HappyHead

I was given a free copy of the Audiobook by Bolinda Audio through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

At various points in this book I audible screamed “I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.” back at [Narrator]. So suffice to say, I LOVED HappyHead.

Off the bat I need to heap all of the praise humanly possible onto narrator Huw Parmenter. I am an avid listener of audiobooks and the way that Huw brings this book to life is genuinely unparalleled. His accents, his characterisations - his airlock doors sound effects… 10/10. He manages to jump from creepy clinical overall to endearing queer intimacy to obnoxious teenage girl all within the same breath. Exemplary.

I wasn’t quite aware of the hype around the book before receiving it and just saw it was gay and a bit twisted. But the hype I’ve come to understand is most definitely deserved.

Despite being given the audiobook for free and listening solely to the audiobook, I still had to buy a Kindle Copy so I could go through and highlight key parts to go back to.

The entire book can be summed up as “if Room 101 was a formative summer school for Teenagers” but I can also try to break the trauma down into three definitive (spoiler free?) sections to discuss.

Acid Green (The Introduction)
Sebastian’s introduction along with our introduction to the titular HappyHead and the other members of the cohort felt really strong. I instantly warmed to Seb as the Narrator and his use of nicknames to quickly categorise the people around him even before learning their names made the whole thing a joy. The first act feels tense in a very clean, septic way.

My original notes from the first 3 chapters read “Conversion Therapy meets Saw? Soppy Christian Conservative Boomer energy?”

Serenity (The Midway Point)
This is where I started to scream a lot. I thought the trials and tribulations of Act 1 were intense, but the middle of the book made me feel emotions that could only be expressed in such a way that only local dogs and cats knew how I was really feeling.

Getting Fobbed Off (The Finale?)
After Serenity, I was focused solely on the plan of the duo and could not even bare the idea of it not working. The relationships that are built between Seb and his female companion and Seb and his male companion were so awkward and beautiful respectively that I could not bear the plan not succeeding.

Without spoiling anything, what I will say is I very much look forward with anticipation to what Josh Silver publishes next, he is a complete master of suspense and painter of real people. I mean the highest compliments when I say I was reminded of the mastery of Russell T. Davies in the way Silver brings his characters alive, I know this was of course in no part helped along by Huw Parmenter’s narration.

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🎧Audio Book Review🎧

HappyHead
Josh Silver

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I cannot believe that this is a debut novel! 😱
This is so well thought out, presented and developed, it honestly reads so perfectly!

I was initially drawn to this by the front cover - so bright and bold that it really stood out to me.
Even though it was published in March (and apparently everywhere on Booksta), I hadn't heard of it yet.
My daughter enlightened me and said it has rave reviews, grab it quick!....and so I did and I did not regret one second of this!

Now, I've mentioned to you before, that my youngest son has mental health issues and given the whole theme of this book, I found it intriguing, enthralling and petrifying in equal measure!

Set in an era where mental health and wellness is talked about so much more openly and with a huge rise in cases of young people struggling, this book comes at the perfect time for us to really think about what we're doing to help and what our young people actually need.

Seb is offered a place at a radical new retreat designed to help solve the rising numbers of "unhappy" youths.
He sees this as a great opportunity to change how he is perceived and most importantly, make his parents proud of him.
When he arrives, he works hard to fit in more and make a good impression, but as the tasks and assesments grow harder and more extreme, he starts to wonder what he's let himself in for.

Set in what is essentially an inpatient facility, I actually found this really difficult at times to read. It really was extreme enough to be fictional, but oh my, the similarities with how things are today, were way too close for my liking!
I spent quite a while thinking, wow! We're literally not that far away from something like this - especially in the wrong hands!

On a happier note, I was completely fascinated with Seb's journey.
His need to make his parents proud and fit in was overwhelming - so much so he presented a version of himself that was not altogether true.
I loved his inner monologues and overthinking when presented with questions, tasks, trials and even when chatting with peers. Some heart-breaking and others plain hilarious!

I adored the relationship that Seb built with Finn. At first, giving him the support to come out of himself and fit in, but later, being supported by Finn to stand back and see things for what they really were.

The tasks were brilliant and fitted into the overall plot perfectly, drawing us deeper into this crazy world.

The writing was utterly gripping from the first page and I literally flew through this! I couldn't put it down and read on far too late into the night.
I was totally shocked by the ending, having not realised that this was a book 1 and I literally sat with my mouth ajar for a good 5 minutes after, just distraught that I still had so many questions and such a massive cliffhanger!

An absolute winner for me which will be on my mind for quite some time! And I definitely need to get my hands on book 2 asap to satisfy my addled brain....


**I also listened to this on audio and it was absolutely brilliant!

The narrator did an amazing job.

The way he managed to get Seb's persona across as well as convey the mental anguish within the monologues was just perfect.

I also loved the many different voices and personalities that he presented so well - the creepiness of the assessors, the bossiness of Eleanor and a top Manc accent for Finn😁

Would definitely recommend this audio version.



PS - I again loved having the author letter at the end - knowing Josh's early background was fascinating and then his experience in mental health services just solidified my fear! 🤔🤣



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

This was a totally different read for me, I don't really know how to review this but can tell you that I really, really enjoyed it!

I listened to the audio and the narrator was fabulous!

Seb is at the compulsory retreat, Happyhead, a place for unhappy teens. Here he gets 'therapy' and meets a group of people....one who he is fascinated with more than the others!

I was hooked from the 1st chapter and I knew something wasn't quite right!

I'm going to be absolutely vague about the plot because you need to experience it!

Here are some things I loved:

~ The writing and pacing were perfect.
~ Loved the names Seb had for the councillors!!
~ Fin - ice eyes!
~ Sebs take on obedience was eye opening!
~ Fin, just him!

You are totally kidding me with that ending! Whaaaaaaat! I need more! Immediately!

Wow - This really took me by surprise and blew me away! The creepy atmosphere was present right form the outset and really pulled me in. One of the quotes on the cover of the book says that it's like Hunger Games, but better and I thought - 'Yeah, right'. Hunger Games is one of my favourite series and this is certainly along the same lines, but in a contemporary setting. I loved the main characters and they felt very relatable. My favourite books are genre fiction with queer main characters and this really delivers!

I'm finding it difficult to explain why this was so good without spoiling the entire plot and I do think that it's worth going into this without knowing much about it. But all I know is that I absolutely can not wait until the next book comes out. I need to know what happens!

I was given access to the audiobook by the publisher via Netgalley. I really enjoyed the narrator and his accents (especially his Manchester accent) were really good! There were several points though that I could hear him swallowing and I found it a bit....erm...unpleasant. But other than that minor thing, it was an excellent audiobook!