'I've read 200 books, and this surprising pick was my favorite of the year'
I have read well over 200 books in my lifetime, but there is one that has stood out from the rest so far this year.
As someone who devours books for hours every week, I've found it tough to get hooked on anything this year. I've even experimented with different genres, but there's one type of story I can always count on - a steamy will-they-won't-they romance.
My best friend urged me to read this one, insisting she blew through it and that I absolutely HAD to check it out. So I took the plunge.
Author Emily Henry has mastered the art of romance writing, having penned six novels in the genre. What makes Henry's work special is how authentic and believable it feels, steering clear of fantasy and wishful thinking.
Happy Place is my pick for book of the year...at least for now.
The book's synopsis reads: "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 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."
In Happy Place, Henry's protagonists portray authentic relationships, both romantic and platonic, that feel genuine and emotionally charged, yet brimming with the peculiarities that develop through years of companionship.
It offers a delightful escape that doesn't make you question existence itself, but instead leaves you feeling deeply connected to the story.
I'd be thrilled to watch this adapted for the big screen.
Happy Place can be bought online and at most book retailers.