The newest one from my favourite author: Happy Place by Emily Henry #SummerReads #HappyPlace #EmilyHenry

GIFTED / After taking a looooong pause from blogging (don’t even ask me why I wasn’t around, I guess life sucked the will to live in me. Actiually, the truth is, I never have time for anything after I became the mother and I miss my old life but I guess that is the different topic that won’t be discussed here.) I decided to come back with a review for the perfect book to read during summer. It is the newest novel from Emily Henry: Happy Place.

The book was released on April 25th 2023 and it has 400 pages.
I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

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FROM GOODREADS /

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.

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As I previously loved every single book Emily Henry wrote, it is no surprise I enjoyed myself reading Happy Place as well.

It was somewhat unusual romance book, as the main characters broke up but faked relationship between their friends.
At first I didn’t understand why would they sign up for that kind of trouble, but the more I was reading it was more obvious Harriet and Wyn still had feelings for each other, but didn’t know how to or should they act upon those feelings.

These two were put in an unfortunate position and finding a way to each other wasn’t easy. It took lots of work and sacrifice to meet at the half way.

I like how this book explores friedship relationships and shows how people sometimes grew apart.
As you get older and become a different person with years, it is normal to lose connections with people that meant you the most once.

This is a story about group of friends who get together for their one last vacation, in their happy place they spent summers and summers together.
I have to admit I lacked as a reader on that part. I didn’t pay much attention to side characters and often forgot who was who.
Still, I think I caught with all of them by the other half of the book.

Overall, this was such a good book and I can’t recommend it enough, but still I have to emphasize that I loved Henry’s Book Lovers 10 times better.

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One sunny title: Sunkissed by Kasie West @PRHGlobal #partner #BookReview #Sunkissed

GIFTED / Today I bring you my review for a book that I have read twice already. Once before it was released, and second time recently (read: this summer). I enjoyed it both times which is not surprise since Kasie West is one of my all time favourite authors.

Sunkissed was published on May 4th 2021 by Delacorte Press and it has 304 pages. I want to say thank you to Penguin Random House Global for sending me an e-galley of this novel (in an exchange for an honest review).

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About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

Avery has always used music as an escape. But after her best friend betrays her, even her perfectly curated playlists can’t help her forget what happened. To make matters worse, her parents have dragged her and her social-media-obsessed sister to a remote family camp for two months of “fun.” Just when Avery is ready to give up on the summer altogether, she meets Brooks—mysterious, frustratingly charming Brooks—who just happens to be on staff—which means he’s off-limits.

What starts as a disaster turns into . . . something else. As the outside world falls away, Avery embarks on a journey of self-discovery. And when Brooks offers her the chance of a lifetime, she must figure out how far is she willing to go to find out what she wants and who she wants to be.

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Review:

Kasie West is my go to author when it comes to ya contemporaries. For years she’s been my favourite and by now I know with her books I can’t go wrong.

Sunkissed was entertaining, fun, fluffy at times and perfect pick to spend a relaxing day with.
I read it twice and enjoyed it both times.

The book was written in first person which made it so easy to flew through. Avery was a good narrator to follow and I have to say, she has good sense of humour.
You know who has even better sense of humour? Her sister. I enjoyed conversations between them and liked their relationship even more than Avery’s and Brooks (who is the love interest).

If you like music and happen to like music making, this story could be the one for you because it features the band and all the things that go along with it: writing, rehearsals, member fights, live gigs…

I wish we got to see more of family camp Avery visited with her family, and if the author decided to include at least one or two camp visitors as well, but overall it was a good book that I would recommend to ya contemporary summer reads.

rating 3,5 hearts