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rynasiajanay's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
one of my all time favorites, i love evan and how they use his weaknesses to make us feel bad for him as he tells the story. the desperation, the love he feels, the racing thoughts through his head. it’s all a gorgeous storytelling and will always be recognized as my favorite novel.
abbi13's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
melissa_bookworm's review
4.0
CW: teen suicide, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety
If you’re a fan of the music of Dear Evan Hansen but want to know more of what happens in between the songs this book fills those blanks completely. There is also extra chapters from Connor’s perspective that you don’t get from the play which was nice. Obviously, some of the text is ripped straight from the songs you know and love, but that didn’t bother me too much.
Definitely touches on lots of intense topics including mental health, suicide (and the fall out involved), as well as family dynamics. The story has such high stakes, and you can see Evan trying not to hurt anyone, but just gets deeper and deeper into the lie. This wasn’t as heart wrenching as the play (which left me sobbing) but still very emotional!
If you’re a fan of the music of Dear Evan Hansen but want to know more of what happens in between the songs this book fills those blanks completely. There is also extra chapters from Connor’s perspective that you don’t get from the play which was nice. Obviously, some of the text is ripped straight from the songs you know and love, but that didn’t bother me too much.
Definitely touches on lots of intense topics including mental health, suicide (and the fall out involved), as well as family dynamics. The story has such high stakes, and you can see Evan trying not to hurt anyone, but just gets deeper and deeper into the lie. This wasn’t as heart wrenching as the play (which left me sobbing) but still very emotional!
annieni's review
4.0
I have yet to watch the musical, but I consumed as many clips as I could, read the wikipedia page, and listened to the soundtrack a couple hundred times before reading the novel. This musical and Evan hits so close to home. I couldn't help but cry while reading this novel. There are definitely some very questionable morals here, and I don't know how well the book captured the feel of the musical, but it was enough for me. You don't really learn anything new compared to the musical, really, but there are some insights like getting Connor's perspective and a little bit more of Evan's thoughts. This is definitely one of the books that I hold close to my heart.
4 stars.
4 stars.
summermay1's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Addiction, Abandonment, Suicide, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
braytonaubree's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“No one should ever feel they have to suffer in silence. We need to keep talking about mental health and continue to reach out to those who might be suffering.”
🌳🌳🌳
• I’m pretty familiar with the story through the musical, but loved the expansion on the characters & relationships in this format (I was so shocked by just how many lines from the musical & songs are pulled directly from the text)
• Connor surprised me by being my favorite character- his pov helps the reader delve into his mind & sympathize with his experience, even though his death is the catalyst for the story
• full of impactful & beautifully written quotes
• the main themes of this book (mental health, anxiety, depression, suicide, suicidal ideation, etc.) are heavy & serious & usually tackled in a more adult setting, this story is a way of addressing these topics with an angle towards a younger audience, specifically young men - I think it’s so important that children/teenagers feel represented & heard in spaces like this & that’s a comfort this book can provide
• the way the writing flows makes it such an effortless read
• although I recognize the importance of this story & would still recommend it, as an adult woman, I feel like this book wasn’t really “for me”
⚠️ Content Warnings:
• suicide
• depression/anxiety
• drug use
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
smateer73's review
5.0
I loved this book. Dear Evan Hansen is my favorite musical, and having the book to add thoughts to the intricate beauty presented onstage was really cool. Especially getting to hear Connor's thoughts adds so much to the story. It is heartbreaking, of course, but it is also such a good reminder that we don’t have to let go, that we can be found.
brittmichell's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75