A review by eliseblackburn
Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich

4.0

For fans of the musical, never fear: This book sticks true to its source material. However, it is not nearly as beautiful. Written by the the people who created the show, this novel offers a more in-depth examination of the characters and story explored in the musical. Since the writers had to find a balance between following canon and making the story feel fresh, the biggest mistake a reader who is well-versed in the score could make is having too many preconceptions about the plot and characters. The story stays the same, but is told at a new depth, which compared to the musical can make the book's pacing seem slow. On the other hand, the novel provided a more complete and satisfying ending than the musical, since it tied up every loose end and not just the main one.
The most important conversation in the book is about being true to oneself, even if it means facing the harsh truth about one's own identity. Evan, the protagonist, struggles with an anxiety disorder and feels that he is beyond help. These feelings of shame perhaps cause him to go out of his way to provide comfort for others, even when it means lying to do so. But as the truth catches up to Evan, he has to face his own reality that he is losing the fight against his mental illness. Truly poignant, the themes of this book hit home and provide a platform for everyone who has ever felt alone to recognize just how universal those emotions are.