Adelaide Faith’s debut novel Happiness Forever, set for release on May 13 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, began with a deeply personal experience—an obsession with her own therapist. Years later, that fixation evolved into a darkly funny and moving work of fiction centered on a character named Sylvie, who becomes similarly consumed with her therapist. The book first surfaced in an online writing workshop where Faith, calling in late at night from London, shared early excerpts that left a lasting impression.
Though inspired by real life, Happiness Forever is undeniably a novel, shaped by years of artistic exploration. In a recent interview, Faith opened up about her unlikely path to becoming a writer, the emotional roots of her storytelling, and how a therapist’s encouragement helped change the course of her life.
Writing as Recovery
Faith recalls the surprising origins of her writing journey. After leaving a review of her therapist’s services—one that turned into multiple stylized drafts—she received unexpected advice.
“She read all the versions I wrote and said, ‘You should really take your writing seriously,’” Faith said. “I hadn’t written in so long, and the process was painful—but also thrilling.”
Initially hesitant to join a writing class in her late forties, Faith found inspiration in her therapist’s own decision to train later in life. “She told me she became a therapist when she was older too. That made it feel possible.”
From Zines to a Debut Novel
Before writing fiction, Faith worked as a veterinary technician and struggled to reconcile her creative ambitions with a lack of confidence.
“In school, I wanted to be a vet,” she said. “But then at seventeen, I met this amazing boy who introduced me to writers like William Burroughs and Cormac McCarthy. I thought, ‘I want to be a writer.’”
Still, years passed before she found her footing. She made zines while working office jobs and later during CBT therapy, where writing assignments became a form of healing. One early zine—about two girls obsessed with the Pierrot clown—foreshadowed the surreal tone of Happiness Forever.
“I’ve always felt slightly depressed unless I’m making something,” she said.
A Class That Changed Everything
A turning point came when Faith enrolled in a writing class led by author Chelsea Hodson, who also conducted this interview. The course helped her push through the difficult middle stages of her novel.
“You told me to look at the books on my shelves and remember that those authors weren’t necessarily the most talented—they just didn’t stop,” Faith recalled.
Faith described grappling with insecurity during the writing process. “I remember telling a friend, ‘It feels like a baby wrote this.’ But maybe that’s how writing always feels to the writer.”
The Long Road to Publication
From inception to publication, Happiness Forever took seven years to complete. During that time, the novel went through countless revisions.
“I had so many different versions,” she said. “At one point it was just an eight-page essay called ‘The Pierrot Cure.’”
Faith eventually used a ten-step revision technique learned in Hodson’s workshop, editing one short chapter per day. After the book sold, both her editor, Mitzi Angel at FSG, and author Sheila Heti offered feedback on the ending, prompting a final rewrite.
“I took the manuscript to the beach,” she said. “I tried not to overthink it. I went into a kind of trance and just wrote.”
Advice for Emerging Writers
Having completed her first novel, Faith now finds herself eager to help others. “When my book sold, I had this sudden urge to help my friends write—like when I gave birth and briefly wanted to train as a midwife.”
Her advice? Write consistently, even in small amounts. She once gave a friend index cards and told him to write one per day. “He later told me he wrote five pages and threw them away. I said, ‘Don’t. Keep something. Rearrange it if you have to.’”
She also encourages new writers to read widely. For aspiring authors, she recommends King of Joy by Richard Chiem, Someone Who Isn’t Me by Geoff Rickly, Fuccboi by Sean Thor Conroe, and How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti—books that were pivotal to her own development.
Letting Go of the Work
Now that the book is complete and heading into the world, Faith reflects on the strange process of releasing her creation to readers.
“Now I almost feel affection for it,” she said. “As if I didn’t write it.”
