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soobooksalot's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
It's somewhat ironic that a book dealing with communication is hard to describe.
At it's base, Happiness Falls by Angie Kim is a missing-persons story. But it's so, so much more.
The story is uniquely told by 20-year-old Mia, a Korean-American whose father Adam goes missing while in a park with her brother Eugene.
Eugene is nonspeaking, being afflicted with both autism and Angelman syndrome. Gathering information about Adam's disappearance proves a challenge.
We as readers come to know so many details about the Parson-Park family from Mia's perspective - not only of Adam and Eugene, but also her twin brother John and mother Hannah. Their family history, their challenges and backstories.
The story takes place during the height of Covid, which serves as a parallel to being closed off from others, and finding alternate methods of relating and communication.
While there is a mystery to uncover in Happiness Falls, it's ultimately a story of acceptance, diversity, connection, and what can make us truly happy.
It's a book to be experienced - recommended! (And also her debut Miracle Creek, if you haven't already read it.)
At it's base, Happiness Falls by Angie Kim is a missing-persons story. But it's so, so much more.
The story is uniquely told by 20-year-old Mia, a Korean-American whose father Adam goes missing while in a park with her brother Eugene.
Eugene is nonspeaking, being afflicted with both autism and Angelman syndrome. Gathering information about Adam's disappearance proves a challenge.
We as readers come to know so many details about the Parson-Park family from Mia's perspective - not only of Adam and Eugene, but also her twin brother John and mother Hannah. Their family history, their challenges and backstories.
The story takes place during the height of Covid, which serves as a parallel to being closed off from others, and finding alternate methods of relating and communication.
While there is a mystery to uncover in Happiness Falls, it's ultimately a story of acceptance, diversity, connection, and what can make us truly happy.
It's a book to be experienced - recommended! (And also her debut Miracle Creek, if you haven't already read it.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, Grief, Ableism, Cancer, and Death
jj_tj's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Ableism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Bullying, Suicide, and Cancer
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Happiness Falls was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Bullying
markedwithanm's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Ableism, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
i loved the narration. i understand why it isn't for everyone, but my brain works in the same way so i felt at home. i also appreciated how this book advocated much more strongly for the humanity of its characters with disabilities than Miracle Creek (Angie Kim's debut novel) did. and that it took place during covid times. my main issues were that, compared to Miracle Creek, the plot:
- wasn't as gripping. it started to drag three-fourths of the way through, and i got fed up with all the cheap foreshadowing of the form "looking back, i wish [x] hadn't happened".
- didn't feel as expertly-crafted. though i recognize that's kind of the point—
not all mysteries, especially missing person cases, have neat solutions; that's life —it was still somewhat disappointing. i'm trying tolearn the lesson Mia did and accept an open ending—i choose to believe that her and John's mind-meld recreating the accident was a display of fraternal jeong, just the tiniest bit of magical realism.
nonetheless, this has cemented Angie Kim as an author on my radar, and i'm looking forward to her next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Ableism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cancer, Violence, Infidelity, Police brutality, Sexism, Suicide, Bullying, Blood, Hate crime, Murder, Cursing, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual violence, Confinement, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Rape, Car accident, Deportation, and Gun violence
liamliayaum's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
Thanks to Hogarth Books for the free copy of this book.
- 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.
- 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.
Content Warnings
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
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Blood, Cancer, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, and Grief
shannonweiss's review
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
4.25
This book was powerful. The mystery plot was good, but not even the most important part of the story in my opinion. I appreciate how the story called to us to evaluate and reflect on our own biases and preconceived ideas. I learned and reflected while reading, which isn’t always something that I get out of a fiction book.
It did get a little too bogged down with scientific terminology and rants at time. I read Miracle Creek by Angie Kim and thought she added science really well in that book, but in this one it felt like too much at times. But even through that, it was not hard to get through and I didn’t want to put the book down.
It did get a little too bogged down with scientific terminology and rants at time. I read Miracle Creek by Angie Kim and thought she added science really well in that book, but in this one it felt like too much at times. But even through that, it was not hard to get through and I didn’t want to put the book down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
mrsbennettreads's review
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Ableism
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Rape, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism