Harriet’s Happy Place has always been at her best friend family lake house. Every year Harriet along with her 5 best friends have spent weeks whiling away eating lobster rolls and lounging by the lake. Nothing could possibly ruin this year’s trip, especially not having to pretend to still be engaged to her longtime boyfriend, and best friend Wyn. In an attempt to not ruin the groups trip, Wyn and Harriet are forced to act like their still together. But as the week continues it’s not just Wyn and Harriet hiding secrets. Can the groups friendship survive distance and time?

There are three big reasons why this one didn’t work for me.

This was less of a rom-com than I was expecting and has a more serious tone than some of Henry’s previous works. This second-chance romance dives deep into the themes of growing up, friendships, and learning who you are. Henry also brings depression into the mix, though I felt it could have been integrated into the story better than it was. I’m 1000% a mood reader, and so I don’t think I was in the correct headspace to read Happy Place, especially considering I thought it would be more ‘fun’.

It drives me crazy when miscommunication or lack of communication is the main plot point. Everyone had so many secrets, and every just avoided all forms of talking about anything. Instead, Wyn and Harriet would rather not be together than voice a single concern. Some of our supporting characters also do the same thing, and it drives me crazy. We spend 99% of the book rehashing how nobody tells anybody anything, and I just got frustrated.

Lastly, the pacing of this book was off for me. Once again this could completely be because I wasn’t in the ‘mood’ to dive into a more serious story, but it felt slow. At 400 pages, I think 50 or so pages could have easily been cut.

As always, Henry has weaved some serious topics into a normally light-hearted genre. She’s proven that she’s great at writing emotional and witty romances. I’m pretty sure this will be an unpopular opinion, but unlike her other books I’ve read (which were easily 5 & 4 star reads) I just couldn’t seem to care about Harriet and Wyn. I’ve been craving mysteries and funny stories lately, so I truly believe this is a ‘me’ problem. I will 100% continue to read books from Emily Henry.

Other Emily Henry Reviews

Beach Read Review | Book Lovers Review

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION REVIEW

AMAZON | GOODREADS |★★★.5

Happy Place comes out April 25, 2023. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.