I just finished this book less than five minutes ago. So this review is going to be a rambling mess of words, and I already know that I won't do this book justice. And I will probably go off topic a lot.
I just... don't know what to say. This book may easily be the saddest book I've ever read. And I read it in less than 24 hours, so that just makes it more emotional. I was thinking about dragging the book out, but I couldn't — and I think I'm happy I didn't.
I knew this was a sad book. And last night while I was reading it I came very close to crying, which is something that I don't often do. When I finished it I cried a little... like, three tears. But somehow I feel like I was forcing myself to cry. I guess I'm just not the crying type. Somehow I'm filled with emotion yet empty.
This book was so so sad. But at the same time, I guess, it had a happy ending. I felt more emotional toward the start of the book than I did at the end — but of course this could be for many reasons. But yeah, I think it was a happy ending. Happier than I was expecting, yet still incredibly emotional. But I could see Julie being happier toward the end, and I was proud of her. Yeah. I know she’s a fictional character.
I almost feel like this is a book I could read again. I never do that with books unless they are either really really good or really short and good. You've Reached Sam was pretty short — like 300 pages — and also really good.
I have never dealt with the loss of a loved one. I almost feel like I didn't deserve to read this book because I guess I just didn't "get it". And I don't think I ever will. But I think that this book did do a really good job of representing it.
There were parts of the book — the "before" parts — and they were just so sweet and perfect and they made me smile. Sam seemed like a really amazing person and I honestly don't think anyone as great as him exists in the real world. Sure, he was flawed, but he was so nice.
Honestly almost all the characters in this book were nice... most of the time. Julie's friends like Yuki, Jay and Rachel were just so sweet and thoughtful and patient and accepting. And Oliver! I want to give him a hug. I want to give every character in this book a hug. Nobody like that exists in real life. But it was nice to read about them anyway.
I'm still kinda at a loss for words, to be honest. I might need a break from reading after this. Usually I just move right onto the next book, but You've Reached Sam was so intense and emotional that I just might need a break. But like, today's my last night of school holidays, so am I gonna waste it sleeping? No. No I will not.
I think that this book contained some really good metaphors, which became apparent especially at the end. And how cherry blossoms kinda represented Sam. That was beautiful. Cherry blossoms are great.
It was weird how this book was so realistic yet not, you know? It actually wasn't what I was expecting. I only bought this book recently, and usually I do not read books soon after I buy them (hehe someone's obsessed with buying books) but I needed something contemporary. I've read a lot of fantasy and dystopian lately, and after reading the Red Queen series, which I'll admit was sliiightlyy stereotypical/cliché, I was kinda craving a contemporary standalone. And yeah, I think this did fulfill my specific need for a book to read. It also kinda makes me want to bash my head on the keyboard (45rtf5rtfwe32s3yt6h there we go) and read a book I've already read (shhh I'm not admitting that I may have comfort books). But I have so many books to read. So, alas, I cannot do that. But I did get a keyboard bash in so that's something.
This is random but the one thing I would say I didn't like about this book was that it had a few typos and like one grammar mistake that I picked up on. I'm not saying that's exclusive to this book (there were heaps in the Read Queen books) but they always appeared at the worst times. It really ruined the mood ;-;. BUT. The cover of this book is amazing. Even my mum said so.
Oh, yeah, my mum. I will rant about her here to save my friends the pain of hearing about her. Unless you're one of my friends reading this. I mean, only my friends have access to read this, so if you're reading this I would assume you're my friend? If not: hi... get off my blog.
So I am fairly conscious of what parts of my reading life (is that even a term?) she knows about — not because they're bad but because she's her. Yeah, maybe I am slightly paranoid. But I'm like that in all aspects of life so that's ok...
Anyway. So I was feeling reckless because I was enjoying You've Reached Sam, so I was like to my mum, "the book I'm reading now is probably the saddest book I've read." Of course, my mother then had to say "why would you read that then?" I realised I had failed as a daughter again at this moment. So I said my signature "I dunno." Maybe that should be my catchphrase.
So my mother looked at the book. She complimented the cover. It truly is a beautiful cover. And, get this, she asked permission to read the blurb. I mean, even if I'd said no she probably still would have (she needs to watch the consent and tea video, like not for that but consent in general) but still. So I said yes. And then she read the blurb. Then death glared me of course. BuT. She had tears in her eyes. And said "I could never read something like that", annnndddddd proceeded to cry and walk out of the room. Yayy... as you all can see I’m a great daughter. My plan to make my mother proud by reading a book I bought less than two months ago may have backfired on me there.
Julie’s mum in the book was so amazing too. I feel like most mums in books are. Sometimes when I’m reading I wonder whether the mums in books are just written to be unrealistically amazing, or whether most mums in real life are like that, too. I have one friend whose mum seems amazing, but I don’t really know much about any of my other friends’ mums. Sometimes I want to know and sometimes I don’t.
Anyway, I’ll stop talking about my own personal life now. I told you I’d go off topic. I have just come back from dinner (pizza with pineapples on it — they belong there, fight me) so that has given me some time to remember some more things that actually relate to You’ve Reached Sam that I wanted to put in this book review/rant.
Radiohead! I kinda immediately decided this book was cool when it mentioned that Sam liked Radiohead. I mean, I’m not the biggest fan of them but I do like the few songs of theirs that I actually know. I keep meaning to listen to more of their music but keep getting sucked into listening to the same playlist over and over again. I don’t know why I mentioned that.
One thing about this book is that I guess I just don’t really think that the title linked to the story. I mean, it did but also didn’t. I dunno. Of course there was a connection but not a major one. Nobody really said “you’ve reached Sam” in the book, you know? It’s really cool when books do that. But don’t get me wrong. I think the book’s title was amazing. Is it just me who finds that hearing a book’s title makes it so emotional? How three words can send chills down your spine? Just me? Yeah, thought so. I can’t put it into words anyway. But this was one of those books. The title holds so much emotion by itself, and even after reading just the blurb the title held so much potential. I don’t know.
I feel like this book is rather different to others I’ve read. Maybe the closest book I’ve read to You’ve Reached Sam is Tahereh Mafi’s An Emotion of Great Delight. Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Those two are still so so different. But I really liked both. I believe that this book was based on emotion rather than plot, and I think I needed that for a change. I’ve read lots of plot-driven books recently and I just think I needed something that was hard on the heart rather than the brain. That makes no sense. But anyway.
I feel like this book deserves a rant that I can’t give. I have given a rant, but not one that does this book justice.
I was so sad when I finished this book — because the book was sad, but also because I didn’t want it to end. I want to know everything about Julie and Sam, because their relationship was so wholesome. This book was perfect as it was, but somehow I also wish that there was also a book in which Julie and Sam did get to fulfil those dreams they had.
I know, it’s kinda ironic that I like romance. But I do. Because I want to see someone happy. I really like reading because I can see others doing things I’ll never do — not restricted in the ways I am. Not by disability, not by love, not by society. Books may possibly be the only thing I have that allow me to escape from my own life because I can read about other people’s lives.
And You’ve Reached Sam might not at all be happy, but it still allowed me to escape and feel something. As I said before, I was really sad when it was over. I think I was trying to hold onto Sam, too.
I think I will wrap up this book review here, but I’ll probably end up coming back and adding to it anyway.
I would definitely recommend this book to people. It was short but filled with emotion. But as I’ve said, this book is really sad (especially for people without my stupid heart of stone) and deals with some really heavy themes. Definitely check for content warnings before reading this book. And if you don’t like sad books, um, maybe don’t read this one. As you may have noticed from me calling this book “the saddest book I’ve read”, this book is sad. It made me CRY THREE TEARS. THIS IS YOUR WARNING. I will stop disgracing Dustin Thao now, and finish up this book review.
Thank you, Dustin Thao.
You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao, 13+* ★★★★.5
*This age recommendation is only my opinion. Some younger people might feel comfortable reading this book, and some older people might not. That's fine, either way. Warning for swearing, weird kissing stuff, constant and prominent upsetting themes such as death of a loved one, racist remarks from characters, alcohol use, trauma, bullying, low level violence and one subtle instance of attempted sexual assault. This book is based on the death of a loved one.
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