More Happy Than Not
A special Deluxe Edition of Adam Silvera's groundbreaking debut featuring an introduction by Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give; a new final chapter, "More Happy Ending"; and an afterword about where it all began.
In his twisty, heartbreaking, profoundly moving New York Times bestselling debut, Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx. In the months following his father's suicide, sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto can't seem to find happiness again, despite the support of his girlfriend, Genevieve, and his overworked mom. Grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist won't let him forget the pain. But when Aaron meets Thomas, a new kid in the neighborhood, something starts to shift inside him. Aaron can't deny his unexpected feelings for Thomas despite the tensions their friendship has created with Genevieve and his tight-knit crew. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound happiness, he considers taking drastic actions. The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-altering procedure will straighten him out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is. Why does happiness have to be so hard?
In his twisty, heartbreaking, profoundly moving New York Times bestselling debut, Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx. In the months following his father's suicide, sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto can't seem to find happiness again, despite the support of his girlfriend, Genevieve, and his overworked mom. Grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist won't let him forget the pain. But when Aaron meets Thomas, a new kid in the neighborhood, something starts to shift inside him. Aaron can't deny his unexpected feelings for Thomas despite the tensions their friendship has created with Genevieve and his tight-knit crew. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound happiness, he considers taking drastic actions. The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-altering procedure will straighten him out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is. Why does happiness have to be so hard?
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *More Happy Than Not* is a raw, emotional story that tackles difficult themes like identity, acceptance, and trauma with honesty and heart...
This book had a slow start for me because I was not too sure how the beginning was going to add up to how it was supposed to end. I enjoyed the book even though I had a bunch of "what in the great googlly moogly" moments. I did not foresee the ending. I do appreciate reading how hard of a struggle it is for Aaron to be gay in his community. I think sometimes it can often be left out and it is sunshine and daisies and for many this is not the case. I did have moments where I was angry and then there were some tears. I will definitely recommend this book to my teen readers.
Holy hell. This book sucker-punched me. I'm not sure why I'm surprised, though. Adam Silvera's last book sucker-punched me.
This is how the story of me reading this book goes, "Oh, I see where this is going. Ho hum." And then NOPE, big fat twists out of nowhere that turn the story on its head and make me freak out loudly enough in my muscle-relaxing bath to make my husband ask me if I'm okay.
I'm not sure I'm okay.
This one messed me up.
It starts off normally enough, right? Tough neighborhood in NYC, Main Character (Aaron) has had a bit of a rough life. His dad killed himself and then he was so upset he tried to off himself but it didn't work. He has a great girlfriend (Genevieve) and okay friends. Then he meets this dude, Thomas. Meanwhile, they mention this clinic that can suppress your memories. Like, if, oh, I don't know, your dad kills himself and you find him in the bathtub. That kind of thing. Anyhow, I feel like at this point I can see where it's headed: MC loves Thomas, Thomas doesn't love MC back, MC gets procedure to forget. Very Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. BUT NOPE. The whole rest of the plot is about how he already had the procedure done. He was secret boyfriends with this guy, Collin (who totally shows up earlier in the novel and it's totes weird). Then, MC comes out to his mom, no big deal, but his dad freaks. His dad gets arrested, then kills himself the day he comes home. Because he can't live with having a gay son. Which totally fucking sucks. Then Collin abandons MC because he got his beard pregnant (which just makes me wonder how many gay dudes are out there married to women). So MC tries to kill himself. That doesn't work, so they opt for the procedure. But then getting beat up by his "friends" for being too touchy-feely with Thomas breaks the procedure. Then, even more spoilers, turns out the procedure ate away at his memory even more and he's going to never remember anything new, basically. He gets retrograde amnesia. So he can't work, he can't meet new people, he can't really live his life. But he keeps living because maybe the experiments they're doing on him to try and figure out this whole amnesia thing will help someone someday. And all the while, he keeps digging in the past for bits of happiness. As the title says, he is more happy than not.
If you want to read this book, don't read my long-ass spoiler. Just take this from me: I loved this book. It sucker-punched me and I loved it. It twisted the narrative on its head. I'm more happy than not to have read it but I'm also really unhappy. I'm unhappy that gay people are often exposed to those kinds of violent and cruel people, who hurt them or themselves because of their sexual orientation. I'm upset at how this book ended. I'm upset at how many people's lives don't end the way they should. I'm so happy because right now I've got my happy ending and I'm enjoying it to the fullest. I'm so happy because the people in my life love me and are supportive. I'm so happy to have had the experience of reading this book, even though it feels like someone ripped all of my skin off and then only patched back on bits and pieces, leaving some spots raw and exposed. This was an interesting, though-provoking, compelling, upsetting, unexpected book. I am so excited to see what this author does next because damn. Both of the books I've read by him have blown me away.
You should read this book. It'll knock you on your ass and getting knocked on your ass every now and again is good for everyone.
This is how the story of me reading this book goes, "Oh, I see where this is going. Ho hum." And then NOPE, big fat twists out of nowhere that turn the story on its head and make me freak out loudly enough in my muscle-relaxing bath to make my husband ask me if I'm okay.
I'm not sure I'm okay.
This one messed me up.
It starts off normally enough, right? Tough neighborhood in NYC, Main Character (Aaron) has had a bit of a rough life. His dad killed himself and then he was so upset he tried to off himself but it didn't work. He has a great girlfriend (Genevieve) and okay friends. Then he meets this dude, Thomas. Meanwhile, they mention this clinic that can suppress your memories. Like, if, oh, I don't know, your dad kills himself and you find him in the bathtub. That kind of thing. Anyhow, I feel like at this point I can see where it's headed: MC loves Thomas, Thomas doesn't love MC back, MC gets procedure to forget. Very Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. BUT NOPE. The whole rest of the plot is about how he already had the procedure done. He was secret boyfriends with this guy, Collin (who totally shows up earlier in the novel and it's totes weird). Then, MC comes out to his mom, no big deal, but his dad freaks. His dad gets arrested, then kills himself the day he comes home. Because he can't live with having a gay son. Which totally fucking sucks. Then Collin abandons MC because he got his beard pregnant (which just makes me wonder how many gay dudes are out there married to women). So MC tries to kill himself. That doesn't work, so they opt for the procedure. But then getting beat up by his "friends" for being too touchy-feely with Thomas breaks the procedure. Then, even more spoilers, turns out the procedure ate away at his memory even more and he's going to never remember anything new, basically. He gets retrograde amnesia. So he can't work, he can't meet new people, he can't really live his life. But he keeps living because maybe the experiments they're doing on him to try and figure out this whole amnesia thing will help someone someday. And all the while, he keeps digging in the past for bits of happiness. As the title says, he is more happy than not.
If you want to read this book, don't read my long-ass spoiler. Just take this from me: I loved this book. It sucker-punched me and I loved it. It twisted the narrative on its head. I'm more happy than not to have read it but I'm also really unhappy. I'm unhappy that gay people are often exposed to those kinds of violent and cruel people, who hurt them or themselves because of their sexual orientation. I'm upset at how this book ended. I'm upset at how many people's lives don't end the way they should. I'm so happy because right now I've got my happy ending and I'm enjoying it to the fullest. I'm so happy because the people in my life love me and are supportive. I'm so happy to have had the experience of reading this book, even though it feels like someone ripped all of my skin off and then only patched back on bits and pieces, leaving some spots raw and exposed. This was an interesting, though-provoking, compelling, upsetting, unexpected book. I am so excited to see what this author does next because damn. Both of the books I've read by him have blown me away.
You should read this book. It'll knock you on your ass and getting knocked on your ass every now and again is good for everyone.
What makes me #MoreHappyThanNot? Visit Lilybloombooks and find out!
4.5 stars
More Happy Than Not was a hard book to read. Simply because it tackles some hard to read situations, and the pain that is laid bare before us is intense and heartbreaking. To be completely honest - I wasn't aware heading in that the book would take a darker tone; but I am pleasantly surprised it did.
Adam's writing is real and raw; pulling you in with a vise grip and never letting go. The story is told in 3 parts - and it weaves together seamlessly. There was a major "plot twist" a little over half way into the book, and i feel like i should have seen it coming. The clues were there, it all makes sense and the build up for the reveal was there. I was just so immersed in Aaron's story that I wasn't paying attention to the small things.
Aaron just broke my heart. He is one of those that can never catch a break - and no matter what he does, he can't make everyone happy. Although I didn't care for his friends in the beginning, because they are major (bad words here) I felt like I understood his connection to them. When you grow up with people, it's difficult when you actually SEE them for who they are yet, you still have their back. Then there is Thomas; a friend who understands him and lets him be himself. Their friendship (and Genevieve) was one of the best things to happen to Aaron. Poor guy just wanted to be happy and be himself, and feeling like you CAN'T is one of the worst feelings in the world.
The message in More Happy Than Not is an obvious one - and I don't want to delve too deep because it can contain some spoilers and one I feel you should experience for yourself. Just read it - with tissues of course - and see why Aaron's story will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommend.
4.5 stars
More Happy Than Not was a hard book to read. Simply because it tackles some hard to read situations, and the pain that is laid bare before us is intense and heartbreaking. To be completely honest - I wasn't aware heading in that the book would take a darker tone; but I am pleasantly surprised it did.
Adam's writing is real and raw; pulling you in with a vise grip and never letting go. The story is told in 3 parts - and it weaves together seamlessly. There was a major "plot twist" a little over half way into the book, and i feel like i should have seen it coming. The clues were there, it all makes sense and the build up for the reveal was there. I was just so immersed in Aaron's story that I wasn't paying attention to the small things.
Aaron just broke my heart. He is one of those that can never catch a break - and no matter what he does, he can't make everyone happy. Although I didn't care for his friends in the beginning, because they are major (bad words here) I felt like I understood his connection to them. When you grow up with people, it's difficult when you actually SEE them for who they are yet, you still have their back. Then there is Thomas; a friend who understands him and lets him be himself. Their friendship (and Genevieve) was one of the best things to happen to Aaron. Poor guy just wanted to be happy and be himself, and feeling like you CAN'T is one of the worst feelings in the world.
The message in More Happy Than Not is an obvious one - and I don't want to delve too deep because it can contain some spoilers and one I feel you should experience for yourself. Just read it - with tissues of course - and see why Aaron's story will stick with me for a long time. Highly recommend.
*I received this book for free from The Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Hell. That was rough.
I was plodding along ready to throw a couple stars out and call it a day.
AND THEN THIS BOOK KNOCKED ME ON MY ASS.
I'm having a tough time putting this all into words. It felt very familiar yet foreign. I loved Aaron's voice. His rejection felt like my own, his humiliation became my own, his longing was my own - and he didn't have to say how he felt for me to feel it.
There was just something so, so cool and so, so heartbreaking about this book. Hearts all around.
4 Stars (maybe it should be 5 but I'm feeling conflicted)
I was plodding along ready to throw a couple stars out and call it a day.
AND THEN THIS BOOK KNOCKED ME ON MY ASS.
I'm having a tough time putting this all into words. It felt very familiar yet foreign. I loved Aaron's voice. His rejection felt like my own, his humiliation became my own, his longing was my own - and he didn't have to say how he felt for me to feel it.
There was just something so, so cool and so, so heartbreaking about this book. Hearts all around.
4 Stars (maybe it should be 5 but I'm feeling conflicted)
More Happy Than Not is written with sadness, humor, and heart. I genuinely liked the main characters and loved the voice. It discusses dark subject matter (suicide, poverty, hate crimes) realistically with a bit of sci-fi thrown in. I recommend this book and suggest that you be ready to talk with your teen about it when they're finished reading. It can bring up a lot of emotions.
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