The Best Reading Path for Dustin Thao
Dustin Thao has quickly established himself as a prominent voice in contemporary young adult fiction, known for combining raw, poignant portrayals of grief with gentle elements of magical realism. Because his books are either standalone novels or loosely connected companion stories, readers have a couple of options when diving into his bibliography. However, the most rewarding experience comes from following his publication order.
Reading his books in the order they were released allows you to experience his growth as a writer and naturally transitions you through the connected stories of his debut universe before or after exploring his separate standalone work.
Dustin Thao Books in Publication Order
- You've Reached Sam (2021)
- When Haru Was Here (2024)
- You've Found Oliver (2025)
Understanding the Series and Universes
To plan your reading, it helps to understand how Thao's novels relate to one another. He currently has one multi-book universe and one completely independent standalone story.
The You've Reached Sam Universe
This is Dustin Thao's signature universe, set in a world where the boundary between life and death is briefly blurred by a telephone connection. The books in this duology share a setting and characters, but focus on different perspectives of the same tragic loss.
You've Reached Sam (2021): The novel that launched Thao to fame follows seventeen-year-old Julie Clarke. Julie has her entire future planned out with her boyfriend, Sam, but everything shatters when Sam dies in a sudden accident. Desperate to hear his voice one last time, Julie dials Sam's phone number—and miraculously, Sam answers. This debut explores the immediate shock of grief, the pain of letting go, and the magical, temporary connection that helps Julie heal.
You've Found Oliver (2025): This companion novel shifts the spotlight to Oliver, Sam's best friend and secret crush, taking place one year after the events of the first book. Struggling to move past his grief, Oliver texts Sam's old phone number, only to discover it has been reassigned to Ben, an astronomy student in Seattle. As Oliver and Ben connect, they face their own strange, magical obstacles. The book also features appearances by Julie, offering readers a glimpse into how she is recovering a year later.
Standalone Novels
When Haru Was Here (2024): This book is entirely independent of the You've Reached Sam universe. Set in Chicago, it follows Eric Ly, an aspiring filmmaker grieving the sudden death of his sister Jasmine and his best friend Daniel. To cope with his overwhelming isolation, Eric retreats into his imagination, which seems to manifest a boy named Haru, whom Eric met during a past trip to Japan. Only Eric can see Haru, and as their bond deepens, the novel explores the line between reality, illusion, and mental health.
Chronological vs. Publication Order: What's the Difference?
Because When Haru Was Here is a standalone, it can be read at any point. When it comes to the You've Reached Sam universe, the timeline runs chronologically:
- You've Reached Sam (set immediately after Sam's death)
- You've Found Oliver (set one year later)
Dustin Thao has stated in interviews that these two books can be read in any order, as they are self-contained emotional journeys. However, we strongly recommend reading them in publication/chronological order. Understanding the immediate impact of Sam's death in the first book makes Oliver's ongoing struggles and Julie's character growth in the second book far more impactful.
What to Know Before You Start
Dustin Thao’s books are famous for their emotional weight. Before diving in, keep the following in mind:
- Keep tissues handy: Thao writes tear-jerkers inspired by emotional stories like Bridge to Terabithia and the anime film Your Name. His books deal heavily with themes of death, loss, and loneliness.
- Expect magical realism: The magic in Thao's books is never fully explained with hard rules. The magical phone calls and hallucinations function as metaphors for the messy, non-linear process of grieving.
- Diverse representation: Thao frequently includes Vietnamese-American, Japanese-American, and LGBTQ+ characters, drawing from his own background to bring diverse and authentic representation to YA contemporary fiction.