Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | You’ve Reached Sam | 2021 | Dustin Thao | Buy |
| 2 | When Haru Was Here | 2024 | Dustin Thao | Buy |
Dustin Thao’s standalone novels include You’ve Reached Sam (2021) and When Haru Was Here (2024). Both books take a magical realism approach to YA contemporary fiction, grounding fantastical premises in the real emotional experiences of their teenage protagonists. You’ve Reached Sam follows a girl who can still hear her deceased boyfriend’s voice on the phone, while When Haru Was Here explores connection and loss through a different magical lens.
The two novels share Thao’s characteristic warmth and emotional directness. They are independent stories that can be read in either order, though fans of the first book will recognize the themes and tone that carry through to the second.