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bookdragon217's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I don't know what will be left of me if love and grief can't bring you back to life. Maybe I need to be brought back to life, too."
Have you ever read a book that hurt so much that when you finished it all you could do was sit still as the tears fall and you stare into space? This is exactly what History is All You Ever Left Me by Adam Silvera did to me. Reading this one was so hard because it cuts so deeply.
Silvera's writing was masterful. His character development was everything. Every single character makes you want to care. The depictions of Griffin's OCD, pain and grief left without air in my lungs. As his mental health spiraled, I was in my own head pulling myself out before I got worse. There were passages that had me asking myself if that's what it feels like. I have never seen such a clear, realistic depiction of mental illness and how it overtakes someone the way Silvera has written it. The way I sobbed when it was over was unreal.
This broken and beautiful book is just what I needed to remind me how to fight for myself. I will always remember Griffin because he taught me:
💥 the importance of accepting help and having a support network when mental health is spiraling
💥 that grief, love and heartbreak all come from the same place
💥 that we have to want to live for ourselves
💥 that we are not meant to get stuck in our past history with someone
💥 that love can break you physically and mentally
💥 that healing is a process and it's OK to make horrible mistakes sometimes
💥 that we never know with absolute certainty who another person truly is
💥 that love can be wielded as a weapon and almost kill us
💥 that people who truly love you see past the masks you wear and the lies you tell
💥 that in order to live you have to let certain things die
This book solidified Adam Silvera's place in my heart and mind forever. He shattered the pieces but showed me how to slowly put them back together.
What I'm left with are Ke$ha's lyrics:
'Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I'll just say this is "I wish you farewell"
Have you ever read a book that hurt so much that when you finished it all you could do was sit still as the tears fall and you stare into space? This is exactly what History is All You Ever Left Me by Adam Silvera did to me. Reading this one was so hard because it cuts so deeply.
Silvera's writing was masterful. His character development was everything. Every single character makes you want to care. The depictions of Griffin's OCD, pain and grief left without air in my lungs. As his mental health spiraled, I was in my own head pulling myself out before I got worse. There were passages that had me asking myself if that's what it feels like. I have never seen such a clear, realistic depiction of mental illness and how it overtakes someone the way Silvera has written it. The way I sobbed when it was over was unreal.
This broken and beautiful book is just what I needed to remind me how to fight for myself. I will always remember Griffin because he taught me:
💥 the importance of accepting help and having a support network when mental health is spiraling
💥 that grief, love and heartbreak all come from the same place
💥 that we have to want to live for ourselves
💥 that we are not meant to get stuck in our past history with someone
💥 that love can break you physically and mentally
💥 that healing is a process and it's OK to make horrible mistakes sometimes
💥 that we never know with absolute certainty who another person truly is
💥 that love can be wielded as a weapon and almost kill us
💥 that people who truly love you see past the masks you wear and the lies you tell
💥 that in order to live you have to let certain things die
This book solidified Adam Silvera's place in my heart and mind forever. He shattered the pieces but showed me how to slowly put them back together.
What I'm left with are Ke$ha's lyrics:
'Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I'll just say this is "I wish you farewell"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kingwow's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A raw depiction of grief and loss and the fucked up things it makes us do
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
spookystag's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Mental illness
orion_rarely_reads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, and Grief
btbryleigh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
UGH!!! This was the most beautiful book ever, and I struggled to read the last few pages not wanting it to end!! 10/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Self harm
melody_trubibliomaniac's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
kajasversion's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Adam Silvera must really enjoy writing sad books.
The story is about two friends-Theo and Griffin-who fall in love and one dies, while the other relives their history… because history is all he has left. The book is past-present so you see them having fun and enjoying their time together to Griffin mourning Theo while growing closer to his boyfriend.
The plot twist at the end left me speechless… i did not expect it at all. The quotes from the book broke my heart and when my brain fully processed the book… that’s when the tears started.
“I’m so happy you are my first, Theo, and you were worth all the heartache. I hope I wasn’t living in some of alternate universe where I wasn’t actually your first love, too. But this universe is the only one that matters, and I have one last question for you: I didn’t get our history wrong, did I?”
The story is about two friends-Theo and Griffin-who fall in love and one dies, while the other relives their history… because history is all he has left. The book is past-present so you see them having fun and enjoying their time together to Griffin mourning Theo while growing closer to his boyfriend.
The plot twist at the end left me speechless… i did not expect it at all. The quotes from the book broke my heart and when my brain fully processed the book… that’s when the tears started.
“I’m so happy you are my first, Theo, and you were worth all the heartache. I hope I wasn’t living in some of alternate universe where I wasn’t actually your first love, too. But this universe is the only one that matters, and I have one last question for you: I didn’t get our history wrong, did I?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abortion and Suicidal thoughts
ellas_library's review
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't hate this book but it wasn't great. I was really excited for because it was an Adam Silvera book but I was severely disappointed.
Griffin used Jackson and Wade for his own personal gain. His grief for Theo is borderline obsessive. Adam Silvera accurately described OCD which is a plus but everything else is not great. I do like how it flipped from history and today. The plot was a good idea but I wish it was better executed.
It was really slow and boring at times. I don't quite understand the hype for this book. I hope the other Adam Silvera books are better, I'm still holding out hope for him.
It was really slow and boring at times. I don't quite understand the hype for this book. I hope the other Adam Silvera books are better, I'm still holding out hope for him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
skydragxn's review
emotional
sad
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, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
alicia99's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Abortion and Biphobia