More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
More Happy Than Not
Pros
- Queers of Color
- Critical look at conversion therapy
- Original and engaging story
Cons
- Internalized homophobia
- Problem novel tropes
- Homophobia as major plot point
Title: More Happy Than Not
Author: Adam Silvera
Original Publication Date: 2015
Original Publisher: Soho Teen
Queer Representation: 1 gay protagonist plus love interest
Page Length: 300
A Science-fiction take on conversion therapy
Memorable Quote:“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.”
Review:
Aaron Soto lives in a small, one-bedroom apartment with his mother and brother and is trying to move on from his suicide attempt which came shortly after his father’s suicide. Aaron looks to his girlfriend Genevieve and his friends from the neighborhood to help him be happy, but slowly begins spending less and less time with them as he grows closer with his new friend Thomas. Aaron begins to suspect that Thomas might be gay, and soon after begins to think that he may be gay himself.
Aaron knows how his friends would react to the news of his sexuality, and of course there is his family to think about. Luckily, perhaps, for Aaron there is an experimental procedure conducted by the Leteo Institute that can suppress any memories of ever being attracted to Thomas. Without these memories, Aaron hopes that he can rid himself of his homosexuality. Aaron was skeptical of the procedure at first, but after learning of someone in the neighborhood who underwent it, he is positive that it will work. The only question is, what will happen to him if it does.
In his debut novel, Adam Silvera truly hits the ground running. Silvera’s fantastical take on the too-real issue of conversion therapy is topical and highly thought provoking. More Happy Than Not is a must have for any queer young adult bookshelf, and for every bookshelf in general. Aaron is a sympathetic and likable character that all readers can relate to, even if they have not shared any similar experiences. From start to end, this is a book that readers will not want to put down with an ending so satisfying that readers will want to pick it up again and again.
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