Title: More Happy Than Not
Author: Adam Silvera
Publisher: Soho Teen
Pub Date: April 26, 2016
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased
Genre(s): YA, Contemporary, LGBT, Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★
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Synopsis from Goodreads:
In the months after his father’s suicide, it’s been tough for sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again—but he’s still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he’s slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely.
When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron’s crew notices, and they’re not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can’t deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can’t stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute’s revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.
Why does happiness have to be so hard?
My review:
“It’s okay how some stories leave off without an ending. Life doesn’t always deliver the one you would expect.”
I devoured this book in one sitting. I felt the same way I did while I was reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I was consumed by the story. It’s so real and raw and heartbreaking. I love how even the “Science Fiction” part of this novel is so plausible. You won’t even realize that you’re reading sci-fi.
It was also a lot darker than I thought it would be. I found myself finishing the book and feeling quite detached, hopeless, and tired. But I consider those good things because it means I invested myself in the story, and into the characters. Or maybe this is just exhaustion talking.
More Happy Than Not has all the makings of a 5-star read, but something else was missing and I just can’t put my finger on it. I highly recommend this book. It’s definitely one of my favourites of 2016 (so far).
This review is purposely vague because of potential spoilers. The plot twist isn’t too crazy but you’ll enjoy the book a lot more if you go into the story blind like I did.
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Great review! I read this book a few months ago and also thought that it was a lot darker than expected, haha. Like you, for me it has the makings of a 5-star read but didn’t quite manage… I think it was because it took me a while to get into the story and for half of the book I was grasping at straws for that reading momentum. I LOVE that plot twist, though. 😀
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Thank you! I’m not sure why I thought it would be a “lighthearted” book, but it certainly wasn’t 😛 And yes! That plot twist really put things into motion!
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Hmm… I suppose most contemporaries are lighter readers than, say, fantasy? I tend to assume too that romance-focused contemporaries, at least, are light-hearted.
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