Ratings62
Average rating3.9
4.5/5 StarsI'm sorry, but please don't be mad at me for reliving all of it. History is all you left me.
Hey you!
Yeah, you.
Do you like happiness?
And living?
And having your heart be perfectly okay?
Then this is not the book for you, but I think you should still read it anyway.
Now, I have a confession, I read this book back in January. According to Google, 178 days have come and gone with this book existing in my life. And in those 178 days, I've lied to everyone stating this review was coming and then proceeded to not write the review. What have I been doing? Probably sleeping or maybe eating chicken nuggets, let's be honest here. But today I've decided to change that, as it has come to my attention that there are people who haven't read this book yet. And, not even that, there are people who haven't read an Adam Silvera book before, and let me tell you, you haven't lived until you've read an Adam book. Even though he only has two books out at the time that I write this review, I can confidently state that he is one of the best authors out there at the moment. And with his newest novel, [b:They Both Die at the End|33385229|They Both Die at the End|Adam Silvera|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494333138s/33385229.jpg|49456196] coming out in just a few short months, you only have a limited time to jump on the hype train before it's released. So why not start with this book, one of my favorite reads of the year so far.
However, as a side effect of writing a review almost 200 days late (and 62 entire books later), I remember almost nothing about this book except I cried about twenty times just during the first chapter alone. But, much like my life, we'll just BS the entire thing and hope my memory serves me correctly.
Tucked inside this package of perfection we have Griffin who's been in love with this boy named Theo for even longer than I've been in love with this book. And, unlike most of my relationships in life, it wasn't one-sided and Griffin and Theo date for awhile. However, before the events of this book take place, Theo moves away to California to attend school so the two love birds break up. Griffin, though, knows that his love for Theo will outlive any obstacle and one day they'll get back together and live happily ever after. And he knows this, despite the fact that Theo starts dating this guy named Jackson in California.
Now, I know what you're thinking. This can't get any more devastating right? Well, you're wrong, because, after a tragic accident, Theo dies. And that's where the book starts. Well, it starts at Theo's funeral. Not like right after he dies. Leaving Griffin, Jackson, myself, and yourself a puddle of emotions on the floor. But because Griffin is having a difficult time accepting the death of his first love, he starts to bond with Jackson and connect over the love over one boy they both shared.
Now, you might be wondering, “Why would I intentionally read a book that is gonna crush my heart into a thousand pieces?” And usually, I'd understand, as I don't like reading sad books either. But this is an Adam Silvera book, and I'll emphasize my love for him as much as I need to in order to convince you to pick this up. And besides, a tree wasn't murdered just to become three hundred pages of straight sadness.
Infomercial voice Because wait! There's more!
This book was sprinkled with so many scenes that made me smile and laugh and give thanks to my youth. Because not only do we get to read about Griffin and Jackson's journey of acceptance, but we also get to view the “history” part of this book, and perhaps my favorite part? or perhaps not. This entire book is my favorite part. So while we have the present day when everything is sad and your reading between blurry vision and a handful of tissues, you also get the story of the year before, when Griffin and Jackson's relationship is just beginning. When they are just two kids in love. And those scenes, while they too have their ups and downs, are coated in an atmosphere of fun and youth.
Adam beautifully weaves in the two storylines so beautifully, I don't even know how he did it. That man is so talented. I need him to teach me how to write. And that's not the only thing he waves into the story so beautifully, but there are also elements of mental illness that are addressed in such a respectful manner. Griffin, the MC, has OCD. While I personally don't have any experience with the disorder, and it is one touched so little in YA literature, I have read reviews that state it is an accurate portrayal.
Let me mention for the gazillionth time in this review that Adam Silvera is one of the best authors publishing books at the moment.
But why give this book a four-star review instead of five if I'm praising it so much? Originally, I did give it five stars, but I went back a few months ago to change it. There's just one part at the end, one element that was added in the last few chapters, that I didn't like. I won't mention what it is, bc spoilers and also I don't remember a characters name, but I felt like the book could have done without it. And as much as I wanted to leave the original rating for this book, I couldn't get over it, I would feel like I was lying to myself if left the rating at five stars.
Now, I hope this review was efficient enough for being over 30 years late. If I didn't convince you to read this book, then I have failed at life.
Please read it. Do it for me.
This review has been sponsored by All I Want by Kodaline. But maybe don't listen to that song for at least a month after you finish reading this.
This book is so, so beautiful. Full review to come, but wow, this is so special.FULL REVIEW: I knew going in History is All You Left Me was going to be another heartbreaking [a:Adam Silvera 7577278 Adam Silvera https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1414725025p2/7577278.jpg] read—I mean, the premise is clearly an emotional one—but wow, I did not anticipate just how powerful and important this book would be.I saw people in the GayYA conversation about the book say History starts at heartbreaking and moves toward hope, which is really a perfect way to describe it. A lot of the book is Griffin talking directly to Theo as he processes his grief and moves through a life where Theo is no longer alive. The narrative goes back and forth between the present day and the past, so we get to know Theo and Griffin's history with him, all while knowing how it's ultimately going to end. I sometimes have trouble with Contemporary novels keeping my attention, but this definitely wasn't a problem for History. The whole book is so beautifully written—it's raw, and emotional, and real—and had me feeling approximately all of the things a chapter or two in. Then there's the OCD rep. This was really interesting to me to read because the things that trigger Griffin and his compulsions are entirely different from the things that bothered me (and sometimes still do) at the height of my worst, uncontrolled probably-OCD anxiety. But that's the thing about mental illnesses—they are so varied in the way they affect people, even though representation tends to focus on one or two ways it manifests. So I was really, really happy to see not-frequently-covered ways OCD can affect someone on the page, because lack of awareness causes so much damage and this fights against it. All in all, I really loved this book and I know it'll stick with me for a long time. If you can handle something raw, emotional, and yes, heartbreaking, but also hopeful, then I can't recommend this incredible book more.Diversity note: All of the main characters are queer—Griffin and Jackson are gay, Theo is bi, and there's another queer boy who says he doesn't like labels. Also, Griffin deals with OCD and (possibly, according to Griffin and his psychiatrist at the end—minor spoiler) a delusional disorder. Both the queer and OCD rep are #ownvoices.
Could Adam Silvera please write a book that doesn't make me cry? That'd be a really nice change. I have read several of his so far and they're all great and they all hurt so much.
Beautifully written, heartbreaking, realistic characters dealing with love, growing up, grief. Thanks for all the feels.
Un jeune homme tente de faire le deuil de son ex-petit ami et rencontre le dernier petit ami de celui-ci. Il y a quelques clichés, ce n'est pas toujours très subtil, mais le récit reste émouvant et agréable à lire. J'en ai gardé un très bon souvenir.
Losing someone you love is never easy. Even worst when death tears you apart. It's been a long time since I hadn't cried that much for a book. History Is All You Left Me is just a jewel, beautifully written, with personnages you get really attached too and a deep story. It was really hard to read from time to time but it was totally worth it. I was searching for a new favourite in this year books, this is the one.
Finished it for the second time (16-8-22/26-8-22) and holy fuck. This book simultaneously breaks and heals my heart. Wade is superior and I have no choice but to stan❤️
Stupid book.
Don't get me wrong, it was damn near perfect, but it made me cry. A lot. I mean, I should have seen it coming, what with it dealing with death and grief and losing your first love.
It's an easy, but deeply profound and touching read, and sometimes I was almost afraid to continue because the hurt was so real, so relatable.
Right.
My next read has to be something funny or silly.
✨ Check out my post about all of Adam Silvera's books!
As soon as I found out this book was available for purchase, I bought it and read it very swiftly. Which was probably a bad idea, because within the 3 days it took me to read it, I was under a massive emotional rollercoaster like I had never experienced before.
It was quite strange, actually. In one scene I would be laughing, and in the next scene, I would be crying my eyes out. I usually don't cry in a book until the story is over, but I cried a total of 5 times over the course of this book. My heart actually hurt, as though I had just been in a car accident or something. It was interesting, and strange. But also satisfying to know a book could do that to me.
I could tell that the story was very personal to the author. I really enjoyed the OCD representation, especially because it was shown in a way which doesn't often show in YA books, and because it is something Silvera relates to.
Now, I will admit that the main character, Griffin, is a very flawed character. He makes mistakes, some of which are troubling. Sometimes, I found myself looking down on him like a disapproving mother, but perhaps this is a good thing. Not every character can be Mr. Perfect all of the time.
I understand why some people have problems with Griffin's actions, and his decisions are probably what lead me to feel so broken in the first place.
Romance: ♥️♥️♥️
My Own Heartbreak:
people & grief work in interesting ways. everyone & everything is all just so complex. when you really think about it, it's beautiful, isn't it?
DNF at 15%.
Unlikeable characters that don't seem to change or grow throughout the story, even when reading ahead to the last chapter. YMMV.
(3.5) This book was so incredible, the way Griffin and Theo were characterised, as well as the realistic way that their relationships with each other, as well as Wade and Jackson changed throughout the story.
It was so delightful to see Griffin and Theo's relationship play out, between chapters of the current day, 2016, where Theo was dead. The way the book was written, with the shifting from the past, when Griffin and Theo were dating, to the present, when Theo died in California with his new boyfriend, didn't feel confusing. I was able to tell what was going on and didn't feel like the story was throwing around it's perspective too much, which was good.
I found the complicated relationships Griffin had with Theo, Jackson, and Wade very interesting.
How his relationship with Theo was the best thing that happened to him, until Theo went to university in California and they got more separated (physically and metaphorically). After Theo starts dating Jackson, he makes a promise to Griffin that he'll go back to him once Griffin gets to university, which he says behind Jackson's back. It's really interesting to see how Theo loves both Griffin and Jackson, and how the things he does, such as teaching Jackson Griffin's special kisses, slowly reveal him to be a more grey character than once perceived by Griffin.
Griffin's developing dependency on Jackson is compelling, as he ends up flying to California to see how Theo lived there, and then has sex with Jackson as revenge on Theo for teaching him Griffin's kisses, which was personal to their relationship.
What seemed like a good, helpful relationship for both Griffin and Jackson, expose its rather unhealthy aspects. I like how Griffin tries to maintain a friendship with Jackson at the end of the book, so that they can still heal together, but be able to live their own lives and not rely on each other in such an unhealthy way. I enjoy how Griffin learns to acknowledge Jackson and Theo's relationship in a good way, and allows Jackson to keep his happy memories of his relationship with Theo.
I do have a lot of praise for this book, although its downfall is probably the eventual relationship between Griffin and Wade. Once I finished this book, I just felt unsatisfied with how it ended with Griffin and Wade slowly developing a relationship, after having sort-of-casual sex while Theo was alive. I feel like for this relationship to have worked, Griffin and Wade should've been given more history and development of their friendship, because before they kissed, I saw nothing that would make them like each other. All of the development of Wade and Griffin's relationship comes after the reveal of the fact that they had sex for a while. Although I enjoy the way Wade challenges Griffin's compulsions (in opposition to how Theo believed they made Griffin special), but I feel like there just wasn't enough substance for their relationship at the end to be believable and satisfactory for me.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. Unfortunately, it just didn't hit me like More Happy Than Not and They Both Die At The End did. TBDATE filled my heart with love for Mateo and Rufus, and sadness of their deaths, and MHTN emptied it, they did what they did well, and I felt good after I had read them. History Is All You Left Me was different. It just didn't have the same spark that the others did. MHTN and TBDATE had a reason. HIAYLM didn't have as much of a purpose; a reason for ending where it did, something purposefully written in a way that makes the reader think a particular thing. For me, History Is All You Left Me lacked that quality.
This one is so hard for me to rate. Not only I went into this expecting [b:They Both Die at the End 33385229 They Both Die at the End Adam Silvera https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494333138l/33385229.SY75.jpg 49456196] levels of quality (which it does not reach), I also had my own ideas of where the story should go as I read on.Up until pretty much the ending this was a 4/5 deal. Not reaching the heights of The Both Die at the End but still fantastic. Then some twists happen and all the emotions that I had from the start are drained away.It's still a great read but it lacks a good ending. I just didn't like it and I am being be very honest in saying that it is the case just because of immensely subjective reasons. For you it might be a 5/5 ending, it is in no ways objective bad.
No vi venir el giro que dio la historia mientras se acercaba el desenlace, lo cual me gusto porque me sorprendió.
El personaje de Griffin debido a sus manias me pareció un poco complejo, aunque es algo que he visto en otros libros, pero aun así el afrontar la muerte de Theo hace que este se monte en una montaña rusa emocional en la que le acompañamos gracias a la narración (con esto no digo que el libro me hizo sentir lo mismo que el, mas si fui testigo de los sentimientos).
Sinceramente es una buena lectura y lo recomendaría.