When Haru Was Here cover art

When Haru Was Here

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When Haru Was Here

By: Dustin Thao
Narrated by: Ðavid Lee Hunh
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About this listen

A novel about loneliness, complicated friendships, and what it means to let go by the bestselling author of You've Reached Sam

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 and Haru Tanala, a boy he met last summer in Japan, comes back into his life.

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.

©2024 Dustin Thao (P)2024 Macmillan Australia Audio LGBT LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction Romance Heartfelt Tear-jerking

Critic Reviews

'Another heart-wrenching, stunning exploration of love and loss from Dustin Thao . . . Filled with raw emotions, relatable moments, and a touch of enchantment, prepare to have your heart broken and mended by the time the story is over.' ALEX ASTER

'When Haru Was Here is a mind-bending, gut-punching, heart-healing portrait of grief. It's magical how Dustin Thao can make you fall in love with having your heart broken.' ADAM SILVERA
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Most relevant  
I loved this book. With many books I have a lot of trouble caring about the characters. Justin Thao established his main character, Eric Lee, as a believable figure and one we can relate to. Although coming age stories are a bit of a cliche these days, the struggles with grief and the problems of finding a social place in the world are dealt with in a unique way.

I did notice that a major twist towards the end is signalled quite strongly early in the book. Perhaps this was intentional.

I highly recommend the book.

An emotionally involving story.

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