Happiness Falls Book Club Questions

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim was published on August 29th, 2023, and it is one of the most incredible mysteries I’ve ever read. The Happiness Falls book club questions below will be the perfect starting point for your book club discussion.

I know that it can be difficult to think of book club questions that capture themes and major plot points of a book. That is why I made this post. I wanted you to be able to read the book and think about your feelings while I provided you with the Happiness Falls Book Club questions.

I also created this list of Book Club Questions (+PDF). These are universal questions that you can use in addition to the specific ones I have below.

I have tried to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, but I knew that any Happiness Falls Book Club questions would be incomplete without some details.

If you need a recap of the book before your book club, feel free to head over to my post Summary of Happiness Falls. There you will find important details to help jog your memory.

**Join us on December 3rd when we talk to Angie Kim about Happiness Falls in the Beyond the Bookends Book Club (Click here for details)**

Article Contents

Happiness Falls Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide

Mia did not realize that Adam wasn’t home for 4 hours. Do you think this had an impact on the outcome of the story?
Why did Mia decide to wash Eugene’s clothes? Did she think Eugene was guilty?
Mia recalls numerous incidents when she had to take a back seat to Eugene. How do you think this impacted her and her relationships with family members?
After Adam disappeared, we find out that he has been doing happiness experiments on his family and trying to make a Happiness Quotient. Why do you think this was so important to him and the book?
Mia discusses her experience as a second-language learner in Korea. Did this make you think differently about people who speak English as a second language?
Eugene and Mia both experience people underestimating them. Why do we value speaking English and expect everyone else to do the same?
Given this shared experience, would you expect Mia to be more understanding of Eugene’s experience?
At one point, both Hannah and Adam stayed home with the kids. It was expected of Hannah, but when Adam decided to stay home, it was a “sacrifice for the family”. Mia thought this was hypocritical. We don’t see John’s point of view. How do you think he felt about this shift in roles?
Did Detective Janus’s treatment of Eugene make you feel differently about the way we treat individuals with disabilities in the criminal justice system?
What Role did COVID-19 play in the story?
Quarantining during COVID made things particularly disruptive for families with special needs and disabilities. Reflect on how your experience compares to Eugene’s family.
The story also touches on racism. It also touches on the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. How do you think this story would have been different if the family were all white?
TFT was a therapist who took advantage of the family’s desperate need to communicate with Eugene. How do you think her betrayal of this family set them back in finding other therapies for Eugene, and do you think it was all fake?
*Spoilers Below**
Do you think the letter at the end was a forgery, and if so, did Hannah or John do it?
What do you think happened to Adam?
Mia wipes the phone instead of retrieving the pictures. Do you think their were photos on the phone?

Happiness Falls Book Club Discussion with Angie Kim

Kirsten and I will have the pleasure of discussing Happiness Falls with Angie Kim and our book club member on November 24th at 7:30 PM EST. Want to join us? Learn more below!

Join the Beyond the Bookends Book Club!

Looking to engage with like-minded readers and the authors of your favorite books? Join our book club!

Learn More About The Beyond the Bookends Book Club

Expert Tip

If you cannot remember character names or what happened in the plot, head over the my post: Summary of Happiness Falls. In this post, you will find everything you need to refresh your memory before your Happiness Falls Book Club.

If you are hosting a Happiness Falls Book Club at your house, there are some things you can do to elevate the book club.

Consider having everyone bring their favorite recipe from the COVID-19 quarantine
Consider the ways we use nonverbal communication, like body language. Do body language and facial expressions change the meaning?
How can you communicate humor in a second language or while texting without using emojis?

Frequently Asked Questions about Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Is Happiness Falls by Angie Kim being adapted?

Yes! Ethan Hawke has just signed up to executive-produce the TV series based on Kim’s book. Stay tuned for more project updates!

Is Happiness Falls by Angie Kim a good pick for my book club?

Yes! There is so much to talk about with this incredible book. The themes of this book club include:
Importance of Communication
Family Dynamics
Defining Happiness
Assumption of Impairment for Non-Speaking Individuals