Review: History Is All You Left Me

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Title & Authors: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

Genre: LGBT, MMromance, Modern Ya

Series: Stand Alone

Release Date: January 17, 2017

Publisher: Soho Teen

Source: loan

Descriptions:

When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course.

To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. But no matter how much they open up to each other, Griffin’s downward spiral continues. He’s losing himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices, and the secrets he’s been keeping are tearing him apart.

If Griffin is ever to rebuild his future, he must first confront his history, every last heartbreaking piece in the puzzle of his life.

 

COVER  

PLOT 

CHARACTERS 

ROMANCE 

WRITING

 

Reasons and Thoughts:

Adam Silvera yet again has stolen my heart, and emotions. More Happy Than Not was a great book to read also super sad, but nonetheless it still hits a core. Now, History Is All You Left Me took a new turn but I’m still loving the theme of love lost.

At the beginning of the book right off the back we learn that Theo is dead, Griffin is alive and grieving over his death. I really didn’t want to continue at this point–I wasn’t in the mood for sad. Still, I kept going since it was only the first chapter which stayed emotionally dark  and light only in that special way Adam Silvera can get away with writing perfectly.

The book is told from Griffins point of view, the time alternates between today and a year or so ago–history. Which makes the book interesting, giving the story telling time to be a little deeper at revealing certain details as you read further into the different developing relationships.

I really enjoyed the back and forth of learning about the history of Theo and Griffins relationship, it opens the door for us to experience the coming together and the growing apart of there love for each other and those around them that are effected–thanks to their eventual long distant relationship after Theo is accepted into SMC a year early he starts seeing Jackson who throws there whole endgame plan into a totally different scenario.

 

Theo promised he would wait for Griffin but after Griffin starts to learn more about the relationship between Theo and Jackson from instagram and facebook he starts to really doubt there future together.

On top of all this there is the friendship between Wade, Theo, and Griffin. Wade and Theo were friends long before Griffin came into the picture but ever since then they’ve been the best of friends. Once Theo and Griffin started dating there friendship with Wade didn’t alter but we learned later in the book something amazing–but I’m not a spoiler.

This was one of those books that I picked up not really knowing much about it, I just saw that it was Adam Silvera and yes please. I didn’t expect this to be a story about so much; social standards, place holder relationships, keeping promises, coming out of the closet to your best friend, discovering new mature emotion, dealing with envy and jealousy, and finally the heart break of losing someone so special who still had there future ahead of them.

I will admit Theo had his problems and left a mess for the three people that loved him the most Griffin, Wade and Jackson to clean up. And by that what we are left all left with is history.

History Is All You Left Me wasn’t all dark and there’s some amazing storytelling to be had here and also quite a bit of learning and watch what the character do in such situations. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking to step into someone else’s shoes(Its eerie at how good Silvera pulls this off)–while getting over love, moving on in life with friends and relationships, and growing up despite having all odds against there happiness–if one could always remember that its darkest before the light, they too can survive.

Overall stars: 4 1/2