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 five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Which is how they find themselves sharing a 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, blissful 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?
Release Date: Apr 25, 2023
Heat Level: Sensual
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $11.99
Wyn and Harriet had the perfect relationship according to their friend group. However, even though the two love each other, they realize they can’t make it work. They decide to go their separate ways, and Harriet is prepared to tell her friends while on vacation to one of their favorite places. She puts a pause on revealing the secret when she discovers that their Happy Place doesn’t have the heart to tell them that they broke up. She agrees to keep the secret a bit longer and pretend they are still happy one last time.
I read this book with such anticipation and emotion. Ms. Henry may be an absolute master at the craft of drawing out the feels. The story alternates between the present and the past, reflecting the beginning of Harriet and Wyn’s long relationship.
This may not read like a traditional romance story which makes it perfect. I don’t know how to describe Ms. Henry’s style, but she takes you on a journey to get to that romantic, sweet spot. While I am a romantic at heart, I enjoyed the flashbacks most because I got to see the friendship between Harriet and her girls through the years. Happy Place is not just about romance it is about friendship, growth, and so much more.
Harriet is such a people pleaser, and she doesn’t realize how much she gives to everyone else. It is so easy to see how she got lost and couldn’t find her way in her relationship. Then there is Wyn. How delicious this character is! He has so much depth and richness to him.
I loved this book so much that I look forward to getting my hands on the audiobook. I wonder if the impact would be the same. The feels of Wyn and Harriet in love just to break up and find it all over again. This romance is such a wild rollercoaster, and I’m glad I got to enjoy the ride. As usual, I love Emily Henry’s books, and this one is no different. This is definitely another winner in my book and holds a special place in the rankings amongst her books.
~ Samantha
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