Happy Place: A shimmering new novel from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Emily Henry

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I don’t think there are words to describe just how much this book means to me, or how relatable I found aspects of it, but I’ll try to convey here. It’s easy to perceive from the synopsis that this is a story or what was, what is, and what might be. We receive glimpses into the past that build Harry and Wyn’s friendship-turned-romance, and we also receive present tense pov where something has gone horribly wrong, but we’re not quite sure what that is. The tension of building up to that conversation (which actually is brilliantly more than one conversation) is DIVINE, and the havoc that Henry wreaked on my emotions along the way was sinister in the best way possible. forced proximity, second chance, fake dating.. full of tension and angst. there’s just something about past lovers that makes me so anxious but like in a good way you know. He's a golden boy. I'm a girl whose life has been drawn in shades of gray. I try not to love him. I really try." I’ve memorized the rhythm of his breathing when he sleeps and the smell of his skin when he’s been out in the sun, and I know when he’s afraid." this acts as my love letter to emily henry, love of my life, so if you’re not emily henry, then please continue on your way-

Happy Place by Emily Henry | Goodreads

ctr: the way the title is literally HAPPY PLACE but everyone is sobbing and sad IS MAKING ME HELLA SCARED🥲 Some of the dialogue writing is really beautiful, EH does write really well but for some reason it comes across as trying too hard. The thing with Beach Read is, the flow of narration came so naturally. It's such a balanced book. The way I perceive it, EH has been trying to live up to that- which is imo not working for her.

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my eyes were rolling. if that old wives tale about the wind is true, i’d be so blind rn i wouldn’t have been able to finish reading the book. the friend group/friend dramas/all that shit. i’m not sure what sense of surprise or whatever was meant to be here, but it was painfully obvious from the beginning that they all had their own shit going on. i gave sabrina the benefit of the doubt, but god she’s insufferable. i can understand some people needing more control and having that sort of personality quirk - we all have them - but this is an INNATE characteristic in a person and they either would have run into a problem with it earlier if they had incompatible or clashing personalities for friends, or they would have made different friends. it’s so stupid that it’s happening now. and at the same time, i don’t care. Happy Place proves that Henry is a writer with “no skips,” her oeuvre as expertly crafted as a perfect summer playlist.”

Editions of Happy Place by Emily Henry - Goodreads

Harriet and Wyn are the perfect couple - they go together like bread and butter, gin and tonic, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Every year for the past decade, they have left behind their lives to drink far too much wine and soak up the sea air with their favourite people in the world. Except this year, they are lying through their teeth. Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago. And they still haven't told anyone. The ‘Happy Place’ chapters felt like I was visiting a really happy and safe place, happy moments that these characters experienced where everything felt right in the world.

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it’s this feeling like the universe is compacting around me while something in my rib cage is expanding. i’m the culmination of their lost dreams, their missed other lives, and at the same time, they’re proud of me.” Every year, they take a holiday from their lives to drink far too much wine with their favourite people in the world.

Happy Place by Emily Henry | Waterstones Happy Place by Emily Henry | Waterstones

Both these timelines allowed us to truly get to know our characters deeply, when life brought out the best in them as well as when life wasn’t working in their favour. i knew what was gonna come, i knew it. but nothing could've prepared me for the pain. reading about their breakup is some different kind of pain i never want to experience ever again. this is my last straw. EH broke me, i need someone to fix my shattered heart. how am i ever supposed to move on from wyn and harriet 🥲 i want their love, i want their respect, i want their passion. i want everything they have. laying in bed wide awake reading the book when i was supposed to go be bed hours ago.. now, do i love or hate that feeling? i certainly wasn't able to put the book down because it was so emotional and i needed closure. harriet and i mirror each other in so many ways, and reading it in words across a book made me feel so seen and comforted.

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I also felt nothing, nor empathy, sadness, pity or whatever towards any of these characters or their problems and relationships.