Reviews

As someone who tends not to gravitate toward coming-of-age stories, it took me awhile to get into Like Happiness - it was just so focused on Tatum's college experience at the beginning.

I stuck with it, and ultimately found it to be pretty well done. I couldn't help but wonder whether the narrative was inspired by Junot Diaz.

More than anything, this felt like a story about grooming and misogyny (and a bit on growing up, sexuality, and Latinx identity). I'd put Like Happiness in conversation with My Dark Vanessa, Notes on a Silencing, and even, I think, Jaded (which I happened to be reading at the same time).

I didn't particularly care for or dislike the narration by Marisa Blake. Sometimes her narration felt one-note, but I wondered if that was intentional (i.e., Tatum reading the letter she was writing, not letting emotion slip in).

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the free ALC and Celadon for the print arc.

carolreadabook's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

jessidont's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

library_dreamer's review

Go to review page

4.25

The most shocking thing about this is that it is a debut. As Tatum unpacks the toxic relationship she had for a decade with Matteo, it was emotionally jarring to see her realize that she'd been a victim as well as those that were also accusing him. This was certainly an emotional rollercoaster.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

amobrien's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Like Happiness is a reflection of complex power dynamics and toxic relationships through the lense of Latinx identity. I can't believe this is a debut! It's a really great work of literary fiction and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

Content Warnings

mharvie's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.5

Tatum Vega is living in Chile with her partner, Vera, when she is forced to again think about her past. She is contacted by a reporter interested in learning more about her relationship with a famous writer, M. Dominguez. He has recently been accused of abuse by another woman. Tatum then begins to deconstruct the relationship that she had with M over the course of ten years.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the quick pace of the beginning of this novel, but the story itself fell flat for me. None of the characters were likable or relatable. Tatum was very immature and obsessed over M. Dominguez. It was clear from the beginning that he was using her and yet she firebombed each and every possible relationship whenever he gave her the least amount of attention. I would be interested to see what other stories the author writes as I did not enjoy their writing.

Thank you to @celadonbooks for a gifted ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

hjallen6's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Very good read

More...