Romance Annotation

 

Author: Emily Henry

Title: Happy Place

Genre: Romance

Publication Date: April 25, 2023

Number of Pages:400 pages

Geographical Setting: Knott’s Harbor, Maine 

Time Period: Present Day

Series: N/A

Plot Summary: Harriet is looking forward to her and her college friends’ annual trip to Maine, where they spend the week exploring the shops, relaxing on the beach, and hanging out at her friend Sabrina’s family's summer home. There is just one problem—Harriet has a secret; her and her fiancé Wyn broke up six months ago, and since he was an integral part of her friend group as well, she hasn’t had the heart to tell anyone. She plans to use the trip to break the news, but then Wyn ends up showing up on the trip and throws everything off track. When some important news about the future of their annual trip is revealed, Wyn and Harriet decide that it’s for the best to wait to tell their friends the truth about their relationship. They will spend the week pretending they are still together, which seems easy enough since they are both still drawn to each other, even amidst their heartbreak. Will they be able to pull off their secret and enjoy one last week together in their happy place?

Subject Headings: My library has this book's subject headings as Man-woman relationships-fiction and Vacations-Maine-fiction.

Appeal:

1. Pacing: Although this book takes place over the course of a week, the book is very fast paced. There is a lot of dialogue in this book that helps it move quickly along. The witty banter also keeps the reader going in the book to hear what they have to say next.

2. Tone: This book does a good job of capturing Harriet’s emotions through its tone. The relationships in this book are depicted authentically and allows readers to become invested in the characters.

3. Storyline: The storyline of this book is interesting. The mix of the present situation in the book intermixed with flashbacks to the history of Harriet’s relationship and where things went wrong helps readers stay engaged and rooting for them. I also appreciated all of the friendship and family dynamics that were included in the storyline to help build on Harriet’s character and show why things are happening the way they are.

3 terms that best describe this book: Fun, light, witty

3 Relevant Fiction Works and their Authors

“It happened one summer” by Tessa Bailey

    Both of these works are romances that take place during a trip to a small beachfront town. Both books also reveal information about the characters’ pasts and include the main female character going through a transformation into their true selves.

 "The Boardwalk bookshop" by Susan Mallery

    Like “Happy Place” this book takes place on the beach of a small town and it also includes a group of close women friends who have become like family who navigate their relationships as friends as well as their romantic relationships. 

  “Emergency contact” by Lauren Layne

    While this book takes place during the Christmas season instead of summer, it also features a second chance at romance storyline and a career driven female character.

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

  "Frommer’s Maine Coast Complete Guide" by Kevin Brian

    This book would pair well with this book for any readers wanting to hear more about the Maine setting.

"How to Be a Best Friend Forever: Making and Keeping Lifetime Relationships" by John Townsend.

     The friendships between the three female characters in this book are a big part of the story. But the friends are also navigating changes in their friendship as their lives change and they grow older. This book could be interesting to those who were interested in helping their own friendships through similar situations.

"Pottery for Beginners: Projects for Beautiful Ceramic Bowls, Mugs, Vases and More" by Kara Leigh Ford

    The main character of this book finds an interest in pottery. This book would be a good starting point for anyone else who is interested in trying out this hobby.