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pheenyreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was a hard one for me to face. Since I've lost someone close to me reading about grief brings up a lot of hurt, but this book might've helped me in a big way in regards to my grieving process. It's taught me not to cling on the hope that things to go back to how they were before because they wont, that person isn't coming back. However, that doesn't mean I can't live my life and be happy while making new memories and having fun because being angry at everyone and the world may seem okay at first, but it drags you down over time and the last thing any of us need after loosing someone dear to us is to be dragged down. So I think this book is so important in the fact that it shows that it's okay to move on and that to move on doesn't mean to forget but instead it means to not let your life sit on pause forever.
Also, one thing I would like to say about this book is that it has one of the most beautifully written prologues I have ever read. The way we get a glance into some of the core moments in Sam and Julie's relationship feels as if I were watching them play by on a film strip and the way the memories fade into one another so seamlessly just makes the whole thing satisfying to read. By the end of the prologue I truly felt as if I understood there connection so much.
Overall, I would say this book is a must read but just make sure you have several boxes of tissues on standby.
Also, one thing I would like to say about this book is that it has one of the most beautifully written prologues I have ever read. The way we get a glance into some of the core moments in Sam and Julie's relationship feels as if I were watching them play by on a film strip and the way the memories fade into one another so seamlessly just makes the whole thing satisfying to read. By the end of the prologue I truly felt as if I understood there connection so much.
Overall, I would say this book is a must read but just make sure you have several boxes of tissues on standby.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Bullying
alicew4k's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident and Grief
booksandbabble's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
caroemily's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
lailajm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Really beautiful writing and story- sad in such a beautiful way that it’s enjoyable to feel it. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for something sweet, emotions and easy/quick to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
sarah_royal04's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Car accident
luluellis33's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Car accident, and Grief
shethatreadstok's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Letting go isn’t about forgetting. It’s balancing moving forward with life, and looking back from time to time, remembering the people in it.
I heard it was a highly recommended romance and read blindly. I'm not usually a crier but, my goodness, I didn't last past chapter 2. It's a solid four star read. But I'd like to keep this review spoiler-free as possible. So, vaguely, I'll admit that the ending left me with more questions than I would like. It's a beautiful novel of second chances, honoring the memory of a loved one, and moving forward.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Car accident
lorepanda's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Car accident
Moderate: Racism and Bullying
Minor: Vomit
valpacheco's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I decided to read “You’ve Reached Sam” as it was available online on my Libby app and I had previously heard online reviews it was a good romance. Generally, I think that the romance aspect of the book was done well. There were so many great romantic gestures from Sam that were definitely novel-worthy; my favorite was of course him giving his number to Julie in the origami cherry blossom. Besides that the concept of Julie and Sam having an opportunity to have a fleshed out goodbye process was interesting and a unique take on grief. I found that their last phone call was especially beautiful and touching, and a good way to end the book. My favorite subplot had to be Oliver admitting his feelings for Sam had been more than platonic and it generally being a non-chalant confession where we later get a nice development of a budding romance with another character, Jay. I thought that it was really well handled and super cute.
Onto what I thought could have worked better was the general pacing of the book and my investment in Julie as a main character. Because Julie is grieving for about the entirety of the book, I find it hard to get to know her and care about her grief as an individual person. I feel like I learned about who she is with Sam, but not who she is by herself and exactly why I want her to move on. I wish we had learned more about her life before Sam, particularly her family life which is glossed over quite a bit. Secondly, the book’s pacing seemed off as emotions could escalate and de-escalate on a certain issue quickly. For example, Julie instantly regretting what she said to Mika but then not taking action until MUCH later in the book. I felt those kinds of things tended to drag on. Lastly, I also found the antagonists of the book, Sam’s former friends, to be a bit one-dimensional to the point where I rolled my eyes.
I think I also read this is a debut book, so I definitely think this author has potential and I would be willing to pick up another book by them.
Onto what I thought could have worked better was the general pacing of the book and my investment in Julie as a main character. Because Julie is grieving for about the entirety of the book, I find it hard to get to know her and care about her grief as an individual person. I feel like I learned about who she is with Sam, but not who she is by herself and exactly why I want her to move on. I wish we had learned more about her life before Sam, particularly her family life which is glossed over quite a bit. Secondly, the book’s pacing seemed off as emotions could escalate and de-escalate on a certain issue quickly. For example, Julie instantly regretting what she said to Mika but then not taking action until MUCH later in the book. I felt those kinds of things tended to drag on. Lastly, I also found the antagonists of the book, Sam’s former friends, to be a bit one-dimensional to the point where I rolled my eyes.
I think I also read this is a debut book, so I definitely think this author has potential and I would be willing to pick up another book by them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Car accident