Happy Place by Emily Henry
My latest read is Happy Place by Emily Henry, and I have to say, it’s my favorite book of hers so far. The angst and longing between Harriet and Wyn were portrayed with such vividness that their emotions practically leapt off the pages and straight to my heart. The storytelling also delivered just the right amount of mystery surrounding their breakup, keeping me hooked and making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
I’m having a hard time writing a review for this one because I found myself relating a lot to Harriet. Her deep-seated need to make her loved ones proud, coupled with the weight of her family dynamics, felt all too familiar. It was impossible not to see parts of myself in her struggles.
I also loved how the book wasn’t just about Harriet and Wyn’s romance—it beautifully captured the dynamics of their entire friend group. I have friends who are basically family, so those scenes hit closer to home than I expected. As someone who’s moved to another country, the fear of losing connections and the inevitable changes that come with distance are things I know all too well.
I won’t lie—this book had me in tears more than once. So many moments felt deeply personal, and that emotional resonance made Happy Place an unforgettable read for me.
Harriet and Wyn are the perfect couple - they go together like bread and butter, gin and tonic, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Except, now they don't.
They broke up six months ago. And they still haven't told anyone.
Which is how they end up sharing a bedroom at the cottage that has been their yearly getaway with their best friends for the past decade. For one glorious week they leave behind their lives, drink far too much wine and soak up the sea air with their favourite people.
Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth. The cottage is for sale so this is the last time they'll all be together here and they can't bear to break their friends' hearts. So, they'll fake it for one more week.
It's a flawless plan (if you look at it through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses).
But how can you pretend to be in love with someone - and get away with it - in front of the people who know you best?