Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 387 pages
Published: August 2023

Happiness Falls, at the surface, is a literary mystery about a father who goes missing in a Washington DC-area park, and the last person who was with him was his young son who has a rare genetic condition that prohibits him from speaking. What's more is the fictional story takes place during the summer of 2020, which posed additional challenges in solving the missing person case in the midst of a global pandemic. On a deeper level, the story is more philosophical and thought-provoking. It begs the questions, what does it mean to be happy? What is the difference between being non-verbal and non-communicative? How does verbal language communicate intelligence? What role does race play in how we perceive and are perceived? How do we protect the ones we love, especially in the most challenging of circumstances?

The book is narrated by the older sister, who is a twin. She and both her brothers and mother come together as a family to work out and reconcile what has happened to the patriarch of their family. The specific plot of the mystery is not necessarily the most important aspect of the book, but it helps propel the story forward. I found this story to beautifully written, and I appreciated the way it made me think about things. There's a lot to unpack beyond the mystery, which is resolved in the course of the books nearly 400 pages. This is one I slowly savored and wouldn't mind reading again.  

Recommendation: This book was on my TBR list for far too long. I am happy I read it. This is one of those books where you're not going to get a nice and tidy ending, but you will get a complete and fulfilling story. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy cerebral reads that can easily be discussed with others. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 309 pages
Published: April 2023

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld was recommended by Anne Bogel's Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club as a 2023 Summer Reading Guide pick. I snagged a copy from Book of the Month, but I didn't get around to reading it until this spring. When I procrastinate and the book is this good, I just want to kick myself for waiting so long. But the upside is the recommendation was solid and it was a good read, so I win ... sooner or later! 

Romantic Comedy is about Sally, a sketch writer on a late-night skit show (think Saturday Night Live) called The Night Owls. With a couple of superficial relationships post-divorce, Sally has no intention of engaging in the business of love. While on the job she writes a bit called the Danny Horst Rule, which is based on average-looking Joes who are somehow able to create relationships with glamorous women (think Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian). As fate would have it, pop music star Noah Brewster guest stars on The Night Owls, and Sally thinks they might have had a brief connection during his one-week preparation and appearance on the show. Has the Danny Horst Rule come to her front door? The remainder of the book allows the reader to explore their interactions. 

I really enjoyed this story. The writing was clever, and the emotions were very true to heart. The book is set during the dreadful Covid-19 years, but it was fun to watch the relationship between Sally and Noah blossom over email. People don't really write anymore; they text or video call, so this was refreshing. But the characters are both writers, so it wasn't too much of a stretch. As a lover of words, I enjoyed the discourse and the overall story. 

Recommendation: To be honest, as a book with the word comedy in the title, I thought it would be a little funnier. Having said that, it did not take away from the story for me. It is heavier on the romance aspect, but I really enjoyed how it was presented in this book. That slow burn that leads to the excitement of getting to know someone especially made the book engaging. Upon completion, I listened to the author chat on the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club platform, which made this story an even more richer reading experience for me. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 305 pages
Published: August 2021

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard is one of the few books that has already taken on the COVID-19 pandemic. The book is set in Ireland where protagonists Ciara and Oliver meet just before the world shut down in March of 2020. There's an instant connection, and when their town goes on strict lockdown (This is not like the U.S. lockdown.), the two decide to move in together to get to continue to see each other and get to know one another while staying within the guidelines of the pandemic quarantine. 

As the title suggest, fifty-six days later one of them is dead. The bulk of the book goes back in forth in time slowly building the story and providing clues as to who is dead, why and who is responsible for the death. I enjoyed reading this story. We are just far enough past the lockdown for it to be entertaining and relevant to the reader. Howard is an excellent suspense writer. She crafted a story just over 300 pages that provided a lot of detail for well-rounded character development. I felt like I could really picture the scenes and scenarios that she illustrated through her writing. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a great build, but if I am completely honest I was a little disappointed in the final twist. I think she could have left it one step/twist before the final twist. Maybe that's just me wanting believe in the goodness of people. Anyhow, I won't give too much away. You'll have to pick up a copy for yourself! 

Recommendation: If you're looking for a realistic escape from reality, I would strongly recommend this mystery thriller set in the not too distant past. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More