Scan barcode
kbairbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I did not like the main character, I did not like the side characters, I didn’t like her relationship a whole bunch I really feel like Sam upheld the majority of it but even then it didn’t feel like there was chemistry. I thought Tristan was a little weird for coming on to her a little bit and man I will say I didn’t get emotional at the end so that must mean that I am connected to the story in someway but I did spend the majority of the book wishing it was over already. But I still didn’t actually cry I teared up and now I have an emotional headache but I didn’t actually cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Car accident, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Racism
missy20's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
beautifully tragic.. and the language that Dustin Thao is really effective and beautiful.. the themes of loss and love and the tragedy that comes with are so well fleshed out and seeing the perspective of the family and his close friends made the book so much more effective and enjoyable to read.. definitely recommend if you want a good cry..
Really the only reason i wouldn’t give this book a higher rating is because of the FMC being so damn annoying, I understand Julie is grieving the loss of sam and she’s written to be like that but it just got frustrating as she was just such an unlikable character.every other character, i thought, was really was written and fleshed out, but julie seemed very one dimensional and incredibly selfish(even before the accident in the flash backs) i feel like if the author had done more to flesh out Julie’s character and not make her a self pitying narcissist who adds very little to the plot and could easily be swapped out for a more likeable supporting character as her being a whiney child really didn’t make a difference to the plot, then i feel the book would’ve been a whole lot better.
All in all this book was heartbreakingly beautiful and tragic and im very glad i picked it up, the world building was top notch,the characters(other than julie whom i’ve made clear i dislike) were well written and thought out and the issues presented in the book were well thought out as well as well represented through the character. also a very simple and cute read Definitely would recommend as long as you can bear to listen to
julie whine for 200 pages
Really the only reason i wouldn’t give this book a higher rating is because of the FMC being so damn annoying, I understand Julie is grieving the loss of sam and she’s written to be like that but it just got frustrating as she was just such an unlikable character.every other character, i thought, was really was written and fleshed out, but julie seemed very one dimensional and incredibly selfish(even before the accident in the flash backs) i feel like if the author had done more to flesh out Julie’s character and not make her a self pitying narcissist who adds very little to the plot and could easily be swapped out for a more likeable supporting character as her being a whiney child really didn’t make a difference to the plot, then i feel the book would’ve been a whole lot better.
All in all this book was heartbreakingly beautiful and tragic and im very glad i picked it up, the world building was top notch,the characters(other than julie whom i’ve made clear i dislike) were well written and thought out and the issues presented in the book were well thought out as well as well represented through the character. also a very simple and cute read Definitely would recommend as long as you can bear to listen to
julie whine for 200 pages
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Car accident, Bullying, Child death, and Racism
haley49's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
definitely made me cry so pick it up if you are in the mood to do so. I cried nearly every chapter—not always small tears but also some snot-nosed crys and a few weeping sessions. This book was such a powerful book on grief, the importance of a life, and moving on without forgetting. I’m tearing up thinking about it. I especially appreciated the metaphor of the phone calls to show the power of grief to isolate you and keep you from maintaining the important relationships you still have in this life. It really hurt but in a make you feel something worth feeling way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Car accident, and Racism
Minor: Sexual harassment
addybug1125's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Grief, and Death
kenziewol's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Death, and Grief
mostlikelyinalibrary's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Child death, and Death
alyssaunabridged's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Car accident
booksbytheglass's review
emotional
reflective
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
3.25
I really wanted to like this one, especially after reading all of the rave reviews!
except this is a very small picture of grief. everyone grieves differently, and the way that this grief is portrayed is absolutely valid. however, I was not a fan of how it was written that julie HAD to go through everything that she went through in order to find herself and feel whole again.
and while I can never understand fully what it’s like to lose a partner, I’ve lost others before and grieved very differently than julie. I did appreciate the conversation about how her classmates were going through it differently - and how no one should be judging each other based on their stages of acceptance and denial.
the writing was absolutely beautiful (and for a YA novel what!!!), but it wasn’t my cup of tea. others obviously loved this one though, so I would definitely recommend giving it a shot!!
rating: 3.25 stars
except this is a very small picture of grief. everyone grieves differently, and the way that this grief is portrayed is absolutely valid. however, I was not a fan of how it was written that julie HAD to go through everything that she went through in order to find herself and feel whole again.
and while I can never understand fully what it’s like to lose a partner, I’ve lost others before and grieved very differently than julie. I did appreciate the conversation about how her classmates were going through it differently - and how no one should be judging each other based on their stages of acceptance and denial.
the writing was absolutely beautiful (and for a YA novel what!!!), but it wasn’t my cup of tea. others obviously loved this one though, so I would definitely recommend giving it a shot!!
rating: 3.25 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Child death
tddaffin's review
challenging
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Death, and Child death
Minor: Xenophobia and Racism
kindredbooks's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
You've Reached Sam is a beautifully written story about grief. Even a few days after finishing it, Sam and Julie's story has lingered with me.
You've Reached Sam is a YA contemporary romance that stands out from most of its genre as it starts at the end. No spoilers here but the story starts after Sam dies and Julie is grieving. So already from the very beginning, you know that the novel is not going to your typical YA contemporary romance. But it definitely still falls within the genre as you get to look back at their love story and how it also continues past what seems to be the end. The story was touching but surprisingly, I didn't really need the tissues by my side that I was warned to keep close to hand. There was a particular scene of the story that really got to me that involved Sam's younger brother. Throughout the story though, I was generally pulled in by the emotion, the grief, and the connection to the characters through knowing what it is like to grieve over loved ones myself.
The way in which Sam and Julie connect through the phone reminded me a little about the true story of the Phone of the Wind 風の電話 in Japan that a man put in his garden to be able to have one-way conversations with a loved one who passed away. Grief works in beautifully sorrowful ways and You've Reached Sam captures that essence perfectly.
You've Reached Sam is a YA contemporary romance that stands out from most of its genre as it starts at the end. No spoilers here but the story starts after Sam dies and Julie is grieving. So already from the very beginning, you know that the novel is not going to your typical YA contemporary romance. But it definitely still falls within the genre as you get to look back at their love story and how it also continues past what seems to be the end. The story was touching but surprisingly, I didn't really need the tissues by my side that I was warned to keep close to hand. There was a particular scene of the story that really got to me that involved Sam's younger brother. Throughout the story though, I was generally pulled in by the emotion, the grief, and the connection to the characters through knowing what it is like to grieve over loved ones myself.
The way in which Sam and Julie connect through the phone reminded me a little about the true story of the Phone of the Wind 風の電話 in Japan that a man put in his garden to be able to have one-way conversations with a loved one who passed away. Grief works in beautifully sorrowful ways and You've Reached Sam captures that essence perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief