Get Happy | Caught Read Handed

WWW Wednesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three questions: (As always, all titles are linked to their corresponding Goodreads pages)

What are you currently reading?

I just started Marie Lu’s The Young Elites last night. I’m only a few chapters in but I am already loving it. Her writing is amazing, and already the world-building is incredible. I hope to have time to read a good chunk of it at work today (oh the perks of working at a library!). I’m so glad it won my little what-to-read-next poll! 🙂

What did you recently finish reading?

I recently finished (and reviewed) Mary Amato’s Get Happy, which I was quite impressed with – check out my review for more on that. I also read (and reviewed on WatchPlayRead) the first issue of the new Edward Scissorhands comic, which I also quite liked. I read the latest issue of The Walking Dead (always good), Batman and Robin (freaking awesome), and a few others. I’ve had a good few days of reading.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I think I’ll probably read Scott Westerfeld’s Afterworlds. It was the other book in my what-to-read-next poll and it lost, but after I finish The Young Elites, I’ll probably check that one out. I’m looking forward to that one as well. I’ve heard some mixed things about it, but I haven’t ever really had a problem with Scott Westerfeld, so I’m sure I’ll like it.

What about you? Link me up to your WWW Wednesday post or tell me your answers in the comments!

A sweet, fun, emotional read from Mary Amato (author of Guitar Notes), Get Happy made me…well, happy.

Author: Mary Amato

Genre: Contemporary, YA

Publisher: Egmont USA

Publication Date: October 28, 2014

256 pages, hardcover

NOTE: I was provided with an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Egmont USA for letting me read this.

Get Happy is about high-school girl Minerva just wants to buy a ukulele and play songs while hanging out with her friends. In the novel, she learns that her father didn’t abandon her like her mother told her, and so she begins to investigate him. As Goodreads says, she “builds a substitute family with her friends in place of the broken family she grew up with.”

I’m not going to lie, I’m also a little iffy with books I get approved for on Netgalley. They can be hit or miss with me. It was also said to be for fans of Sarah Dessen (hit) and Gayle Forman (miss), so I was worried, but I shouldn’t have been. This one was a HIT. I’m really impressed with Amato’s writing and with this book.

Get Happy is a coming of age story for Minerva; we see her grow up and into herself as she navigates her first job, finding out her father is not who she thought he was, and fights with her mother. Realistic fiction has a tendency to feel decidedly not real, but not this book. Minerva’s feelings and actions all felt real and genuine, and because of this, I was really able to connect with Minerva and feel for her when it all went to hell. There was one part where something horrible happens (which I will not spoil) that I actually felt like I’d been punched in the gut. That’s a great author that can make me have such a reaction.

Minerva wasn’t the only great character either. Her best friend Fin is so full of life and a ton of fun. New friend Hayes is developed well too. Even the girl we don’t like is fully developed, so we actually do feel annoyed when she shows up. No characters were wasted or useless. I also liked that the parents in the book weren’t just in the background; they care about and protect their children. Even if they don’t always do the right thing, they’re still there.

The bottom line: Get Happy feels like a fun, light, easy read but it has some pretty deep feelings to get through. I really enjoyed it and am happy that I was able to read it. Recommended for anyone who likes good contemporary, realistic fiction.

Rating: 7.5/10