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vicky30312's review
4.0
The writing in this was beautiful and i loved the take in dealing with loss.
mbfitzgerald's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! Had me in the tears very early on, but the way it was written and how the book went it was so good. I have recommended this book to everyone I know! My friend is currently borrowing my book to read it!
joybookish's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kellabee's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
thepetitepunk's review
2.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, You've Reached Sam was a complete disappointment for me. 2 stars, maybe 1.5 stars. I'm honestly not entirely sure why this book didn't work for me. YA contemporary is my favorite genre and I especially love books that deal with difficult emotions such as grief. The writing certainly wasn't bad--it felt like a very typical YA style--but I just could not for the life of me get into the plot or feel connected to the characters. It took me about a month or two to finish this book, when I usually blow through YA contemporaries in a day or two. Again, I'm not sure exactly why I found this book so utterly boring, but I really struggled with it and I really never reached a moment where I was finally hooked. The characters weren't interesting to me either.
I came here to be sad, and all I got was a hearty helping of boredom.
The very last scene kind of made me think "oh, that might be sad" but other than that, You've Reached Sam did not work for me. HOWEVER, I do feel like a movie adaption would work really well! Perhaps that means it was a pacing and detail problem that made this book drag.
✧ ✧ ✧
≪reading 31 books for 31 days of july≫
╰┈➤ 1. the ones we're meant to find by joan he
╰┈➤ 2. rise to the sun by leah johnson
╰┈➤ 3. some girls do by jennifer dugan
╰┈➤ 4. a heart in a body in the world by deb caletti
╰┈➤ 5. you've reached sam by dustin thao
Unfortunately, You've Reached Sam was a complete disappointment for me. 2 stars, maybe 1.5 stars. I'm honestly not entirely sure why this book didn't work for me. YA contemporary is my favorite genre and I especially love books that deal with difficult emotions such as grief. The writing certainly wasn't bad--it felt like a very typical YA style--but I just could not for the life of me get into the plot or feel connected to the characters. It took me about a month or two to finish this book, when I usually blow through YA contemporaries in a day or two. Again, I'm not sure exactly why I found this book so utterly boring, but I really struggled with it and I really never reached a moment where I was finally hooked. The characters weren't interesting to me either.
I came here to be sad, and all I got was a hearty helping of boredom.
The very last scene kind of made me think "oh, that might be sad" but other than that, You've Reached Sam did not work for me. HOWEVER, I do feel like a movie adaption would work really well! Perhaps that means it was a pacing and detail problem that made this book drag.
✧ ✧ ✧
≪reading 31 books for 31 days of july≫
╰┈➤ 1. the ones we're meant to find by joan he
╰┈➤ 2. rise to the sun by leah johnson
╰┈➤ 3. some girls do by jennifer dugan
╰┈➤ 4. a heart in a body in the world by deb caletti
╰┈➤ 5. you've reached sam by dustin thao
nikkigribuste's review
3.0
i really loved the concept of this and so going into it i was really excited and had very high hopes. safe to say i was mildly disappointed because i felt like the characters were just meh. the mc was annoying and quite selfish in my opinion and often times i found myself wanting to just slap her. however, towards the end i did get a bit teary eyed and i thought it was a beautiful goodbye from the both of them. it shows how passionate young love can be
suedas_books's review
3.0
I love the idea of the book, as well as the setting.
Unfortunately I found it boring on multiple occasions. Obviously there won’t be too much action since it’s a very sad book and it’s about mourning and someone’s death but sometimes it felt tiring to read because it was just Julie being absolutely pessimistic and neglecting everything and everyone in her life. (Those feelings after loosing someone are absolutely valid but it was just exhausting reading about them)
Talking about Julie I have to say that I didn’t like her too much. Again, her feelings are absolutely valid but the way she treated the people around her was just not okay. Especially Mika and Tristan deserved better (how dare her first saying yes to meeting up with someone then canceling and then saying yes again but simply planning on not going afterwards???)
However I really liked her authenticity. Her feelings, her not being an A+ student, not having her shit together and so on.
She was fine I guess.
Sam on the other hand is one of my new favorite book boyfriends. He is so cute and thoughtful and was just so full of life (no pun intended). His careful behavior, not being THAT book guy we all know that drives the fastest cars and is overly confident but who is passionate, has to save up for all his stuff but is grateful for everything and just such a good boyfriend to Julie.
(I didn’t cry while reading. The only time I actually felt like crying was right at the beginning and right at the end but somehow I didn’t cry. I don’t know if that had anything to do with me mainly reading the book in the train (whereas I read the last 90 pages in my bed trying to keep my eyes open at 1 AM))
I decided to give this book 3.4 stars because I liked it but unfortunately had to force myself several times to keep on reading.
Unfortunately I found it boring on multiple occasions. Obviously there won’t be too much action since it’s a very sad book and it’s about mourning and someone’s death but sometimes it felt tiring to read because it was just Julie being absolutely pessimistic and neglecting everything and everyone in her life. (Those feelings after loosing someone are absolutely valid but it was just exhausting reading about them)
Talking about Julie I have to say that I didn’t like her too much. Again, her feelings are absolutely valid but the way she treated the people around her was just not okay. Especially Mika and Tristan deserved better (how dare her first saying yes to meeting up with someone then canceling and then saying yes again but simply planning on not going afterwards???)
However I really liked her authenticity. Her feelings, her not being an A+ student, not having her shit together and so on.
She was fine I guess.
Sam on the other hand is one of my new favorite book boyfriends. He is so cute and thoughtful and was just so full of life (no pun intended). His careful behavior, not being THAT book guy we all know that drives the fastest cars and is overly confident but who is passionate, has to save up for all his stuff but is grateful for everything and just such a good boyfriend to Julie.
(I didn’t cry while reading. The only time I actually felt like crying was right at the beginning and right at the end but somehow I didn’t cry. I don’t know if that had anything to do with me mainly reading the book in the train (whereas I read the last 90 pages in my bed trying to keep my eyes open at 1 AM))
I decided to give this book 3.4 stars because I liked it but unfortunately had to force myself several times to keep on reading.
makenziefeeser's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5