Happy Place by Emily Henry

Happy Place introduced Harriet and Wyn, the perfect couple since they met in college. However, they broke up only half a year ago, and none of their best friends know, which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their best friends’ spot for a yearly meet for the last decade. Because this is the last year before the cottage goes on sale, Harriet and Wyn have to pretend so everyone has a memorable vacation, even though they still want each other. The question remains if they can fake it for one week in front of the people who know them best.

While Emily Henry is well versed in romance in her prior books like People We Meet on Vacation and Book Lovers, Happy Place is more than a romance. It questions the life of friends after college. There is typically a stereotype that discusses how most people’s best friends will be made during college, and Happy Place questions how the reality of best friends looks after college is over. I praise Emily Henry’s books based on the fact that she takes very common tropes but somehow twists them to make them unique. While the “one bedroom” trope is common, this book explores more than just romance. It explores life after college and the realities of friendship and secrets. It talks about broken families and how it affects personal views and generations into the future. It talks about the striving for academic success in order to make our families proud, and it talks about finding your passion during mid-career and if it’s worth taking the leap. This book was more pensive, thoughtful and deep, taking readers through a past and present timeline, exploring tight-knit friend groups and finding “the one.”

Personally, I loved this book. It’s definitely different if you’re reading and expecting full romance like her other books. There are romance moments that are fully original and extremely emotional, but Emily Henry just has the ability to pull on heartstrings with anything she writes. I’ve loved every book that she’s written. I would honestly recommend this to anyone. This book is nuanced and for all types of readers!

Books similar to Happy Place:

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry / The Do-Over by Lynn Painter / Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Book Happy Place on hold today.

Review by Mina Nguyen

February 7th is World Read Aloud Day! Scroll down to see some good books to read aloud!

The good egg / Jory John 

When the other eggs in his carton behave badly, the good egg feels like he needs to be perfect.

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Ella’s night light / Lucy Fleming

A light-loving magical girl with mothlike wings that are too delicate to be out in the sun collects glowing objects while flittering about at night, sharing them with others who need them most until the day her animal friends decide to return her kindness.

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The day you begin / Jacqueline Woodson

Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider.

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Pugtato finds a thing / Sophie Corrigan

While on a quest to discover the identity of the mysterious item he accidentally dug up, Pugtato learns to follow his heart.

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The pug who wanted to be a unicorn / Bella Swift

When Peggy the pug puppy is abandoned at the animal shelter just before Christmas, unicorn-loving Chloe’s family takes her in for a week. The playful pug loves Chloe and wishes she could stay with her forever. But Chloe doesn’t want a dog – she wants a unicorn! Believing anything is possible, Peggy decides she will somehow turn into a unicorn to make Chloe’s Christmas. Can Peggy somehow find a way to become a unicorn, making Chloe’s Christmas wish and her own wish for a new home come true?

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The mouse and the motorcycle / Beverly Cleary

A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.

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 Amelia Bedelia goes camping / Peggy Parish

As always, Amelia Bedelia follows exactly the instructions given to her on a camping trip, including pitching a tent and rowing boats.

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