Reviews

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

ceng1018's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

I ended up enjoying this story but it took a bit to get into the story. The author's use of footnotes was distracting and jolting at times. Overall the time of the story was formal with the footnote usage. It was also hard to read because of my personal history of raising a child with disabilities. 

cjacks1217's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

hsliwinski's review

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

conn_lees's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

carakupferman's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

mtbaird's review against another edition

mysterious

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

neztoad's review against another edition

mysterious

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

3.0

With Angie Kim's other novel, Miracle creek, being one of my favourite books, I really hoped I would enjoy this more than I did. It was unfortunately a struggle to get invested in and a challenge finish. 
My main two issues:
Throughout the discoveries and reveals were seemingly overly convenient. Things being revealed at just the right time, in just the right way. It didn't feel authentic in the way it should have.
Additionally the ending particularly, felt like this novel was written in service of a message and nothing more. It was framed around the idea of 'nonverbal' individuals communicating through alternate means, which I support, but it felt like it was written to prove that point. The ending felt more like a justification than a resolution.

ecjmama991's review against another edition

4.0

Not sure why it took me so long to finish this book. I really enjoyed it for the most part — but it was def a slow read for me.

sarahnielsen's review against another edition

3.0

What I liked about this book was that while it was a “mystery”, it also covered other topics/issues and asked some introspective questions. The book is 100% a litfic, character driven novel with a missing person sub plot. The book was fine, just not my total fav.

cfrazer89's review against another edition

challenging dark informative 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? Yes

4.75