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Synopses & Reviews
We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, first love, and learning to let go.
After the death of his best friend, Eric Ly creates imaginary scenarios in his head to deal with his grief. Until one of them becomes real when a boy he met last summer in Japan finds his way back into his life. When he least expects it, Haru Tanaka walks into the coffee shop and sits down next to him. The only thing is, nobody else can see him.
In a magical turn of events, Eric suddenly has someone to connect with, making him feel less alone in the world. But as they spend more and more time together, he begins to question what is real. When he starts losing control of the very thing that is holding him together, Eric must finally confront his reality. Even if it means losing Haru forever.
Review
"Devastatingly honest and achingly human, When Haru Was Here is a melodic exploration of love, loneliness, and the multitude of ways grief shapes us. No one captures the beauty in heartbreak like Dustin Thao."—Julian Winters, award-winning author of Right Where I Left You
"If you like your contemporaries with a tiny piece of magic, this emotional YA is perfect for you." —BuzzFeed
"Thao skillfully marries a quiet, elegiac novel about grief with a provocative sf conceit. A poignant and moving read." —Booklist
About the Author
Dustin Thao is a Vietnamese-American writer based in New York City. He graduated from Amherst College with a B.A. in Political Science, and he is currently in a PhD program at Northwestern University. He writes contemporary young adult fiction and is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller, You’ve Reached Sam.