Powerful Messages Paired With An Effortless Writing Style
A lyrical debut surrounding a toxic relationship between a college student and a prestigious author that delves into topics such as sexism, racism, and the danger of meeting one's idols.
"Like Happiness" is a very complex story that had me feeling many things throughout its entirety. The story follows a naive girl named Tatum as she begins to form a deep connection with an author by the name of M. (Mateo) Domínguez. She finds his book "Happiness" to be more relatable than anything else that she has ever read. When she reaches out in a fan letter and Mateo responds, she can't help but feel enamored by the man that she begins to discover. But it turns out that Mateo has more secrets than Tatum ever could have imagined.
Through Villarreal-Moura's writing, I can feel the distaste that Tatum has for Mateo, while even at the same time she remembers how desperately she needed him in the past. I love how this book was written as a letter to Mateo from Tatum, which allowed the reader to have an interesting perspective in which we can see Tatum's current feelings as she reiterates the past. I thought that this was very refreshing, as it was unique to read a book that was written in this way.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was some of the heavy themes that were explored. Tatum deals with trying to find her own identity without Mateo in her life, she grapples with her sexuality, and she struggles to finally step up and use her voice for the greater good. The sexist and racist views of many of the characters were also addressed in a beneficial way that made Tatum a realistic character, while also acting as a learning experience for the reader.
The meeting your idol trope is one that I really enjoy reading about. Unfortunately, it never tends to work out the way that the protagonist expects it to. This is most definitely the case for Tatum. She had no idea the mess that she was getting herself into and I think that this is a good reminder that people aren't always as they first appear to you. I also love how this book acknowledges the joy of reading and how books can act as an escape from reality, but also a mirror into the soul.
The ending really got to me. When I learned what "Emulations of Us" was about, my breath hitched and all the puzzle pieces came together. The ending reminded me how cruel humanity can be and the lengths that some people are willing to go to achieve their aspirations.
Overall, "Like Happiness" was just as complex, emotional, and reflective as I thought it would be. I came to appreciate Tatum as a character, even if she often made poor decisions and couldn't seem to escape from the toxicity of the various elements of her life. If you are looking for an emotional journey about finding one's voice and identity, I would highly recommend "Like Happiness."
"Like Happiness" is a very complex story that had me feeling many things throughout its entirety. The story follows a naive girl named Tatum as she begins to form a deep connection with an author by the name of M. (Mateo) Domínguez. She finds his book "Happiness" to be more relatable than anything else that she has ever read. When she reaches out in a fan letter and Mateo responds, she can't help but feel enamored by the man that she begins to discover. But it turns out that Mateo has more secrets than Tatum ever could have imagined.
Through Villarreal-Moura's writing, I can feel the distaste that Tatum has for Mateo, while even at the same time she remembers how desperately she needed him in the past. I love how this book was written as a letter to Mateo from Tatum, which allowed the reader to have an interesting perspective in which we can see Tatum's current feelings as she reiterates the past. I thought that this was very refreshing, as it was unique to read a book that was written in this way.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was some of the heavy themes that were explored. Tatum deals with trying to find her own identity without Mateo in her life, she grapples with her sexuality, and she struggles to finally step up and use her voice for the greater good. The sexist and racist views of many of the characters were also addressed in a beneficial way that made Tatum a realistic character, while also acting as a learning experience for the reader.
The meeting your idol trope is one that I really enjoy reading about. Unfortunately, it never tends to work out the way that the protagonist expects it to. This is most definitely the case for Tatum. She had no idea the mess that she was getting herself into and I think that this is a good reminder that people aren't always as they first appear to you. I also love how this book acknowledges the joy of reading and how books can act as an escape from reality, but also a mirror into the soul.
The ending really got to me. When I learned what "Emulations of Us" was about, my breath hitched and all the puzzle pieces came together. The ending reminded me how cruel humanity can be and the lengths that some people are willing to go to achieve their aspirations.
Overall, "Like Happiness" was just as complex, emotional, and reflective as I thought it would be. I came to appreciate Tatum as a character, even if she often made poor decisions and couldn't seem to escape from the toxicity of the various elements of her life. If you are looking for an emotional journey about finding one's voice and identity, I would highly recommend "Like Happiness."