Happy Place
They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest 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, blue 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?
A couple who broke up months ago make a pact to 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.
Happy Place by Emily Henry is a charming and heartwarming novel that follows Harriet, a book-loving introvert who inherits a fixer-upper cottage in a small town. As she embarks on the renovation project, she finds unexpected connections with the quirky locals and begins to heal from a past heartbreak.
Harriet moves to the small town of Willow Creek, North Carolina, to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. She inherits a cottage from her beloved aunt, a place filled with happy memories. But the cottage is in need of serious repair, and Harriet is overwhelmed by the task ahead of her.
Determined to make the cottage her own, Harriet hires local handyman Duncan to help with the renovations. Duncan is a single father with a young son, and he's struggling to make ends meet. Despite their differences, Harriet and Duncan form a bond as they work together to restore the cottage.
As Harriet delves deeper into the renovation project, she discovers hidden treasures in the cottage, including a cache of love letters from her aunt to a mysterious man named Jack. Intrigued, Harriet sets out to uncover the story behind the letters and Jack's identity.
In her quest to solve the mystery, Harriet forms unlikely friendships with the quirky locals of Willow Creek. There's Nora, the town's resident psychic, who offers Harriet cryptic advice; Marty, the gruff but kind-hearted hardware store owner; and Xander, the eccentric artist who lives in a yurt. Through these relationships, Harriet begins to let go of her past and embrace the possibility of happiness.
As Harriet and Duncan continue to work on the cottage, their friendship deepens. Duncan's son, Sam, becomes a frequent visitor to the cottage, and Harriet finds herself falling in love with the small family. But just when Harriet starts to feel like she's found her happy place, her past comes back to haunt her.
Harriet's ex-boyfriend, Nick, shows up in Willow Creek, determined to win her back. Harriet is torn between her feelings for Nick and her growing connection with Duncan. She must make a choice that will determine the course of her future.
Happy Place is a delightful and emotional journey of self-discovery, love, and the power of community. Emily Henry's witty and heartwarming writing brings the characters and setting to life, making this novel an unforgettable read.
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