Book Review: Dead Happy by Josh Silver

The gripping second instalment of the HappyHead duology, Dead Happy by Josh Silver, is a must-read for fans of thrillers and dystopias, looking for a fresh new voice.

As someone studying Creative Writing, particularly writing for teenagers and young adults, I've read a lot of YA literature. I've covered a lot of genres within YA literature from contemporary romance to fantasy.

But one of the best young adult book series that I have read is the HappyHead duology by British author, Josh Silver.

I first read HappyHead last year, and was so impressed by Silver's debut that I rated it five stars and wrote a blog review about it. I was eager to read Dead Happy but didn't have time to fit it in by the end of 2024, so now I'm back to studying YA literature, I thought it was the perfect time.

And Dead Happy was even better than the first book, so let's get into my thoughts on the second HappyHead book.

Review of Dead Happy by Josh Silver

Synopsis of Dead Happy from GoodReads:

"Friends. Welcome to Elmhallow.

Seb, along with a select group of participants, finds himself washed up on an isolated island called Elmhallow, under the guardianship of a mysterious couple. As the experiment steps up another level, Seb is forced to team up with Eleanor once more.

But where is Finn? And what does HappyHead have in store for them next?"

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Thriller

Star Rating: 5 Stars

Dead Happy picks up straight after HappyHead, keeping the momentum going from the first book, which I was really pleased about because of the cliffhanger at the end of HappyHead...wow!

When reading Dead Happy what really stood out to me was the protagonist, Seb. I knew I liked his character and his voice from book one, but it grew so much stronger in book two.

The novel is written in first-person so there is a level of intimacy between the reader and Seb, but his voice was so authentic and realistic. As a character, Seb is acerbic, sarcastic, funny and honest. The commentary he gives and the insight into his thoughts that we get really helped make the book.

The whole cast of characters is really distinct. Not only Seb, but Finn, Eleanor, Ares, Artemis, and even Professor Manning, who in Dead Happy doesn't come into it until a third of the way through the book I'd say. But their individuality and uniqueness make them identifiable and they are all believable as real teenagers.

Whilst Dead Happy is a continuation of HappyHead, I would say it has a darker, more mature feel to it because it does explore more ominous themes and the challenges that the 'Ten' have to complete are more demanding and inhumane, in some ways.

That being said, this duology is a must-read for any teen, or adult, who is a fan of dystopian books and thrillers.

And this is a thriller. It is fast-paced and compelling, the tension builds and builds as the novel progresses and despite there being some calmer scenes throughout the narrative arc, the majority of this book evokes feelings of suspense and anxiety, but also excitement and fascination.

The entire premise of the book, and HappyHead, is very intriguing from a psychology perspective and it is fascinating how easy it can be to believe something someone tells you and to manipulate what one thinks.

I can say, with confidence, that Dead Happy will be one of my top reads this year because I was obsessed with it. I didn't know what was going to happen — that plot twist at the end...OMG! — and Silver builds the anticipation until it boils over and even then, you're still hooked.

The ending of Dead Happy does round up Seb's story and it is a good conclusion to the duology.

For me, HappyHead and Dead Happy by Josh Silver echo the classic dystopian novels, such as The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Lord of the Flies. If I worked in education, I would definitely say this book should be on the GCSE/A Level curriculum.

What's next?

The HappyHead duology was Silver's first published piece of fiction, but he has a new book coming out later this year called TraumaLand, which you can view on Amazon here.

Otherwise, if you've been persuaded to read HappyHead and Dead Happy by my review, you can get it here on Amazon. If you do decide to give the duology a go, let me know in the comments what you think.

Until next time...