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A review by dembury
History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
4.0
Actual rating: 4.25
(No book summary, just my personal thoughts. Spoilers marked in second half of review.)
To be perfectly honest, I think my rating is a bit biased because I read this DIRECTLY after finishing Silvera's other novel, "More Happy Than Not", and I think I was in the mindset of 'which is better?'. And that is a very difficult question because both books are two very different stories. Although they have similar threads and characteristics, the focuses of each are in separate spots.
HIAYLM is a story about grief, losing people close to you, relationships, and healing. It isn't a cheery story, but it's not all doom and gloom, either. Rather, Silvera's newest book has an emphasis on how grief can change people, and their relationships, in unforeseen ways (at least, that's what I got out of it). There is also a heavy theme of OCD and mental health, something that I have seen in multiple YA novels, but I think Silvera did a fairly solid job of incorporating it into his work in a nonproblematic way. (more on this in the spoiler section)
The characters themselves are multilayered and very interesting, and I was intrigued to see how their seemingly conflicting personalities and agendas were actually more similar than originally perceived. The emotions in this book were complicated, and sometimes felt a tad angsty, but obviously some angst is expected in a book where the characters are grieving.
I went to a book event where Silvera talked about the writing of this book, and he said that originally he has written the book in a very linear structure. There was none of the "History" flashback chapters, but he added them in later to balance the story. I think this was a marvelous choice, and it thoroughly aided in my understanding of the characters!
Also, as an aside, I loved that family was an significant presence in HIAYLM. I find some YA novels shove the family aspect to the side, and it's never realistic. Kudos, Silvera!
I plan on rereading this again! It was compelling and full, and a very memorable story. I would recommend to anyone who liked Silvera's other book.
SPOILERS BELOW!
*Okay, in regards to Griff's OCD, the one thing that irked me a little was that near the end of the book, Wade begins helping Griff try to overcome his OCD. He does things like walk on Griff's left side, and he doesn't replay songs an even number of times. Griff starts to get better, and I thought it seemed just a bit forced. I mean, just FORCING someone to not be able to deal with their compulsions isn't a fix all. It just felt a little sudden to me? This isn't a HUGE thing, but it stood out to me.
*I just always find it uncomfortable when two characters who have been in a relationship with a mutual person end up getting it on together. I totally see how Griff and Jackson were led to that, but it was a little cringy for me. This didn't affect my rating, I just personally find it awkward!
*Wade knowing things about Griff (like the keychain, wanting to make a photo collage of the two of them, etc) made me so sappy and tearful :')
*Okay, this is random, but I would LOVE to see a novel set maybe 10 years later when Denise (Theo's little sister) is more grown up. I don't know why this struck me, but I feel like that would be an interesting story all on it's own!
*Honestly, the part where Jackson and Griff are in California dragged a bit for me. It just seems a little stilted in comparison to the beginning and end of the book. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it seemed like enough didn't happen there.
(No book summary, just my personal thoughts. Spoilers marked in second half of review.)
To be perfectly honest, I think my rating is a bit biased because I read this DIRECTLY after finishing Silvera's other novel, "More Happy Than Not", and I think I was in the mindset of 'which is better?'. And that is a very difficult question because both books are two very different stories. Although they have similar threads and characteristics, the focuses of each are in separate spots.
HIAYLM is a story about grief, losing people close to you, relationships, and healing. It isn't a cheery story, but it's not all doom and gloom, either. Rather, Silvera's newest book has an emphasis on how grief can change people, and their relationships, in unforeseen ways (at least, that's what I got out of it). There is also a heavy theme of OCD and mental health, something that I have seen in multiple YA novels, but I think Silvera did a fairly solid job of incorporating it into his work in a nonproblematic way. (more on this in the spoiler section)
The characters themselves are multilayered and very interesting, and I was intrigued to see how their seemingly conflicting personalities and agendas were actually more similar than originally perceived. The emotions in this book were complicated, and sometimes felt a tad angsty, but obviously some angst is expected in a book where the characters are grieving.
I went to a book event where Silvera talked about the writing of this book, and he said that originally he has written the book in a very linear structure. There was none of the "History" flashback chapters, but he added them in later to balance the story. I think this was a marvelous choice, and it thoroughly aided in my understanding of the characters!
Also, as an aside, I loved that family was an significant presence in HIAYLM. I find some YA novels shove the family aspect to the side, and it's never realistic. Kudos, Silvera!
I plan on rereading this again! It was compelling and full, and a very memorable story. I would recommend to anyone who liked Silvera's other book.
SPOILERS BELOW!
*Okay, in regards to Griff's OCD, the one thing that irked me a little was that near the end of the book, Wade begins helping Griff try to overcome his OCD. He does things like walk on Griff's left side, and he doesn't replay songs an even number of times. Griff starts to get better, and I thought it seemed just a bit forced. I mean, just FORCING someone to not be able to deal with their compulsions isn't a fix all. It just felt a little sudden to me? This isn't a HUGE thing, but it stood out to me.
*I just always find it uncomfortable when two characters who have been in a relationship with a mutual person end up getting it on together. I totally see how Griff and Jackson were led to that, but it was a little cringy for me. This didn't affect my rating, I just personally find it awkward!
*Wade knowing things about Griff (like the keychain, wanting to make a photo collage of the two of them, etc) made me so sappy and tearful :')
*Okay, this is random, but I would LOVE to see a novel set maybe 10 years later when Denise (Theo's little sister) is more grown up. I don't know why this struck me, but I feel like that would be an interesting story all on it's own!
*Honestly, the part where Jackson and Griff are in California dragged a bit for me. It just seems a little stilted in comparison to the beginning and end of the book. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it seemed like enough didn't happen there.