About the Book:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Fall in love all over again with Oliver’s story in the hotly-anticipated companion novel to bestselling sensation You’ve Reached Sam.
“A captivating and gorgeously written story about longing, destiny, and the infinite possibilities, and versions, of love. No one writes romance like Dustin Thao and this one is a beauty.” —Kathleen Glasgow, #1 bestselling author of Girl in Pieces
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 receiving Oliver’s private and vulnerable messages for months. But Ben, a college 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 might be keeping them apart.
Dustin Thao’s star-crossed return to Ellensburg, WA is a sliding-doors romance sure to break your heart wide open.
*Review Contributed by Adrien Carter, Social Media Assistant and Staff Reviewer*
In You’ve Found Oliver, it starts by explaining the recent events in Oliver’s life and how he hasn’t moved on from his best friend, Sam’s death. He is still messaging the number that Sam has until he accidentally calls and someone picks up. Ben has been receiving Oliver’s messages this whole time, and now they are going to meet in person.
What I Liked: While Ben and Oliver are almost instantly into each other, the relationship between them feels organic because of how much Ben already knows about Oliver. Oliver is an easy character to root for; while he is dependent on the people around him after Sam’s death, this is a realistic portrayal of what grief can do to someone.
The pacing of this story is perfect, and at times feels like you are reading a slice-of-life book. This is a lot more than that, though, when you stop to think about all the layers that this book contains. This is a story about grief, holding onto the past, and what it takes to move forward, while also showcasing what can happen if you remain in the past and don’t allow yourself or others to move forward from grief.
There are mixed feelings regarding the concept of multiple universes throughout this book. This is a fun addition and intriguing as Oliver gets trapped in the past because of his feelings surrounding Sam’s death. There are so many questions left unanswered regarding this alternate universe that leave you wondering if that might be the point. Maybe we aren’t supposed to get answers, and the point is that everyone is going to leave this book with a different takeaway.
What Left me Wanting More: While the addition of alternate universes was intriguing, it also left so many questions unanswered. Oliver is surprised when he discovers that Ben is in the past and can’t come into the current timeline, yet he doesn’t spend much time trying to figure things out. Oliver is too accepting of this alternate universe, even when he realizes that his being stuck there has shifted a lot of those around him. He asks himself a lot of questions regarding the alternate universes, which are similar to the ones we are asking, but those don’t ever get answered.
Final Verdict: You’ve Found Oliver is a heartwarming story about grief and moving forward after losing someone you love. This book is perfect for fans of Dustin Thao’s other books, and a must-read if you enjoyed You’ve Reached Sam. While this is in the same universe that You’ve Reached Sam takes place, this is a good book on its own, and best to read before the other one.
*Find More Info and Buy It Here!*
