Happy Place (novel)

Happy Place is a 2023 novel written by American author Emily Henry published on the 25th of April. Praised by many, this standalone novel follows a couple as they work through the complexities of a relationship and breakup, discovering along the way what finding your “happy place” really means.

Synopsis
"Happy Place" is a heart-warming story written by Emily Henry. It revolves around the lives of two individuals, Harriet Kilpatrick and Wyn Connor, who have been in a committed relationship for eight years. Although they have separated, they keep their separation a secret from their friends. Every year, they go on a retreat to a beautiful cottage in Maine, which they call their "happy place." During their stay, they try to pretend that they are still in love, but it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up the act. The book is a beautiful tale of love, loss, and the complexities of relationships.

Harriet is a young surgical resident who is exhausted and unsure about her future in medicine. Meanwhile, Wyn is going through some personal struggles and career changes. The story explores their friendship and the challenges they face as they try to navigate their complex feelings and the dynamics of their friend group. The narrative moves back and forth in time, showing how their relationship began in college and evolved over time, with various ups and downs, including distance, misunderstandings, and personal growth.

Harriet and Wyn, a couple who had broken up in the past, meet again to revisit their past misunderstandings. As they do so, they also discover new things about themselves and what they truly desire in life. Through this journey, Harriet realizes that being a surgeon was not her true calling and instead, she has a newfound passion for pottery. Similarly, Wyn finds his passion for woodworking and a new path in Montana. The story focuses on personal growth and how it is possible to find happiness and fulfillment not only in physical places but also in the choices we make and the relationships we have.

Throughout their journey, Harriet and Wyn experienced moments of conflict, forgiveness, and introspection, reflecting on what it takes to find happiness and love in life. The story concludes with a sense of resolution and new beginnings as they choose to face their future together, placing importance on their personal growth and the strength of their relationship.

Character Summary
Harriet Kilpatrick, better known to her friends as Harry, is the 30-year-old narrator and protagonist of the novel. She is a well-developed and relatable character who is struggling to come to terms with her recent separation with her ex-fiancé Wyn. She grew up in Indianapolis as the youngest of two daughters. Her sister’s rebellious nature caused tension in her family, forcing Harriet to take on the role of the peacekeeper. Harriet believes that she must be perfect and accomplished in order to keep her family together. This leads her down the path of becoming a surgeon, where she is currently struggling through her residency in San Francisco. Harriet’s upbringing results in her tendency to avoid conflict and remain emotionally closed off. Throughout the story, Harriet shows significant growth; becoming more open, vulnerable and decisive. She eventually opens up about her dissatisfaction with her career and her ongoing fear of losing her friends and family.

Wyndham Conner, who goes by Wyn, is Harriet’s 31-year-old ex-fiancé. He grew up playing soccer in Montana, the place he still loyally calls home. He is portrayed as a sweet, charismatic man with an interest in the outdoors and carpentry. Although he was raised by a loving family, Wyn struggles with his worth, often comparing himself to his accomplished sisters. These self-deprecating tendencies lead him to avoid conflict and suppress his emotions, a trend that only becomes more prominent as the book progresses.

Sabrina Armas, one of Harriet’s best friends, is the owner of the cottage that the group refers to as their “happy place”. She is the leader and organizer of the group because of her dynamic type-A personality. Her character is kind and caring, allowing her deeply rooted value of friendship to shine through. Sabrina is always the one to keep in touch with her friends and make plans because she fears growing apart and change.

Cleo James is Harriet’s other closest friend, defined by her artistic, wise and ecologically-minded personality. She creates depth in the group dynamic because unlike the others, she is not afraid of conflict or setting boundaries. Cleo struggles with her identity and sense of self, worried she is too stern and not fun to be around.

Kimberly Carmichael, who goes by Kim, is Cleo's girlfriend. Her personality is very different from that of her partner, marked by her fun, lighthearted demeanor.

Parth Nayak is Sabrina’s fiancé and the final member of the friend group.

Critical reception
Happy Place has been widely well received, with the book gaining a 4.02 star average out of 5 on GoodReads. Kirkus Reviews called it a “wistfully nostalgic, look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.” The Washington Post also recommended it to readers for its “heart-rending plot that struggles to express the inexpressible.” It is widely agreed upon that it is another example of what Henry does best: complicated female protagonists and romance that the Harvard Crimson called “sexy, charming, and meaningful”.

Awards
“Happy Place” by Emily Henry has been publicly acclaimed since its release in early 2023, living up to the author’s past successes. It received the award of best romance novel of 2023 in the goodreads choice awards which put one of Emily Henry's books at the top of this list for the third consecutive year. Furthermore, in May 2023, “Happy Place” gained recognition from the New York Times and was recognized as one of the number one books of the year.