Happy Place - Emily Henry

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best? (link)

Review: 2/5

This book was infuriating to me - mostly because I don’t believe in 1) lying to the only people who care about you and 2) trying to emulate “we belong together but we’re broken up” tropes 3) blonde men (unless portrayed by Rudy Pankow or Drew Starkey). Also, what names are “Wyn” and “Parth”? I’m not hating, I just find them distracting, which is probably more of an internal issue that I need to figure out.

I was bored for a solid 70% of this book. A factor of this boredom might have been realizing how unrealistic the conversation was between characters. It made me spiral a bit… Are all her books like this?

Also, the crying voice the narrator does is awful. I’ll admit, this narrator isn’t my favorite, but she does a damn good man voice (some I’ve heard are INSUFFERABLE).

Second thing I hated; how cringe Wyn (mmc) is. When he says “so fucking cute” I literally screamed EWWW multiple times out loud - I’m talking Brittany Broski scream. Maybe it’s just Henry’s writing because the phrase “My meditation app often tells me-” also aggravated me; it’s like a rip-off version of “my therapist told me”. I get wanting to add context, but it just took away from the emotional impact for me.

I just really can’t believe that someone would be broken up with their FIANCE for MONTHS and Harriet (mfc) continues to lie to her friends about it. It kind of emanates a “forced proximity” trope, especially with the one-bed situation.

I do like that Harriet is suddenly interested in pottery and doing something for herself; I kind of see my friend Alyssa in her (only in that moment. Alyssa, if you and your fiance ever break up and you don’t tell me, I will hurt you.)

About halfway through, I had the stray thought “is this Henry’s attempt at a Normal People” or “After I do” ? There’s a couple that’s broken up, a major plot event reunites them, they have to lie about still being together, and then they end up back together. I wanted to DNF even at 96%.

Also, what does “one side of his mouth quirks” or “one side of his mouth tips upwards” MEAN? I’m not sure I’ve ever had a man “quirk a side of his mouth” at me. I’m not even sure what that looks like in a physical sense.

I almost wish Wyn did have a girlfriend the whole time, cheated on that girlfriend with Harriet, then she finds out in an awful way. I would’ve been more interested in a plot like that. I was waiting the ENTIRE time for something dramatic to happen, and it NEVER came. SO anticlimactic. Does anyone have any recommendations for a book like that? Or do I have to write it myself? **eye roll**

AND OF COURSE they end up back together!?! But NOT until the 98% mark! Where was Wyn’s big declaration of love before that? And Harriet’s “I don’t wanna say goodbye to your rodeo shirt” during her “you don’t get to dump me” speech at the end… just nauseated me. If there’s one thing you can expect with an Emily Henry book, it’s a big declaration at the end.

I firmly believe that people break up for a reason — and if there's no growth afterward, then what was the point of breaking up in the first place? Sure, you might gain clarity after a breakup, but I don’t think it’s fair to your partner (or technically, ex) to put them through an emotional tug-of-war over whether or not you should be together. Personally, I’ve never broken up with someone and then wanted to get back together — and the same goes for when I was the one who got broken up with. That said, I’ll admit I’m not great at giving second chances, so take my perspective with a grain of salt.

“Are you saying I can come home?” “I’m saying it’s not home without you there” fine that would have melted me.

Long story short, I’m not completely sure why I hated this book, but I did. Sure, there were a few minor redeemable parts/quotes, but I was bored and distracted by the unrealistic conversation for most of it. This is, by far, my least favorite Henry book. I’m hopeful I can get back on the bandwagon eventually. I had to envision Drew Starkey as Wyn to even be remotely attracted to him, and that barely helped… he was just so cringe!

This playlist is a depressed white man’s wet dream - Wyn Connor, this one’s for you babe! Enjoy!

Spotify: LINK