Another great read by this fantastic author. I loved how multilayered the plot was; dealing not only with the main character, Harriet, but also with her best friends and their respective lives. But the thing I appreciated the most, was Henry’s take on the second-chance romance trope. It worked perfectly in this novel, primarily in how it showed that a happy ending is not as easy as you might think. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy. What a gorgeous book! The author has a great gift for characterisation - nuanced, interesting, believable people but created with a charming lightness of touch. Thanks to a great author we have warmth, wisdom and emotional intelligence, this book was a huge pleasure to read!

I ADORED Book Lovers by Emily Henry,which was my first introduction to this author, so I jumped at the chance to read and review her upcoming title Happy Place and thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I do not consider myself a fan ofsecond- chance romances. Honestly, it feels like at some point this trope tookromance readers by a storm and they forgot to tell me about it. And by the timethey did… I just didn’t listen. That being said, Happy Place made me realise why that is: How can I trust the bond between the couple is so strong that it can bring them back together, if I haven’t experienced it form in the firstplace? As in, if I haven’t read about the side- glances and the first moments of touch and how their feelings spilled out and unfurled during a meal or in an argument while driving to meet their friends, then how can I root for them AGAIN? The lack of connection leads to a lack of connectivity. This book gaveus glimpses into the couple’s past and tried to bridge that gap. I’m not sure ifit was not adequate or if just this trope doesn’t fully work for me, but I was nit swept off my feet by this story.

Don’t get me wrong. Emily Henry’swriting will not let you put this book down. What addictive bookish substance do you lace them books with, Emily?! There are some themes in her novels, as faras I can tell (and I have read two of them, so I’m basically an expert now-face palm-), which are like great ingredients to her recipe. For example, long-distance relationship is the feared obstacle that can drive the main coupleapart or cause them to potentially not overcome it. The writing is fun but sad, paradoxically sadder in Happy Place (than in Book Friends, I can’t help but compare, so sue me!). While the first couple of pages did not suck me in, because they start with landscape descriptions, then whoosh- it got me! I was not particularly interested in the descriptions, which were there but a bit superficial, nonetheless. I just cared more for the dialogue and the interaction.I also felt that the stakes were not high. And all that because the friend group… Awkward. Did not see that friendship bond that was so strong yet so fragile that nobody wanted to sayanything lest it may crack. 
Did I read the book in two days: YES.
Would I recommend it? Would notnot recommend it. Make of that what you will.
Did it make me curious to go back to Book Lovers to see if the magic fizzled out a bit for me? Yes and it did feel a bit different, to be honest. It is the kind of book that I am in the zone to read, but potentially only once.
Did I buy Beach Read a few daysafter? DUH.
Did I see a person reading People WeM eet On Vacation, which I took as a sign to order that book? Well, obvs.

Wyn and Harriet broke up five months ago…they just didn’t tell anyone, especially their closest friends. That becomes a bit of a problem when they have to reunite for their friends’ wedding and spend a week away together. They can fake it until they make it right?

As with all other books by Emily Henry “Happy Place” is written beautifully. It’s packed full of the feel good, the friction and the will they/won’t they thatI devoured in her previous books.

I am less enthusiastic about the second chance romance trope than her usual enemies to lovers trope and one of the side characters really irritated me.

Those are minor niggles in a life affirming, page turning book about finding your tribe and the life you want.

Thanks to Emily Henry, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Emily Henry's previous books, but this has to be my favourite of them all. I think out of all of Emily's books, this one was the most relatable, with the group of friends all having their own separate lives, but coming back to their happy place one last time to be together. It had me both laughing and balling my eyes out, and once you throw in a close-proximity trope, it was everything I love in a romance! It's very quickly become one of my favourite reads of all time, and I can't wait to re-read it once it's out.

Happy Place is about Harriet and Wyn who have been the golden perfect couple in their friends' circle but all is not as rosy as it seems. They have secretly broken up but now have to pretend to be together in front of their best friends for their annual vacation together.
As usual Emily Henry did not disappoint. She just somehow writes these characters that you can completely relate. Harriet especially felt so close to home that there were times I wondered if Henry hadn't somehow peered into the deepest depths of my mind. She is definitely my favourite heroine from all Henry's books. I felt a little less attached to Wyn maybe because I did not get any chapters in his POV. but the chemistry, the angst, the push and pull between Wyn and Harriet were perfectly captured. I was completely invested in their romance which was a surprise since I am usually not a big fan of second chance romances. I also loved how Henry portrayed the changing dynamic within a close knit group of friends.
If there's one negative in this book, it's the circumstance leading upto the faking a relationship part. That was, maybe a little unconvincing. But otherwise this is another winner from Emily Henry who is now a total auto-buy author.
Rating - 4.5 stars

Emily Henry’s writing just gets better and better. This book was just so amazing. I loved the plot of how it was a second chance romance and how both mcs were trying to convince their friends they were still engaged. I am already a sucker for a second chance romance and this book certainly delivered. The way Emily Henry writes I feel like she has went into my brain and just expressed that in a book, cause I always relate to all her female mcs on a personal level. Another thing that is important to me is open communication and the conversations that Harriet and Wyn had were so emotional and wholesome to read. I also appreciated the friendship aspect of this book and it was very relatable of how as we grow older how fast our lives change and we slowly lose out of touch with the people we care about. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can re-read and highlight all my annotations from the e-ARC.

BOOK REVIEW: Happy Place by @emilyhenrywrites

4.5 Stars

I AM SO EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW.
This book gave me ALL the feels. I was so excited to read Happy Place and it did not let me down. For me, Book Lovers is my absolute favourite EH book and I'm not sure it will ever be beaten but I still adored this book and could not put it down.

I don't want to spoil ANYTHING in this review so I am going to keep my thoughts pretty simple.
It's a second chance romance with tons of tropes including forced proximity, one bed and friends to lovers. The book at it's heart is a romance but its also strongly focuses on a wonderful, dysfunctional friendship group that all love with their whole hearts, just in different ways. It also touches on family and growing up in different ways. It is a HIGHLY emotional book and I welled up many times reading it. That is not just due to the wonderful storyline and brilliant characters but also how excellent Emily Henry is at writing and capturing her reader's imagination and heart.

The characters were all a funny, imperfect, realistic and loving bunch of weirdos and that is what made them so perfect for me. They have flaws, they have individual issues and they all live and love in completely different ways. Yet together they are this wonderful group of happiness that don't always get it right but definitely try their best.

My only reason this wasn't 5 stars is because of the miscommunication and how heavily the book relies on it. This is a personal thing but it just isn't my favourite trope to read and so I couldn't give it the top rating.

I loved the romance, the friendship and the found family vibes. If you are an Emily Henry fan or even just a contemporary romance fan then I highly recommend this book and know you will love it. Go preorder it now!

Please note that I was #gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think there will ever be an Emily Henry book that lets me down. Her books are effervescent, joyous, heartwarming celebrations of life and human experience; they are expert in their simplicity yet groundbreaking in how they make me feel. Happy Place is no different. It feels poetic that it's been almost two years exactly since I read Beach Read and it changed my life, and here I am now, reviewing Henry's fourth romance book - the fourth one I have adored more than words and rated five stars.

Henry effortlessly weaves this story in two timelines, her prose impeccable and the story flowing perfectly. It once again perfectly captures the nostalgic, holiday-esque vibes that are consistent through her previous books, however, this one feels significantly more emotionally loaded. Such is the case when writing a second chance romance - there is a history told slowly to the reader, that will keep you turning the pages, thoroughly engrossed.

The characters are exquisitely realistic, the dialogue varying from heartbreaking to hilarious with such ease that it no longer feels as though you're reading a novel - rather, it feels as though you're really there, in Knott's Harbour with this group of friends. Emily Henry's writing shines through, and she proves once again that she is the expert on romantic comedy dialogue - there was not one line in this book that was not clever, witty, and perfectly written. Not only that, but she further weaves the most beautiful setting, so detailed in her descriptive prose that it feels real, and evokes memories that I didn't know I had. This novel is built on the idea of places, and what they mean to us, and Emily Henry creates each one with ease, allowing the reader to slip right into the story without even noticing.

The story of Harriet and Wyn's relationship was told perfectly - they had me laughing, tearing up, swooning, and my heart aching, because of the very real and upsetting issues they'd faced in their relationship. I think Henry does an incredible job of building up their relationship in the present as well as in the flashbacks, and the payoff is such that this book flies by, the need to know what happens (and what happened) surpassing any real-world need I had for sleep or food.

But the book is, as ever with Henry's books, about more than the story of a relationship - it's about family, finding oneself, the predicament with your youth ending and the great expanse of adulthood lying before you. It's about friendship, how it evolves, and how that isn't always a bad thing. This book is layered in ways you won't even realise until you've finished, wiped your eyes, and stared at the wall for a few minutes.

If you plan on picking up one book next year, let it be this one - it is, in my opinion, unmissable. It's becoming more and more obvious to me that Emily Henry's books are my happy place.

Good. Focuses on a group of friends and how they respond to life and how it can change both the friendships and people themselves. Also shows how we can focus on certain places in our lives that bring us joy but it can get ruined by nostalgia. Another great book by Emily Henry.

Harriet's 'happy place' is her two best friends Sabrina and Cleo, and the house in Maine where they've spent so many vacations. This year, she needs it. and them, more then ever as she reels from the sudden ending of her long-term relationship. Except she hasn't got around to telling them about that yet. And somehow her ex, Wyn, is there when he shouldn't be, and she finds herself pretending that they haven't broken up at all.

Once again, the author has captured a phase of life so well. The delicate balance of a friendship group as life inevitably changes them. The pull of nostalgia versus the harsh realities of the present. And the anatomy and demise of a relationship teased out in flashback and gradually, carefully, through guarded references in Wyn and Harriet's present-day interactions. Told in first-person through Harriet's eyes, the story unfolds over a week and is a journey of discovery for the narrator pretty much in parallel with the reader - about Wyn, her friends, and herself. Beautifully written, addictive to read, highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

A fun romance. Harriet is a trainee surgeon who had her heart broken by Wyn. She goes away to spend time with her close friend and he is there which is a shock. The friends don't know that they had spilt up. Although you may be able to guess the ending it is actually a thought provoking book in many ways. How we get on the treadmill of life and aren't kind to ourselves and ultimately others. Well written.

I loved that this book got me thinking about happy places and most of all that we don’t only have to have one happy place! What luxury, to dwell upon the (hopefully) many places that have bought us joy. It felt clear from quite early on that a lot of their separation was just a huge misunderstanding and it was frustrating that they couldn’t see how careless they were being in not fighting for the love they had. I felt totally gripped by all of the characters in the group and felt the story of evolving adult friendships was told well. A thoroughly enjoyable read- thank you!

I'm still feeling raw after this book. I may have cried once or twice and now I don't know if the headache is from that or the book hangover I have now.

This book felt completely different to her other books. It wasn't a hallmark romance or a cliche sappy one. It was love at its messiest and most natural self. I was scared that this wouldn't have a happy ending, but the whole point is that you have to find and make your own happiness and treasure it. People change, and life throws curveballs but sticking with your friends and loved ones instead of letting life wash over you is what this book is all about. Love shows itself in all shapes and forms.

So yeah this was a romance, but wow was it different.

Sometimes an email hits your mailbox and you have to RUN NOT WALK straight to NetGalley to download a book. This was exactly what happened when I saw the email about Happy Place by Emily Henry. Needless to say, I was very excited to read this book!

I’ve said it before but I think it’s worth repeating - Emily Henry writes stories that, for me at least, tick all the boxes: brilliant characters, amazing writing, witty dialogue and fantastic settings and as a reader what more could you possibly want!

Happy Place is the story of Harriet and Wyn, a couple who met in college and were perfect for each other. However they broke up a few months ago and still haven’t told their friends or family. Now they find themselves on their annual group trip to Maine with their four best friends, sharing the largest bedroom and lying to everyone. When they discover that the cottage they have been going to for the last 10 years is for sale and this will be the last time they can all be there together, they decide not to ruin the trip by telling everyone about their break up. Now all they need to do is pretend they are still together. Should be easy after being in love for so many years. The only problem is they still haven’t discussed their break up and are trying desperately to ignore the fact that they still want each other. What could possibly go wrong?

At its heart, Happy Place is a story about relationships and how they shape and mould you into the person you are. From family to friends to lovers they all play a part in who you become. It’s a second chance romance with a found family that features so many wonderful characters who each have their own issues. They are all flawed but love each other so fiercely. The group dynamics are brilliantly written and I couldn’t help but love them all in their own way.

As with all of Emily’s books that I’ve read so far, this is an easy 5 stars! She has cemented herself as one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next as it’s sure to be brilliant. Only downside to getting an early copy of this book… it’s an even longer wait until the next one 😩

Another winner by Emily Henry, how does she do it?? This book centres around a group of friends who meet up each year for a cottage holiday. The others in the group have no idea that 'perfect' couple Harriet and Wyn broke up months earlier. As they know this will be the last year they can use this cottage they decide to spend the week pretending they are still together to not make things any worse... what could go wrong?
As always, Emily Henry's writing just pulls you in from the first chapter. I enjoyed a different vibe from her with the second chance angle. If you've liked any of her previous novels you won't be disappointed!

Much like Emily Henry’s previous stories, Happy Place is sweet, swoons and spicy. But unlike her other stories, this is also a little heartbreaking.

What happens after Happily Ever After? What happens when life gets difficult and what makes you and your soulmate happy are different? What happens when it’s just a little easier to stop pushing to make it work?

Maybe you just need some time in your happy place.

Sweet, caring and entirely true to life, Happy Place will make you love, make you hate, and then make you want to find your own happy place.

Sabrina, Cleo and Harriet met at college and have been each other's 'ride-or-die' friends ever since. Every summer they and their significant others have met up for a week of drinking and eating lobster at Sabrina's family's multi-million-dollar holiday home. But this year things are different; Sabrina's father is selling the villa.

Harriet and Wyn, Cleo and Kimmy, Sabrina and Parth, each couple has their secrets which will be unveiled over a tumultuous week. Does this signal the end of their friendship? Harriet is the main character, she gets to the villa prepared to tell everyone that she and Wyn split up six months ago, but when she arrives Wyn is very much in situ and Sabrina's news makes them decide to keep their break-up to themselves for the time being.

Told in vague flashbacks interspersed with real-time from their annual vacation I'm afraid I lost patience with this story long before the end. Ordinarily I love Emily Henry's novels and I was really excited to be offered an advanced copy to review but I found this all a bit juvenile, everything could have been resolved in about 30 minutes if any of the characters had actually told the others the truth at any point, instead they all run around making assumptions and indulge in a lot of navel-gazing. Truthfully, I didn't warm to either Wyn or Harriet. Sorry, just not for me this one.

I was offered an ARC of this novel by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Mattingley College in Vermont brings together best friends, Sabrina, Cleo and our narrator Harriet and now in the present day they’re getting a little bit older they only meet once a year at their “happy place”. This is Knotts Harbour a property owned by Sabrina’s father where they kickback, relax and reconnect. This year though a “little deception“ is planned as Harriet and Wyn who meet at college decide to pretend they’re still engaged for the sake of their friends. Why you may ask? Why indeed, but then he isn’t meant to be at Knotts Harbour this year so that’s plan number one out window ! How will things play out? In addition, that’s not the only surprise or shock either!

If you are an Emily Henry fan then you will know what treat lies in store for you and she doesn’t disappoint. It’s a good blend of the lighthearted fun and laughter with some heartache thrown in for good measure. The setting for this novel is great, I’d like a bit of Maine please!

The characters are really lovely, they’re all very likeable which is always a massive bonus. The friendship between the group gives you a good feeling and as the novel progresses shows you how things change with time. Harriet can be an overthinker but her feelings for Wyn are palpable. As for Wyn ….. well, you’ll have to discover that joy for yourself! Their on/off dynamics are done well, you see how their relationship changes over the years and it feels authentic, at times messy and certainly a rollercoaster of a relationship.

Emily Henry has a really engaging style of writing, she pulls you into the storyline with ease. The dialogue is good too and the ending is perfect. Although I really did enjoy this awarding it four stars, it doesn’t grab me quite as much as Book Lovers or Happy Ever After Playlist although I’m sure others will disagree!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

REVIEW: In my opinión, this was Emily Henry's saddest book. I enjoyed it, although I thought it was less hilarious.
I enjoyed the characters, and the personalities were well developed as usual. You can feel the chemistry and are transfixed in anticipation of what will happen.
I'm not a fan of the two timelines; you need the past to comprehend the future, but I'd rather the book just describe the story in chronological order, as if you were living it.
I enjoyed the book and finished it in two days, so it was a good read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering a complimentary early reading copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

RESEÑA: En mi opinión, creo que ha sido el libro de Emily Henry más triste que he leído, en mi opinión. Lo he disfrutado, aunque eso, menos divertido que otros.
Me han gustado los personajes, las personalidades bien desarrolladas como siempre. Puedes sentir la química y estar esperando ver que pasará al final.
No soy fan de los libros que van saltando en dos tiempos, entiendo que necesitas el pasado para entender el futuro, pero entonces preferiría que el libro estuviese escrito en orden cronológico así es como si lo fueras viviendo todo a la misma vez.
He disfrutado del libro, lo he leído en dos días, por lo que ha sido una buena lectura.
Gracias a Netgalley y a la editorial por dejarme leerlo a cambio de una honesta reseña.

An enjoyable read.When Harriot joins her friends in a cottage for a break no one is aware that her and her fiance Wyn have broken up so when they are thrown together again they decide to try and keep it from the other's, but it turns out they are all having difficulties in their own lives. The story is about love and friendships and the choices they make when they are honest with each other and i really enjoyed it