Happy Place by Emily Henry: My Review of this Second Chance Romance Book
Can’t wait to hear about Emily Henry’s latest romance book? Then check out my review of Happy Place to see if Emily Henry’s latest is a second chance romance book worth reading.
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Happy Place
by Emily Henry
Category: New Adult Romance, Contemporary Romance
Romance Trope Tags: Second Chance Romance, Forced Proximity, Doctor
Published April 2023
Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★
Boyfriend Rating: 
Happy Place Summary:
Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they aren’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.
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.
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?
Happy Place Review:
Emily Henry has become one of those one-click authors for me because I love her writing and storytelling.
I’m all about second chance romance books and a great cast of characters so I was excited to dive right into Happy Place, her newest release for 2023.
To get straight to the point, I really enjoyed reading it though it didn’t knock off People We Meet on Vacation as my favorite Emily Henry book.
It definitely had me hooked and begging to know what could have possibly torn Wyn and Harry apart since it was so obvious how much they still loved one another.
It was this same feeling that had me hooked while reading People We Meet on Vacation but the resolution wasn’t as fulfilling in this one.
Sometimes when the reason for keeping a couple apart comes to light it’s so disappointing or doesn’t make sense but I think Henry does a fantastic job of really exploring a relationship that lasted eight years until it didn’t.
Happy Place is a book that does a great job really exploring not only how people change from college to early work life but also how friend groups evolve as well. So in that respect it’s really more than just a second chance romance.
This book had a fantastic cast of characters that only help to flush out the characterization of the Harriet and Wyn and helped to bring out more of their nuances. I loved their story arcs just as much and that they didn’t overshadow the main characters.
I do feel like the ending/resolution was a bit anticlimactic but overall this was a good read that I couldn’t put it down.
The Characters of Happy Place
Wyn and Harry are wonderful.
I loved Harry’s struggle with living up to others’ expectations but I really fell for Wyn.
He had this vulnerability that I adored. He was sort of a cinnamon roll but in the best way. I really felt for his struggle with inadequacy.
Henry makes these characters really human with feelings that many people struggle with in relationships and friendships.
It was evident with everyone that even though they may love the people in the relationships in their life, it’s not always easy to be honest with them or to share their feelings. Yet from the outside looking in, I just wanted to scream at times to Wyn and Harry – why didn’t you just talk to each other?!
Overall, I highly recommend this second chance, forced proximity romance. People We Meet on Vacation is still my absolute favorite of Henry’s but I enjoyed this more than Book Lovers.
More Emily Henry Books:
Book Lists With this Book:
- Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2023
- 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Romance
- Emily Henry Books in Order
- Best Forced Proximity Romance Books
Related Book Lists:
- Best Second Chance Romance Books
- Best Friends to Lovers Romance Books
- Romance Books that Inspire Travel
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