Reviewed by: Chris J Kenworthy, for Armadillo magazine.
In the LGBTQ novel ‘HappyHead,’ Seb has been hand-picked for a project designed to tackle unhappiness amongst teenagers. As a successful candidate, he must complete a set of tasks which become increasingly unsettling throughout the programme. Throughout the story, Seb therefore wonders whether the project leaders and their seemingly good intentions are actually a façade for more sinister plans.
Whilst at HappyHead, Seb finds himself drawn to Finn, another successful candidate. However, he soon starts to feel at odds with himself, and questions both his place on the project, and also how he feels about Finn. Seb wants to prove himself and make his family proud, yet he is also attracted to Finn – a person who continuously rebels against the system.
As the novel is written in the first person the story feels immersive, as everything is told through Seb’s eyes. Thus, readers will empathise with his foreboding sense of trepidation as each task is more disturbing than the last. Also, private moments between Seb and Finn make for lovely reading.
For his debut novel ‘HappyHead,’ author Josh Silver was inspired by his work as a mental health nurse, and explores the topics of sexuality and mental health. He also draws attention to how the very notion of happiness is “prescribed to us” via, for example, social media. It is why the successful candidates in the novel are told in their confirmation letter that “access to devices and the internet will be prohibited until departure” – for complete immersion in the project.
But with ‘HappyHead,’ Silver also delves into the human psyche, and the therapeutic systems that can be used to treat patients. In a short Q&A section at the rear of the book, he posits: “could these systems manipulate us and get people to do pretty much anything with the promise of a reward? The reward of happiness?” With the fictional HappyHead project in the novel, Silver is therefore drawing inspiration from the questions raised by real life treatments.
Although some scenes will not be suitable for everyone, ‘HappyHead’ is an immersive, near-dystopian, Young Adult novel that is difficult to put down. While there is a cliffhanger ending, ‘HappyHead’ is also the first novel in a planned series, and is now set to be made into a feature film by Taron Egerton – so fans will not have long to find out what happens next!
Stowmarket Reporter 