Alita King

I have given this novel a 4/5 star review. You've Reached Sam is a beautiful, touching novel that interacts with the reader and pulls on their mind, asking them how they would feel in Julie's shoes. It is an empathetic tear-jerker that is truly magical in the sense of young love, grief and heartbreak. It touches on letting someone you love go in two ways, death and divorce. It also shows the power of close friendships and the importance of surrounding yourself with kind people who love you and giving them love in return. In addition to this, the cover design is fantastic and the style of writing is beautiful. I have subtracted a star from my review because of the confusion at the start and a little way into the book. There are some things mentioned that you do not fully comprehend until close to the end. I personally find this annoying. It is also a little vague in parts as *spoiler* you know Sam is dead, but then Julie manages to call him using her cell phone. At first, you assume she is mentally unwell due to the grief she has suffered. But then, Mika and Sam's younger brother are able to talk to Sam as well. There is no explanation for this, the novel just moves on. I would recommend this novel for ages over 12 as it is quite heavy and as well as romantic. Overall, You've Reached Sam is a must-read for all. I congratulate Dustin Thao on such an excellent novel.