Reviews

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

lilo000's review

emotional sad

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

It's tricky to rate this one. On the one hand, I didn't prefer the writing. I think it felt more childish than I had anticipated and the main character was frustrating in her illogical choices, but I guess grief isn't always logical. I think for the themes and the dedication to the (albeit hole-filled) premise, I still want to give it credit. Of course was sad where it needed to be sad. Mixed feelings overall because I think the magical realism felt vague of course because it isn't really the main point. Unsure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Car accident and Death

linneahe's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

the_starless_sea's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• 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

3.75

cci_quezada's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

2024: 2.5/5

I think I had too many expectations for this. At first, I was interested in the book, I really wanted to like this and cry for it 😂. But, as I keep reading I found it so underwhelming and repetitive, and maybe it was the point of the book since the topic is about losing someone you love but... idk, I felt we were going in circles and I'm not talking only about the plot or the characters but also the writing style. Dustin Thao kept repeting the same sentences and situations throughout the whole book, even if it wasn't a long book it got bore. 

gruyere3's review

5.0

Saddest book I've ever read. A beautiful but tragic romance. 6 stars

222cieloreads's review

4.0

3.5 ⭐️

sabrinau's review

emotional medium-paced

3.75

alysreadsss's review

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 "Time wasn't in our favor. This isn't goodbye, this is simply see you later."

Wow. This book was just.. wow. First of all, this book was an emotional roller coaster, but I guess that was the whole point. Sam and Julie deserved forever. Sam deserved better. He had a whole life ahead of him. The plans he had with Julie.. just ow. And specifically these quotes:
 
"I miss you infinity.", "Don't worry. We have all the time in the world for that.", "Plans don't always work out how we expect them to."
 
And then the whole voicemail in chapter 18.
 
Sam's voice comes through the phone. "Hey-so, I'm not sure if I should do this ... Or if it will even work. I probably should have said this to you over the phone, but we ran out of time. Or maybe, the truth is, I was scared you would think of me differently ... That is, if you knew why I picked up the phone that first time-" He pauses. "Before we hung up, you said something that made me feel a bit guilty. You said I picked up your call that night because you needed me. I guess part of that is true. But that isn’t the reason I answered."A long pause. "The truth is … I picked up because—because I needed you. I needed to hear your voice again, Julie. Because I wanted to make sure you didn’t forget me. You see, I took you to all those places—like the fields, to see the stars that night—so that you’d always remember. So that whenever you looked up at the sky at night, you’d think of me. Because I didn’t want to let you go yet. I never wanted to say goodbye, Jules. And I never wanted you to, either.That’s why I stayed as long as I could. So don’t blame yourself for anything. It was me that was keeping you from your life. Maybe it was a bit selfish of me. But I was just so scared you’d forget. I realize now I made it a lot harder for you to move on. And I hope you forgive me for that." Sam pauses again. "Remember back in the fields, when I asked what you wanted … if you could have anything? Well—I want those things, too, Jules. I want to be there with you. I want to graduate with you guys. I want to move out of Ellensburg, and live with you, and grow old together. But I can’t."Another pause. "But you still can. You can still have all those things, Julie. Because you deserve them. And you deserve to fall in love a dozen times, because you are kind and beautiful, and who wouldn’t fall in love with you? You’re one of the best things to ever happen to me. And when I think about my life, I think of you in it. You are my entire world, Julie. And one day, maybe I’ll only be a small piece of yours. I hope you keep that piece." Static comes through the line."I love you more than you can ever know, Julie. I’ll never forget the time we had together. So please don’t forget me, okay? Try to think of me from time to time. Even if it’s only for a moment. It would mean so much. You have no idea." A long pause, followed by static. "I should go now. Thank you … for not picking up the phone this time. Good-bye, Julie." "I listen to his voice mail until I have it memorized, and I don’t need to play it anymore."
 
Just.. ouch. I rate the book 5/5 stars, I highly recommend it, but I won't be reading it again because I physically can't.
 

emmaferguson95's review

emotional reflective sad 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? N/A

4.25

svillanu's review

3.0

Everyone hyped this up so much and I was disappointed. The audiobook narrator made her sound so whiny.