A review by ev3lyth
Happy Place by Emily Henry
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
i'm not a big fan of second chances in romance bc it lacks the initial magic of falling in love for the first time. i enjoy witnessing the soft touches, the bottled-up feelings and the enchantment of that initial connection. second chances are more abt resolving problems which doesn't quite capture the same allure. while this story does offer glimpses of Harriet and Wyn's first meeting in flashbacks, they quickly progress from that point. still, the depth of Wyn's love and his unwavering commitment to Harriet are adorable. i wish we had seen more of their emotional development.
the theme of adult friendships growing apart is relatable and difficult to navigate, portraying real-life problems effectively. some reviewers found the friend group dynamics frustrating due to the characters' miscommunications but isn't that often the root cause of many real-life issues? this part of the story was challenging to read, yet it resonated with its authenticity.
i am not sure abt the amount of page time dedicated to the friend group dynamics. on one hand, i picked up the book for a love story between two people but on the other hand, the friends are integral to the narrative.
the book explores various heartfelt and genuine topics like people-pleasing, feeling inadequate in a relationship and the trauma of being raised by parents who don't love each other. the author's exploration of these themes is deeply insightful.
one aspect that didn't quite work for me was the resolution. Harriet and Wyn's issues weren't fully resolved, considering her people-pleasing tendencies and his insecurities. they could have spent more time addressing these issues. additionally, Harriet's decision to quit her job and move to Montana felt abrupt and lacked sufficient foreshadowing.
i have mixed feelings abt this book. i loved it at times, but i also had moments of frustration. but the story's realism and relatability make it worth considering, even though i have some criticisms.
the theme of adult friendships growing apart is relatable and difficult to navigate, portraying real-life problems effectively. some reviewers found the friend group dynamics frustrating due to the characters' miscommunications but isn't that often the root cause of many real-life issues? this part of the story was challenging to read, yet it resonated with its authenticity.
i am not sure abt the amount of page time dedicated to the friend group dynamics. on one hand, i picked up the book for a love story between two people but on the other hand, the friends are integral to the narrative.
the book explores various heartfelt and genuine topics like people-pleasing, feeling inadequate in a relationship and the trauma of being raised by parents who don't love each other. the author's exploration of these themes is deeply insightful.
one aspect that didn't quite work for me was the resolution. Harriet and Wyn's issues weren't fully resolved, considering her people-pleasing tendencies and his insecurities. they could have spent more time addressing these issues. additionally, Harriet's decision to quit her job and move to Montana felt abrupt and lacked sufficient foreshadowing.
i have mixed feelings abt this book. i loved it at times, but i also had moments of frustration. but the story's realism and relatability make it worth considering, even though i have some criticisms.