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katiechasingchapters's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, and Suicide attempt
blueacorn1991's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence
telliot's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
I liked the concept, but I felt like it was not executed very well.
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Death of parent, and Outing
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
tragicgloom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
childhood friend who moved away for years and finally came back
home.
I’m more happy than not.
Don’t forget me."
I won't forget you Aaron ❤️
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Medical content
Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
frqnc22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To sum everything up, I loved how real this book was and how it presented parts of everything Aaron had to go through in *painful* detail. I connected with his character and cried for him probably more than I expected.
As for the topics showed in this book, I truly didn’t expect the memory erasing procedure and the great amount of pain that came with it. I expected the story to leave me with a bittersweet feeling, but clearly didn’t expect such an introspective look on depression, homosexuality or memory loss. I’m glad I didn’t figure out what was gonna happen, because I was amazed by the storytelling. It is worth mentioning that I loved the flashbacks and where they were placed!
The sad reality depicted in the book, homophobia, was hard to read, especially all the fights and slurs. (Aaron: “This is what death feels like, I think.”) It’s hard to even imagine something as traumatic as Aaron’s life, and learning to accept yourself in a situation like his sounds nearly impossible. His whole life changed drastically just because he was brave enough to show his family the real Aaron. The fact that this also happens in real life makes everything worse.
All relationships broke my heart at some point, and some weren’t healthy for the people involved, but they were significant to Aaron’s personal growth.
He made mistakes, but the most important thing is learning from them and understanding what he did wrong in the first place. Fortunately, he understands and tries to do better
As for the ending, I didn’t expect another traumatizing experience for Aaron, but I learnt that this is not a happy book👍🏻
His way of thinking is truly inspiring, even though I was crying while reading the final pages. Truly an emotional rollercoaster, but Aaron’s development is everything! Being “more happy than not” seems difficult to achieve, but he’s doing his best, after going through the worst.
“Don’t forget me.”
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity
smilerac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
jshawreads's review against another edition
- 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
More Happy Than Not is the story of Aaron, scarred by his past and struggling to find happiness with the help of his friends and girlfriend. Until Thomas shows up, who Aaron gets on with so quickly and so well, and other emotions seem to start up, making Aaron question everything that has gone on before.
I dont want to delve any further into the story, because any spoilers could REALLY throw off what happens. Part of what goes down was so shocking and so unexpected by me that I was literally sat outside in my city's Gay Village, ugly crying into my drink.
A really, really good book, gripping, emotional, and devastatingly sad. Read this when in a good mental state only.
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sometimes, it is complicated as he felt so wrong being who he is while he's not. I found him so fragile as as a human being and it makes me want to hug him. I want to tell him that it's okay being gay like him and nothing has to be fixed.
I love the process reading this book so much. More Happy Than Not with the bonus chapter at the end makes it more realistic. Thank you, Adam for the beautiful story. I always love the book that you write. What a brilliant debut novel.
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
caro_las's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
mousmoulo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
the reason for the "low" rating is that i've definitely outgrown this type of book and never got fully immersed into it, but i know i would've made this my whole personality if i read it as a teenager lol
(definitely check trigger warnings if you're planning to read it)
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Dementia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug use