This is hands-down my favorite Emily Henry book. She's always been the master of hooking me in from the very first page, but Happy Place did that and This is hands-down my favorite Emily Henry book. She's always been the master of hooking me in from the very first page, but Happy Place did that and took me on a full emotional rollercoaster. No joke! REAL tears slid down my face.
The ride Harriet's "happy place" is a cabin near the shores of Maine. A small town with lots of lobster puns and boutique restaurants and shops. A place full of incredible memories with her best friends.
After a terrible few months, Harriet is thrilled to be returning to her happy place for the week—until she sees that Wyn is there. Wyn, her ex-fiance. Wyn, who she hasn't seen in five months since he abruptly ended things. To make things even more complicated, they didn't tell anyone they broke up.
Harriet and Wyn make a pact to pretend to be together to get through the week, but being in a happy place that meant so much to them and their relationship brings back so many emotions and questions. Besides, can they keep things from their friends who know them better than anyone?
Existential crisis What I absolutely loved about this book compared to the last three is the emotional maturity that exists in this. Typically, Henry's miscommunication tropes fall flat for me, but Happy Place offers so much depth for these characters. The feelings they all feel makes sense, and it all has to do with feeling older.
Reading this, I began to wonder, "what is my happy place?" Like Harriet does throughout this book, I often fall back into nostalgia. I felt seen through the messaging this book gave, and it gave me a new perspective on what happiness and fulfillment truly is.
Feeling the love I also enjoyed how it weaved together two love stories: one with Harriet and Wyn, and the other with Harriet, Cleo, and Sabrina. There are certain people who will stick by you no matter what, and sometimes all it takes is letting them in. I think most of us are afraid of not having it together, not looking like we have the perfect life. That's okay because life is messy.
This is more than a love story. It's a reminder that life is short, and you can allow yourself space to forget perfection and truly find joy in the little things....more
This book was so sweet! If I wasn't in the mood for fall already, I am now. It truly was "everything nice", and the good vibes were just giving.
Java This book was so sweet! If I wasn't in the mood for fall already, I am now. It truly was "everything nice", and the good vibes were just giving.
Java Junction, the world's biggest supplier of coffee and birthplace of the PSL, has descended upon the small town of Briar Glen. Right across the street from the coffee shop Lucy's mother owns, and it threatens to financially ruin them. What's worse, Lucy is in class with the owner of Java Junction's son, Jack, and he's too annoyingly nice. Lucy has a distaste for the PSL and Jack, but she might have to put all those feelings aside if she wants to save her mother's business.
This is certainly more plot driven and less romance driven, but I enjoyed the good vibes nonetheless. Jack was the sweetest human being who, of course, had an affinity for Dickens. The perfect man must read classics, right?
Lucy could be a little quick to anger, but then I also had to remind myself that she a sophomore in high school. I certainly was no angel back then. This novel honestly serves as one of significant growth for Lucy as she learns to trust and also focus on what her desires are for the future. She's able to find all that through Jack.
I cozied right up and read this so quickly. It's really giving fall and made me immediately crave a Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. Thank you Scholastic for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!...more