You've Reached Sam - A Story of Love

Seventeen-year-old Julie Clarke thought she had her whole life planned out with her boyfriend, Sam. They were destined for the city together after graduation, ready to embrace a future brimming with possibility. But when Sam is killed in a tragic and sudden accident, Julie’s carefully constructed world is instantly shattered. Overwhelmed by unbearable grief and desperately yearning for one last connection, she grabs her phone and dials his number, fully expecting the line to be dead or disconnected.

Instead, Sam answers.

This impossible, miraculous voice-to-voice link allows Julie a temporary, painful reprieve. Their late-night conversations are the only thing holding her together, letting her relive the joy and comfort of their relationship. But as weeks turn into months, Julie is stuck, unable to mourn properly or face the reality of her life without him. Her friends and family urge her to move on, yet how can she when she can still talk to the boy she loves? Dustin Thao's debut novel is a heartbreaking and emotionally resonant exploration of what it means to truly let go. It's a poignant, unforgettable journey about choosing between the comfort of the past and the courage it takes to step into a future, even one defined by profound loss. It asks: When a piece of your heart remains on the other side of the line, how do you find the strength to hang up and start living again?