More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera /★★★★☆
Summary: After a family tragedy, Aaron Soto befriends Thomas, who helps him remember what it’s like to feel real happiness again. As things between them deepen, Aaron starts to feel things that his friends – and his girlfriend – don’t like. As things become painful again, Aaron considers turning to Leteo, a memory suppression procedure, to straighten himself out.
I’ve become this happiness scavenger who picks away at the ugliness of the world, because if there’s happiness tucked away in my tragedies, I’ll find it no matter what.
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Plot
This book was pretty fantastic. While I’ve seen this book around I went into it with no more knowledge than the little blurb on the back cover, and I came out with a heavy heart. This book is tough. It deals with homophobia, depression, self harm, suicide, and gender issues, and it doesn’t take them lightly. However, something that really struck me about this book was its sense of familiarity, of childhood and nights spent with friends. This book was simultaneously a comfortable and uncomfortable place, and I love how Silvera utilized it.
Now, there was a twist in this book, and while I’ve seen other reviews by people who say it was obvious, I did not suspect it AT ALL and it made my experience of this book far more intense. I thought I knew how it was going to go, but boy was I wrong. I loved it and thought it was a fantastic twist, and it added so many layers of pain and heartache.
I also know people have problem with the pacing of this book, but I didn’t really mind its choppiness and quick progression. I liked the style of this book and thought it was fitting to the plot. It did take me a little while to really get into it, but once I did I read the vast majority of this book in one sitting. This book was such a fantastic blend of themes, of characters, of happiness and unhappiness. I really enjoyed it.
Characters
Aaron is the eyes of this novel, and I loved his voice. He was just so natural and easy-going, and his personality came across so easily to me as a reader. All the characters in this book were so well done, very diverse and very flawed and extremely real. This book does not sugarcoat what it means to live in the inner city, nor does it sugarcoat teenagers in general. I liked them, I disliked them, they disappointed me, they angered me, they hurt me, I felt sorry for them- the list goes on. This book really nails people and their goodness and their ugliness.
Writing
Like I said, the pacing of the plot was a bit choppy and quick at times, but the writing itself I found quite smooth and easy. To be honest, I thought it was going to be one of those books that overload us wordy insight, but it was not like that at all. It was far more character driven, which I was extremely pleased about. That being said, it still had some really poignant passages and I NEARLY teared up at one point. Adam Silvera is fantastic at writing dialogue and is great at not just capturing people, but a setting and an atmosphere. I really, really liked his writing style.
Was I satisfied?
Yes! I really don’t have any complaints, and I loved the twist. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is because I wasn’t like, completely overcome, but I still really loved this book and it hurt my heart very much.
“This book was simultaneously a comfortable and uncomfortable place”. this reminds me of that quote “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable”. this is definitely a book I want to check out! thanks for sharing! now you got me really, really curious about THE TWIST bahahah.
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That is the perfect quote to describe this book! I hope you like it when you check it out, and that the twist gets you as much as it got me!!
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awww thank you steph!
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oh that sounds sooooo good! i really need to get to it!
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I definitely recommend!
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I DIDN’T GUESS THE TWIST EITHER!!! Which made me feel so dumb because I’ve even see the movie that everyone compares it to, so I guess that should have given me a pretty big clue. I’ll read all of these reviews that are like “oh yeah I saw the twist coming” and I’m just like WHAT IN THE HECK??? I’m so glad I’m not alone hahahaha
Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed this!!! I was really surprised and pleased with just how heavy and intense it ended up being. Though I know what you mean about it not being quite on the level of 5-star amazingness, it’s definitely a solid 4 stars for me too.
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What movie is it compared to?? I’ve seen other reviews say they’ve seen the movie but no one says what the movie is hahah. But I love the twist because it’s one of those where you’re just like OH and it makes complete sense and clarifies why things seemed a little off during the first half of the book. SO GOOD. I want to read Adam Silvera’s other book now but I think I’m going to give it some time because this one was quite heavy.
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Hahahahah I didn’t want to say it because I don’t want to spoil anyone who’s reading this because the twist in the movie is like… the exact same, so, SPOILERS:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
But YES I agree completely!! I was so thrown by it but it also made perfect sense. I still haven’t gotten around to reading his next book either but I really want to!
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OHHH. Lol glad I didn’t know that.
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Great review! I keep hearing about this author, so maybe I need to check out his books, lol.
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Ha that’s what made me finally read it!! I see his books everywhere and I needed to be in the know lol.
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It is definitely working, haha!
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Awesome review Steph, as always! I still can’t believe I haven’t read anything from Silvera yet! This book sounds so amazing on so many different levels. I’ve been floating a bit on the dark side lately and have been wanting to read more books which deal with themes like depression and suicide – I really hope to give this one a go in the next couple of days.
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Thank you!! This is the perfect book if you’re in the mood for stuff that deals with depression and suicide. Silvera relays this stuff so well, I completely understand the hype that surrounds his books now!
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YAY! I’m so excited then I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and picked up 2 of his books, but I’m going to read All the Boys I Loved Before first! 😀
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I haven’t read that one so I look forward to your thoughts on it so I can hear how it is!
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Great review, as always! I really want read every single book by Adam Silvera – this is definitely on my radar, too!📚☺
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Thank you!! He’s such a fantastic writer, I want to read the rest of his books too! I’m actually going to a YA convention in a few weeks and he’s going to be there, so I really hope I get to meet him!
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I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book, so I am so glad you enjoyed it so much as well! It sounds like such a powerful but relevant story. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ❤
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Thank you!! It was a really fantastic book, I completely understand the hype that surrounds Adam Silvera’s books now.
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I thought it was really good myself. I think the only reason I went with 4 stars was I think my judgement was clouded because I was looking for something lighter. This book wasn’t light at all.
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Yeah, I can see how that could hinder your experience because this book is so heavy. I was expecting a happier ending, to be honest!
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Yeah, I think thats what did it. After everything, I just wanted a happy ending.
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What a beautiful cover!! I think I might enjoy this one. Great review!!
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Thank you! I hope you like it when you read it!!
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