A review by kyrstin_p1989
You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This book had so much potential but really fell short for me. There were so many unrealistic components to this story, namely the fact that the teenagers in this story experience the traumatic death of a peer and there’s no hint of adult support for them. There’s no discussion of therapy or even any real conversations about the loss they experience. These teens are just navigating this situation with no supervision — not from parents or school staff — and that seems utterly ridiculous. The phone conversation component was intriguing but there were parts of that situation that didn’t make sense. Finally, the interactions between the two main characters were inauthentic and I felt disconnected with them. I’m a cryer and for a book that should be pretty sad, I only cried on the very last page. 
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