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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Adam is the father of a Korean-American family. One day he doesn’t return home after an outing with his 14 year old son Eugene. Eugene is clearly very agitated and upset, but has autism and Angelman syndrome and is unable to communicate via speech or writing.
As a mystery I found it to be propulsive. The pacing was perfect with foreshadowing and unexpected surprises at the end of many chapters compelling me to read just one more.
But what I loved most was the depth of this novel particularly in terms of the characters. They were all distinct individuals, richly realised. Adam was not just a missing father but a stay-at-home Dad totally engrossed in the science of happiness and conducting experiments on his family members. Much of this was folded into the novel adding an extra layer to the story. Twenty year old Mia narrates the novel. She is also neurodivergent which adds a unique tone to the novel, one of almost detached logic. This won’t be to everyone’s taste but I found it effective.
I thought the character of Eugene and his disabilities were handled with nuance, care, and compassion. The ableism of his family was highlighted and the impact this had on him showcased in a very powerful way. His story was a salutary reminder that just because someone struggles to communicate it does not indicate that their intellect is impaired. I also respected Kim for acknowledging that raising a child with a disability can place extra pressure on a family and that sibling feelings may be complicated, none of which detracts from the love they feel for the person with the disability.
Lots of other threads to this novel as well including family and relationship issues, and the benefits and struggles of being bicultural. Kim’s writing kept me engaged throughout and I especially appreciated her use of footnotes as a vehicle for Mia to share just a little bit more. The use of charts added another textual element, something I tend to enjoy. There was lots of science and philosophy folded into the story. I was educated and entertained, made to think as well as feel which I loved.
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Bullying
lilawsahar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Tbh I think the happiness quotient part was unneeded in the story. That’s just my take.
Also ACAB.
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Bullying, Confinement, and Police brutality
Minor: Sexism, Rape, and Racism
liamliayaum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
caseythereader's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
- With HAPPINESS FALLS, Angie Kim once again gives us a page turner, this one a legal drama, missing person case and possible murder mystery all wrapped up together.
- I was so intrigued by Mia as the narrator of this story. She's bratty and bitter and thinks she knows everything (at first, at least). Her unique voice and the frequent detours to tell us important backstory made the book feel like a friend was relaying the story to the reader personally.
- There are some aspects of the book I wish were different - the pacing slowed way down in the second half, the footnotes felt mostly extraneous, etc. - but overall I was invested in the mystery.
- A through line of Kim's work is to make clear that disabled people are people, not childlike burdens to be pitied, which is sadly often rare in novels, especially mysteries and thrillers. I will be interested to see what disabled and neurodivergent readers have to say about this book, since I am neither of those things and neither is Kim, though she is the parent of a disabled child.
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Police brutality, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Racism
Minor: Suicide and Rape
laura_berger's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Blood, Cancer, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, and Grief
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Cancer, and Medical content
Minor: Car accident
mrsbennettreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death and Ableism
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Rape, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism