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marove27's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
rads_thereader's review against another edition
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
A heart wrenching story about love and loss.
Dustin Thao’s debut novel You’ve Reached Sam is well written and so relatable because anyone who has lost a loved one knows how hard it can be to move on and find meaning in your life after them.
But, what if you got a second chance to say goodbye? What if you could hear their voice again, just one more time?
We’ve all thought about this and Thao brings that wishful thinking to life, navigating the complex emotions of being connected to a lost love. But, when the time comes to let go, it’s almost like reliving the pain of losing them all over again. Thao beautifully illustrates the feeling of time cut short and how that can leave one feeling disoriented, making us forget the people who are still there.
While certain elements felt repetitive and I would change a few things if I had the chance, the storyline kept me going. Although the end was quite predictable, it was interesting to see how Thao went about it and gave closure to both the protagonists.
Overall, it was a good read and I look forward to his other works.
A heart wrenching story about love and loss.
Dustin Thao’s debut novel You’ve Reached Sam is well written and so relatable because anyone who has lost a loved one knows how hard it can be to move on and find meaning in your life after them.
But, what if you got a second chance to say goodbye? What if you could hear their voice again, just one more time?
We’ve all thought about this and Thao brings that wishful thinking to life, navigating the complex emotions of being connected to a lost love. But, when the time comes to let go, it’s almost like reliving the pain of losing them all over again. Thao beautifully illustrates the feeling of time cut short and how that can leave one feeling disoriented, making us forget the people who are still there.
While certain elements felt repetitive and I would change a few things if I had the chance, the storyline kept me going. Although the end was quite predictable, it was interesting to see how Thao went about it and gave closure to both the protagonists.
Overall, it was a good read and I look forward to his other works.
tdsg06's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
makenzie_brown's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
milllie's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
07. Juni 2024
sim_4520's review against another edition
5.0
I can't bring myself to rate this book at all
As much as I hate to rate this book coz of the the millions of tears I've shed while reading it. I would love to rate it 5/5 for the storyline, character descriptions and scene descriptions that are so beautiful, more than that I would love to rate it infinity for the feelings this book contains and for the things it has taught me.
It's been after long I've felt this connected to a book. It's not just a love story about love between 2 students. It's about all of us who have faced this situation alteast once in our life or some will face it in future. I was already crying by the end of 1st chapter. This book is worth every tear shed.
Sam and Julie portrays the never ending love between them, the selfish love that is stronger than anything.
Sometimes we people leave us even without the last goodbyes. That's the worst part of leaving. Especially if it's someone you are close to. We all have to leave this earth and our loved ones but we all deserve last goodbyes. I've lost someone as well, someone who is close to me and I wish I could meet then last time and say my last goodbye to that person somehow. We all act well that we've moved on from that person but somewhere a little apart of us that person has taken with them forever. Although someone isn't anymore but they are still alive in our heart. This book is the best example to confront things. We can't run from places or things that remind us of the person we've lost instead we can use them to remember them again. To live with them once again even if it's just for a moment but it's precious. All the places Julie went and things she did reminds her of Sam. It's difficult to do this sometimes but that person wants us to be happy and live like earlier. Our loved ones don't want us to be sad always. All we have to do is take some time in our life to remember them and then be back to our life like usual.
We plan too much things for future that we fear not accomplishing them and deny living in out present coz of it. Julie and Sam did same. Sam promised a lot of things to Julie that he was never able to fulfill. Julie planned a whole future with Sam and her moving out of Ellensburg, but she felt disappointed when neither of it came true. But the best part is every part of journey has a meaning. Maybe Sam didn't meant to stay longer in her life instead Sam was there to make an impression on Julie and teach Julie how to love. Maybe Julie is still alive because she has got to live for both of them. She has got to do the things she and Sam planned to do together, maybe alone or maybe with a piece of Sam in her heart.
Moreover the book is beautiful. The scenes described are simple yet beautiful. The feels of others close to Sam are raw and beautiful. While Sam thought he couldn't make impression of himself in world he did, he is still there in heart of his friends and family, Julie and other people he know. There isn't anything in this book worth spoiler. There isn't any mystery in this book. It's all just love and feelings that you got to read to feel.
I wish I can have the heart to read this book again someday in future. But for now I guess I've to move on from this story as well with its learning still with me. But I just love this book so much and I always will.
Good-bye :)
The beginning of the story was so beautiful Julie dreaming about things she used to do with Sam. I felt sad when she threw things of Sam but I guess it's her way to think she can move on. She regert and blame herself for Sam death but I guess that isn't true.
Tho I wish I could read more moments between Sam and Julie like every moment they spent together was so simple and beautiful I wish to read more. My favorite moments were when Sam takes Julie in the fields, when Julie dreamt of Sam and her moving in an apartment and when Sam first meets Julie.
I cried most when Julie went to Sam grave and when Julie said her goodbye to Sam and she couldn't pick Sam call the last time because she promised. It's so heartbreaking when you know you have to be selfless and let someone go. Infact Sam wanted Julie as well Sam wanted Julie to remember him maybe just as a small part of her life, he didn't want to let go but he have to be selfless and let Julie go and live her life but little did he know he was a part of Julie, he was her whole world she can't forget him ever. Some things don't go as we have planned but that doesn't mean we can't live the moments we've thought. Julie has to live her life taking a part of Sam.
Else than Julie I like Yuki and Oliver as well. They are great friends. I like how Oliver used to visit Sam grave and think he'll listen to him. I like how Mika fought for Julie like she thought Sam would do.
Sam was sad he can't leave his impression on world but he did. He got so many people to love him.
With Julie getting her last goodbye with Sam. Mika and Sam get to say last good bye as well
Overall read this story if you like a slow paced romantic and emotional story.
As much as I hate to rate this book coz of the the millions of tears I've shed while reading it. I would love to rate it 5/5 for the storyline, character descriptions and scene descriptions that are so beautiful, more than that I would love to rate it infinity for the feelings this book contains and for the things it has taught me.
It's been after long I've felt this connected to a book. It's not just a love story about love between 2 students. It's about all of us who have faced this situation alteast once in our life or some will face it in future. I was already crying by the end of 1st chapter. This book is worth every tear shed.
Sam and Julie portrays the never ending love between them, the selfish love that is stronger than anything.
Sometimes we people leave us even without the last goodbyes. That's the worst part of leaving. Especially if it's someone you are close to. We all have to leave this earth and our loved ones but we all deserve last goodbyes. I've lost someone as well, someone who is close to me and I wish I could meet then last time and say my last goodbye to that person somehow. We all act well that we've moved on from that person but somewhere a little apart of us that person has taken with them forever. Although someone isn't anymore but they are still alive in our heart. This book is the best example to confront things. We can't run from places or things that remind us of the person we've lost instead we can use them to remember them again. To live with them once again even if it's just for a moment but it's precious. All the places Julie went and things she did reminds her of Sam. It's difficult to do this sometimes but that person wants us to be happy and live like earlier. Our loved ones don't want us to be sad always. All we have to do is take some time in our life to remember them and then be back to our life like usual.
We plan too much things for future that we fear not accomplishing them and deny living in out present coz of it. Julie and Sam did same. Sam promised a lot of things to Julie that he was never able to fulfill. Julie planned a whole future with Sam and her moving out of Ellensburg, but she felt disappointed when neither of it came true. But the best part is every part of journey has a meaning. Maybe Sam didn't meant to stay longer in her life instead Sam was there to make an impression on Julie and teach Julie how to love. Maybe Julie is still alive because she has got to live for both of them. She has got to do the things she and Sam planned to do together, maybe alone or maybe with a piece of Sam in her heart.
Moreover the book is beautiful. The scenes described are simple yet beautiful. The feels of others close to Sam are raw and beautiful. While Sam thought he couldn't make impression of himself in world he did, he is still there in heart of his friends and family, Julie and other people he know. There isn't anything in this book worth spoiler. There isn't any mystery in this book. It's all just love and feelings that you got to read to feel.
I wish I can have the heart to read this book again someday in future. But for now I guess I've to move on from this story as well with its learning still with me. But I just love this book so much and I always will.
Good-bye :)
Spoiler
The beginning of the story was so beautiful Julie dreaming about things she used to do with Sam. I felt sad when she threw things of Sam but I guess it's her way to think she can move on. She regert and blame herself for Sam death but I guess that isn't true.
Tho I wish I could read more moments between Sam and Julie like every moment they spent together was so simple and beautiful I wish to read more. My favorite moments were when Sam takes Julie in the fields, when Julie dreamt of Sam and her moving in an apartment and when Sam first meets Julie.
I cried most when Julie went to Sam grave and when Julie said her goodbye to Sam and she couldn't pick Sam call the last time because she promised. It's so heartbreaking when you know you have to be selfless and let someone go. Infact Sam wanted Julie as well Sam wanted Julie to remember him maybe just as a small part of her life, he didn't want to let go but he have to be selfless and let Julie go and live her life but little did he know he was a part of Julie, he was her whole world she can't forget him ever. Some things don't go as we have planned but that doesn't mean we can't live the moments we've thought. Julie has to live her life taking a part of Sam.
Else than Julie I like Yuki and Oliver as well. They are great friends. I like how Oliver used to visit Sam grave and think he'll listen to him. I like how Mika fought for Julie like she thought Sam would do.
Sam was sad he can't leave his impression on world but he did. He got so many people to love him.
With Julie getting her last goodbye with Sam. Mika and Sam get to say last good bye as well
Overall read this story if you like a slow paced romantic and emotional story.
anastasia_elise_w's review against another edition
3.0
I might or might not still be crying from the end…
There were a few plot holes, but over all this story was amazing and you should definitely read it.
There were a few plot holes, but over all this story was amazing and you should definitely read it.
dragongurrl's review against another edition
I would love to leave a review for this book. But I can’t because SMP still refuses to address the incredibly racist employee they have. #speakupsmp
book_worm101's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0