Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - More Happy Than Not Collector's Edition

Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

More Happy Than Not Collector's Edition by Adam Silvera

38 reviews

kataleena's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I thought I knew how this book would play out and maybe I just didn’t read enough reviews but I was somewhat blindsided by the events that transpired. I think what made me sob my eyes out was that I could see parts of myself in Aaron’s story and I really felt for him. The only issue - if I could even call it that - with the book was that the only characters I liked were Aaron and Genevieve, everyone else was just okay, if that. I think the book would have hit that much harder if Aaron’s friends were actually likeable and characters that you can grow attached to. Regardless, I loved this book and I will be reading it again :)

Content Warnings

tan_wayne's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is so heart-breaking. The story is written beautifully, and the characters are all so well-developed. I kept growing so attached to the main characters, I begin to feel so sad when things started to fall apart. It deals with so many issues like homophobia, depression, and suicide.

I think this is a beautiful blend between “Girl In Pieces” by Kathleen Glasgow and “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. The former having a similar sombre tone throughout the book. The latter having a shocking twist that could almost be dethroned by this book.

I love how this book started out as a nice romance story. Everything from the cute dates t the interactions felt so romantic and genuine, it gave me the butterflies. The story slowly evolved to be darker and sadder, similar to a mystery. We were slowly given the missing pieces of the story that were heart-breaking.

I came into this book expecting only one ending I will be happy with. But somehow it had a much more satisfying and fitting ending (view spoiler), which shows how much I adored this book. It somehow broke me in several pieces and pieced me back together.

☆5 Stars☆

Content Warnings

pond_newt's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

jennsp's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

maryy_r0se's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

"Memories: some can be sucker punching, others carry you forward; some stay with you forever, others you forget on your own. You can't really know which ones you'll survive if you don't stay on the battlefield, bad times shooting at you like bullets. But if you're lucky, you'll have plenty of good times to shield you."

**note: I read this as part of an ongoing project to read and critique young adult books that include themes of mental illness**

High schooler Aaron Soto is on the path to recovering from his father's suicide and his own suicide attempt. With Gen, his free-spirited and loving girlfriend at his side, he is ready to move forward, even when the pain feels overwhelming. His progress gets derailed when he befriends Thomas, a quirky kid with a love of movies and no real direction in life. Aaron feels connected to Thomas in a confusing way that seems to transcend friendship. Add to that his community's mounting tension over the Leteo Institute, a controversial medical practice that claims to suppress distressing memories, and Aaron begins to find himself in a freefall that may very well be his undoing.

There is a lot to like about this book. I don't regularly read young adult novels, so it took me a while to adjust to the writing style. However, Silvera achieves at writing a main character who is deeply flawed and yet the reader can still root for. The pacing was inconsistent at parts, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it in the first half, but the second half really picked up for me.

I found myself genuinely shocked at the plot twist.

The comparisons to Eternal Sunshine are certainly warranted, and at times I did wonder if it felt close enough to the movie to dull my enjoyment of the book; it is not a rip off by any means, but didn't fully grip my attention because of the occasional inkling of "haven't I heard this before?" I kept waiting for Thomas, the book's resident movie buff, to bring up the Eternal Sunshine connection. That said, I have very little experience with sci fi content, and perhaps if I did I would simply see this as a common enough trope that it wouldn't stand out.

I read the version with the altered ending, and while I think I personally would have appreciated the original ending a tad more, considering it is a teen book I think adding the extra chapter was the right move. I was left with a major question at the end:

was the Jordan that Aaron met in group therapy somehow supposed to be the same Jordan that shot and killed Kenneth? It could have just been a different character with the same name, but it seemed a bit odd that Silvera would have two characters with the same name and no explanation. Group Therapy Jordan also mentioned his sister at least twice, which seemed relevant because Other Jordan killed Kenneth because of his sister. And while Group Therapy Jordan's backstory didn't align with Other Jordan's, both Group Therapy Jordan and Aaron had been given the Leteo procedure so maybe their memories were still corrupt in some way? But in that case, wouldn't someone like Eric or Gen have recognized Jordan when he came to the birthday party? I kept waiting for another twist or at least some sort of explanation, but it never came. This was especially confusing to me because the author went out of his way when explaining the two Daves and the two Aarons.

I read this book to screen it for a library booklist I am making regarding teen mental health books, and I have decided to approve it for the list. Despite some flaws, I think it shows a nuanced perspective on familial suicide and mental health, while also providing representation to often unrepresented groups.

Content Warnings

mschills's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

dhruthick's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Content Warnings

half_bloodreader's review against another edition

dark sad

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Written in 1st person, present tense. Divided into 5 parts

Toxic masculinity is real in this one.

This is not only a sad book, it's also really hard to go through. I advise against reading this when you are going through a depressive episode.

It's not a feel good story, and most of the characters are pretty hateful. Thomas -who's pretty flawed himself- keeps calling these guys he knows from childhood his "friends", when they're nothing but! He also looks for his happiness in others which is an awful message and he's super entitled.

The book is pretty short, but Part 1 is boring. The pacing's inconsistent.

The premise is interesting, but it didn't feel explored to its potential.

I appreciate the diversity. Not only in race and sexuality, but in social class. Poverty isn't addressed enough, unless it's for the same plot we all know. But poverty has many faces.

I don't appreciate Aaron's transphobic wording about the character Nate (especially when he wants to be accepted). Or how he hurts the people who truly care about him again and again. And how he decides who someone is and labels them. You don't get to tell someone hoe they identify or attribute a label! You can give them resources, support, discuss such subjects, and let them figure it out!!

I don't like how there's a message that a boy liking girl characters, girl action figures and girl pop singers equals being gay. The mc himself says these traits were hints of his sexuality! That is such patriarchal heteronormative bs, and it's actually part of a bigger issue: men must want women, but they can't respect them, while respecting and looking for the approval of other men, but keeping a distance.

If I took a shot every time "no homo" was said, I'd have liver failure! Just. Stop.

Just what even was the point of this book? If it was: embrace past hardships & traumas, so you can overcome and move on, then I personally don't think it was handled right.

I loved They Both Die at the End, but this one wasn't it.

Content Warnings