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tjs_whatnot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaitjboyer's review against another edition
3.0
THE BOY WITH NO DIRECTION TAUGHT ME SOMETHING UNFORGETTABLE: HAPPINESS COMES AGAIN IF YOU LET IT.
This book was NOT what I was expecting it to be. The back of the book, I believe, never gave too much insight on truly what this book would be revolving around as much as some of his other works, but I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing. Turning the first few pages into the book and reading about Leteo made me extremely confused at first, but it all made sense within the first couple of chapters.
With that being said, I was NOT expecting that plot twist... I am not sure if I was supposed to see that coming or what but I did not and it threw me off, in a good way. I had a feeling that Aaron was planning to get a procedure throughout the entire book, considering that it was mentioned a lot, but Silvera really twisted everything last second and made me do a double-take! Within him explaining how Aaron had already gotten the procedure and it, essentially, failed it all made sense!
That being said, the chapters following the explanation and how Aaron sort of loses his memory was a grey area for me. I found myself rereading those sections to make sure I was understanding things correctly and to make sure I was piecing everything together the way I should be. Maybe the idea of him losing track of time could have been better executed? I am not too sure if I am the only one who feels this way.
Although, I read the deluxe version with the new ending to give Aaron a happier one and I enjoyed that! I liked that I could sort of choose which way I wanted to end the book myself, obviously I chose to read the happier ending.
All in all, I enjoyed this book as a whole! There were some sections that were grey for me but I do not hate it or dislike it, for that matter:)
I'VE BECOME THIS HAPPINES 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.
This book was NOT what I was expecting it to be. The back of the book, I believe, never gave too much insight on truly what this book would be revolving around as much as some of his other works, but I do not think that is necessarily a bad thing. Turning the first few pages into the book and reading about Leteo made me extremely confused at first, but it all made sense within the first couple of chapters.
With that being said, I was NOT expecting that plot twist... I am not sure if I was supposed to see that coming or what but I did not and it threw me off, in a good way. I had a feeling that Aaron was planning to get a procedure throughout the entire book, considering that it was mentioned a lot, but Silvera really twisted everything last second and made me do a double-take! Within him explaining how Aaron had already gotten the procedure and it, essentially, failed it all made sense!
That being said, the chapters following the explanation and how Aaron sort of loses his memory was a grey area for me. I found myself rereading those sections to make sure I was understanding things correctly and to make sure I was piecing everything together the way I should be. Maybe the idea of him losing track of time could have been better executed? I am not too sure if I am the only one who feels this way.
Although, I read the deluxe version with the new ending to give Aaron a happier one and I enjoyed that! I liked that I could sort of choose which way I wanted to end the book myself, obviously I chose to read the happier ending.
All in all, I enjoyed this book as a whole! There were some sections that were grey for me but I do not hate it or dislike it, for that matter:)
I'VE BECOME THIS HAPPINES 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.
tvgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
apinkcloudsummer's review against another edition
Okay, I've read reviews about this novel and though I'm barely in the beginning still, I do know he is coming to the terms of being Gay. Though reading it so far I can tell he actually does like/loved Genevieve. Sometimes I wished people remembered why there is a "B" in lgBt.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
4.0
Original rating from June 19th, 2016: 5 stars
Updated rating from February 16th, 2021: 4 stars
This book has been on my favorites shelf for a couple years. Honestly, I didn’t remember much of it (that fits well with the theme of the book) until rereading it. Still such a good book as a reread, although I think I wanted a bit more out of it the second time around. Regardless, this is a heartbreaking story about memory, self acceptance, mental health, and love.
Updated rating from February 16th, 2021: 4 stars
This book has been on my favorites shelf for a couple years. Honestly, I didn’t remember much of it (that fits well with the theme of the book) until rereading it. Still such a good book as a reread, although I think I wanted a bit more out of it the second time around. Regardless, this is a heartbreaking story about memory, self acceptance, mental health, and love.
decayoflyre's review against another edition
2.0
it made me feel SO uncomfortable and I don't even know why :/
darryn_gray's review against another edition
4.25
As always if you know anything about Adam Silvera's books, prepare to cry by the end of it. Yet, even for a debut where there were little things (like the treatment of Nate) that I didn't like, it was easy to look past the little things and get drawn into this world. To think about if you were in this world where the Leteo Institution existed, would you get it done? Forget something in your life causing you so much pain, or would you be on the side of everyone who is against it? What could become your breaking point before you finally get it? Be it someone's death, your sexuality, something very traumatic in your life, how far would you have to be pushed?
And would what could happen be worth the risk?
And would what could happen be worth the risk?
jl_036's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
So this is a sad book. In case you haven’t guessed it. Isn’t there something sinister about smiley faces? You know there's something hiding behind there, and boy was this dark.
More happy than not is a contemporary book with a sci-fi twist. Recently a new procedure at the Leteo institute helps you forget, It follows 16-year-old Aaron who wants to forget that he’s gay.
The first half was okay but I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. The second half is fantastic.
It was a little confusing but in the end, everything came together and it’s really clever.
Don't let the sci-fi element scare you away.
(I know this was compared to Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, which I hated for your information, but it’s way better).
Adam Silvera balances it out with incredibly realism in the personalities and setting. The characters breathe and are flawed and terrible and amazing. We have a large cast of characters for a contemporary, and they all fit and served the story well. My favorites are Genevieve - Aaron’s awesome artist girlfriend, Aaron’s mother and Thomas.
It’s okay how some stories leave off without an ending. Life doesn’t always deliver the one you would expect.
It’s incredibly diverse and thoughtful story with beautiful writing.
For most of the book, I enjoyed myself, I found the characters to be very realistic and three-dimensional, but I didn’t have an enormous emotional connection to them.
Then it happened.
This story took an unexpected turn that caught me completely off guard and made me extremely emotional.
It’s very clever and it adds the sci-fi twist to the book without feeling forced.
Really, really liked this book. Can’t wait to see what more Adam Silvera will publish.
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.
So this is a sad book. In case you haven’t guessed it. Isn’t there something sinister about smiley faces? You know there's something hiding behind there, and boy was this dark.
More happy than not is a contemporary book with a sci-fi twist. Recently a new procedure at the Leteo institute helps you forget, It follows 16-year-old Aaron who wants to forget that he’s gay.
The first half was okay but I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. The second half is fantastic.
It was a little confusing but in the end, everything came together and it’s really clever.
Don't let the sci-fi element scare you away.
(I know this was compared to Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, which I hated for your information, but it’s way better).
Adam Silvera balances it out with incredibly realism in the personalities and setting. The characters breathe and are flawed and terrible and amazing. We have a large cast of characters for a contemporary, and they all fit and served the story well. My favorites are Genevieve - Aaron’s awesome artist girlfriend, Aaron’s mother and Thomas.
It’s okay how some stories leave off without an ending. Life doesn’t always deliver the one you would expect.
It’s incredibly diverse and thoughtful story with beautiful writing.
For most of the book, I enjoyed myself, I found the characters to be very realistic and three-dimensional, but I didn’t have an enormous emotional connection to them.
Then it happened.
This story took an unexpected turn that caught me completely off guard and made me extremely emotional.
It’s very clever and it adds the sci-fi twist to the book without feeling forced.
Really, really liked this book. Can’t wait to see what more Adam Silvera will publish.
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.