Stephanie Sullivan: Review

TITLE: Happy Place

RATING: ★★★★

RELEASE DATE: April 25th, 2023

Summary (from Goodreads): 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?

A couple who broke up months ago make a pact to pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

REVIEW: I’ve always enjoyed Emily Henry’s books and Happy Place is no exception. As always, the dialogue is incredible, and I literally laughed out loud numerous times over some of the banter between the characters. The main hero and heroine, Wyn and Harriet, are likeable characters. They both have personality flaws they have to face and overcome for the sake of their relationship, and I believe Emily Henry unraveled that layer by layer in a wonderful way that makes you love Wyn and Harriet - flaws and all. The only real problem I had with this book was the drug use amongst the characters. Now, I’m not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but smoking marijuana and tripping on gummies made me think of them more as teenagers than adults, so it was hard to take them and their “life problems” seriously. The drug use feels strange and out of place in an Emily Henry book, and I don’t understand why it was included, but…anyway…I would still recommend it. (The book, I mean. Not the drugs. LOL) I just hope it doesn’t become a regular thing in her future books. (Fingers crossed!)

(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)