Happyhead - by Josh Silver (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A bold new dystopian thriller about an experimental mental health retreat center for young adults where everything is not what it seems--and one boy who will risk everything to escape.

Seb has been selected for a new experimental mental health center called HappyHead, designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness. There he and fellow participants will complete in a series of assessments meant to test them, so they can better face the challenges of the real world. Seb is determined to win so he can change how people see him and make his parents proud.

But then Seb meets a mysterious participant named Finn who has drawn unwanted attention to himself by resisting the program's rules. The leaders want everyone to believe Finn is mentally unstable but as Finn exposes cracks in the system around them, Seb is left questioning the true nature of the challenges--and wondering if Finn is actually the only one he can really trust.

Something sinister is at play...and as the assessments take a dark turn, it becomes impossible to ignore the voice in his head telling him that even if he wins, there might be no way out.

Review Quotes

"Equal parts thriller, dystopian, and love story, this is a stunning debut that will keep readers hooked until the last page." --New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces Kathleen Glasgow

★ "Thrilling.... an interrogation of formulaic approaches to mental health and the search for happiness." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Surprisingly dark and twisty a solid, character-driven dystopian thriller." --Kirkus Reviews

"A story that in pacing, plot, and characterization checks every box in the genre guidebook....a precious addition destined to be the right reader's new favorite book queer teens deserve mundane genre representation too." --Booklist

"This novel excels in delivering a fast-paced and unique dystopian thriller with a cliffhanger ending." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Josh Silver grew up on a farm in the Lake District, before moving to Manchester with his family, where he spent his teenage years loving the city. He trained as an actor at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and went onto perform in the West End and on Broadway. After deciding to change careers, Josh now works with teenagers as a mental health nurse. Josh lives in Manchester with his husband and their dog, Dodger.