Reviews tagging 'Death'

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

29 reviews

siobhanward's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Like with Kim's <i> Happiness Falls </i>, this book had a solid premise but the execution left me wanting more. I think in this case, Kim spent so much time explaining things (Mia's footnotes, the happiness quotient project), that the book felt bogged down. I wish there had been more time in the actual action and less on unnecessary detail. I get why things were included, I just don't think they added as much to the plot as they were intended to. I still appreciate Kim as a writer, since her ideas feel really unique, and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and War

lpdx's review against another edition

emotional relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Blood

fancyjess_party's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Enjoyed this a lot! It's a mystery that took me through a whole range of feelings about the narrator and her father. It also has some insightful commentary about privilege and abelism. 

In parts I felt like it could have used an edit. The main character used the word inane/inanity often enough that it was noticeable. I also thought some of the footnotes could have been cut. All in all though would recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Rape, Terminal illness, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

rsagarin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Grief

maddielle's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this. It took me a fair bit to settle into the narrative voice -- Mia sure does love a footnote -- but I came to love how her tangents and (sometimes contradictory) rambles mirror our thinking in everyday life. And Eugene! The sheer love and research that went into crafting his character is a true highlight.

In short: another Angie Kim winner. I'm pleased.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Infidelity, Racism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Violence, Colonisation, and War

murve's review against another edition

4.25

I enjoyed the mix of mystery/thriller and social commentary, especially with how much Covid affected everyone in this story. It was satisfying to see all the pieces of this story finally come together, although I wish

it had a happier ending. :(

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Suicide

marymwest's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Perhaps a 3.5. On audio. Objectively this was a good book and I recognize that. I really appreciate Eugene’s storyline and the research and attention to detail that the author put in to making his story come alive. However, I found the MC annoying and I didn’t love that covid & the pandemic were incorporated in the storyline (although technically necessary for the plot). I felt like the whole thing kept dragging on and on despite the bulk of it taking place over the course of only 3-4 days. And then in the end, I didn’t feel satisfied with how everything wrapped up, but not in the way that it was supposed to feel ambiguous, you know? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Rape

lindseybkoehler's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, and Deportation