More Happy Than Not Paperback – April 26, 2016

I purchased this book as part of a 30 Days of Pride Book Review project. This is that review:“Here Today, Gone Tomorrow! Suffering from unwanted memories? Call the Leteo Institute at 1-800--I-Forget to learn more about our cutting-edge memory-relief procedure!”This past year hasn’t exactly been easy for Aaron Soto. He is still dealing with the fall out from his father’s suicide and his own suicide attempt that followed it. Things in the neighborhood are changing and it is hard to know where to fit himself in the changing landscape. With his girlfriend, Genevieve, away at art camp for the summer, he might have found himself slipping back into old patterns of unhappiness, but he meets Thomas, who quickly becomes his new best friend, and possibly the answer to where he belongs. That is until Aaron starts to realize there is a side of himself that will make it impossible for him to be truly happy, and he decides he is willing to do anything to scrub that part of him out, even if it means changing who he is.This is one of those stories where the author tries to make you believe that they are going to tell you one kind of story, and then half-way through you realize they have been telling a totally different kind of story. Of course, if you are used to the device at all, you can tell what is happening before the reveal, but it is still rewarding when it delivers.And this book has a hell of a one-two gut punch.Adam Silvera’s near-future rendering of the race, class, and sexual-identity politics of this Bronx neighborhood is a perfect canvas for Aaron Soto’s voyage of heart rending mistakes and consequences. It is a story of love, friendship, and trauma… and of self-discovery at great personal cost.I became helplessly engrossed in this book. It is one of those books that stays with you for a while, sitting on your chest and weighing on your mind. Do you remember the way you felt the first time you read the last page of Flowers for Algernon? I mean that was probably at least 22 years ago in my case, but I still remember that feeling, and it was the same feeling when I finished this book. (Seriously, I just assume, as a matter of course, that everyone has read and been deeply affected by Flowers for Algernon. If not… spoiler alert: it’s kind of a bummer.)Aaron is a fascinating character, because he is confused, depressed, and angry, like so many teenagers are… but he is also a pot whose contents have settled to the bottom and Silvera, with a careful hand, is slowly stirring those things back up to the surface, revealing them, not just to the reader, but to Aaron as well.It is a powerful debut novel.And, if you can’t tell, I recommend it. I recommend it to Sci-fi fans, because the Leteo plot line is so delicately woven in. I recommend it to Young Adult Fiction fans, because I think it makes an important addition to this genre, particularly in the growing collection of coming out stories now becoming available. I recommend it to introspective fiction fans, who like to be made to think about things long after they finish them… because if you are like me… you will. I think you should read this book.Okay, ready at last to throw this book onto my Pride-Book-Review-Project Scales.On the first scale, my Queer Counterculture Visibility Scale, which I invented to quantify how much a book shed light onto less visible parts of the community, I really think this book does well. This book is about intersecting identities, no doubt. Characters are dealing with the cross section of race, class, and sexuality and facing the limitations of community and family when you find that you don’t fit the exact mold of the social group that has always insulated and supported you from the rest of the world. It is also a book that deals head on with depression and the complicated nature of grief. Easily:4 out of 5 starsOn the second scale, The Genre Expectation Scale, this book also does well. I really like the way Adam Silvera used some classic sci-fi devices to explore themes of identity. And, especially, for a debut novel, I think he had a steady hand in how and when he revealed the machinations of his story. It is a solid Young Adult story and I think it delivered what he offered and then some.4.5 out of 5 stars

Aaron Soto has a lot going for him, and a lot against him. While he's surrounded by a great group of friends and has a quirky artist girlfriend by his side, he's also still mourning the death of his father (who took his own life) and recovering from a stupid suicide attempt of his own. When his girlfriend leaves for a few weeks, Aaron meets a guy named Thomas and they start to hang out. Slowly, he starts to pull away from his childhood friends in favor of spending time with the new one.Things are starting to change for Aaron. His feelings for his girlfriend are disappearing, and he can't stop thinking about Thomas. Meanwhile, there are all these protests going on around his home because of a new institute called Leteo, which can apparently erase people's bad memories in order to give them a better life. When Aaron finally confesses his feelings to Thomas, the hurt and rejection that follow make him desperate to erase it all and start over. But what if erasing your memories doesn't really get rid of who you are?There is no better way to put yourself in someone else's shoes than by reading a book.The main character in More Happy Than Not probably couldn't be more different from me if he tried, except in one very important way -- he likes men.That might be a little bit of a spoiler, but if you've heard anything about this book at all, you probably already know. That's because Adam Silvera's debut novel is not only a New York Times bestseller, but it's also being lauded as one of the most poignant, touching coming out stories in modern fiction, and I would have to say I agree.If you can, set aside any prejudices you might have to read this book. No matter what you think about poverty, suicide, homosexuality, underage drinking, sex, and psychology -- set it all aside and read this book. There is so much inside it that is needed in our society today, messages that need to be conveyed, stories that must be told.It deals with young love, confusion, heartache, finding out who you are, and my favorite -- the power of memories. I love reading books that mess with characters' minds and consider the possibilities of experimentation on the brain (after all, I wrote one). This does all of that, and deals with the pain and trauma of growing up in the most beautiful, relatable way.Silvera writes about rejection in a way that I always wished I could after a crappy breakup. His character sees the world in much the same way I do when I'm heartbroken and feeling alone: ugly, broken, but still worth living in -- no matter how bad it gets.“Sometimes pain is so unmanageable that the idea of spending another day with it seems impossible. Other times pain acts as a compass to help you get through the messier tunnels of growing up. But the pain can only help you find happiness if you can remember it.”For everyone who thinks that your memories are the only things that make you who you are, maybe you're right. But Silvera poses the question: what if you're wrong? What if who you are, what you like, and what you want in life are all ingrained in you? What if things really wouldn't be easier if you could erase all the hurt in your past? If everything happens for a reason, then maybe we should accept the things that happen to us -- good and bad -- and learn from them in whatever way we can.More Happy Than Not is bold, brash, and something completely different. For that reason alone, I highly recommend it -- but it's also written with such empathy, care, and life-affirming humor. It's a really special book. I hope you enjoy it.

More Happy Than Not was incredibly heartbreaking and truly transformative. The story follows a Aaron Soto, a young teenager trying to maneuver a life after the death of his father, a death of a close friend, and the fact that he has feelings for guys. The story unravels from there and we see Aaron trying to navigate these complex emotions. More Happy Than Not is a true insight into life not always being happily ever after. It was so easy to read and I definitely felt like I was reading a story with a character who has sort of been through what I have been through. My one complaint is that the ending felt a little too rushed for my liking and since this is the deluxe edition, I almost found the new ending a little unnecessary. Please be aware before going into this book that there are a plethora of trigger warnings. I appreciated the original ending way more, even if it was MORE HAPPY THAN NOT.

Al ser la primera novela de Adam Silvera es una excelente inmersión a su estilo literario. Si te gusta las novelas de amor adolescente y futurismo, este es el libro indicado.

Fiz uma releitura com essa edição especial e, por eu saber tudo o que viria a acontecer, senti que foi uma leitura muito mais dolorosa do que a primeira... Eu absolutamente amo o Adam Silvera por me fazer sentir tanto.Nessa edição "deluxe" temos um capitulo extra contanto o que veio depois dos acontecimentos finais do livro e só posso dizer que Adam Silveira mais uma vez fez TUDO. Definitivamente não estava preparada para esse novo final mas amei tanto vocês não tem ideia.Recomendo esse livro com todas as minhas forças.

I’ve read all of Adams books so far but this one is my favorite so far. Heartbreaking but beautiful story! I recommend reading it.

A superbly written nuanced, heart wrenching story about love, loss and the long journey we all face to learn our place in this world and who we really are. But its not all doom and gloom, the author always knows the right time to insert humor to add levity to the story.

As all of his books are after 'They both die in the end' this book made me cry like a baby. I would highly recommend you to read it. Although it is heartbreaking but it gives a wonderful message and I hope you get it💙