Happiness Falls: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel

thenextgoodbook.com

What’s it about?

When Adam goes missing the police are not called for hours. Told through the eyes of Mia (Adam’s 20-year-old daughter) we see how this Korean-American blended family handles the situation. While trying to get to the truth, and also trying to protect their 14-year-old non-verbal brother Eugene- who was the last to see his dad.



What did it make me think about?

What does it mean to be non-verbal?



Should I read it?

This novel was both a mystery and a window into learning about people with non-verbal disabilities. I learned so much! Angie Kim writes with a fierce intelligence. This could be off-putting but she manages to be informative instead of smug. I think her first book, Miracle Creek, will be on my nightstand soon. This a really solid layered mystery and I recommend it.



Quote-

“There are moments when something we’ve idealized all our lives changes and becomes something less. Not by a noticeable amount, just an infinitesimal disappointment. But it’s like going from 100 percent to 99.9 percent- imperceptible quantitatively, but dramatically different qualitatively, from flawless to flawed. After this point, I found myself questioning Dad’s motives, doubting his perspectives, in a way I hadn’t before.”

I read this for my works book club and I really enjoyed it!! There were so many surprises that kept me guessing. It was crazy to read a story taking place during covid... 5 years later and I almost forgot what it felt like to live like that. I definitely recommend this book!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the story and absolutely appreciated the way Angie Kim brought much needed insight to a condition that’s so misunderstood. Not only for the people that it effects, but the families as well. With that being said, this was not the book that I was hoping for. I truly enjoyed the first half of the book, and where it was headed. Assumed missing Father, Detectives, both adult children trying to find answers, possible medical diagnosis...YES! I'm here for it. But that is where it fell off for me. It felt like trying to heard cats. There were so many different directions we were going, that I got frustrated. I did like that Angie Kim gave us a look into Eugene's personality and accomplishments. There were footnotes, that at times felt so off topic and random, that I stopped reading them. At about page 300, I starting looking to see how much more I had left. Wanting it to just be over.
I just want to be clear, I did enjoy the premiss of the book, it just was not for me. Others may find this a fantastic read, and love it. Please do not let a review persuade you into not read a book. Happy Reading!!

Having read and loved Miracle Creek by Angie Kim, I was excited to read her second novel. Unfortunately it was not nearly as good. I found the science and math parts about the happiness quotient to slow down and distract from the plot. Eugene was a great character and I appreciated how Angie Kim portrayed his disability and limitations.

Kinda hard to get into at first, as it felt very YA at the beginning, but I ended up really enjoying this book! Very grateful to pick it back up. Lots of smiles, thinking moments, and some tears.