The procedure the institute offers, which can make you forget *anything*, brings a speculative/sci-fi element to the novel, but this doesn’t feel wildly out of place it’s just as believable as everything else within the world of the story, which is more gritty and realistic than fantastical.

On the subject of memory alteration, the concept of the Leteo Institute was one of the most fascinating parts of the story. But that could be because he’s so determined to have that pain wiped from his memory completely – so he doesn’t have to think about it ever again. It’s present in everything he does, but he’s not melodramatic about it, even though he has every right to be.

Given the subject matter, you might expect this book to be one giant angst overload, but you’d be wrong there too – Aaron is not one to wallow in his pain.

If you’re under the impression that this book is more happy than not, you’re mistaken – this is a very sad book, but it’s sad in a poignant way, and I took so much from it. I cared about Aaron a lot – a mixed up boy who’s been through some truly horrible things – and I desperately needed to keep reading to find out what would happen to him. Aaron’s voice is so distinctive, so authentic I felt I was reading the thoughts of a real person. This novel isn’t action-packed, but there’s something so very readable about it I started it in the morning before I went to work, and stayed up long into the night to finish it that same day. I read two other books whilst I was slumpy, but while I could have happily set them aside to do real-life things, THIS book followed me EVERYWHERE I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it. More Happy Than Not is the book which finally snapped me out of the reading slump I’ve been in all month. 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. 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. Aaron’s crew notices, and they’re not exactly thrilled. When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he’s slowly remembering what that might feel like. In the months after his father’s suicide, it’s been tough for sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again but he’s still gunning for it.

More happy than not characters