Book Review: When Haru Was Here

“You and I are the only thing that is real.” This is one of many meaningful quotes from Dustin Thao’s remarkable novel When Haru Was Here. The book starts when the main character, Eric, learns to live his life while coping with the loss of his best friend. Then, one day, Haru, a boy he met two years ago in Japan, walks into a coffee shop; Eric is shocked and excited to show him around. Only after their first encounter with people does Eric realize he is the only person who can see Haru. Even while knowing that Eric continues to rely on Haru for support when he needs it, only now, it might be more painful to keep going along with it than to let go.

If the novel’s unique concept wasn’t enough, the author's story adds beautifully to the book. Dustin Thao wrote his first novel in his high school bedroom. From there, the book You’ve Reached Sam became a New York Times bestseller. After that, Thao gained popularity and publicity after having a publisher and editor working alongside him. When writing his second novel, he wanted to keep a concept similar to You’ve Reached Sam and chose to relate it to the LGBTQ+ community. He tried to keep his themes of grief and loss while also adding elements of coping and healing. Thao announced his third novel only three months after When Haru Was Here was released. His third novel, You’ve Found Oliver, will be released in the fall of 2025, and those who enjoy his books are anxiously awaiting its arrival