Welcome to Litsy!

Mia‘s younger brother is non-speaking and has physical challenges, but he ran home from the park alone. Where is their Dad? Mia, her twin John and their mother Hannah are desperate to find him, but only Eugene knows what really happened and his knowledge is locked within him. A fascinating family facing heartache, a small miracle and a twisty plot make this a great 4 of 5 ⭐️read.

The mystery in this novel is real. Dad is missing and can‘t be found. Did he leave of his own free will? Was he murdered or could he have had an accident? The other family members are mom, fraternal twins and the youngest son who is autistic and has Angelmans syndrome. Eugene is non verbal so he doesn‘t seem to be able to communicate what happened to dad while they were in the park for a hike and a picnic. Searches don‘t supply answers. 5

This was the best book of July for me. So well written, a family with some unusual dynamics, and a plot different than anything I‘ve read before. I will definitely read more from Angie Kim.

This had the feel of a fast-paced mystery, but brought up so many intriguing ideas about language and speech and intelligence and the assumptions we make about all of the above. It kept me turning the pages, but also thinking deeply about the issues it raised. I felt similarly about Miracle Creek—now I‘m in for whatever Angie Kim writes!

I‘ve been trying to figure out all day what to say about this. I ended up with this is a good book so long as you‘re okay with it being about something other than you thought it was supposed to be about.

Curious now to go back and see how it did in the #LitsyTOB

"It‘s funny with siblings, how you think of them as just there, but then something great or awful happens that unearths and makes visible what Koreans call jeong. It‘s hard to explain in English; it‘s not any particular emotion—not affection or even love—but a complex bond defined by its depth and history: that sense of belonging to the same whole, your fates intertwined, impossible to sever no matter how much you may want to."

No spoilers please but I am enjoying this a quarter way through and help us all if we don‘t find out what happens to the father at the end I will go scorched earth on this audiobook.

Liking this book, different than Miracle Creek, still deals with special needs children.

#LitsyToB24
Although I found the book too long and narrator Mia drove me crazy at times I really enjoyed this book. I went in looking for answers to what happened to Mia‘s father after her little brother Eugene, who has autism and angelman syndrome and can‘t talk, comes home alone, totally upset. Later on I realized the story is not about getting answers but about communication and perception and I really liked what Kim Angie so thoroughly did.

#WeeklyForecast 10/24

Since taking this photo I‘ve already finished Snow Road Stayion, a lovely read. Review will follow.
I am now starting the tagged book, my ultimate one for #LitsyToB24. I‘ve also had an early start with our next #EuropaCollective book, The Postcard. It‘s fantastic and heartbreaking, as to be expected.

Trying valiantly to get into this. I have been on page 16 for days and days. #sigh

It took a while for me to get into this, and then when I did Libby snatched it back! I finally got it back and finished it quickly. It‘s a very compelling story that deals with much more than the mystery of a missing person.

This was one of 8 unfinished Kindle/Libby books that I carried over from 2023, and that number is down to three. I also finished another one earlier in the month and decided to abandon three of the rest. More on that later!

this story has a missing-person-mystery, but like Miracle Creek, it‘s more about a family looking for answers. a really great sophomore novel #botm

A mystery where the mystery isn‘t the point of the story

#12booksof2023

This book is about a #missingperson and family dynamics and disability and more. It‘s an interesting story but one I can only read in small doses at the moment. While I made some progress, I didn‘t finish it during the #yearend readathon, and Libby has snatched it back for another month or so. There‘s still time to finish something else for the readathon…
#newyearnewbooks

I stayed up reading past midnight (happy new year!) so i could finish my 90th book for 2023. This is not a genre i typically read so it was a nice change, and i was completely engaged - but I had to gloss over things i thought were heavy handed. In the police/detective novels i read theres more logic perhaps, & not as much emotional investment btw investigator/victim/suspect - it is quite fun to have more personal “secrets” in this genre. ⬇️

A mystery where the mystery is not the point of the story. I really enjoyed this - even more than Miracle Creek, I think? I found this completely riveting, I just got sucked in and didn‘t want to put it down.

Book Advent Day 9! I loved Miracle Creek, so I have high hopes for this one.

For the #DashingDecember readathon I want to finish the tagged book. It‘s not due until the end of the month, but Libby tells me that three people are waiting for it. Since I had to check it out a second time, I figure if I return it early that will help balance the Libby karma.

#Redstack
#HumbleHarvest

❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚

Our brains are hardwired to want resolution, to want the answer 🧠

Optimism is like ice cream: as much as I try to remind myself it‘s bad for me and I should stay away, I‘m human, can‘t help a tiny taste, and the next thing you know, I‘m digging into the whole carton, gulping it down, and it always ends with me feeling sick and wanting to throw up 🍦

I enjoyed Miracle Creek by Angie Kim.. and I really enjoyed this new book of hers too. Set during covid ( something that didn‘t appeal to me before reading ) But done in a natural , intelligent way. It worked very well with images and layers of meaning around the idea of masks and isolation. An absolute page turner for me, I sank into the lives of this amazing family, whose son Eugene has autism and angel syndrome. A great mystery story.

I couldn‘t stop listening to this audiobook! I loved the perspective from an older sister who‘s father goes missing while out with her little brother…..who doesn‘t speak. I learned about how frustrating it must be for those who have thoughts but are unable to communicate them and the therapy available to help. A novel about familial love and support, also set during the pandemic. I loved it! And this cover 😍

I loved this one! I was sucked in immediately and did not want to put it down (I had to force myself to go to bed in the middle). The story, the voice, the characters, all fabulous. I‘d be hard pressed to say if this or Miracle Creek is better. I‘m a true believer in Angie Kim!

Here is my wrap up from August‘s #bookspinbingo board! Favorite was the tagged book. I managed one bingo this month and 11 total books. A lot of so-so ratings from me, so I‘m hoping for all Picks next month! As usual, I did not read the bookspin or doublespin books; I‘ve learned I don‘t like being “told” what to read, even if I myself put that book on the list a few days before. 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Now Available! 🥳🎉📚
Happiness Falls- Angie Kim

Book Review- https://www.boleybooks.com//happiness-falls/

#boleybooks #HappinessFalls #AngieKim #bookbeast #bookjoy #bookbuds #newrelease

A definite Pick for me, enthusiastically! I know there have been mixed feelings on this one, but I liked the originality of the plot, the quirky storytelling style of the protagonist Mia, the cultural and linguistic musings, the mystery element, the disability rep, and the family relationships. I‘ll be recommending this widely so I‘m glad I own it through #botm!

I‘m curious, how many times is the word “infuriating” used?

Eh. I didn‘t enjoy this nearly as much as Miracle Creek. I think most of it was the young, overeager narrator. But I do appreciate Kim‘s thorough research! Minor #SophomoreSlump

Mia‘s dad has gone missing, and her brother, who has nonverbal autism and Angelman Syndrome, is the main suspect. Kim examines how the justice system treats disabled children and how this impacts the family during the pandemic. #botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Of the 86 books I‘ve read so far this year, “Happiness Falls” might be my favorite. I think Angie Kim‘s work is just phenomenal - incredibly distinctive and profound. I found myself torn between tearing through the pages and reveling in each word. This novel taught me a lot, invited me to think critically, made me feel deeply, and left an indelible mark on my heart. #BOTM

Once again im about to offer an #UnpopularOpinion 🤷🏼‍♀️I did not enjoy this book at all! There‘s a good premise - a dad & his non-verbal teenage son go out for a hike near their home- hours later the boy returns agitated, despondent and alone. Because he can‘t communicate no one knows what happened and where their father is. It‘s clear something bad occurred but what? My problem was with the execution of the story. 👇🏽

#BOTM delivery! I actually went for five books this month, but tagged was missing from my box. First time that‘s happened to me. I sent them a message so hopefully they‘ll send it my way soon.

I decided to go with these for my #botm picks this month 😁 📚

Yay! I was hoping this would be on the list. I loved Miracle Creek and am looking forward to this one. #BOTM #MountTBR

My #botm picks!

As soon as the #botm site fiiiiiiinally posted the August books this morning, @BennettBookworm and I went through all the choices. I‘m excited about my choice: Happiness Falls! I loved Miracle Creek! I will say that several of the picks and add-ons are ones I‘ll read but they will be library borrows: Family Lore, Gone Tonight, the Lisa Jewell, the Gillian Macallister, maybe even the memoir. Good choices this month, I think!

Full Review and Matching Recipe: https://wordpress.com/post/bakingthroughbookclub.com/1080

Adam Parsons leaves for his daily hike with his son who has special needs and never returns. Woven within the story is the struggle to help people with disabilities, especially those thought to be non-verbal, to find their voice. The ending is a little anti-climactic for a thriller, so I think it's better to consider Happiness Falls a contemporary fiction

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚 #boleybooks #happinessfalls #AngieKim #bookbeast #bookjoy #bookbuds
What are you reading? 😊

I SO loved this book after reading Miracle Creek! Eugene is born with AS (Angelman Syndrome) which makes him non-verbal and unable to control his movements. On an outing with his father, dad disappears and Eugene can‘t express what happened! Older sister Mia narrates as she tries to piece together the circumstances. This is a tear-jerker but oh so good! Out in Sept.
#NetGalley

Great novel. It had a mystery aspect that made you want to keep reading as well as focusing on family and autism/angelman syndrome. I learned a lot. Highly recommend. If you liked Miracle Creek you‘ll definitely like this one as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.