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  • Happy Place

  • Written by: Emily Henry
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (87 ratings)

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Happy Place

Written by: Emily Henry
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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Publisher's Summary

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

“The beach-read master hooks us again."—
People

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by BuzzFeed ∙ Paste Magazine ∙ Elle ∙ Southern Living ∙ SheReads ∙ Culturess ∙ Medium ∙ Her Campus ∙ Readers Digest ∙ Zibby Mag and more!

A couple who broke up months ago pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1
New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

©2023 Emily Henry (P)2023 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

"Henry's new novel is a slow-burn romance and an ode to the chosen family we need when everything gets too complicated...The beach-read master hooks us again." People

“Blur[s] the lines between women’s and literary-leaning commercial fiction, departing from the fantasy spaces of bodice rippers and misty moors to depict a world that looks a lot more like, well, our own…Henry operates at the top of her—and her readers’—intelligence, telling sophisticated, heartfelt stories that are conscious of the romantic comedy conventions without being overly meta about them…Henry’s dedicated readers know what to expect: wit, charm and heart, satisfying to the last page.” The Washington Post

“With tender insight and quick wit, Henry delivers prosecco and sea breezes alongside startling mediations on friendship, loss, and adulthood.” Oprah Quarterly

What listeners say about Happy Place

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

If it wasn’t for the narrator…

Julia Whelan can narrate anything and it makes it that much better. But this book is a snooze and perhaps it would be better in a paperback, there were many characters and jumping around for my taste in audibles.

2 people found this helpful

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Disappointing story and performance

I’ve listened to Emily Henry and loads of Julia Whelan but this was disappointing. I felt like the characters’ conflicts would be better suited in a YA book. Likewise I found a couple voices cutesy and childish. I was really excited about having a good author plus good narrator but am now struggling to finish.

1 person found this helpful

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Awesome book

Keep me on a cliffhanger and made me want to read more, demonstrated really cute concepts and was easy to get through. Perfect summer read.

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The narration voices are a no!

The narrator’s Wyn voice sounds like Mrs. Incredible. Made the smutty scenes very, very weird to listen to.

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Loved it!

I learned a lot about relationships!
Made me want to have such a close-knit friend group.

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Not a fan.

This book was chosen for book club. This is not normally the genre. I would choose, but went into it with an open mind. Did not enjoy it one bit. It just went on and on and on and on.

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Skip it

So painfully young adult. There was some funny dialogue but mostly just made me roll my eyes.

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my favorite of the year (so far)

loved the narrator and I could relate to this book. this book would be a GREAT movie. I laughed out loud at parts and was routing for the couple the whole time. I highly recommend this book. especially as a summer read. ☀️

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  • AM
  • 2023-05-28

Just lovely!

Just loved Wyn and Harriet and Sabrina, and Cleo and their happy place! What a delightful story!

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Loved it!

Made me laugh out loud at times. Emily Henry writes books that I can relate to. I'm so glad I found her! Julia Whelan is the absolute best narrator in Audible. I will listen to anything she reads.. even the alphabet!

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  • Yj
  • 2023-04-27

Not for me

I had to force myself to finish this book, I wanted to DNF so many times, it was boring.
This felt like middle school drama, a lot of miscommunication between a couple and among friends.
I was drained at the end, I couldn’t even enjoy the happy parts, I was so tired and annoyed with everyone.

20 people found this helpful

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  • AtticusAtticus
  • 2023-04-27

Did Not Finish

What has happened to Emily Henry? She wrote wonderful stories about friendship and love. That all changed with Book Lovers. I had high hopes that the real Emily Henry would return with Happy Place. Alas, there is no plot. No understandable story - and this is Julia Whelan narrating! Don’t be fooled. This is not worth a credit or even $3.00.

14 people found this helpful

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  • Mieka
  • 2023-05-07

Least favorite of her books :(

I LOVED Book Lovers soooo much, and immediately bought her other two while awaiting publication of Happy Place. I’m bummed to say I thought this book was a huge letdown. I was not interested in any of the characters or their stories, the romance parts were few and weak, and mostly I don’t need the family drama.

9 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-04-27

Emily Henry’s words and Julia Whelan’s Voice

I loved this book as much as I anticipated I would, which is to say a lot. Something about Emily Henry’s writing style just clicks with me on such a deep level. I freaking COMMUNE with her writing. And there is no better voice to Emily Henry’s writing than Julia Whelan’s. The way she brings the characters to life is masterful and compelling. I laughed at the banter, cried at all the bittersweet parts, and am tempted to just hit “play” again right away so I can spend a bit longer reveling in this book.

9 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-05-01

Nothing Happens!!!

This is the first review I have ever posted, but I feel compelled to warn others. Everyone loves this author—I have enjoyed her other books as well. But this one! Yikes. Zero plot. Literally nothing ever happens..could not even make it past the halfway point. Everyone gets it by 10 minutes in..they are destined to be together and are going to engage in semi-witty banter until that happens. If that’s all you need in a book, go for it..but trust me it’s SO boring.

7 people found this helpful

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  • Jenn
  • 2023-05-02

Not for me.

I couldn’t connect to any of these characters. Wanted to like it but the story just wasn’t for me

6 people found this helpful

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  • Robyn
  • 2023-04-27

Fantastic

I don’t usually do reviews but I loved everything about this story. The characters are fabulous and I wish I had friends like them. The story flows so well and it feels like a coming of age story for 30 year olds as you really enter the grind of adulthood. I have fallen in love with Emily Henry and her books and if you like her already this won’t disappoint.

6 people found this helpful

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  • twinker mason
  • 2023-05-08

Very tedious.

This book could have been shorter. I found myself starting a chapter getting bored then skipping onto the next chapter hoping the next chapter was better. Some chapters kept going on & on & the protagonist kept repeating the same thing over & over.

5 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Liz
  • 2023-05-07

I come to Emily Henry to be happy. That’s going to change after this.

This is my first book review and I’ve been an avid listener for many years. I hate that my first review is negative. The drama and unhappiness in this book made me anxious. I come to these books to feel good and to hear a happily ever after. To become part of a life that is happy and encourages me to believe the best in others. And because Julia Whalen is a phenomenal narrator, she conveyed the heaviness even more. The emotions were too negative and the drama was so off putting. I can’t think of a single happy passage that isn’t darkened by the real life reality full of second guesses and disappointment. I typically enjoy coming back to a book a year or so after finishing but not this one.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Cas808
  • 2023-05-07

very angsty

Eh. It wasn't a bad book, but the constant jumping back and forth in time without much action happening and the leads not communicating with each other the whole time and the intense angst left me with a very meh feeling.

5 people found this helpful