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A review by bookdragon217
History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
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