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A review by oliviabrcka
History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
challenging
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
4.75
History Is All You Left Me follows 17-year-old Griffin Jennings, whose first love has tragically passed away. Through a dual-time lense, we watch Griffin as he processes his past with Theo as he mourns in the present. Griffin experiences all of the sadness, guilt, and fear associated with loss, as well as the complications that form in relationships during the mourning period. I picked up this book after hearing the rave reviews offered by many a booktuber, and I have to say that it is one of the better recommendations I have read.
Silvera's writing style really spoke to me throughout this book. He has this way of bringing the characters to life using these small details that develop the intimacy and relationships between every character, romantic or not. Although this was a very slow-paced book, I feel like that matches the story, as grief is not something that can be quickly swept under the rug.
History Is All You Left Me is written from the perspective of Griffin Jennings. Griffin is a charming, quirky character, and gives of a vibe of innocence that only adds to the heartbreak felt throughout this book. The whole story revolves around him as he deals with his grief and learns about himself. There is loads of character development, specifically from Griffin, over the course of this story, and this really helps it stand out from the majority of YA contemporaries. I liked that each character had their own imperfections, but that they balance one another out in a way that helps their relationships and sense of self become stronger.
History Is All You Left Me explores SO MANY THEMES. Coming out, break ups, first times, last times, friendships, family, but most notably, grief and loss. I think it is so important for YA novels to explore these ideas because, as a young reader myself, it brings to life the idea that grief is normal and hard and difficult for everyone. You don't have to shove it under the rug and you don't have to let it control your life. It is OK to move forward knowing that you have a life to live for yourself. As someone who has dealt with quite a bit of loss already, I felt like this book would be really great for anyone who is dealing with a really personal loss for the first time. I think it might help them feel seen.
I think that this book definitely carries an impact no matter who you are. Although I can't say for certain that it's one of my favorite books of all time, I enjoyed reading it and I feel like it is such an important topic for young readers and one that isn't explored or discussed all that often. I am certainly interested in reading another novel by Adam Silvera.
Silvera's writing style really spoke to me throughout this book. He has this way of bringing the characters to life using these small details that develop the intimacy and relationships between every character, romantic or not. Although this was a very slow-paced book, I feel like that matches the story, as grief is not something that can be quickly swept under the rug.
History Is All You Left Me is written from the perspective of Griffin Jennings. Griffin is a charming, quirky character, and gives of a vibe of innocence that only adds to the heartbreak felt throughout this book. The whole story revolves around him as he deals with his grief and learns about himself. There is loads of character development, specifically from Griffin, over the course of this story, and this really helps it stand out from the majority of YA contemporaries. I liked that each character had their own imperfections, but that they balance one another out in a way that helps their relationships and sense of self become stronger.
History Is All You Left Me explores SO MANY THEMES. Coming out, break ups, first times, last times, friendships, family, but most notably, grief and loss. I think it is so important for YA novels to explore these ideas because, as a young reader myself, it brings to life the idea that grief is normal and hard and difficult for everyone. You don't have to shove it under the rug and you don't have to let it control your life. It is OK to move forward knowing that you have a life to live for yourself. As someone who has dealt with quite a bit of loss already, I felt like this book would be really great for anyone who is dealing with a really personal loss for the first time. I think it might help them feel seen.
I think that this book definitely carries an impact no matter who you are. Although I can't say for certain that it's one of my favorite books of all time, I enjoyed reading it and I feel like it is such an important topic for young readers and one that isn't explored or discussed all that often. I am certainly interested in reading another novel by Adam Silvera.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion