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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
This is honestly one of the best book that I've read this year. Kudos to Dustin Thao for writing such a beautiful story that this book will always have a place in my heart.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I spent about 95% of this book enthralled but thinking 'wow who's crying over this? they're so weak!" and then I spent the last 5% of the book almost unable to see the words as I sobbed like a baby. I knew going into this that it was billed as a book that would be as sad as "They Both Die at the End" and while that book was devastating, "When Haru Was Here" hit me right at home with the sorrow of losing someone you love.
The writing was beautiful, as I have come to expect from Dustin Thao, and the characters of Eric and Haru were well thought out. The complexities of grief and how one deals with it were explored deeply, thoughtfully, and with care, showing that we can never really know what grief will do to us.
If you're in need of a cry, grab your tissues and pick up a copy of this book!
The writing was beautiful, as I have come to expect from Dustin Thao, and the characters of Eric and Haru were well thought out. The complexities of grief and how one deals with it were explored deeply, thoughtfully, and with care, showing that we can never really know what grief will do to us.
If you're in need of a cry, grab your tissues and pick up a copy of this book!
i am in the wrong place for something so sad
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The way Japan and Haru was described felt….icky. Like an idealized pedestal created by a non East Asian about how ~cool~ Japan is. I couldn’t focus each time there was a line similar to “Oh gomenasai? I think that means ‘sorry’ in Japanese.” Would love to give it another try, but I’m much too grown (and not enough of a weeb) to humor it.
emotional
sad
fast-paced