I read Happy Place in my happy place. In a cottage on the beach (sometimes on the beach itself) in Cape Cod where I've been going once a year with my family since I have been 5 years old. I saved it for this trip because I thought it seemed poetic. I'm a firm believer that reading a book in the right place, at the right time, the right moment, it can change your life. 

And while I will concede that I am often romanticize my own emotions to a fault and am a victim to my own wistful nostalgia, I think this book did that for me. I think Emily Henry does a wonderful job combing the romance genre with literary fiction. In real talk, I think what that means is she rights real romance. Romance that happens not in the pages of the book, but has probably happened to the woman you passed on the street the other day, and that couple you spotted in the corner of the coffee shop and thought "Wow, they have the real deal" without any firm grasp of what they went through to get there. Basically, romance with a big reality slap to the face. Sometimes it makes me laugh, though usually it make me cry. 

(I spent 60% if this book with tears in my eyes, and an extra 10% actually crying.)

I started this book and I loved it immediately. I loved the writing, the descriptions, the vivid imagery of the marshmallow boat seats and an artichoke-heart-hug. The writing in Emily Henry's books are beautiful and <I>cozy</I> and there are quotes everywhere that I just L O V E. 

Instantly I liked Harriet. And instantly I was in love with Wyn. Their banter, was so natural, and funny, and made me recall the few people in my life I have that kind of ease with. I loved them so much together that I was rooting for them the whole time. Desperate to find out where they went wrong because it just seemed impossible that the Harry and Wyn of the past could have somehow ended  up so far apart in the present. Usually I don't love dual timelines (I didn't know this book was dual timeline when I started), but I think it worked really well in this. It showed how things can go wrong even when you think you're doing what's right. How miscommunication often happens with the people we think we communicate with and know the best. 

About halfway through this book I started to get frustrated with Harriet. I was thinking, "Is this whole plot one massive miscommunication trope?" because that is my biggest reading ick, my pet peeve. Personally, I think I was right. But I didn't hate it. 

What was the miscommunication about? Well, without spoilers, it's being adults. I feel like Harry and Wyn grew up together to the point where they didn't know how to adapt to each other in their new lives. Harriet always runs away from an argument, this frustrated me to NO END. But Wyn also projects his own feelings onto those around him, he thinks for other people and it is so damaging. They needed to talk it out and I was waiting for them to do that the whole time (spoiler: they do). 

Mostly though I think Harry bothered me so much because she really remind me of myself. The things that bother me the most about her are the things that I feel I also need to work on and because of that I think this book effected me way more than I anticipated. 

The friendship aspect of this book added so much more emotions and life lessons as well. Cleo, Sabrina, and Harriett had this amazing friendship that works so well on the page and while it was heartbreaking to see them all wrestle with how to they could keep themselves together in each of their new lives, it was comforting to see that new beginning for them all. That there were places for each of them in their respective lives if they wanted it. 

Overall, I laughed. I cried. I couldn't stop reading. I had to put it down for a moment because I couldn't keep going. At some points it felt like I was finally passing a car wreck, after sitting in traffic for hours, and even though I know I shouldn't, I couldn't help but try and catch a glimpse of the damage. 

I feel achey and satisfied. This book, about basically a group of friends going through a 1/3rd life crisis, effected me deeply and I would recommend it to so many people without an announce of embarrassment and slightly wicked intentions knowing it will make them laugh, but mostly cry too. I hope this review makes some sense, and I hope you love it!