You've Found Oliver
Not gonna lie, it has been a good fucking time since I wrote a review. Probably two years. Even more. But then again, I was busy with my college life and pursuing my bachelor's and now I'm in college again trying to pursue my master's. I probably still won't be updating for a while. But I needed to get this review down.
I’ve missed you every day since you left. But I’m sure you already knew that. It’s time to let you go now. I’ll miss you all the time, Sam.
It’s been a year since his best friend, Sam, died. Even though Oliver knows he won’t get a response, he can’t stop texting Sam’s number, especially as the anniversary of his death approaches.
Then one day he accidentally hits the call button, and someone picks up.
The voice on the other end isn’t Sam—Sam’s number was reassigned and a stranger has been reading Oliver’s private and vulnerable messages for months. But Ben, an astronomy student in Seattle, won’t remain a stranger for long.
When they finally meet in person, their spark is undeniable. Everything seems perfect until Oliver discovers something strange that could keep them from being together.
It’s been a year since his best friend, Sam, died. Even though Oliver knows he won’t get a response, he can’t stop texting Sam’s number, especially as the anniversary of his death approaches.
Then one day he accidentally hits the call button, and someone picks up.
The voice on the other end isn’t Sam—Sam’s number was reassigned and a stranger has been reading Oliver’s private and vulnerable messages for months. But Ben, an astronomy student in Seattle, won’t remain a stranger for long.
When they finally meet in person, their spark is undeniable. Everything seems perfect until Oliver discovers something strange that could keep them from being together.
QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 4.5/5, DUSTIN THAO HOW THE HELL COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?
Possible Trigger Tags:
1. Death
2. Mentions of domestic abuse
3. Grief
WHAT DID I FEEL ABOUT THE BOOK'S:
1. Writing Quality: I have no qualms about this point, to be honest. I really love Dustin Thao's writing and it flows really well. Even for a person like me, where I stumble to go through like large paragraphs, Dustin's writing really holds the piece together, while keeping my attention piqued enough for me to keep going. It's moderately paced, which I definitely love in a YA novel and of course, the random angsty one liner bombs throughout the book had me screaming to my group chat at random times of the day. So yeah, I think writing style and quality wise, this book is pretty great.
2. Character Development: I think I have a major lot to say about characterization here.
There aren't many characters mentioned. Five of them in total who are mostly in focus: Oliver, Ben, Julie, Professor Clarke, Oliver's mom. Nolan and Connor are basically supporting cast.
While I do understand that the novel in it's entirely is character driven, I couldn't help but feel like it was largely underdeveloped in some cases.
While I do understand that the novel in it's entirely is character driven, I couldn't help but feel like it was largely underdeveloped in some cases.
Talking about the pros here, the character of Oliver is great in my opinion. And a major MAJOR jump from his personality in You've Reached Sam. And I do think that he has grown from being the grumpy child that he was in the previous book. And it's not like he's this perfect character that always has morals and ideals and always strives to follow them. He has flaws, he has his own vices and that reflects very well throughout the entire book. What's also shown pretty well in this entire book is also how Oliver and Ben's dynamics work, and honestly gay mutual pining is my jam.
The interaction between Julie and Oliver is also pretty much great, but there's not much to deduct from it, I guess we can just leave it at that. Professor Clarke, albeit a minor character does seem pretty pivotal in the story, because I genuinely like the way her words in the story might get people to think, and not just the ones in the story.
However Ben, for our love interest seems vastly underdeveloped. I feel like more of his personality could have been incorporated, or I could have known more of him. Instead of an actual character that could appeal to me, it felt like Ben was more unidimensional, trapped between the pages of the book.
The interaction between Julie and Oliver is also pretty much great, but there's not much to deduct from it, I guess we can just leave it at that. Professor Clarke, albeit a minor character does seem pretty pivotal in the story, because I genuinely like the way her words in the story might get people to think, and not just the ones in the story.
However Ben, for our love interest seems vastly underdeveloped. I feel like more of his personality could have been incorporated, or I could have known more of him. Instead of an actual character that could appeal to me, it felt like Ben was more unidimensional, trapped between the pages of the book.
3. Couldn't put it down- Ness: 10/10. I read all of it in a single sitting. Well, actually two sittings, considering I started reading this at midnight almost but then had to go to sleep at 1 am because for the life of me I couldn't stay awake [post-festival blues and the like] so I had to sleep, but then I woke up and read the hell out of it within two hours. So yeah, it was that good for me.
4. Plot: I think a major lot of the plot of this book is based of You've Reached Sam, which of course is a given, considering it is a sequel to the said book. But I think we lost the worldbuilding somewhere because I think, in itself, the book fails to stand out on its own. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. I think if we strip away the love You've Reached Sam had plus Dustin Thao's name, I don't think it would have been able to stand much in it's own way.
But all in all, I did enjoy the plot, and I definitely ate up the two-timeline thing and the angst in there was just *chef's kiss*. Dustin Thao never makes me fail to cry in his books. Because I was SOBBING by the time this was done. Great plot, great execution and I think the brevity of this entire novel really just sold it off. The story is mainly character driven, so I guess plot plays a little role in the entire story.
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