You know that feeling when you’re reading a book and suddenly realize you’ve been holding your breath for the last few pages? That’s the experience of diving into Angie Kim’s sophomore novel, Happiness Falls. A riveting blend of domestic suspense and literary fiction, this book grabs you from the first line—“We didn’t call the police right away”—and doesn’t let go until long after you’ve turned the final page.
Kim, who burst onto the literary scene with her award-winning debut Miracle Creek, has crafted another tour de force that defies easy categorization. Is it a missing person thriller? A poignant family drama? A philosophical meditation on happiness and human connection? Somehow, miraculously, it manages to be all of these things at once.
A Family Unravels
At the heart of Happiness Falls is the Parkson family – father Adam, mother Hannah, 20-year-old twins Mia and John, and 14-year-old Eugene, who has Angelman syndrome and cannot speak. When Adam and Eugene don’t return from a routine walk in the park, the family’s world is upended. As hours stretch into days, long-buried secrets and simmering tensions rise to the surface, forcing each family member to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other.
Kim narrates primarily through Mia’s sardonic, hyper-analytical voice, a choice that proves masterful. Mia’s wry observations and tendency to overthink everything provide both comic relief and gut-wrenching pathos as she grapples with her father’s disappearance. Her voice feels startlingly authentic – I found myself nodding along with her neurotic inner monologues, wincing at her occasional callousness, and rooting for her even when she makes questionable choices.
Unraveling the Mystery
As a mystery, Happiness Falls is taut and suspenseful. Kim expertly plants seeds of doubt and misdirection, keeping readers guessing until the very end. Is Adam’s disappearance connected to a mysterious woman named Anjeli? Could Eugene, despite his inability to speak, hold the key to solving the case? What about the ominous experiments Adam was conducting, cryptically labeled “HQ”?
But to categorize this solely as a thriller would be reductive. The true mystery at the core of Happiness Falls is far more profound: How well can we ever truly know the people we love most?
Breaking the Silence
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Happiness Falls is Kim’s sensitive and nuanced portrayal of Eugene. Through Mia’s eyes, we come to see Eugene not as a tragic figure defined by his disability, but as a complex individual with thoughts, feelings, and a rich inner life. Kim’s depiction of alternative communication methods for non-speaking individuals is both eye-opening and deeply moving.
As the story unfolds, Kim challenges our assumptions about intelligence, ability, and the nature of communication itself. In one particularly powerful scene, Eugene uses a letterboard to “speak” for the first time, leaving his family stunned:
“DAD TALKED TO ME AFTER YOUR PHONE CALL. HE TOLD ME WHAT YOU SAID. HE APOLOGIZED TO ME.”
It’s a moment that left me breathless, forcing me to confront my own unconscious biases about neurodiversity and the myriad ways humans can connect with one another.
The Pursuit of Happiness
Woven throughout the narrative is a fascinating exploration of happiness – what it means, how to measure it, and whether it’s truly achievable. Adam’s mysterious “HQ” experiments turn out to be related to his “Happiness Quotient” theory, a concept that becomes central to understanding his character and motivations.
Kim deftly incorporates philosophical musings on the relative nature of happiness without ever feeling didactic. Instead, these ideas emerge organically through the characters’ experiences and interactions, adding depth and resonance to the story.
A Master of Her Craft
Technically speaking, Kim’s prose is a marvel. Her ability to balance multiple timelines, perspectives, and narrative threads is impressive. The pacing is relentless yet never feels rushed, with moments of quiet introspection providing necessary breathing room amidst the mounting tension.
Kim has a particular gift for creating vivid, memorable scenes that linger in the mind. A confrontation at a waterfall overlook, a late-night conversation between twins, a harrowing encounter with a pepper-spraying stranger – each is rendered with cinematic clarity and emotional punch.
Not Without Flaws
If I had to nitpick, there are a few moments where the plot relies a bit heavily on coincidence. And occasionally, Mia’s hyper-analytical voice can become exhausting, though this feels true to her character. These are minor quibbles in an otherwise exceptional novel.
Final Verdict: A Must-Read
Happiness Falls is that rare book that manages to be both a page-turner and a profound meditation on the human condition. It’s a novel that will keep you up late into the night, furiously turning pages to uncover its mysteries. But it’s also a book that will linger with you long after you’ve finished, prompting deep reflection on family, communication, and the elusive nature of happiness.
Angie Kim has firmly established herself as a major literary talent with this sophomore effort. For readers who enjoyed the intricate plotting of Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere or the emotional depth of Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage, Happiness Falls is an absolute must-read.
Standout Elements:
Mia’s compelling, darkly humorous narrative voice
Nuanced, respectful portrayal of a character with Angelman syndrome
Expertly crafted mystery that keeps you guessing
Thought-provoking exploration of happiness and human connection
Beautiful, evocative prose
Who Should Read This Book:
Fans of literary fiction with a suspenseful edge
Readers interested in diverse family dynamics and neurodiversity
Anyone who enjoys novels that blend genres and defy easy categorization
Those who appreciate stories that challenge assumptions and prompt self-reflection
The Verdict
Happiness Falls is a triumph – a beautiful, thought-provoking novel that will captivate you from start to finish. Angie Kim has delivered a story that is equal parts heart-pounding mystery and heartbreaking family drama, with a generous dose of philosophical inquiry thrown in for good measure.
This is the kind of book that prompts rich discussion, making it an ideal choice for book clubs. It raises profound questions about the nature of happiness, the complexities of family relationships, and the myriad ways we communicate (or fail to communicate) with those closest to us.
In the end, Happiness Falls reminds us that truth – like happiness – is often relative and elusive. It’s a lesson the Parkson family learns through heartbreak and hard-won wisdom. And it’s one that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page of this remarkable novel.