annakrs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
jordongreene's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! It's hard to put into words how good this book was. It truly is an emotional rollercoaster, at times beautiful, others funny, then sad and unfortunately tragic. It's well worth the read!
literarypenguin's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? Yes
3.0
History Is All You Left Me was a book I was expecting to enjoy a lot more then I did. It was a disappointing read to say the least but I did like some parts while other didn't sit to well with me. Especially toward the end.
History Is All You Left Me is about a young man named Griffin trying to deal with the loss of his first love and best friend, Theo. While he struggles with his OCD and compulsions acting up he also has to come to terms with sharing that same grief with Theo's current boyfriend Jackson. Griffin must learn to live in a world without Theo and keep his friends and family close or risk pushing them away in the process.
The parts I did like were the representation of Griffin's OCD. While it got repetitive at times it did give an honest look into someone dealing with that disorder and how they navigate their day to day life while keeping their compulsions in check. It was refreshing to see that represented in a book and in a main character. Another thing I liked was how no character was totally good or totally bad, they were all in a morally grey area and I appreciate that. Just like real life, no person is true good or true bad just grey. Also how raw and honest the process of grief is, how losing someone can turn a person into the worst of themselves or make them do things they wouldn't normally do.
The parts I didn't like or didn't feel right were how I believed we were getting a certain romance but then at the last second another romance twist was thrown into the mix. While that relationship did have it's cute moments, the way it happened felt rushed and thrown in out of nowhere just because. I wished that the romance was built up a lot sooner or we got little hints to it sooner, maybe then it would have made the romance between the two more believable. I also felt like Theo was a bit of a jerk to be honest. I mean he made his best friend and love interest wait around for him in hopes of getting back together but it never happening. Also he didn't do too much to stop the feud between his current boyfriend and ex. That wasn't good behavior in my opinion. I also felt like Jackson was underutilized and could have been used way more then he was.
Adam's writing really did shine in this book! I really loved how he wrote grief and loss, as someone who experienced loss I can say this book hit home with me on several levels!
I can say this book might not have worked for me but it may work for someone else. So if you do want to give this book a try then give it a go! If you want a book detailing grief and loss in a honest and appropriate way then History Is All You Left Me might be for you!
History Is All You Left Me is about a young man named Griffin trying to deal with the loss of his first love and best friend, Theo. While he struggles with his OCD and compulsions acting up he also has to come to terms with sharing that same grief with Theo's current boyfriend Jackson. Griffin must learn to live in a world without Theo and keep his friends and family close or risk pushing them away in the process.
The parts I did like were the representation of Griffin's OCD. While it got repetitive at times it did give an honest look into someone dealing with that disorder and how they navigate their day to day life while keeping their compulsions in check. It was refreshing to see that represented in a book and in a main character. Another thing I liked was how no character was totally good or totally bad, they were all in a morally grey area and I appreciate that. Just like real life, no person is true good or true bad just grey. Also how raw and honest the process of grief is, how losing someone can turn a person into the worst of themselves or make them do things they wouldn't normally do.
The parts I didn't like or didn't feel right were how I believed we were getting a certain romance but then at the last second another romance twist was thrown into the mix. While that relationship did have it's cute moments, the way it happened felt rushed and thrown in out of nowhere just because. I wished that the romance was built up a lot sooner or we got little hints to it sooner, maybe then it would have made the romance between the two more believable. I also felt like Theo was a bit of a jerk to be honest. I mean he made his best friend and love interest wait around for him in hopes of getting back together but it never happening. Also he didn't do too much to stop the feud between his current boyfriend and ex. That wasn't good behavior in my opinion. I also felt like Jackson was underutilized and could have been used way more then he was.
Adam's writing really did shine in this book! I really loved how he wrote grief and loss, as someone who experienced loss I can say this book hit home with me on several levels!
I can say this book might not have worked for me but it may work for someone else. So if you do want to give this book a try then give it a go! If you want a book detailing grief and loss in a honest and appropriate way then History Is All You Left Me might be for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
gabrielladodway's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
archcon's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
allisongm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
sjdoveywrites's review against another edition
3.0
To me this book didn’t live up to They Both Die At The End which I read first. I don’t know what I really expected but I think there could’ve been more of a twist. But the overall setup of the story was interesting.
ffilippa's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I couldn't get myself to love History Is All You Left Me as much as everybody else did. I don't really know why that is, because the characters were interesting, the story was quite interesting as well, and the writing was great. I guess I'll just have to accept that this book wasn't for me. I finished HIAYLM only a few days ago, and I can already feel the story fading from my memory (not the most significant parts, but the less important ones).
The first half of the book was more to my liking than the second half, which in my opinion spiralled a little out of control in many ways. (Relationships – to mention one thing that got out of hand in the end.) The beginning was what kept me reading, obviously. My impression of the ending was that it felt sort of repetitive and protracted. Maybe that is a common feeling amongst people reading a book that they aren't LOVING?
I had a hard time liking Griff or any other character, because I feel like Griff was the only person we got to know. Griff only talked/thought about Theo, and the others were sort of left out of the picture most of the time. But I decided way into the book that my favorite character was Wade. He was loyal, funny and just a nice guy! Also, I really liked the parents, all of them basically.
I couldn't get myself to love History Is All You Left Me as much as everybody else did. I don't really know why that is, because the characters were interesting, the story was quite interesting as well, and the writing was great. I guess I'll just have to accept that this book wasn't for me. I finished HIAYLM only a few days ago, and I can already feel the story fading from my memory (not the most significant parts, but the less important ones).
The first half of the book was more to my liking than the second half, which in my opinion spiralled a little out of control in many ways. (Relationships – to mention one thing that got out of hand in the end.) The beginning was what kept me reading, obviously. My impression of the ending was that it felt sort of repetitive and protracted. Maybe that is a common feeling amongst people reading a book that they aren't LOVING?
I had a hard time liking Griff or any other character, because I feel like Griff was the only person we got to know. Griff only talked/thought about Theo, and the others were sort of left out of the picture most of the time. But I decided way into the book that my favorite character was Wade. He was loyal, funny and just a nice guy! Also, I really liked the parents, all of them basically.
quinniantheduck's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25