More Happy Than Not

This book was so good. And I can’t stress that enough. Aaron Soto is such a great main character and he made me feel so many things. This book made me laugh, cry, gasp, and even chew my fingernails off from worry. I finished this book on a flight back home and I think the girl next to me thought I was insane because of my reactions to this book. The ending is just so heartbreakingly and emotionally spectacular. Isn’t it weird how the more a book breaks our heart the more we tend to love it. Us booknerds, we’re masochists.Adam Silvera is an insanely talented writer, and very witty. There are lines in this book that I need printed on a shirt or a tote bag. I can already picture this book being turned into a movie and having a director like Jason Reitman or Josh Boone with just a really talented no-name cast, and that would be absolutely amazing.Early reviews that have been saying this book is a modern YA Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are correct, it is. But it’s also so much more. Not saying ESotSM isn’t amazing, because it is, but this is just like it enough that we can compare the two, but so different that they are their own story, and I love that. If you couldn’t guess I’m giving this book 5 happy stars, and I encourage everyone to pick up a copy on release day and devour this book.I originally wrote this review back in March 2015 on my book blog Polished Page-Turners, and I stand by every word of it today. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK! And then hop on social media to say hi to Adam, because he's just the fricken best. <3

I LOVED More Happy Than Not. I am not typically a fan of contemporary, but the sci-fi twist to this novel really drew me in. More Happy Than Not tells the story of Aaron, a New York City teen who is gay, and living in a community where he knows that he will not be accepted the way he is. Enter the Leteo Institute, a company that promises to erase painful memories so people can move forward. Aaron has led a hard life, and survived multiple traumatic experiences, and he therefore decides that if he can just forget that he is gay, life would be so much easier.Let's talk about the plot twist in this book for a moment. HOLY. COW. It was like a plot twist within a plot twist and it totally threw me for a loop. From about the halfway point of the book straight through to the end, I didn't stop crying. I was just a big puddle of tears. AND THEN THE ENDING. What are you trying to do to me, Adam? I thought we were friends? Why'd you have to go breaking my heart like that? The ending was beautifully written, but it tore my heart to pieces and I am still recovering. I think it is going to be a while before I am ready to pick up another cry-worthy book - I'm still too vulnerable right now.What a poignant message this book sends. It takes the notion that being gay is a thing that can be "cured" and throws it right back in our faces in such a beautiful way. It shows us that no matter what you do, you are who you are, and that's ok. This book brings LGBTQ issues to light in particular, but I can see this message affecting people in all different walks of life; those suffering with depression, mental health issues, disabilities of any kind - to a certain degree, everyone has felt at some point that everything would be better if only this was different, or that could be fixed. More Happy Than Not shows us that there is always something to smile about and someone who loves us just the way we are.

"If you looked inside me, I bet you’d find two different hearts beating for two different people, like the sun and moon up at the same time, a terrible eclipse I’m the only witness to."Oh how I wish I could wrap this synopsis up in a neatly constructed, pretty bow and deliver this book to you in a lovingly adorned package of succinct thoughts. Sadly (and thankfully) this book is SO many things but having just finished (by way of a serious recommendation from a friend) I find it difficult to slap a label on it and writing a coherent review is proving just as challenging. I wish I could post all of the beautifully written passages I highlighted and reread and cherished but I would loathe to give away even the tiniest bit of joy in finding every nuance and twisty rollercoaster ride of feelings that you will most certainly experience throughout this emotionally charged, well crafted, excellently executed gem of a debut novel. When I read the first half of the book I believed that I had a firm grip on what was happening all around and throughout this world but let me tell you that I had NO idea what I was really in for. It was such a beautiful thing to witness unraveling as I lived alongside Aaron and slowly began to realize just how complex and gritty the story really was. Was I loving every moment? No! This is not a feel good, coming of age tale that brings you slowly to an emotional precipice and keeps you there with the promise of everlasting happiness wrapped in rainbows. What it IS is a (semi) realistic, extremely emotional take on what could possibly happen in a world where second chances are possible through the magic of everyday science. It is not all doom and gloom though. It is more like a dose of reality wrapped in a beautifully expressed piece of favorite art tied up in bacon goodness. I leave you with some small sliver of the magic and hope even this does not reveal too much. I LOVED every minute of this book and yes, even the bits that made me cry big fat ugly tears in the silence of the wee hours of the night."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. If the blind can find joy in music, and the deaf can discover it with colors, I will do my best to always find the sun in the darkness because my life isn’t one sad ending— it’s a series of endless happy beginnings."

I'm not sure what I expected going into this book - I love Adam Silvera and knew without a doubt I'd love this novel- I meant I had no idea what to really expect from the story. I kind of want into it blind considering how much I loved the authors other work but I didn't expect the story to hit so deep. Although the story is fiction, the events (minus the mind altering clinic) are no doubt very real to some people and that hit me hard. A young boy, growing up in a rough part of Queens, who can't be himself for fear of his life. That they are people out there who attribute listening to "Girl songs" or playing female superheroes on a video game to being gay baffles me, but I know for a fact this is a reality a lot of young LGBT men and women face.I feel like I should warn you there is a few undertones of suicide so if that is a trigger for you then this book is not for you. But it is also a really touching story of friendship, family, trust and self discovery.In terms of the story (I'll try to keep it spoiler free) it was beautifully written and flowed really quick. This wasn't your typical coming of age novel in the traditional sense. I thought it be about someone who got their mind altered to be straight ( did not see the twist coming) but it was so much more. We follow Aaron, who is sixteen and growing up in Queens, trying to keep his life together with his friends and girlfriend after his dad's suicide, but then he meets a new guy called Thomas and out of nowhere everything he thought he thought he knew about himself for certain begins to change. Money struggles, teenage angst colliding headfirst with the reality of the adult world.I feel like this was an incredibly important book for anyone because it showcases the fact that everyone can be unhappy to a certain degree, and we all struggle, but it's okay not to be okay. But it is important that you trust your friends and family and talk to them. Because even if you could get your mind altered, all the trauma, pain, heartache, scraped knees and broken bones also does with love, friendship, laughter and great memories, and all of it together makes you who you are, and that the only one capable of making yourself happy is you. Memories can be painful but they are important.I loved this book so much. It made me laugh and tear up and I tore through page after page and I highly recommend this to anyone. It's not as doom and gloom as I make it out to be, it's more a happy story than not. (Ha see what I did there?) And once again Adam Silvera has shown me why he is one of my favorite authors who I hold with such a high regard.

This was a very surprising plot that differed from what I was expecting. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the back cover did not hint at the outcome. It was quite an enjoyable read making you question life circumstances and coping strategies. A very thought-provoking and inquisitive approach in what is is like to come to terms with who you really are in an environment that does not freely allow it. Well-written. A smart young adult piece of introspective work.

It’s hard to do justice to this book with a short review but, I would definitely recommend it. Just order it and trust me that you won’t be disappointed.I took this book on holiday with me intending to read it over the course of a week. Instead I ended up finishing it in just a few days as I could not put it down. The way that Silvera creates such deep and meaningful relationships between characters really reaches the heart. It’s hard not to loose yourself in the book.Definitely a great read for any LGBTQ young person.

I love the characters and worlds this author creates. This is my favourite so far and I have now bought all his books. For emotional romance fans - check out his books. He's currently the only author this year who has made me cry and laugh in one sitting.

Great book, it was a little confusing at times, I had to look up the plot summary online because I didn’t understand what was going on, but once I understood I loved it! Definitely for more advanced readers though and I would suggest reading it fast so you don’t forget any details.