By Ca’Mya C., Arundel High School
You’ve Reached Sam is a powerful and emotional story about a girl named Julie who is coping with the sudden death of her boyfriend, Sam. When Julie receives a text from Sam, she decides to call him to try and hear his voice one last time – which ends in them reconnecting in an unexpected way. With support from her friends and family, Julie navigates her grief and learns how to move on while still maintaining a connection with Sam.
The characters in the book felt real to me because they go through deep emotions like sadness, confusion, and the difficulty of letting go of someone. Julie’s struggle with grief and her uncertainty about her future allows many readers to relate to her, even if they haven’t experienced a loss like hers. The book explores themes of love, loss, and healing, which I liked. The imagery of the book was good, too; the author gave good descriptions, making you feel like you’re there. The writing is easy to understand, and the story is both heartbreaking and hopeful. I also liked the ending, as it shows how people can grow and find a way to move forward after losing someone important.
One thing I disliked about the book was that Julie didn’t always make the best choices. I think the story would’ve gone more smoothly if she had made better choices. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who enjoys stories that explore deep emotions and what it means to love and let go.