Review - Happy Place by Emily Henry

 

Title: Happy Place

Author: Emily Henry

Pages: 400

 Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 25th April 2023

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 Harriet and Wyn are the perfect couple - they go together like bread and butter, gin and tonic, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Except, now they don't.

They broke up six months ago. And they still haven't told anyone.

Which is how they end up sharing a bedroom at the cottage that has been their yearly getaway with their best friends for the past decade. For one glorious week they leave behind their lives, drink far too much wine and soak up the sea air with their favourite people.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth. The cottage is for sale so this is the last time they'll all be together here and they can't bear to break their friends' hearts. So, they'll fake it for one more week.

It's a flawless plan (if you look at it through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses).

But how can you pretend to be in love with someone - and get away with it - in front of the people who know you best?

Brimming with characters you can't help but fall for and off-the-charts chemistry, HAPPY PLACE is Emily Henry's best novel yet.

 

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin*

Harriet hasn't told anyone about her break-up with her fiancé, Wyn.

Now she finds herself sharing a room with him at the yearly holiday that Harriet and her friends have, pretending that she and Wyn are still madly in love.

Harriet can get through one week without anyone figuring out something is wrong, right?

She thought she could, but now Harriet isn't so sure.

The premise for this book intrigued me, and I was keen to read it and find out how long Harriet and Wyn could keep up their deception for.

Harriet was a likeable and relatable protagonist. She was funny and I liked her banter with Wyn, who I also liked, as well as their friends. I thought it was really sad how both Harriet and Sabrina's upbringing and relationships with their parents affected their lives. I also found it sad that Harriet and her sister weren't close.

The story is told with chapters set in the past and the present, and I enjoyed finding out how Harriet and Wyn got together.

I could definitely feel the chemistry between Harriet and Wyn, and I was really hoping that they would get back together.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped or itching to read the next chapter. I liked the themes in the book, and I did tear up a few times.

The writing style was easy to follow. This is the third book I've read by the author, and I would happily read another.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.