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When Haru Was Here

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When Haru Was Here

Written by: Dustin Thao
Narrated by: David Lee Huynh
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We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loneliness, complicated friendships, and what it means 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books.

 Contemporary Difficult Situations LGBTQ2S+ Literature & Fiction Romance
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this author's books are really good. I do have to say that this one is slightly similar to his other two books that he has written, they're still all 10 out of 10 reads. they all talk about death in different ways, which is nice to see how each character copes with that as well as bringing in his culture and LGB community involved in it which is a nice. the books are very good. it's nice to read something different. I love all of his books and reading that made me want to read them all in which I have. they're all 10 out of 10 REITs. I know I'm repeating myself bad highly recommend

10 out of 10

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The core of the story, Eric’s grief and the way he explores and engages with it, makes for a compelling read. The characters are written well and feel like real, flawed people, and the aspects that deal with family and Kevin, are strong.

The romance stuff feels, meh. Haru could have been written out, he has no real bearing on the story and feels like a distraction more than anything. If I want to be really generous, he’s a cover to deal with Eric’s grief whenever things get particularly bad, but he manifests in ways that feel strange particularly because it’s a weird obsession that creates a jarring conflict. Eric spends a lot of time drifting from boy to boy without any real direction, and large sections kinda just feel like a waste of time with no real benefits or consequences, aside from him getting caught in some pretty scary situations. I think it would have been nice to see the social aspect of his life reworked into something that resembled growth, albeit very little, with perhaps some backslides since grief is a messy business. Cut out the meandering and you’ve got an S-tier book on your hands.

Compelling story, could have used a few more rounds of edits

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