not a chance to earn your worth? To prove, again and again, that you were measurably good. One more deal I struck with a disinterested universe: If I’m good enough, I’ll be happy. I’ll be loved. I’ll be safe.”
Emily Henry, Happy Place
Review
I was of course very Hyped for this book as Emily Henry can do no wrong in my mind. However, in the beginning of this book I was a little worried I wouldn’t enjoy this one nearly as much as the rest of her books as it was more of an enemies to lovers type vibe but also not really. I just really struggle with any kind of enemy to lovers books as I really hate constant tension between two characters I am supposed to be rooting for. And much like “People We Meet On Vacation” it had a lot of miscommunication in it that I did struggle with.
What really sucked me in and ultimately the real reason it has a pretty high rating is because of the mental health representation in the book. It discusses how hard it is to love someone else when you can barely love yourself. I mean how can you expect someone to be able to be by your side cheering you on when they have a lot of internal battles going on? My big take away from this book is in relationships it is so important to have open communication about your mental space for both romantic and friend relationships. The people who truly care about you will understand if you are struggling and need some distance but they will be there no matter what when you are ready to reach out. A great example of this would be me and my friend, we both struggle with our mental health and some days we talk non stop and then we go a week or two with hardly any communication because it is emotionally exhausting to respond sometimes and maybe we just need sometime to heal ourselves and we just let each other know “Hey, my mental health needs some work I won’t be as responsive for a bit but I still love you, talk when I can.”
Besides mental health it also discussed a lot about friendships and how they change over years. As you move on from school and start families and careers you don’t always have the same amount of time to be with your friends but you should cherish the moments you do have. It is a beautiful thing getting to watch your friends lives grow and how you will fit in with that ever changing life. You won’t always be the same person you were in high school/college, it is normal to go your separate ways but when you do get back together it will be as if no time has passed. This is something that I really struggle with though, friends moving states and having kids when you are still in your childhood home makes you feel stuck and kind of lonely but the nice thing about this day and age is just because someone lives thousands of miles away they are only a text or facetime away. You can still keep these connections strong!
So, yes overall I loved this book! If you like romance books with minimal spicey levels then Emily Henry is your gal! I highly recommend all of her books so do yourself a favor and pick one or all of them up!
“My best friends taught me a new kind of quiet, the peaceful stillness of knowing one another so well you don’t need to fill the space. And a new kind of loud: noise as a celebration, as the overflow of joy at being alive, here, now.”
Emily Henry, Happy Place
QOTD: What Emily Henry Book is your favorite?
“They all do, I think. You are in all of my happiest places. You are where my mind goes when it needs to be soothed.”
Emily Henry, Happy Place
