A review by maidinnah
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

emotional informative mysterious reflective 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

4.5

Cerebral, smart, and thought-provoking, Happiness Falls asks you to challenge your ingrained biases, reflect on the power of language, think about our need for closure, and ponder the meaning of happiness, all while slowing unfurling the mystery of a father’s disappearance. Mia’s presumptive and know-it-all attitude can be grating at times, especially since she’s the narrator. Additionally, this is a book that plays with a lot of ideas and ends with some open plot points, which may be unsatisfying to some readers. However, I was very invested in the Parksons, learning about who they are and how they feel about each other, especially Eugene, the non-speaking autistic youngest son, whose plight is as central to the story as the mystery. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings