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ktdakotareads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Car accident
mcs213's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
*Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.*
Y’all, I struggled with this title, and I’m unsure why.
There is an intriguing mystery – who-/how-/whydunnit? - there are great themes of language, accessibility barriers, family, pandemics, the intersectionality of law enforcement, race, and disability. I enjoy most of what I read while I am actively reading it, but I don’t find myself looking forward to picking it back up and reading more.
This is a good book! I am just struggling to find the want to read it (which could very well be some reading burnout for me at this current moment and have nothing to do with the book).
Y’all, I struggled with this title, and I’m unsure why.
There is an intriguing mystery – who-/how-/whydunnit? - there are great themes of language, accessibility barriers, family, pandemics, the intersectionality of law enforcement, race, and disability. I enjoy most of what I read while I am actively reading it, but I don’t find myself looking forward to picking it back up and reading more.
This is a good book! I am just struggling to find the want to read it (which could very well be some reading burnout for me at this current moment and have nothing to do with the book).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, and Rape
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Out September 5, 2023! [Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
When her father unexpectedly goes missing and the only witness is her non-speaking teenage brother, Mia must confront secrets within her family in order to find out the truth.
I loved Angie Kim’s debut novel Miracle Creek, so Happiness Falls is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it did not let me down. If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be “beautiful”—the storyline and character relationships are beautifully rendered, the prose is beautifully written, and the overall message of respect, autonomy, personal fulfillment, and happiness is beautifully communicated.
This is also one of those books that is so thought-provoking I am positive it will sit with me for a long while, and I am already looking forward to an inevitable reread and everything I will glean from a second look. For now, I thoroughly enjoyed the reflections on happiness and expectations we place on ourselves and others, as well as the frank and thoughtful look at disability and the lives and rights and intrinsic personhood of non-speaking individuals. I also loved Mia, and the infusion of humor into what is otherwise a very serious novel was unexpected but brilliantly (at risk of sounding like a broken record, *beautifully*) done. And finally, while I’m still skeptical of the use of the COVID-19 pandemic in novels, I thought this one infused the feeling of early-to-mid 2020 exceptionally well, and wove the pandemic into the plot line in a realistic and interesting way.
In short, if you are a fan of literary mysteries, reflections on family, immigration, neurodivergence and disability, and so much more, pick this one up as soon as you possibly can!
CW: Ableism; xenophobia; discussions of the pandemic; grief/loss (literally) of a parent; some police brutality (both on page and referenced)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
When her father unexpectedly goes missing and the only witness is her non-speaking teenage brother, Mia must confront secrets within her family in order to find out the truth.
I loved Angie Kim’s debut novel Miracle Creek, so Happiness Falls is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it did not let me down. If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be “beautiful”—the storyline and character relationships are beautifully rendered, the prose is beautifully written, and the overall message of respect, autonomy, personal fulfillment, and happiness is beautifully communicated.
This is also one of those books that is so thought-provoking I am positive it will sit with me for a long while, and I am already looking forward to an inevitable reread and everything I will glean from a second look. For now, I thoroughly enjoyed the reflections on happiness and expectations we place on ourselves and others, as well as the frank and thoughtful look at disability and the lives and rights and intrinsic personhood of non-speaking individuals. I also loved Mia, and the infusion of humor into what is otherwise a very serious novel was unexpected but brilliantly (at risk of sounding like a broken record, *beautifully*) done. And finally, while I’m still skeptical of the use of the COVID-19 pandemic in novels, I thought this one infused the feeling of early-to-mid 2020 exceptionally well, and wove the pandemic into the plot line in a realistic and interesting way.
In short, if you are a fan of literary mysteries, reflections on family, immigration, neurodivergence and disability, and so much more, pick this one up as soon as you possibly can!
CW: Ableism; xenophobia; discussions of the pandemic; grief/loss (literally) of a parent; some police brutality (both on page and referenced)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Police brutality, Grief, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
meganrae047's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape