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Local librarian Emily Wareing finds herself in a happy and sometimes frustrating place as she recommends your next summer read.

“In every universe, it’s you for me.
 Even if it’s not me for you.”

Happy Place tells the story of Harriet and Wyn, the ‘perfect couple’ until they broke up six months ago. The pair are forced to spend one last summer holiday together with their friends who are none the wiser to their breakup.

Harriet and Wyn met in college and, as they grow up, they realise they’re no longer the carefree kids that spent their summers with their friends in Maine. Life gets complicated, friends move away, couples get married, some have children, and some break up. For one last summer, Harriet and Wyn try to keep their breakup hidden to have one last perfect holiday with their friends. But keeping their news secret proves harder than expected.

Happy Place is Emily Henry’s eighth novel and my expectations were high. After devouring Book Lovers, You and Me on Vacation and Beach Read, I was excited to see what Henry had to offer next.

The story is narrated by Harriet and alternates between present and past timelines to tell the story of her and Wyn’s relationship as well as those within her close knit friendship group. Most of the story takes place in Maine, where the group takes their annual summer holidays. Henry perfectly captures the seaside resort with lobster fishing, quaint shops and days by the water, making this the perfect read for summer.

Wyn can do no wrong in my eyes. Henry writes the most perfect fictional boyfriends.

Like her other books, Henry writes female characters that you’d want to be best friends with. In Happy Place, Harriet is strong, funny and kind but struggles to truly show Wyn and her friends her true feelings, a hangover from her strict upbringing. Although Harriet is sometimes frustrating (I was often shouting, “JUST TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL, HARRIET!!!!”), she’s an incredibly loveable character that just wants the best for the people around her, even if that means swallowing her feelings.

On the other hand, Wyn can do no wrong in my eyes. Henry writes the most perfect fictional boyfriends and Wyn is no exception. He is a character that loves hard and loves Harriet even harder, despite their differences and the distance between them. Wyn often explains how he doesn’t feel worthy of anyone, especially Harriet, and is trying to overcome the imposter syndrome that is constantly churning away in his mind. At the same time, he’s trying to make him the best version of himself for Harriet which ultimately causes their downfall.

Despite Happy Place being classed as a romance, I can’t help but feel like it’s more of general fiction – with a romance bonus. Henry expertly delves into relationships in your 20s and growing up – and sometimes apart – from the ones you love. Often friends and lovers that we once met in our youth grow in different directions and it can be easier to let them go than to force them to grow in your direction.

If you’re looking for your next summer read, I absolutely recommend Happy Place.

Happy Place by Emily Henry is out now, published by Berkley Books and available in libraries and bookshops. Emily Wareing (pictured left) runs the instagram account @yourlocallibrarians along with her colleague Hannah O’Brien (pictured left). Follow them for more books news and reviews.

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