Like Happiness follows Tatum Vega, a A mesmerizing, gripping and powerful debutyoung woman from Texas, one of the only Latina students at a predominantly white Massachusetts college. As a result of her isolation, Tatum contacts the author of her favorite book. When the author, M., emails her back, she is excited, and they bond over their Latinx identity and love of literature.
Tatum recounts her story in dual timelines - one focuses on her life in NYC and her 10-year relationship with M., and one describes her present life in Chile, living with her partner Vera and working at a museum.
Like Happiness explores a toxic relationship in which a man wields his fame, power and money to manipulate and control a woman. Tatum puts her professional and personal life on hold for M., until a revelation occurs which allows her to extricate herself from the abuse. As a reader much older than Tatum, it was emotionally difficult to read, at times, as the red flags, grooming and trauma were transparent to me but not obvious to young Tatum. Tatum's character growth is skillfully portrayed as she gains strength, confidence, embraces her sexual identity and comes to recognize M. for what he is.
This well written, mesmerizing, powerful and gripping debut will resonate with many.
Tatum recounts her story in dual timelines - one focuses on her life in NYC and her 10-year relationship with M., and one describes her present life in Chile, living with her partner Vera and working at a museum.
Like Happiness explores a toxic relationship in which a man wields his fame, power and money to manipulate and control a woman. Tatum puts her professional and personal life on hold for M., until a revelation occurs which allows her to extricate herself from the abuse. As a reader much older than Tatum, it was emotionally difficult to read, at times, as the red flags, grooming and trauma were transparent to me but not obvious to young Tatum. Tatum's character growth is skillfully portrayed as she gains strength, confidence, embraces her sexual identity and comes to recognize M. for what he is.
This well written, mesmerizing, powerful and gripping debut will resonate with many.