A review by svmreads
Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

This book took the wind out of me. As someone who had a similar experience to Tatum, I could not believe how accurately Villarreal-Moura portrayed the experience of grooming and being in a relationship with an imbalanced power dynamic. The conversations between Tatum and Mateo were pitch perfect in terms of the language Mateo utilized to reel Tatum under his influence. I also loved that Mateo wasn’t portrayed in a cartoonishly villainous way, but rather he is morally gray. It was gratifying to see Tatum look upon her relationship with Mateo with a new lens, but also realize that he was a fundamental part of her life for ten years.
Additionally, I LOVED Villarreal-Moura’s use of the second person in Tatum’s letter to Mateo - I thought this was expertly done and made for an even more powerful story. 
As a booklover, I resonated with Tatum so much. The way she talked about being a pulsating mind and utilizing literature to help her make sense of the world was incredibly relatable, and made Mateo’s betrayal devastating.
If you loved and resonated with this book as much as I did, I highly recommend reading The Adult by Bronwyn Fischer. While that book covers a shorter span of time, its portrayal of a relationship with an unequal power dynamic is also spot on.
Thank you Ursula Villarreal-Moura for writing such a masterpiece.