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A review by queer_bookwyrm
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: homophobia/internalized homophobia, death of a parent, suicide, violence, cursing, gay slurs, domestic violence
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera is a contemporary YA book with a dash of speculative fiction. This book was devastating, heartbreaking, painful, and hopeful all at once. I feel like this is a very important book.
We follow Aaron Soto, a boy living in the Bronx dealing with the grief and trauma of his father's suicide and dealing with his own attempt. All Aaron wants is to forget the bad memories, to be happy. Things start to look up a bit for him when he meets handsome stranger, Thomas. But then Aaron starts to question his feelings for his girlfriend, and when Thomas doesn't feel the same way, he wants to forget all over again.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about the plot. Aaron deals with the struggles of being poor in a city along with the rampant homophobia. These characters were so real, so messy, so emotional, so relatable. Aaron's story is heartbreaking and tragic, you just want to give the guy a hug. I'm glad I have the edition with a new happier ending, cause Aaron deserves one.
As gut wrenching as this is, everyone should read it. I think what Aaron feels about being gay is the exact reason queer kids need to see themselves in media and need to see queer adults thriving and living their lives. Queer adults give hope, and hope is what these kids need.
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera is a contemporary YA book with a dash of speculative fiction. This book was devastating, heartbreaking, painful, and hopeful all at once. I feel like this is a very important book.
We follow Aaron Soto, a boy living in the Bronx dealing with the grief and trauma of his father's suicide and dealing with his own attempt. All Aaron wants is to forget the bad memories, to be happy. Things start to look up a bit for him when he meets handsome stranger, Thomas. But then Aaron starts to question his feelings for his girlfriend, and when Thomas doesn't feel the same way, he wants to forget all over again.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about the plot. Aaron deals with the struggles of being poor in a city along with the rampant homophobia. These characters were so real, so messy, so emotional, so relatable. Aaron's story is heartbreaking and tragic, you just want to give the guy a hug. I'm glad I have the edition with a new happier ending, cause Aaron deserves one.
As gut wrenching as this is, everyone should read it. I think what Aaron feels about being gay is the exact reason queer kids need to see themselves in media and need to see queer adults thriving and living their lives. Queer adults give hope, and hope is what these kids need.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt