Rekindling romance
One of the most significant themes in Happy Place is rekindling romance. The novel's main characters, Harriet and Wyn, broke up several months prior to the start of the novel after having been in a solid relationship. In fact, the two met in college and became engaged after dating for several years. Together, they have made an annual trek to their friend's cottage in Maine. There, they enjoy each other's company and the opportunity to rest and relax after a long year.
To maintain the peace and not allow their breakup to affect their annual vacation, Harriet and Wyn decide to pretend that they are still together. But both still have feelings for each other, which comes out in their fights over relatively trivial matters. Eventually, after Harriet starts to interact with an ex-boyfriend again, the two decide to have a talk. They confess their true feelings for each other and decide to give their relationship another try. However, they also decide that they have to have new ground rules and boundaries if their relationship will succeed moving forward.
Self-discovery
Another important theme in the novel is the characters' journey towards understanding themselves and what they want out of their lives. Harriet's character is particularly emblematic of this theme. She begins the novel as a surgical resident, a path that she followed largely because of the external expectations of her family and friends. However, when she gets time to explore herself and her own interests, she realizes that her true passion is in pottery. Because of this realization and the switch from a high-pressure to a more low-pressure artistic career, Harriet finds more personal happiness and begins to accept herself more. However, that was only possible once she ignored societal expectations.
