The Review

More Happy Than Not was a choice by my local GM Plus chapter for our book club, and it was a highly recommended read from our global ERG’s winter reads booklist. I was thrilled to discover that it lived up to its reputation.

The novel follows Aaron Soto, 16-year old Puerto Rican boy from the Bronx. The past year was rough on Aaron. One of his friends was gunned-down, his father committed suicide, and Aaron failed at attempting it himself. In his grief, Aaron has leaned exclusively on his girlfriend Genevieve for support, until one day, Aaron meets a new teenager in their neighborhood – Thomas. As Genevieve heads off to Art Camp in New Orleans, Aaron begins to grow closer to Thomas, whom seems to understand Aaron on a deeper level than the rest of the kids in his neighborhood.

While this may seem like a typical coming-of-age novel, the unique premise of the Leteo Institute adds an otherworldly aspect to the story. The institute promises to erase any unwanted memories, similar to the concept in the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Patrons visit the institute to forget cheating spouses, lost loved ones, and failed endeavors, but the procedure raises questions about the consequences of forgetting and whether we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes if we don’t remember them.

The novel touches on the complexities of coming out, as well as class politics, and is a powerful treatise on the intersections of sexual identity and connection with the weight of traumatic memory. Through the eyes of Aaron, author Adam Silvera captures the realities of growing up in urban poverty with a precision that is both dreamy and reportorial. The Leteo Institute serves as a metaphor for the many interventions that parents seek for their children in an age where normalcy is often sought after and aberration is seen as a condition to be eradicated.

The novel raises thought-provoking questions about the power of memory. Would you erase a part of your life that you’re not proud of for a better future? More Happy Than Not is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring these themes.

Overall, I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars!