Oh, Emily Henry. Some may call her the best author (myself included) but it's because of how she writes. It's not necessarily what she writes. Sure, she writes romance, and as a self-proclaimed romance expert, I pride myself on finding the best written ones. But calling Emily Henry a romance author just doesn't feel... right. Because her books are so much more than just romance. They're almost powerful in the way that they're written — almost like she understands you. At least that's how I feel.
Happy Place is no different. This is a book perfect for girls who relate to The Archer by Taylor Swift, or girls, who, growing up, felt like they needed to earn their spot in their own family. This book feels like it was made for eldest daughters, who spent a lot of their life feeling like everything fell onto their shoulders. Who, just like Harriet, fell into a career or a major that would make their parents happy, but it wasn't their passion. And who, just like Harriet, seem to lose their spark by the time they hit their 20s or 30s.
When I sat down to read Happy Place, I was upstate with my family. At some point, I had to seclude myself to finish it, because I knew that it was a tear-jerker. I knew that for the first time in a while, Emily Henry had made me feel seen with just one book.
Now, I read a lot of books. (I read 119 last year, and at the time of reading Happy Place, I think I was at book #20. So I mean a lot.) And as someone who spends more time reading than socializing, it is very rare that I resonate so deeply with a character I read about the way that I resonated with Harriet.
Harriet felt like the ultimate people pleaser. Think You're Losing Me-esque vibes. (I mean, could this book be any more Taylor Swift coded??) She's my sweet, little, archer/mirrorball girlie, and I wanted to throw my book across the room & curse out Emily Henry so many times because it was like she dug her way into my little brain and ripped out every thought I've ever had.
I mean, just look at these pages. This is ripped from every anxious girl's diary.
Honestly, this entire book, through Harriet, felt like a love letter to anxious girls everywhere. Like, someone will love you & cherish you, even in your most anxious and overwhelmed states, and you are worthy of everything that comes to you, whether it's romantic love or friendships.
And there's something so beautiful about that, isn't there?
I word-vomited my review on Goodreads, and on Instagram, but I feel the need to do it again.
This book, in all honesty, will probably be one of my top reads of the entire year. And as I'm writing this, sitting currently at 32 books read this year alone, that's a bold statement, given that it is June and there is literally half a year to go. But that is truly how much I loved this book. Like, I wish I could erase my memory so I could read it for the first time, because I just want to experience it again.
I was a so-called "Emily Henry Truther" well before Happy Place. I read all of her books, from Book Lovers to Beach Read, and to literally no one's surprise, People We Meet on Vacation was a consistent favorite. But there is just something about Happy Place that just got me, and it is so much more than the anxious-girlie archer/mirrorball rep.
And for the life of me, I cannot place my finger on it. (Which, for obvious reasons, is very annoying.)
But, I have to say, not only did I adore Harriet, I loved every single character in this story. Everyone had flaws, and it made them feel so real, like they were my friends too, not just Harriet's & Wyn's. Which, I absolutely adored, because when I read, I love feeling like the characters are my friends. (Anyone else?)
Honestly, I could go on and on about this book. I could go on and on about Emily Henry. I wish I could give this book infinity stars, and give Emily Henry a big hug and tell her thank you.
But I do have to settle for five stars, because that is how ratings work. And, maybe one day, I'll be able to hug her. But right now, I just gush about her books on the internet.
If you have yet to read Happy Place, I suggest you get on that ASAP. You're really missing out!
Purchasing links are below.
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