More Happy Than Not by SILVERA

More Happy Than Not

by SILVERA

When it first gets announced, the Leteo Institute's memory-alteration procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto-miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. Aaron can't forget how he's grown up poor, how his friends all seem to shrug him off, and how his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. He has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough. Then Thomas shows up. He doesn't mind Aaron's obsession over the Scorpius Hawthorne books and has a sweet movie set-up on his roof. There are nicknames. Aaron's not only able to be himself, but happiness feels easy with Thomas. The love Aaron discovers may cost him what's left of his life, but since Aaron can't suddenly stop being gay Leteo may be the only way out.

Reviewed by Angie on

4 of 5 stars

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More Happy Than Not was super dark and sad and heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful. It's set in the near future where the Leteo procedure promises to help people live happier lives. It suppresses memories that interfere with normal, every day life and lets the patients get back to functioning. Aaron thought the procedure was bull until one of the kids in his neighborhood gets it done after the murder of his bother. Then things happen over the Summer which make Aaron feel like he needs the procedure done in order to be happy.

I did have a bit of trouble getting into More Happy Than Not. The first part was good, and I liked seeing Aaron interact with his friends, family, girlfriend, and new friend Thomas. But I wasn't really invested. I was enjoying it, but couldn't see this going anywhere. Then during part two things started really picking up, and I was interested in how Aaron was going to deal with this new information that he had about himself. I really wanted him to find happiness with Thomas, but then it became clear that Aaron and I were reading this situation completely wrong.

The middle portion of More Happy Than Not nearly broke my freaking heart! I never saw all of that coming! It covers from when Aaron was a kid, all the way up to a few months before the start of the book. I could not put it down during this part! Everything started making much more sense, and I could pick out a few things from the first part that suddenly made it much more interesting. It is seriously heartbreaking. Like, I cannot believe people would treat Aaron this way, and I can't believe that his mom let him do what he did to deal with it all! After that, I was well and truly invested in Aaron's journey to happiness.

What I loved best about More Happy Than Not was that the Leteo procedure wasn't this 100% guaranteed fix for mental health problems. The memories aren't erased, they're just hidden away so that triggers can "unwind" them. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't. And once it does happen there's other adverse effects which are just awful. It's a high price to pay, even if it seems worth it at first. I can totally see how the Leteo procedure could become popular though, but like Aaron's bother said, it's like using a cheat code before even asking for help.

I really enjoyed More Happy Than Not. I know I probably made it sound super depressing, which it is in places, but I feel like the ending was hopeful. It certainly doesn't end with sunshine and rainbows and everyone hugging it out and living happily ever after. But I strongly feel like Aaron is on the right track now and he'll find that true happiness eventually, even if it'll be difficult.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 November, 2015: Finished reading
  • 4 November, 2015: Reviewed