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More books by Adam Silvera
Description
In his twisty, gritty, profoundly moving debut—called “mandatory reading” by the New York Times—Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx.
In the months after his father's suicide, it's been tough for 16-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again--but he's still ...
In his twisty, gritty, profoundly moving debut—called “mandatory reading” by the New York Times—Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx.
In the months after his father’s suicide, it’s been tough for 16-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again–but he’s still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he’s slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely.
When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron’s crew notices, and they’re not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can’t deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can’t stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute’s revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.
Why does happiness have to be so hard?
“Silvera managed to leave me smiling after totally breaking my heart. Unforgettable.”
—Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
“Adam Silvera explores the inner workings of a painful world and he delivers this with heartfelt honesty and a courageous, confident hand… a mesmerizing, unforgettable tour de force.”
—John Corey Whaley, author of Where Things Come Back and Noggin
Media
“One of the most heartrending YA reads you’ll ever pick up. And despite the slight sci-fi twist, everything in the novel feels so very real. More Happy Than Not will leave you shaken for days, if not weeks.”
–PASTE Magazine
“A Booklist Editor's Choice of 2015.”
“Finalist: ABA Best Young Adult Novel.”
“Paste Magazine's #1 YA Novel of 2015.”
“Los Angeles Public Library Best Teen Books of 2015.”
“Adam Silvera explores the inner workings of a painful world and he delivers this with heartfelt honesty and a courageous, confident hand. Combine these with a one-of-a-kind voice and a genius idea, and what you have is a mesmerizing, unforgettable tour de force. ”
—John Corey Whaley, author of Where Things Come Back
“Adam Silvera is a voice missing in YA fiction. The honesty of his words and his ability to tell a story make you realize that we’ve been waiting for him. I’m blown away. ”
—Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s
“An important new voice in YA literature, in More Happy Than Not Adam Silvera has created a passionate, searing narrative with characters who feel unique and totally familiar. I found myself rooting for Aaron Soto and his family from page one. More Happy Than Not is an unforgettable read. ”
—Alex London, author of Proxy
“Every now and again I read a book that requires me to drink several glasses of water afterward, because I’ve cried myself dehydrated. This is one of those books.”
–BookRiot
“Silvera’s debut is equal parts gut-punch and warm hug, not to mention sweet, funny, creative, and a really welcome entry to YA with regard to having characters coming from a lower socioeconomic background.”
–BN.com on More Happy Than Not
“Silvera, like [Benjamin Alire Sáenz], is a beautiful writer. Aaron’s story is heart-wrenching, funny, inspirational, and eye-opening. This is a really special novel from an extremely gifted new writer.”
–Bustle on More Happy Than Not
“Poignant .... so engrossing that once you start it, you won't be able to put it down. Don't say we didn't warn you.”
–Teen Vogue on More Happy Than Not
“[A story] of love and expectation and self-discovery, and of declaring yourself to a world that will never give you a soft landing. ”
–B&N Teen Blog on More Happy Than Not
“A debut as deft as it is sharp, as honest as it is assured, and, above all, extremely moving. Silvera pulls his punches with an energy, daring, and intensity that left me spellbound – and reminded me why I love to read. ”
–Adele Griffin, author of The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone
“Places a straightforward concept — what if you could erase unwanted memories? — squarely within an honest depiction of the pains of navigating the teen years and upends all expectations for a plot resolution ... a multifaceted look at some of the more unsettling aspects of human relationships. A brilliantly conceived page-turner.”
–Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW on More Happy Than Not
“The sheer unusualness of the narrative’s makeup and blend of genres render it interesting. Readers fascinated by the gritty world of organized crime will find much to like here.”
–Booklist
“This novel places a straightforward concept—what if you could erase unwanted memories?—squarely within an honest depiction of the pains of navigating the teen years and upends all expectations for a plot resolution ... A brilliantly conceived page-turner.”
–Kirkus, starred review on More Happy Than Not
“Many readers will identify with Aaron, whether or not they are dealing with issues of orientation ... Silvera draws wonderfully complex characters and deftly portrays the relationships among them. The true beauty of this book is the way Silvera subtly reveals the plot—readers find Aaron coming out to them in a gradual way.”
–VOYA on More Happy Than Not
“First novelist Adam Silvera puts a fresh spin on what begins as a fairly standard, if well executed, story of a teen experiencing firsts—first love, first sex, first loss—and struggling with his identity and sexuality ... prejudice is illustrated with gut-wrenching brutality and its effects are scarring, but Silvera tempers it with the genuine love and acceptance Aaron receives from a few important friends and family members ... ingenious.”
–Booklist on More Happy Than Not
“This is definitely at the top of my YA list. There’s a realness to its main character, Aaron Soto, and his struggle to be who he really is. It confronts race and sexuality in a way I haven’t seen in the genre before.”
–Latina Magazine on More Happy Than Not
“[Silvera] explores the possibilities of a world where death, and life, can be forgotten, roles rewritten and broken hearts mended. This is a story not just of a young man coming out, but a dramatic and heart-wrenching story of first loves, first heartbreaks, grief and the quest for happiness.”
–Shelf Awareness on More Happy Than Not
“For its explorations of sexuality, poverty, and race in the Bronx along with its subversion of the traditional hero’s journey, More Happy Than Not is one of this summer’s most anticipated YA debuts. And if you’re hesitant about its “YA” distinction, the novel is also an absorbing, thought-provoking, and timely read for people of all ages — perfect for a day on the beach.”
–NEXT Magazine on More Happy Than Not
“A mind-blowing story ... a story about love, and acceptance that will absolutely break your heart.”
–PopCrush.com on More Happy Than Not
“Easily one of the most heart-wrenching you’ll read this year.”
–Paste Magazine on More Happy Than Not
“Throughout the story, the reader will find herself wanting to hug Aaron, shake him, and ultimately her heart will break for him. This reporter finished the book as though Aaron’s life depended on it.”
–Planet Jackson Hole on More Happy Than Not
“[An] important addition to speculative fiction for young adults ... Silvera's tale combines the best features of science fiction with social justice in this engaging read, as Aaron finds a place where he belongs. ”
–Los Angeles Times on More Happy Than Not
“A beautiful debut novel [that] manages a delicate knitting of class politics through an ambitious narrative about sexual identity and connection that considers the heavy weight and constructive value of traumatic memory ... Aaron's Bronx universe [is captured] with a precision that feels at once dreamy and casually reportorial ... mandatory reading. ”
—The New York Times Book Review on More Happy Than Not
“Revolutionary ... strikingly poignant ... it is a stunning examination of why we make the choices we make.”
—BookBrowse.com on More Happy Than Not
“Silvera brings heart to a divisive topic, and you’ll find yourself crying with Aaron as he desires to be loved for who he is.”
–Paste Magazine's Best Books of June on More Happy Than Not
“What to expect if you read this unique story: complete and absolute heartbreak, probably tears (unless you're heartless, that is), and moments that will make you smile ear to ear.”
—PopCrush.com on More Happy Than Not
“[Silvera is] a phenomenal talent and is destined to be a star.”
—James Dawson, author of This Book is Gay on More Happy Than Not
“[Silvera] throws in a hugely rewarding, whiplash-worthy twist in the last third of the novel). A bold, inventive, raw look at male sexuality in an irresistible sci-fi package.”
—The Globe and Mail on More Happy Than Not
“The novel takes an unexpected, complex turn ... In the end, readers are left with a gripping story about one memorable teen, and if it also leaves them pondering how his life might have been different if various elements had been improved, that is likely the exact takeaway intended.”
–BCCB Review on More Happy Than Not
“This is a beautifully written book that seems to get sadder with every page, but never feels hopeless. ”