Reviews - Quando Haru estava aqui

1.06k reviews for:

Quando Haru estava aqui

Dustin Thao

3.75 AVERAGE

kylies_books's review against another edition

4.0

emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

_wanderinginpages's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kiki_kio's review against another edition

4.75

dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

erinadesu's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

booknutin's review against another edition

3.0

lighthearted sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

“Sometimes you have to stop and look at the people you have around you. I’m happy for this new beginning.”

Reading this through the lens of Jasmine, as the eldest daughter in an Asian household. I can’t help but have the slight maternal, protective instinct towards things that Eric does. He makes me want to go inside the book and shield him from things, potential heartbreak and rejection.

On another note, I feel like if there’s any takeaway I have from this book, it’s: to let people in. I lost a special being in life some 2 yrs ago, and it left me more damaged than I really thought I am. I always just isolate myself when I’m feeling down, even if at the back of my head, I know people would want to be with me even in my lowest. It’s a toxic trait I’ve yet to unlearn, but reading this at a third-person perspective really makes me think. Maybe all I really need to do is open the door.

Content Warnings

starsandgutters's review against another edition

2.75

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I wanted to like this more. At the start it was really giving Life is Strange vibes, and I was more engaged, but I quickly guessed what the twist was going to be. I think more subtle hints surrounding Haru could have played in better to the reveal. The flow of the prose was easy to read and the dialogue mostly felt natural. A lot of the heavier issues with Christian & Co felt like they were skimmed over, when I think there could have been more depth to the story there. Also his relationship with Daniel could have been more developed, as Daniel was such a core point of Eric’s story and motivations, yet I felt like I didn’t actually have a great vision of their friendship beyond a few snapshots.

Honestly the most powerful part of the book to me was right at the end. Everything with Jasmine was so much more poignant than any of the romantic relationships, and their sibling bond had much stronger development. I suppose this may have been purposeful to give more weight to the plot as it unfolded, and to make Eric’s preoccupation with his romantic connections feel smaller in hindsight, but it just made the story feel unbalanced. The ending was really beautiful, and despite feeling little attachment to Eric throughout most of the novel, I did get emotional with him then.

Big shoutout to Kevin. He was a real one. Wish we knew more than like two things about him.

fernandezn's review against another edition

5.0

emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

He does it again. Literally was not expecting the end. I cried and my heart cannot it’s so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I can’t wait for another book from him!