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Adam Silvera

Author of They Both Die at the End

33+ Works 11,958 Members 349 Reviews 4 Favorited

About the Author

Includes the name: Adam Silvera

Series

Works by Adam Silvera

They Both Die at the End (2017) 5,338 copies
What If It's Us (2018) 1,953 copies
History Is All You Left Me (2017) 1,214 copies
More Happy than Not (2015) 1,171 copies
The First to Die at the End (2022) 818 copies
Infinity Son (2020) 576 copies
Here's to Us (2021) 522 copies
Infinity Reaper (2021) 149 copies
No Final, Morrem Os Dois (2019) 7 copies

Associated Works

Because You Love to Hate Me: 13 Tales of Villainy (2017) — Contributor — 484 copies
(Don't) Call Me Crazy (2018) — Contributor — 252 copies
Color outside the Lines: Stories about Love (2019) — Contributor — 81 copies

Tagged

audiobook (38) contemporary (110) death (95) ebook (68) English (26) fantasy (41) favorites (23) fiction (327) friendship (89) gay (81) goodreads (27) goodreads import (40) grief (46) Kindle (41) lgbt (159) LGBTQ (242) LGBTQ+ (62) LGBTQIA (50) library (25) m-m (22) mental health (25) mlm (32) New York (47) New York City (43) novel (29) own (28) queer (67) read (55) read in 2018 (27) realistic fiction (48) relationships (25) romance (231) science fiction (135) speculative fiction (24) suicide (24) teen (37) to-read (1,267) YA (224) young adult (343) young adult fiction (48)

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1990-06-07
Gender
male
Nationality
USA
Birthplace
New York, New York, USA

Members

Discussions

Reviews

No book summary, just my thoughts. :) Spoiler free.

I don't know how I finished this book and was both brokenhearted and happy at the same time. This was a very emotional, often hilarious, and overall sublime novel about identity, loss, growing up, and friendship.
For any film lovers out there, this book definitely had some Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" vibes to it. "More Happy" takes place over the summer, burning along with a voice that is strong, sometimes vulgar, but not without meaning. The themes in this book are developed and explored so well, and I don't think there was one chapter that didn't add more meat and meaning to the plot. EVERYTHING matters.
The setting here, the Bronx, is a wonderfully described place, full of fiercely colorful characters and antics. I thought it was perfect, offering both a prime launchpad for many of the smaller conflicts and interactions, and a gritty, scenic backdrop for the story as a whole (ex: the rooftops moments, the neighborhood games, the convenience store, etc.) Silvera does a marvelous job of making his characters seem more than alive in this setting. Along that vein, the characters in "More Happy" really steal the show. Each of them are unique and well-defined, each with a distinct voice. The gang of boys who run around with Aaron, like Baby Freddy and Me-Crazy, are addictively readable.

The plot itself is a little difficult to go into without giving away too much, but I will say that it is NOT what you expect. Think you have it figured out? No you don't. And it is also not what you expect after that! One of the things I appreciate most about "More Happy" is that the plot isn't "Point A to Point B, with added angst in the middle". It doesn't follow a strictly linear path towards a definite ending, but rather it progresses along in a way that seems much more 'lifelike' that many YA novels I've read. In a way, this almost reads like a diary, full of summer nostalgia and boyhood lustiness. It's incredibly atmospheric!
And yes, it hurts. There are heavy topics dealt with in this book, but Silvera handles them deftly and with an invested emotion that reads superbly. I teared up reading this, especially near the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent mature YA read, or with an interest in diverse literature (this is included in my list of reads for #DiversityBingo2017). In addition, I would also recommend Silvera's other novel, "History Is All You Left Me", which I read directly after this one- I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future!!
NOTE: There are some mature themes and instances in this book, such as suicide, teenage sex, and language. I would recommend for readers 16 .

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deborahee | 54 other reviews | Feb 23, 2024 |
Actual rating: 4.25
(No book summary, just my personal thoughts. Spoilers marked in second half of review.)

To be perfectly honest, I think my rating is a bit biased because I read this DIRECTLY after finishing Silvera's other novel, "More Happy Than Not", and I think I was in the mindset of 'which is better?'. And that is a very difficult question because both books are two very different stories. Although they have similar threads and characteristics, the focuses of each are in separate spots.

HIAYLM is a story about grief, losing people close to you, relationships, and healing. It isn't a cheery story, but it's not all doom and gloom, either. Rather, Silvera's newest book has an emphasis on how grief can change people, and their relationships, in unforeseen ways (at least, that's what I got out of it). There is also a heavy theme of OCD and mental health, something that I have seen in multiple YA novels, but I think Silvera did a fairly solid job of incorporating it into his work in a nonproblematic way. (more on this in the spoiler section)
The characters themselves are multilayered and very interesting, and I was intrigued to see how their seemingly conflicting personalities and agendas were actually more similar than originally perceived. The emotions in this book were complicated, and sometimes felt a tad angsty, but obviously some angst is expected in a book where the characters are grieving.
I went to a book event where Silvera talked about the writing of this book, and he said that originally he has written the book in a very linear structure. There was none of the "History" flashback chapters, but he added them in later to balance the story. I think this was a marvelous choice, and it thoroughly aided in my understanding of the characters!
Also, as an aside, I loved that family was an significant presence in HIAYLM. I find some YA novels shove the family aspect to the side, and it's never realistic. Kudos, Silvera!

I plan on rereading this again! It was compelling and full, and a very memorable story. I would recommend to anyone who liked Silvera's other book.

SPOILERS BELOW!

*Okay, in regards to Griff's OCD, the one thing that irked me a little was that near the end of the book, Wade begins helping Griff try to overcome his OCD. He does things like walk on Griff's left side, and he doesn't replay songs an even number of times. Griff starts to get better, and I thought it seemed just a bit forced. I mean, just FORCING someone to not be able to deal with their compulsions isn't a fix all. It just felt a little sudden to me? This isn't a HUGE thing, but it stood out to me.
*I just always find it uncomfortable when two characters who have been in a relationship with a mutual person end up getting it on together. I totally see how Griff and Jackson were led to that, but it was a little cringy for me. This didn't affect my rating, I just personally find it awkward!
*Wade knowing things about Griff (like the keychain, wanting to make a photo collage of the two of them, etc) made me so sappy and tearful :')
*Okay, this is random, but I would LOVE to see a novel set maybe 10 years later when Denise (Theo's little sister) is more grown up. I don't know why this struck me, but I feel like that would be an interesting story all on it's own!
*Honestly, the part where Jackson and Griff are in California dragged a bit for me. It just seems a little stilted in comparison to the beginning and end of the book. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it seemed like enough didn't happen there.


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Flagged
deborahee | 43 other reviews | Feb 23, 2024 |
I really love this book. Emotionally invest in it, but that ending, although not sad, it still broke my heart.
 
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jessiewinterspring | 82 other reviews | Jan 30, 2024 |
Sorry but I can't feel happy knowing they've hurt people. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD to this book but I feel so bad for their other partners
 
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jessiewinterspring | 10 other reviews | Jan 30, 2024 |

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Statistics

Works
33
Also by
3
Members
11,958
Popularity
#1,961
Rating
3.9
Reviews
349
ISBNs
219
Languages
18
Favorited
4

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