Happy Place

This is a fun, easy read, but not for me right now. I wanted to gobble it up and enjoy, but the premise was too light for me at the moment. Maybe this would be a good one to return to this summer or another time when I just want book candy. DNF

I tried so hard to get into this but just couldn't do it. I was mostly bored, and it didn't have any characters I could get attached to. I was just reading it for the sake of trying to get it done. 

DNF at page 183. I dunno ya'll! Almost every person I know has l-o-v-e LOVED this book, and I can't get into it. I've loved other Emily Henry books, but this is not working for me on basically any level. It's making me ... un-happy, har har. I keep looking over at it and then deciding to play on my phone instead.

I don't like Harriet. I don't like Wyn. Neither of them seems to have a personality other than “horny for each other.” The side characters are better drawn, but there's so much miscommunication happening, and I'm like, YA'LL. You're in your 30s. You should grow up and sit down and have several conversations. I don't believe these people are besties. I don't believe these people even really like each other beyond nostalgia.

I bought a different romance at my indie bookstore yesterday and was immediately more invested in reading that than this.

I'll continue to pick up Henry's books, but I almost universally hate books where miscommunication is a major device. I probably shouldn't have bothered with this one at all.

I have such a 50/50, love hate relationship with character driven books

I want to preface my review by saying I think some of the best stories ever are love stories. I love my friends, I love love songs, I love watching love, I love reading about love, I love being in love, I love love. I'm not opposed to romance, contrary to popular belief, I really do love reading romance books. Though, I will say those are more literary than the more popular commercial romance. Moving on, I went into this book with no expectations except good writing (subjective), good plot (objective; basing it off of the rules of this novel's world), and good characters (objective; again, basing it off of the pre-set rules). I set aside my prejudice with most commercial romance books (same plot, different characters, cheesy dialogue, no stakes [or stakes that aren't stakes at all]) and went into this with an open heart too. I practically read this book in the most safest, padded room in my mind...and I still left this book thinking “it was okay”. In all honesty, I did tear up quite a bit, but I think less because of the book, and more because I was reminded of certain things. I think this is where this book is great: in the unconventional, when the writing is not trying to convey so much through obnoxious imagery or metaphors (“I drain my soda like it's my last shot of moonshine before an 1800s doctor pries a bullet from my arm, and then lean forward exaggeratedly again to return my glass to the table” as opposed to the better,”I refuse to cry. Not over something that happened five months ago. Not over someone who's already told me he doesn't want me.” because this says so much more). I also liked the unconventionality of being near someone who hurt you so bad when you still love them; that to me is so interesting; the complicated feelings—there's so much you could do here, but Henry, it seems, does nothing with it except use this situation to fill the typical commercial-romance quota (there's only one bed and they have to share? check. Making each other jealous? check. miscommunication plot that can easily be resolved through one simple conversation, but isn't because they think they hate each other despite grinding on each other to also check off the enemies to over trope? check. steamy sex scenes, but not really, but almost, then YES A SEX SCENE (more on this l8er). check. [I was about to applaud the fact there was no third act final breakup/ fight from the main couple, but then I realized Henry also checked that box off, but with the friend group instead of Harriet and Wyn. ALSO, romantic change your mind at the airport and run back to your lover scene? CHECKKKKKK]). From other reviews, it seems like Henry is taking a risk here (someone complained about this one being too angsty, that Henry should stick to happy stories [huhhhh???]), and I applaud her for that, but I have to disagree and argue that Henry is still playing it safe. Despite the attempt at depth, I argue there is little to none in these characters. I think this is partially due to the fact that the novel states this group of people have been friends for 10 years, and Harriet and Wyn have been together for 8, and yet I left this book not knowing much about anybody except the type-cast Henry has placed them in. Also, do people really talk like this in real-life? I understand, and don't mind the contemporary setting, but every page (literally) had some sort of reference, every page! I understand a book's need to be in conversation with its contemporary setting, but this felt more like name-dropping as a way to create relatability between characters x readers, and even characters x characters. Why is all these friend's dialogue just pun-dropping? Why are we so scared of boring dialogue? I learn nothing about these characters until they have that emotional release, which you could argue is the point, but I counter: seriously, it took these friends ten years to realize they don't know each other as much as they think they do (despite the book's constant back and forth between this idea). Back to the sex stuff. I'm not opposed to it, but damn where Henry put this scenes cheapened the story so much. Any time Harriet and Wyn began to have a deep conversation, it was immediately undercut with a steamy scene that, I feel, undermines their whole relationship. How am I supposed to believe these two characters have such care for each other, when any deep conversation is turned into the next smut scene for readers to fawn over. How am I supposed to believe in them? I think this is partially due to if they did have a deep convo, everything would be resolved, so Henry had to stop them before getting to that point so they could continue their cycle of misinterpretation and miscommunication for the plot. Idk man, I was really hoping for something great, and I just feel like I'll forget about this in a month. I think this story could've been so good if the reason for the breakup was not hidden information, and this book was more of an exploration of two people finding their way back to each other without the thin and stupid veil of enemies to lovers. There just could've been so much more depth. final rating: ( a shallow) 3 (this might change later, idk we'll see).

This book was so so sad. Very well written and excellent characters as is normal for Emily Henry.
But it brought up a lot of painful breakup memories for me!

3.5/5 stars

Plot: Uhm...so it's the classic miscommunication trope. You know the drill—if only the characters just talked to each other, all the drama could have been avoided and the book would have been over in a couple of chapters. And yes, while that was frustrating and worth an eye roll, I’m a sucker for this cliché and still ate all that shit up. <(．＿．)>

The plot was so obvious and predictable but I did enjoy reading this book. It was easy to read and relatable, especially if you, like me, are someone who avoids confrontation even when you really shouldn’t.

Characters: Unfortunately, I couldn’t care less about the friend group. Harriet, Sabrina, and Cleo are all tied together by this supposed strong friendship, but honestly, I didn’t feel it. They came across as whiny and kind of flat, like they didn’t have lives or personalities outside of their group dynamic or their need to relive their "glory days." The whole “sisterhood” thing just felt forced and didn’t really come through in a way that made me care, and that kind of took away from the emotional weight the book was going for.

And then there’s Wyn. Early on, I already had an iffy feeling about him. Harriet kept talking about how interesting and vast he is, but honestly, I just didn’t see it. He was dull and boring. It made it hard to get invested in their romance when I didn’t really understand what made him so special. I wasn’t rooting for them in the way the author intended, which made it hard to accept the eventual resolution of their love story.

Resolution: I am honestly frustrated at how things got wrapped up in this book. Are we seriously supposed to be okay with Harriet making this big decision to uproot her entire life and career, wasting years of hard work and money, all for the sake of "following her heart?" I get that this is a “follow your dreams” moment, but in real life? LMAO that's just not gonna fly. The lack of practicality in her choices made the ending feel a bit hollow, like a fairytale that glosses over the consequences of her actions.

I normally enjoy the miscommunication trope when it leads to a satisfying, emotional payoff, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark. While I enjoyed the relatable moments and found it fun to read, I really wish the book had ended differently.

This was my first book by Emily Henry, and I really enjoyed her writing style—smooth, sharp, and filled with great dialogue. But despite that, the story didn't hold my attention the whole time. The concept sounded promising: a couple who grew apart due to a long-distance relationship must pretend they're still together during a friends' getaway. However, the plot felt a bit slow at times. The dynamic between the main characters was believable, but it didn't fully draw me in. Not a bad book, but I had hoped for a bit more.

Harriet and Wyn stressed me out REAL BAD.
But, they're cute or whatever. A good book to read during the weekend.

3.75 stars rounded up.

I enjoy Emily's writing. I find the banter is always good, and the writing is engaging.

I personally don't love a second chance romance, as sometimes I find it hard to root for the couple to get back together. Sometimes I feel like they overlook important differences just to get a happy ending, but in this book, there was enough growth that seeing Harry and Wyn end up together didn't annoy me.

I did think there was more “little dramas” or small inconveniences/misunderstandings between all the characters then was needed, but not enough that they took away from the overall vibe of the book.

Uff why so depressing? Meh, I honestly didn't like much about this book. I was expecting a feel-good romcom and I didn't get that. For most of the book, everyone was having a hard time both in the present and in the flashbacks and just pretending to be ok.

I didn't like the couple or the friend group, none of them communicate AT ALL, which made no sense since they're supposed to be the closest group of people. It also seemed really stupid that a group of people with such a strong bond and love for each other would fall apart because a house is being sold. If your relationship is what makes that house your happy place, then you can feel that same joy, safety, warmth anywhere else as long as you're all together. Mourning the loss of a house in such an extreme way seems exaggerated and quite childish imo.

The reason why the guy decided to break up was SO STUPID, specially after being in a relationship for eight years and being so close to actually marry? I get there had to be an excuse to break them up to have them make up again but huh???

The ending, omg, the ending. I do understand her being disillusioned with her job and what it entails. I can even understand her just wanting to leave everything for him, as a grand gesture typical of love stories. But her parents just accepting it? After how shitty they've been about expectations and sacrifice and all that? The same parents that have been and actively are abusive to their other daughter about her life and career choices? Also, leaving everything for pottery??? Something she has been doing for like two seconds on a whim?

In the wise words of January from Beach Read, “Happy endings don't matter if the getting there sucks."

4/5 - This was a really good story as it was about a friend group getting older and growing apart and trying to come to terms with it. I thought the characters were very well fleshed out as I identified with many of the people in the story. The FMC (Harriet) chasing a dream of being a doctor in order to appease her parents, only to decide as she got older, that she needed to make decisions for herself. I will say as much as I liked the MMC (Wynn) poor thing self esteem was bottom of the barrel. I don't know how Harriet dealt with him as long as she did and decided she wanted to CONTINUE to be with him. Couldn't be me. For him to have come from such a great and loving family, not sure how he had such low self worth.

A book called happy place should not make you cry as much as this did

I am not sure what to rate this book. I have so many mixed and STRONG emotions when I think of the story

- on the one hand I hated how close it hit to home and how many times I cried while reading this

- on the other hand, the way Emily Henry is able to depict such deep topics in only a few hundred pages is baffling. Amazing writing. You could highlight/mark almost the whole book.

I don't give a fuck

This was okay. Not my favorite Emily Henry (still People We Meet on Vacation by a wide margin). I sort of appreciate her reimagining of the divorce-remarriage plotline, but didn't find the amount of miscommunication particularly believable and/or sympathetic, and (although thinking back on it, includes her other stuff I've read), there's so much drinking! Now I'm sounding like a hater, but I don't regret reading, was entertained, and her best work means I'll keep reading!

So I finally read that. In some ways that was one of the most impactful reading of my last two years. It echoed a lot of things in me and really made me think. I think I'll need to re read it some time just to be able to fully enjoy and comprehend it..

Lovely book!
Feels nice how the book drags you into the story and takes you on a journey with the main character.
I really love the ending as it also hides a good lesson for every one of us I think. A lesson we all know, but so often forget.
Although sometimes the sentence construction does not fit the kind of writing I like, I'm looking forward to reading more of Emily Henry.

DNF at 50% after reading reviews here and figured out the pay off for all these build up is not worth it.

Emily Henry does it again. She's singlehandedly turning a romance sceptic into a romantic.

I think the book is well written, has a lot of depth, very sad at moments but it fits the vibe of a romance, just, lighthearted enough but with the sad moments before the cuteness arrives

If I spent more than approximately $200,000 on a degree, I'd be damned if I moved to a fly-over state and decided to spend the rest of my life selling pottery I'm not very good at.

I'd go with 3.5 stars. It is the perfect sweet, quick beach read that will have you rooting for the main characters from start to finish. Set against a backdrop of sun, sand, and sea, this novel dives into the unending search for happiness, the courage it takes to leap into the unknown, and the deeply intricate relationships with your closest friends and what happens when time gets in the way.
Henry's writing shines as she weaves relatable themes throughout the narrative, making the reader reflect on their own friendships and life choices. The characters are wonderfully crafted, each with their own quirks and struggles, making it easy to cheer them on as they navigate their personal journeys.

3.5. Might be my favorite or 2nd favorite book of hers, but Emily Henry just isn't for me I guess