Adult Fiction

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

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Published: 2023
Genres: Adult Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Drama, Contemporary
Audience: Adult, College Level
Number of Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Goodreads Link: Happiness Falls
Content Warnings: Death, accident, tragedy, violence, bullying, and disability-related trauma.

Publisher’s Summary

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2023)
When a father goes missing, his family’s desperate search leads them to question everything they know about him and one another–both a riveting page-turner and a deeply moving portrait of a family in crisis from the award-winning author of Miracle Creek.  “We didn’t call the police right away.” Those are the first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean-American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing.

Mia, the irreverent, hyperanalytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything–which is why she isn’t initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don’t return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.

What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance. Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, race, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another.

Review

Happiness Falls is an interesting read that combines a fictional mystery with actual scientific studies on happiness and methods of communication for the nonverbal. The story centers on a Korean-American family experiencing tragedy when their father vanishes during a walk with his son, Eugene. While Eugene returns home safely, he is unable to vocalize what happened. As the family uncovers the secret life the father was leading—specifically his desperate attempts to help Eugene find a voice—they are forced to confront their own perceptions of disability.

I felt the book was quite heavy with side information. There were many footnotes that, while informative and interesting, frequently disrupted the flow of the story. However, Angie Kim does an excellent job addressing society’s treatment of people with disabilities. She sprinkles in scientific studies regarding the thought processes and communication abilities of nonverbal individuals, leading to several fascinating findings throughout the book.

The major themes include communication versus misunderstanding, family relationships, and the gap between truth and perception. In my opinion, this book might not hold the attention of a typical high school student, but it would be an excellent addition to a college-level psychology course or for professionals who work with nonverbal individuals.

🧬 Understanding Angelman Syndrome (AS)

The novel brings much-needed attention to Angelman Syndrome, a complex genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system.

Key Characteristics of AS:

  • Communication: Most individuals are nonverbal or have minimal speech but can often understand much more than they can express.
  • Behavior: Characterized by a happy, excitable demeanor with frequent smiling and laughter (which the book explores as a potential source of misunderstanding).
  • Physical: Balance issues, seizures, and sleep disturbances are common.

🎒 Academic & Professional Connections

  • Psychology/Sociology: This text is a perfect case study for the Theory of Mind—the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others—and how that breaks down when communication is non-traditional.
  • Special Education: For those entering the field, the book highlights the importance of presumed competence when working with students who have profound physical or vocal limitations.
  • Ethics: Discuss the “truth vs. perception” theme. How does the justice system fail individuals who cannot provide traditional testimony?

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