More Happy Than Not

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

"[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

"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)

"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

"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

Adam Silvera was born and raised in the Bronx. He has worked in the publishing industry as a children’s bookseller, a marketing assistant at a literary development company, and a book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. His debut novel, More Happy Than Not, received multiple starred reviews and is a New York Times bestseller, and Adam was selected as a Publishers Weekly Flying Start. He writes full-time in New York City and is tall for no reason.