Review: Happy Place

Happy Place by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was not what I expected. I picked it up expecting a romance novel. Instead, I ended up reading a story that felt so fractured and detached that by halfway it was almost relegated to my DNF list. It was at this point however that a revelation hit me: I wasn’t reading a romance, but rather a story about love. And that changed everything…

Following a group of friends who met in college, the story unfolds through a series of flashbacks and memories during their vacation together. Central to the narrative are Harriet and Wyn, a couple central to the group, navigating the complexities of their breakup both from a personal perspective and the wider-reaching ripples of their friend group.

Reading from a romantic point of view, I found myself disenchanted. The characters seemed frustrating and whiny, or controlling and shallow, their interactions feeling superficial and lacking depth. The breakup itself felt contrived, with both parties unsure of their motives. However, a pivotal realization struck me around this point; that I was not reading a romance novel at all, but rather a narrative on how childhood trauma echoes into adulthood. The book subtly touches on the micro-traumas of childhood, where parents fail to teach emotional intelligence, leaving scars that manifest as the characters' flaws. The needy behaviour stems from a lack of learned communication of needs, while the controlling friend's demeanour reflects a life lacking in control and defined only by external validations. The aloof friend, raised in a loving environment, withdraws to avoid causing distress to others.

As the narrative unfolds, each character confronts their shortcomings, striving to find the happiness they crave. Once I grasped this deeper layer, my appreciation for the book grew. However, I found the revelations somewhat delayed, wishing for more exploration of the characters' newfound openness. Additionally, a certain choice made towards the end felt out of character, slightly jarring the flow of the story. Despite this, the underlying message of prioritizing personal happiness resonates, adding a comforting note to the tale.

Happy Place is a love story in the truest sense of the word. Most romances explore just the love between romantic partners which was my expectation from this book. However, that fragment is just a tiny shard paling in comparison to the main forms of love that are at the core of this book; the love between friends, the love between parents and their children and self-love and how all these different forms of love shape lives.

"Happy Place" is not a light, fluffy romance; rather, it invites readers to engage their minds beyond the surface. If you seek a read that prompts introspection and explores the complexities of love and its effects, this book may be a fitting choice. However, for those looking for an easy-to-digest romance, it may not meet expectations.