Book Review: Navigating the Happy Place with Emily Henry
Buckle up, bitches, because I’ve got a load to unpack about "Happy Place." I was curious to dive back into the realm of Emily Henry after being woefully underwhelmed by "Beach Read." Maybe, just maybe, this latest novel would wrap its arms around my skeptical heart. Spoiler alert: it didn’t quite go as planned.
At its core, "Happy Place" revolves around Harriet and Wyn, who have been through the wringer of a breakup yet find themselves pretending to be a couple during a week-long retreat with their best friends—five months after calling it quits. The irony isn’t lost on me: If they’ve moved on, why are they acting like they haven’t? And honestly, that’s where the intrigue begins to fade. It was tough for me to connect with Harriet and Wyn; their chemistry felt more like a lukewarm cup of coffee rather than a steaming hot romance.
My feelings toward the characters were complicated. On one hand, I get that they were attempting to navigate their unresolved feelings. But as I’m reading, I felt like a third wheel. Harriet’s actions were riddled with inner monologues, while Wyn often felt like a flat character—like a shoe or possibly a rock. “Come on, man! You’ve been in this relationship for eight years; when are you going to make some moves?” I kept shouting into the pages.
The side characters? A big ol’ shrug from me. They felt so one-dimensional that it was hard to even remember their names at times. Sabrina exuded controlling energy and, while I enjoyed watching her get called out, the rest of the crew barely left a mark. I don’t know about you, but I believe side characters should add depth, not confusion. Their dynamics felt more like a high school group project where everyone’s worried about their individual grades and no one’s actually contributing.
Henry’s writing style has its highs and lows—a slippery slope that had me both nodding along and cringing simultaneously. There were moments that struck a chord: "Same, sis, same!" Those metaphors, though? Sometimes overcooked to the point of distraction. And that jump from past to present? Yeah, didn’t work for me. Can we focus on the present, please?
Let’s talk about communication—or the complete lack thereof. Miscommunication is a pet peeve of mine, and it was rampant throughout the book. Harriet and Wyn kept playing this game of assumptions instead of having real conversations. Readers are left screaming, "Just talk to each other already!” After all those years together, it felt utterly implausible that they couldn’t. Breaking up over the phone? That’s just… no.
I one-hundred percent agree that Wyn’s character deserved more depth. If we’d been able to see the world through his eyes—his struggles with grief and mental health—it might have made him more relatable, instead of just a shadowy figure lurking behind Harriet’s more complex personality.
But hey, not everything about "Happy Place" felt like a chore. There were glimpses of honesty that resonated with me, particularly in moments of vulnerability. I get the appeal of Henry’s work, but perhaps romance as a main theme just isn’t my jam. After a night of overthinking and self-loathing (thank you very much), I found myself questioning if I was meant to enjoy books of this nature at all.
In closing, if you’re someone who thrives on the ups and downs of romantic entanglements and can overlook flat character dynamics for the sake of drama, then "Happy Place" might just be a delightful escape for you. As for me? I think this is where my journey with Emily Henry comes to an end—at least for now. Maybe it’s not you, Emily; maybe it’s me. Until next time, fellow reader friends!
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