This memoir, like many others, suffers slightly from having an author that migh not yet be emotionally detached from the years he's about to narrate, or not having completely processed his life, and therefore presenting the events in a way that isn't completely understandable or logical to the reader.

Hawthorne seems to take everything his mother told him as gospel, as if reality couldn't be complicated. He also draws a strictly straight line between everything his mother did with Puerto Rico: if his mom did it, all Puerto Ricans must have done it exactly like that. I understand it's a very common American sentiment, but I expect an author to be able to scratch the surface beyond what a common person (with their prejudices) would.

In the end, it's an interesting read, but not a great one. I think some more time and introspection would have helped the author a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book shed a really interesting life on abuse. I felt really bad for him and really felt myself cheering for him throughout the novel. I think the notes about his mom at the end of the book where really interesting to read. He had such a complicated relationship with his mom, and I think there are many people out there who probably feel similarly about their own parents. I absolutely loved the art and art style.

This made me want to read more by this author!

This graphic memoir is a beautiful exploration of the complexities of family, class, and race. Hawthorne's vulnerability and honesty are beautiful, and the memoir's final act is a tour de force.

This is a graphic memoir, engaging although dark at times, I think this is an important novel. The art is dark and moody, fits well with the times.

My gateway into graphic novel memoirs was the book, Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka. Since then I have read other non-fiction graphic novels; but I hold Krosoczka’s book as my base for the highest rating possible.

Happiness will Follow by Mike Hawthorne is on par with Hey, Kiddo; albeit for a more mature audience. The emotions from the storyline are so very much appropriate to the emotion drawn on the pages. Components of his Puerto Rican upbringing are central to the story; but many readers from various backgrounds will be able to identify with growing up in a destitute situation while their own cultural nuances play a part of their childhood.

Ultimately, the way that he weaves parts of his past and finishes with an incredible thought provoking recognition to the tribulations his mother faced. His story is incredible and inspiring.

My review for Booklist is here: https://www.booklistonline.com/Happiness-Will-Follow-Mike-Hawthorne/pid=9736564

The review was also cross-posted to Smithsonian BookDragon: http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/happiness-will-follow-by-mike-hawthorne-in-booklist/

Unfortunately, this title was archived before I had a chance to read it. It's a pity, because the topic seems very interesting.

CW: child abuse, racism, death of a parent

This was such a gripping graphic memoir that had my heart breaking for Mike. The story focuses on the author’s complicated relationship with his mother and the affects poverty, racism, and abuse on his life growing up. The story is told in flashes and you don’t get the full picture as the reader. There is a lot the author didn’t know as a child that he is just finding out while writing this story and he captures that as the story progresses. Overall it was a well done graphic novel memoir and the art is beautiful.

Mike Hawthorne's graphic memoir details growing up in a cycle of abuse and poverty. Raised by his Puerto Rican mother and abandoned by his white father, Mike and his mother move to York, PA to find somewhere safer than New York. Being dark skinned in PA at the time meant not being able to find steady work, sinking further into poverty and self-hatred. Eventually she begins to take it out on her son, although a lot of people at the time considered it "tough love" to keep Mike out of gangs. This feels like an outlet for Hawthorne to shed some of the anger and self-loathing he grew up with. There's a lot of emotion portrayed through the art and story.

I loved thus book. I would trul recommend it. The art is also beautiful. The stories were very interesting.

This book will break your heart in a thousand ways. This is a story about a little boy that loves his mother no matter what she does. He loves her through abuse, through drugs, through so many horrible things. But, Hawthorne does a fantastic job of showing his mother as a very complex character. You soon realize that she's just trying to stay afloat and keep her kids alive and that leads her to bad places and horrible decisions. I think if you are fans of such books like Hey, Kiddo, or Stitches then you will enjoy this one as well (although enjoy may be the wrong word).

Searing. An unflinching, harsh, loving, harrowing examination of the author's life growing up in extreme poverty as a Puerto Rican goring up in the northeast US. The core of the book is the author's mother, and her complex/abusive/self-sacrificing/angry/self-defeating relationship with her extended family and her son. This is a sad story with no happy ending (other than the author's success as an artist and storyteller) but it is one well worth reading.

Copy provided by Boom! Studios and Archaia publications via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this graphic memoir! It's the first one I read of its genre. It was an emotional read and one I will recommend to a lot of people for sure!

I love reading book like this (graphic novel memoirs) and this book did not disappoint. the illustrations made it impossible to not be hooked into the story, and the story itself sealed the deal that i would finish this in one sitting. the dark topics in this book make it hard to read at times, however in the best way, as you feel so connected to reading the story and all that the author has been through. i feel that often books of this kind do include darker content, and the addition of the illustrations make it all the more intense. love this book, and i will read it again.

I appreciate Hawthorne's reflectiveness on his mom and the rest of the family, but I still felt disconnected from the story as a whole. It really felt like he was just describing things and there wasn't an arc to follow - just like listening to someone ramble. I wasn't a fan of the artwork at all.

So, for those of you who love comics: how many of you loved the Superior Spiderman? Great. Well, one of the artists who worked on that has a story to tell you, so sit back and grab yourself a drink. Happiness Will Follow is Mike’s story, growing up with a single mother, a Puerto Rican in New York. His mother has… issues. On a first read through, it feels like she’s a horrible person. She abuses him, deals drugs, lies about everything. Under the surface, though, there is more to the story.

The art is fantastic. Hawthorne has an expressive style that draws out desperation and rage in equal measure. The lines of his characters are crisp, and they feel so full of character that when we see those people in photos, you can imagine the whole thing in reality. Honestly, I wish I had longer with this book just to study his lineart.

The plot, however, is a bit different. Do not expect a typical arc. This is a true story, but it is also the man coming to grips with his mother’s nature, the damage she did to him, and his own place in the world as a result. Because of that, the story is more of a meandering road, taking us where his mind leads instead of on a structured path. It’s more like a pianist plinking keys all over the keyboard, rather than a real melody. In a way, that may be representative of how he feels. It isn’t exactly to my taste, but it may be to other people.

Happiness Will Follow is a memoir in graphic novel form. It focuses on the author's relationship with his mother. Mike Hawthorne was raised by his single Puerto Rican mother Blanca. When he was young they lived in New York City but his mom moves them to York, PA because she thinks it will be safer than NYC. Mike's childhood is one of poverty and insecurity. His mother is proud and has a temper, so Mike faces his share of abuse.

I found the story to be raw and powerful. The artwork was awesome and done by the author himself. The narrative was a little uneven, but it is good to see the author being so open and honest about his difficult childhood.

An honest and introspective memoir about abuse, poverty, and growing up Puerto Rican in 1980s and '90s America.

TW: child abuse, referenced rape, substance use and abuse, parental death, mentions of miscarriage and abortion

The author's story of growing up with a single parent and suffering abuse by that parent was very hard hitting. The illustrations were very well done. The timeline wasn't straight through which made it hard to follow. I am also aware that this book probably wasn't written for me as the intended audience.

Graphic memoirs are one of my favorites, so I'm thankful to have read #HappinessWillFollow. The author tells his story as a young Puerto Rican boy growing up with his single mother, moving around New York and York. The story jumps back and forth in time and also telling stories of his mother and his own life. Despite all of the hardships he lived through, Hawthorne does not paint a totally dreary picture of his childhood--pointing out the beauty and community despite--alongside his mother's abuse and emotions. He wants very clearly for the reader to see that she was a complex person and not the "villain." There are warnings here for topics of abuse, drugs, violence, and other. It is not suitable for younger children, but it may be OK for older teens. Thank you to the publishers and #NetGalley for this early copy.