Happy Place

Loved it. All 400 pages. More page really, since I read the large print version.

What really struck me was how much I grew to love all the characters in this tale. Initially, I thought it would be full of self-involved people who hung out in college and never let go of those days. And in some ways, like the never-letting-go part, they were. However, they also all had a certain tenderness to them.

Of course the book mostly focuses on Harriet and her now ex, Wyn. Ten years has passed since they first hooked up and like a lot of couples, they found they couldn't live with or without each other.

I enjoyed that their jobs were actually a significant part of their lives. Some books it seems the characters don't have to earn a living. However, jobs were also part of the reason they broke up which is so realistic. I like Wyn's growth, for admitting he needed to work on himself. I liked Harriet's growth for examining her own motivations for pursuing medical school.

Like all of Emily Henry's novels, her dialogue was spot on. You felt as if you were listening in on the reunion of good friends who don't see each other enough. Also, the author was able to show the strains on friendship that crop up as people mature. As much as we all want to stay connected to our old friends, life and work get in the way.

Harriet's crew of friends were lucky to meet up once a year at an idyllic cottage in Maine. However, that cottage is being sold, and I did wonder how/if the friends would continue to connect. I could definitely imagine a sequel to this book. The characters are great and their continued evolution would be intriguing. Fingers crossed! I'd definitely read the next phase of the story.