A review by simon_reads03
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
3.0
What a ride! More Happy Than Not takes the reader through a heart-wrenching journey of self-discovery and identity when it introduces Aaron, a sixteen-year-old boy living in South Bronx with his mother and brother, and dealing with his father's recent suicide. After a tornado of events that sets Aaron into a spiraling confusion, he is determined to receive the Leteo procedure, an advanced medical surgery that allows one to forget bad memories. But changing who you are proves to be more difficult than Aaron ever imagined.
I had a really fun time reading this. Contrary to many, it was joyous to me rather than sad, even when tragic events occurred. I was in distress, yes, but nonetheless, I was captivated by Silvera's narration and addictive story. I wanted to learn more or at least understand everything that was unfolding in Aaron's life, and that forced me to keep reading. More and more kept happening, and at times I had to stop and process Aaron's fragile life, the turns it took, and most importantly, the heaviness of it all. This book, in my opinion, is a modern tragedy.
There is a lot to learn from this piece and I truly believe it should be read by many more, no matter who they are. Most books teach empathy and tolerance, but all do in such different ways, and More Happy Than Not does it in a way that is impossible to dismiss. Tolerance, that's what this book preaches, but most importantly it does it in a way that makes one think, really think, and that's what's remarkable. It was difficult to read at times, especially its more explicit and language-heavy scenes, but after finishing it, you understand why it was necessary to live through that. It truly is a gift to read this book, and I believe it should be recognized on a grand scale.
Perhaps this read will help people, perhaps it will open people's minds, make them sit and think, reflect, and that's all that matters. Every single character in this book did the same.
I had a really fun time reading this. Contrary to many, it was joyous to me rather than sad, even when tragic events occurred. I was in distress, yes, but nonetheless, I was captivated by Silvera's narration and addictive story. I wanted to learn more or at least understand everything that was unfolding in Aaron's life, and that forced me to keep reading. More and more kept happening, and at times I had to stop and process Aaron's fragile life, the turns it took, and most importantly, the heaviness of it all. This book, in my opinion, is a modern tragedy.
There is a lot to learn from this piece and I truly believe it should be read by many more, no matter who they are. Most books teach empathy and tolerance, but all do in such different ways, and More Happy Than Not does it in a way that is impossible to dismiss. Tolerance, that's what this book preaches, but most importantly it does it in a way that makes one think, really think, and that's what's remarkable. It was difficult to read at times, especially its more explicit and language-heavy scenes, but after finishing it, you understand why it was necessary to live through that. It truly is a gift to read this book, and I believe it should be recognized on a grand scale.
Perhaps this read will help people, perhaps it will open people's minds, make them sit and think, reflect, and that's all that matters. Every single character in this book did the same.