Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

Romance winner



Happy Place by Emily Henry

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 six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest 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, blue 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?

A couple who broke up months ago make a pact to pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

I selected this book from the local bookstore because of its bright pink cover. It’s a beautiful cover. The book itself. Ugh! For me, it was so slow. Sooo. Sooo. Slow.

I don’t really remember the ending, as I was just counting down pages until it would be over.

I have friends that loved it and are big Emily Henry fans. They’ve recommended I try another EH book. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it as I fear I’m not into her specific style of slow burn.

I'm a big Emily Henry fan, but this one was a miss for me and by far my least favourite of hers. Ended up giving it 3 stars like you Christi.

Lynn. Reading your comments just talked me into another Emily Henry. I feel like everyone recommends Beach Read to me. I’ll add that to my queue. I’ll get back to you on my “now open for growth” Emily Henry thoughts. 😁

I’ve not read Beach Read, Christi, but I loved Book Lovers. Lynn, which was your favorite Henry book?

My favorite Emily Henry book was Book Lovers. People We Meet on Vacation was my least favorite. This one was somewhere in between for me. I need to read some more of her books, but it seems to be a mixed bag for me, at least.

Kristie wrote: "I’ve not read Beach Read, Christi, but I loved Book Lovers. Lynn, which was your favorite Henry book?"

They are all pretty much even to be honest, but I think Book Lovers probably hits the top spot a teeny tiny bit.

1. Book Lovers
2. Beach Read
3 = Funny Story
3 = People You Meet on Vacation




5. Happy Place

Don't let my comments put people off Happy Place btw, it is far from a bad book. A lot of people love it.

But for me it relied heavily on a trope I particularly hate.

I still want to read Funny Story too.

I rather enjoyed this one. I gave it four stars and remember thinking it was a little generous, but I didn't feel right giving it 3 stars either. That just seemed too low for my enjoyment of it.

Lynn wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I’ve not read Beach Read, Christi, but I loved Book Lovers. Lynn, which was your favorite Henry book?"

They are all pretty much even to be honest, but I think Book Lovers probably ..."

I agree with this ranking 100% (except I havent finished a Funny Story yet)!

This was my least favorite by Emily Henry as well. I gave it 3 stars because it was still decent but the two main characters drove me crazy. (view spoiler)[ It was very much a this whole book could have been skipped by an open and honest conversation between all the characters. This type of non communication is acceptable when you're young but at their age? Not so much in my opinion. The book kept telling me these people loved each other so much and were so close but not showing me. I feel like that type of closeness only comes with being vulnerable and honest with other people. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Having said all that, I will still read anything and everything Emily Henry writes because at this point, I don't think she's capable of writing a bad book. (hide spoiler)]

Jenna wrote: "This was my least favorite by Emily Henry as well. I gave it 3 stars because it was still decent but the two main characters drove me crazy. [spoilers removed]

Having said all that, I will still r..."

Yup, (view spoiler)[miscommunication is the trope that I was talking about above. This book was FULL of it. Not just the two main characters, but the whole freaking friends group. It was just relentless (hide spoiler)]

I just read that Jennifer Lopez is producing a series adaptation of this book for Netflix.

A fun fast read