I'll hand it to you Val Emmich, this was quite the book.

First, big thank you to Net Galley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows the story of Evan Hansen who suffers from anxiety and goes from invisible by the masses to suddenly viral and under the microscope. He goes from the need to stay silent to the need to be heard, all in a few days.

Note: This book was originally a Broadway musical that has no been adapted into a novel. (Personally, I feel like this type of story would be better as a musical, tv show, or movie BUT that's for farther down in the review)

Let's get to the in-depth portion of this review.


“To the ground I fall. I can never stay aloft too long. Not when there's an ugly and heavy truth always dragging me back down.”
― Val Emmich, Dear Evan Hansen

I can already tell you that this book was not my standard cup of tea. Contemporary isn't always my thing but the feed back, reviews, recommends, and friends that enjoyed the musical peaked my interest. I was intrigued to see what the hubbub was about and I sure did get a lot.

Starting with the good.
Val Emmich is an excellent writer, this book is stunning. I thought the language and plot movement was spot on and fast paced. There was never a point where I was bored but there were points where I was wondering what the point of the story was exactly. However, that's not on the writer as this is an adaptation of an existing work.

Now for the not so good.
I'm not sure there's a single character I actually liked in this book. It's hard for me to say that about any book, but every character in here upset me. Evan's character seems to have no growth, Zoe has a 'pixie girl' feel, Conner is so side swept I couldn't get too attached (although he's probably my favorite), and the parents are... I have no words. Jared, while a jerk, seems to be the most realistic and have growth.

I realize the book is more of a snapshot of a part in life but it felt like it ended how it began. The characters didn't move or change. The situation fell flat for me. (And I do realize this is an unpopular opinion haha) That being said, this would make an excellent TV show or Musical based on the premise. I could even picture it as I was reading.

Also, with my differing opinion after reading I can see this being an EXCELLENT BOOK CLUB BOOK! So many thoughts and feelings afterward to discuss and talk with others on. I also love the fact that it brings to light how it feels to deal with anxiety. We need more books that deal with mental health and how our societal standards affect that health.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys contemporary fiction and books on mental health. It was an interesting read however, I think it came down that it just wasn't for me. I'm very character driven and the characters on this didn't grip me.

Overall Rating: 3.25 Stars
Plot: 4  Stars
Character Development: 2 Stars
Dialogue: 3 Stars
Writing: 4 Stars
Happy Reading!!
~Ash

As someone who has never watched the musical I found this shallow and with terrible depictions of mental health issues

I have not been able to see the musical yet, but if it is anything like this book I may just have to do that. This book was engaging and emotional. I really love the way the songs were incorporated into the book. It was almost like an interactive experience. I definitely recommend reading the book along with listening to the soundtrack. I had some issues with the pacing and I wasn't too thrilled about the lying plot line of the story, but overall I thought this was a good read and worth my time.

I wanted to see what all the fuss was about — my teenager and his friends are huge fans of the musical. I didn’t like the story: it’s based on deception. Evan Hansen, completing an assignment from his psychotherapist, has a note to himself stolen by Connor, who’s made a name for himself by making everyone around him miserable. After Connor’s suicide, the note is found and Evan perpetuates the myth that he and Connor were close friends, even dating Connor’s sister. I didn’t find any character to be sympathetic or even likable.

I’m so excited I got to read this book from NetGalley before it is published. Now I’m really looking forward to seeing the show when it comes to DC next year. It stands alone quite well, but I’m also sure it will help explain the characters more fully than a musical can. If you’ve already seen the musical, I wonder if it would be redundant? Neermind--I don't have to worry about that. My students are NUTS for this book. It has a hold list a mile long, and the students who know the music from the show (or have already seen it) are the ones waiting most anxiously for it!

As part of his mental self-care, Evan's therapist has tasked him with writing letters to himself with a positive twist. Instead of getting stuck within an anxious negative mental loop, Evan is to use the letters to create an optimism about his life. It can be super difficult generating these letters because Evan has no friends, the girl he likes barely knows he exists, and her brother, Connor, has made it his mission to bully Evan (ish). After writing one truly telling letter, Connor intercepts it and takes it away from Evan. Later that night, Connor commits suicide and his family believes that Evan and Connor were super close based on the letter. At first, Evan doesn't know how to come clean to the grieving family, and soon he enjoys the attention of the family and the romantic potential with the sister. Is there any way out of this situation without imploding everything?

This book/play is mentally difficult, but clearly addresses issues surrounding suicide. I don't think I was as interested in the characters or plot as I would have been if I had seen the show or been obsessed with the soundtrack. I think your theater geeks are going to go gaga over this book, but I think to truly enjoy this book you need a familiarity with the play.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul is the novelization of the award-winning Broadway musical. It's a story filled with classic young adult themes of belonging and isolation, of anxiety and acceptance, of guilt and truth. But the novel version seemed especially slow – in fairness, maybe that was my reluctance to discover any "spoilers" prior to the show's opening in Chicago. I ordered a copy of the book and had it sitting on my desk where it sparked quite a bit of interest – students know and like the music as well as the story of a young outcast, Evan, who is mistakenly credited with being a good friend to a boy, Connor, who commits suicide and whose family struggles to understand.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN received a starred review from School Library Journal (grades 9 and up).

DEAR EVAN HANSEN is a novelization of the hit Broadway musical that has taken the world by storm. In case you have missed it, the musical follows the suicide of a teenage boy named Connor, and the chaos that follows his death when his family mistakenly believes one of his classmates was his secret best friend. Much like the musical, the novel follows the ensuing misunderstandings, lies, viral videos, and more, but unlike the musical, the book exposes us to Connor's thoughts as well.

For all of his life, Evan Hansen has been "meh" --- those are even his initials! After a particularly depressing period, he has been forced into therapy by his mother, where he is tasked with writing letters to himself about what he is feeling. One day, he writes a sad letter about how nothing seems to be getting better and how his hopes are pinned on one girl. Connor Murphy, a misunderstood, angsty teen, intercepts the letter and it seems that he will use it to blackmail Evan...but that never comes to pass, as Connor dies by suicide that night.

Because Evan's letter was addressed to "Dear Evan Hansen," Connor's parents believe that they were wrong about their son all along and that he actually did have a friend all along! Someone who saw him through his darkest moments and made him feel less alone for at least a few moments of his short life. When they approach Evan, he is too stunned to clear things up, and he becomes their new focus. What follows is a viral video, a campaign to support mental health and more than a few lies. Although Evan knows what he is doing is wrong, he cannot stop himself and he knows that his now-lies are aiding the Murphys --- and what could be bad about that?

The true highlight of DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the way it captures anxiety, particularly through the eyes of a depressed teen. At no point does Evan feel like the villain, as he is always the victim of his own mind. This novel is not merely a novelization of the musical, as it expands in ways that I could never have expected. It stands both together with the musical and apart from it, all in the best ways.

This is a story about betrayal, love, pain, anxiety, healing, secrets and social horror. This book, which is taken from a broadway play, tells the story of a high schooler who feels alone, outside of everybody and everything. He encounters another teen in his school who is the more violent version of himself and the result is a rapidly growing horror show that reaches the community with lightening speed thanks to social media.

This book (and play) discuss how being a true outsider, even in one's own family, can tear a person apart and affect the world around them, even if they do not realize the impact they have. However, it discusses it from a teenager's point of view, which makes the story much more tragic. The feelings of loss, anxiety and being alone are normal for teenagers to go through, but the Evan and Connor magnifies those feelings by how they handle it and who is around them.

It is also a book full of hope. Once the characters in the story get a purpose, things start to change for them. They start to emerge from their shells and begin to do some pretty extraordinary things. They just needed a reason to get out of their own heads and interact with the outside world.

This is definitely a book that teens and adults will connect with, understand, and see parts of themselves in each of the characters that are represented.

A must read for any musical theater reader. I loved being able to read this novel and get insight into this beloved musical and environment, A great read also for any teen growing up who’s different, living in this modern digital age,

I actually discovered this musical when I saw the book listed on NetGalley. I know, that’s weird and backward, and I have to stop living in a cave (a cave filled with books?), but that’s how it happened. I saw a YA book based on the “hit Broadway musical” and thought, I need to check this out. So, I headed over to Amazon for a quick listen—and instantly fell in love with the music.

So, I went into this book loving the musical and knowing the basic storyline (since I read a synopsis to fill in the gaps between songs). I wasn’t sure how the book would hold up, but I have to say it did pretty darn well. I love the addition of Carter’s perspective, especially. We finally get to see his side of the story and not just the picture that’s painted for us by others. And, of course, we get a deeper look into Evan’s perspective as well. This is the type of character who I might be tempted to really dislike—he does a myriad of horrible, unlikable things—but being inside his head, I found myself feeling sympathy instead of distaste. I love that his actions are never condoned—the overall message of the book is not that what he did (lying to the family of a kid who committed suicide) is alright—but we see why he felt trapped in the moment and then couldn’t quite dig himself out. He makes a LOT of bad decisions along the way, but I knew that going in, which probably helped. I will say that the book lacked some of the emotional impact of the musical (you just can’t replicate that heightened emotion that you get in song), and I missed the true connection to the moms that I get with the musical (since I’m a mom, I can completely relate to that feeling that you’re doing everything wrong and you have no idea how to make life better for your kids). Still, I was overall really pleased with this version of the story, and I highly recommend it to teens, who so often feel alone.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

While this book was not for me, I can see why the stage production is so popular. Evan Hansen, with the best of intentions, manages to dig himself into an increasingly deeper hole as he tries to navigate newfound popularity. The themes will resonate with teens who are just trying to make it through the social minefield of high school.

Great adaptation of the original material. Emotional and enjoyable. The added depth to the characters really brings the best story out.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Although I have yet to see the Broadway play when I was offered a copy of this novel I knew I had to read it. I am truly glad I did.

See Evan Hansen is a bit of a social outcast in school. He also suffers from anxiety related issues. His therapist gives him the assignment to write himself letters daily to find the good each and every day in his life somehow.

On one such day, he pens himself a letter in the school computer lab. He starts his all his letters the same with “Dear Evan Hansen”. This letter though, he is compiling that his day was not so great and his feelings for the girl he likes, Zoe Murphy. A misunderstanding finds Zoe’s brother Conner Murphy finding the letter and thinking that Evan has written this letter to get under Conner’s skin. Conner takes the letter home with him. That evening Conner commits suicide thinking that the world is against him and this is his only way out.

His parents find this letter and believe this was Conner’s suicide note. From here, Evan is given the chance of a lifetime to be someone because of this. Although Evan doesn’t want to lie, he finds he can’t help himself. This lie has a way of spiraling out of control. Conner forms a pretty strong bond with Conner’s parents. Plus, he ends up in a relationship with Zoe finally. But all this is once again based on lies. Conner is truly in over his head and just waiting for all his lies to catch up with him.

The how and when is inevitable, but you have to read this one to find that out, as well as how it all turns out for Evan.

ERMAGAWD! Finally a follow-up book to one of my favorite musicals! This book was brilliant and I loved having the deeper look into the characters. It sticks really close to the musical but just with more depth. i think this novel was great for giving us a good look into someones life and how a tangled web can be made from a simple lie. At times this book was very raw and emotional and I understand that some parts people may not like but overall I encourage people to read this and love the story within.

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel was written by Val Emmich. It is, of course, based on the Tony award winning musical by Steven Levenson, Benk Pasek and Justin Paul. I was very excited about the opportunity to read this book because my girls and I have been listening to the DEH soundtrack since the spring.

Evan Hansen is a high school boy with anxiety. He’s supposed to be writing inspirational letters to himself as a therapeutic exercise. One of these letters ends up with Connor Murphy, who commits suicide in an unrelated incident. When the Murphys find the letter, they believe that Connor wrote the letter to Evan. Instead of telling the truth, Evan allows the Murphys to believe that he was Connor’s best friend and fabricates an entire relationship. This desperately lonely boy finally has people paying attention to what he has to say, but it’s all for the wrong reasons. He has everything he could ever want, but it’s all based on lies. How can he tell the truth now?

I have not seen the musical, but from what I understand, the narrative delves much deeper than the stage production. Readers get to hear more of Connor’s perspective and some of the underlying issues that he struggled with. I enjoyed being able to connect the storyline with the songs I recognize.

This is such a beautiful book. It’s easy to empathize with Evan and his struggles with anxiety. He has always hovered in the background, longing to fit in, but not really knowing how to achieve that goal. Being known as Connor’s friend thrusts him into the spotlight, and creating the Connor Project to raise awareness about teen suicide helps Evan’s popularity, but the moral quandary about whether he should tell the truth hangs over him.

My oldest girl is eleven, and my twins are nine years old. I know how much they enjoy listening to the soundtrack; they know all the words to the songs. I knew that the serious subject matter might be a bit overwhelming for them, so I wanted to read the book by myself before sharing it with them. I think my twins are a little young, but I do plan on sharing this book with my oldest daughter.

I would absolutely recommend Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel to fans of YA books and fans of the musical as well. I do think that some familiarity with the musical helps, but it’s not a mandatory prerequisite for enjoying this book. Since I haven’t seen the musical, this novel gave me a better understanding of the plot. I think that Emmich does a wonderful job with taking an existing storyline and adding new layers of depth and insight.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I'm on the fence about this one. Wasn't really for me but I can see the appeal for others. I had not heard about the show or the soundtrack before I received the galley, but was hopeful about the premise. I think I will buy this book for our library because it's relevant and necessary, but it just wasn't my favorite.

I came into this book familiar with the music from Dear Evan Hansen but not much else. I knew that the story was basically about a misunderstanding about a classmate's suicide that got out of control very quickly. I found the depiction of Evan’s anxiety to be very believable, possibly the most believable I've ever found in fiction. At times, I was a little uncomfortable with the way Evan's relationship to his medication was portrayed. I really liked the little callbacks to the lyrics of the musical and also enjoyed the chance to look inside Connor’s head in addition to Evan’s. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

I honestly don’t know what to say about Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich. On one hand it’s a beautifully written YA novel of discovery, and suicide and high school, and anxiety, and growing up. On the other, it’s based on a Broadway musical. My mind can’t connect the despair and pain of the story with a cute soundtrack. And yes, I tried listening to the soundtrack.

If this weren’t a NetGalley gift from Poppy, I probably wouldn’t have finished it. It’s harsh and raw and drags a little about 25% in. I continued, and it got better, but I have no interest in seeing the show. It’s too intense a story for me right now.

“Dear Evan Hansen,

Today’s going to be an amazing day and here’s why…

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family’s grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell, that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.

Suddenly, Evan isn’t invisible anymore—even to the girl of his dreams. And Connor Murphy’s parents, with their beautiful home on the other side of town, have taken him in like he was their own, desperate to know more about their enigmatic son from his closest friend. As Evan gets pulled deeper into their swirl of anger, regret, and confusion, he knows that what he’s doing can’t be right, but if he’s helping people, how wrong can it be? “

I took that from the blurb. Evan wrote letters to himself as part of his treatment for anxiety. Connor is the school bully who took Evans letter from the school printer. Connor committed suicide with the letter in his pocket, and his family thought it was Connor’s suicide note to his best friend. Not knowing how to correct them, Evan fell into a mess of lies telling Connor’s family what they wanted to hear, including Connor’s sister—the girl of Evan’s dreams.

Most of the novel is Evan’s story, but I enjoyed the snippets from Connor. Connor is like a ghost watching their reactions and silently calling his parents on their hypocrisy. As Evan gets pulled into Connor’s world and learns there was much more to the bully, Connor realizes Evan could have been a friend.

I haven’t seen the show, and I didn’t make it through the soundtrack, but this is a perfect novelization. If I didn’t know it was originally a musical, I would never have noticed. The novel wasn’t a converted script at all. That doesn’t mean I want to read it again. Maybe it’s just too emotionally intense for me now, and I’ll come back to it (it did get easier to read later in the novel), but for now, it just is.

For full credit, the Dear Evan Hansen music and lyrics were written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with the original screenplay by Steven Levenson.

What more can I say about this book besides GREAT! Obviously I was previous a fan of the play and to get to read the story was interesting. You get to learn a little more about the characters and the backstories which I really appreciated. A wonderful read!