Thanks for the arc! I’ve loved all books in this series and they’re all so tragic and heart wrenching. This one was the same but in the best way. Ben and Oliver were so cute, I loved the M M dynamic and the fact that it wasn’t a cookie cutter of the first book. I loved it and can’t wait to have a physical copy

Well Dustin Thao has done it again!! Not many books have made me cry and he is 3 for 3

You’ve found Oliver is a tale of coming out the other side of loss. It a hard but it does get easier with time. The relationships that Oliver has or creates is peaceful.

Do t want to say more, but I would recommend this book and Dustin’s other books as well.

Thank you to @netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book that I have been patiently waiting for.

Man oh man. I was a bit worried about this one. I heard it was a tear jerker, but I didn’t expect to cry four times in the first chapter. Luckily, the heart wrenching parts were less potent after that, and I was able to finish the book with mostly dry eyes.

I really enjoyed Oliver and Ben’s story. The astronomy and philosophy parts were a bit over my head, but I tried to just enjoy the story without trying to understand them. I’m glad Oliver was able to shift his perspective on life so he could live happily, and I was thrilled with the ending. While the book felt a little short, it was still a cute, sweet read.

I don't know what Dustin puts in his books but I am here for it. Always touching and thought provoking.

YOU’VE REACHED OLIVER is a heartfelt, lump-in-your-throat kind of coming of story that shows what it looks like to find yourself even in the midst of grief and unexplainable things. Oliver is still mourning the loss of his best friend, Sam, but he’s also trying to figure out what the rest of his life holds. Sam has to decide what the future could look like for him, something he hasn’t really dared to dream about during the tumult of his life so far.

There were quite a few times that Oliver felt like a part of me and some of the things I’ve felt my whole life, and others when he was a unique character that I just wanted to see happy. As a pisces, my heart probably won’t stop feeling a little sore for a while.

Dustin Thao delivers another heart-wrenching story that straddles the delicate line between grief and healing. You've Found Oliver is tender, haunting, and emotionally intelligent, following a protagonist who grapples with the past in ways that feel both surreal and painfully real. Thao’s prose is gentle yet potent, and fans of You've Reached Sam will appreciate the emotional continuity, even as this novel explores new thematic ground. While the pacing felt a bit slow at times, the emotional payoff is worth it. Thao continues to shine in writing stories that linger in your chest long after the final page.

I greatly enjoyed this book, and to be honest, more than “You’ve reached Sam.” In this story, we see how Oliver, a character from the first book, handles his grief after losing Sam. He has been texting Sam’s number to cope with his loss, only to one day accidentally dial the number and someone answers it. The boy that answers is Ben, and Oliver quickly takes to him as they explore friendship, and potentially even more. It was interesting to see how grief coping and self-exploration are explored. For me, this book plays into the questions we usually ask ourselves such as “what would happen if I could go back in time?” “What if I had made a different decision?” “Where should I go from here”

To be honest, I guessed the plot of the book very early on, so I was screaming at Oliver to hurry up. However, I didn’t think that Ben would actually be someone real and that at the end of the book, Oliver and Ben meet in the same timeline. It was never really explained how Oliver came up with the Ben character. Initially, I thought Ben was another person who had passed away.


ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 3.75 stars

I read the prequel You’ve Reached Sam and found that one to be an okay read. I decided to give this sequel a chance.

Oliver, Sam’s best friend is still mourning the loss of his best friend, Sam to a point that he would occasionally text his deceased best friend's phone number. One day, he accidentally calls the number and someone picks up…Ben and little by little, they slowly fall in love.

This book explores the themes of grief, friendship, finding love with a hint of magical realism thrown in. Oliver is lost without his best friend, Sam. Everyone, including Julie, Sam’s past girlfriend, is moving onwards while he is still stuck. His recent relationship ended in a sour note with a cheating boyfriend and he is struggling with his loneliness. Enter Ben, the other person on the other side who has been reading his texts. What follows is a sweet and slow romance. I do enjoy how their relationship unfolds - Ben is so sweet and caring towards Oliver and respects Oliver’s position in life. Their relationship is genuine and heartful with a hint of astronomy and music thrown in.

I find the time travel magical realism unexpected and it felt that it could do without but the direction didn’t surprise me given that this is Dustin Thao. This made the ending somewhat open ended.

I find that the story flows well making it a quick and easy read. My only nitpick which I also find with the first book is the lack of emotional depth it has. I find this a miss since I find myself reading in passing glance with a lack of emotion invested in the characters. Hence, the review…

The biggest thing I can say to start this review is: Thank God I didn’t sob the entire book like I did for You’ve Reached Sam.

You’ve Found Oliver feels like such a natural progression to You’ve Reached Sam. Oliver was by far one of my favorite characters in Julie’s book, and he always felt like he had more to tell. From a main character standpoint, I do prefer him so much more than Julie. Julie was often very selfish and sort of had main character syndrome, but Oliver still feels like the lovable side character while being the main character.

As always, Dustin Thao is phenomenal at describing the different sides of grief. Oliver's loss and morning and grief are very different from Julie’s, yet still just as important. Dustin Thao just writes a story really beautifully, and makes me feel emotionally connected by the first line.

Plot-wise. It did something I really didn’t expect. I was wondering if Oliver’s story was going to be much more… realistic compared to Julie’s, and I thought that was going to be odd from a cohesive standpoint. So I’m happy they were both still speculative in their own way. But on that note, after the twist happened, I spent the next… 75% of the book oscillating between swooning over how cute Ben and Oliver were and how anxiety ridden because I had basically guessed the ending by about chapter 5. I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a bad thing; I still devoured this book in less than 24 hours, but it did mean my stomach was nauseated for most of the book.

From a pure romance perspective, Oliver and Ben were very precious. I like Oliver and Ben being able to learn from one another and grow as individuals. Plus, they were just so nerdy, and it was adorable. It was also nice to see the comparison and differences between Ben and Sam. It’s nice to know that Sam isn’t forgotten and he’s always going to be a part of Oliver’s life. That death doesn’t just wipe people away. I did feel like Oliver and Sam’s story was left awkwardly unfinished, but that’s maybe the point… Julie got closure, Oliver didn’t.

I have seen from other ARC reviews that there’s no need to read You’ve Reached Sam to read this one, and I guess I get it. Nothing in Oliver spoils Sam, but the parallels between the two and the overall complete story are truly unmatched. So, like I don’t at all see why you wouldn’t want those things, and to experience both Julie and Oliver in relation to Sam.

I am not going to spoil anything—maybe I’ll come back later when the book is out—but this has one of my favorite tropes of all TIME. An underrated one too. So UGH yay!

Also, I understand the cover now. Very smart, Dustin Thao and his team. Very smart. (Also, that cover is GORGEOUS)

What would it feel like to one day be texting your deceased best friend’s phone and getting a response from someone who now has their phone number?
This book asks that question in a kind of mixed results come of it.
I will be 100% honest and say that I wasn’t really a big fan of You’ve Reached Sam but I’m definitely one of those people that likes to give the author and their books 2nd chances because I know at times of reading and what’s going on in your life impacts some books that just don’t connect..
As much as I wanted to like this book, it definitely wasn’t one that I would say I particularly enjoyed.
In the beginning, I was interested in seeing what would come up between Oliver and this mystery person. And it started off good where I was actually really liking Oliver and relating to his story of just wanted to find someone to love him for him.
I think what lost my interest was the moments of I guess science fiction and the anti-climatic resolution to it.
Time travel was such a random Trope to add to this book when I feel like it didn’t need it.
I honestly wanted to see him process his grief, and for him to be happy.
Whatever my book? To be honest, I would just because I’m the kind of person where I want people to form their own opinions, and they could have a completely different opinion than me.. This book just didn’t work for me and I wound up giving it two stars..

I loved You’ve Reached Sam so I was very excited when I found out Oliver was getting his own book. I’m not big on time travel but I loved this take on the subject. Oliver was forced to look at the world from a different viewpoint. My favorite thing about Dustin Thao’s writing is how effortlessly he incorporates a sense of magic to this world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | YA Contemporary | Queer Romance | Magical Realism | Grief & Healing

I went into You’ve Found Oliver not having read You’ve Reached Sam (I know, I know, it's on the list), but I honestly didn’t feel lost at all. Dustin Thao did a great job making this story feel like its own complete experience, even if you’re stepping into Ellensburg for the first time. Sure, reading the first book might’ve added some emotional layers, especially with the connection between Sam, Oliver, and Julie, but I was still fully invested in Oliver’s journey on its own.

This is a sweet, thoughtful, and slightly magical story about grief, identity, and finding love when (and where) you least expect it. Oliver’s been texting his best friend Sam for a year, except Sam passed away. Then one day, he accidentally calls the number and someone picks up. That someone is Ben, and what follows is a gentle, emotional romance that plays with fate, time, and the idea of healing in your own time.

Ben and Oliver’s connection felt genuine and soft, like late night conversations and vinyl records kind of love. I really appreciated how their relationship unfolded. It was slow, tender, and with plenty of heart. The themes of loss and moving forward were handled with care, and while I didn’t totally love the magical realism/time travel twist (it felt a little vague and underdeveloped for me), I did think it fit the tone and message of the story well.

Dustin Thao’s writing is quite simple and clear and easy to read, but layered with feeling. It creeps up on you, and before you know it, you’re in your feelings and wanting a random number to text you too.

Was the ending a little bittersweet? Yes. Did I wish for a bit more emotional depth at times? Also yes. But overall, this was a touching story that explored grief in a unique way and still managed to give us a queer romance that felt hopeful and meaningful.

Highlights:
📱 Queer romance with real emotional weight
🕰️ Time bending twist that’s more vibes than science
🎧 A soundtrack worthy story with dreamy writing
💔 Grief, healing, and letting go (even when it’s hard)
🏡 Found family & friendships that feel authentic

The magical realism wasn’t my favorite part because it felt more like a soft filter than a fully fleshed out element. And I would've loved a bit more depth in the ending, especially for Ben and Oliver’s future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dustin Thao, and Dutton Books for Young Readers for the eARC of the book.

I haven’t read any previous books by the author., so I didn’t know there was another book with these characters, I didn’t think I was missing out on anything that I was unable to understand the story.
This was a sweet story, I really enjoyed it!

I haven't read You've Reached Sam yet, so I was interested in how You've Found Oliver would work as a standalone. I didn't feel like I was missing any information going into this book without reading the other. I think it would've provided me with more background information and better insight into the relationship dynamics between Sam, Oliver, and Julie, but the set up of the characters was definitely done well enough for things to feel clear and cohesive. I didn't love the magical realism aspect - something about the time travelling felt a bit flat and underwhelming to me, but I think the concept worked well with the plot and the overall themes of loss, grief, and healing.

I could definitely see this as a book that fans of the first novel would enjoy, along with those looking for a queer romance with a twist of magic.

You’ve Found Oliver
by Dustin Thao

With thanks to @netgalley and @penguinteen for the ARC.

I was a huge fan of the author’s second novel, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I wasn’t disappointed!

The novel is short, and very clearly written. Thao’s straightforward style is imperative when dealing with the large, cosmic ideas that are the backbone of his stories (or at least, my interpretation of them! Me? Over think? NEVER!) Without being too heavy handed, Thao asks the reader to consider who we would be if we could erase our scars and change the traumatic things that have shaped us. What does it mean to be YOU outside the context of the world you’ve built for yourself? And if we could repeat time, would we, should we, actually repeat it?

I think fans of well-crafted fantasy or sci-fi such as Fringe will be really pleased with how this is all handled. So much of the world building is left to the reader to interpret, which I deeply appreciated.

Some questions are answered. Some are left for us to ponder. But, the novel offers us many take-aways, from music to philosophical ideas. I’m looking forward to experiencing this again.

I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this before publication in return for an honest review. I recommend this SO highly.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I read You've reached Sam and Dustin Thao became my auto-read author from then. I love the author's writing. As usual I liked his this book too. Can't wait for this book to release and get my copy.

This cover? Perfect. It captures the heart of a story about time, memory, and the ache of holding on when life keeps moving. Oliver is stuck in the past, still texting his best friend Sam almost a year after losing him. Then one day, someone answers. That’s when things shift.

The writing is vivid and sneaky—simple at first, then layered with meaning the deeper you go. It’s not a sobfest from page one, but it builds in that quiet way grief often does. That ending? It hit hard.

This book is about learning to let go without forgetting, and the bittersweet courage it takes to start again. A home isn’t just where you live—it’s something you create, with the people and places that shape you.

Dustin Thao is a special writer. He has really strong ideas and he’s become stronger with each book.

I really liked Sam so I was excited to see Oliver’s book, especially as Dustin became more confident publishing as a gay man. I really enjoyed his storyline and I liked the mystery of the story.

I also thought it was sweetly romantic, especially with Ben and how they found each other. The moments with Sam made me kind of sad, and I understand why they were there. But man, it tore at my heartstrings.

The ending was really poetic, and I enjoyed it.

Overall the book was good and I’d recommend it, even though it felt like it was missing a little something. I’m not sure exactly what, maybe more yearning? Or more conflict? I’m not sure. But I’d read another book by Dustin for sure,

Where do I even begin? Oh, right. Thank you NetGalley for providing the opportunity to read and review You've Found Oliver.

I will say that I did go into this with an expectation from reading the author’s previous books. I was somewhat afraid that this was going to be a weird, cookie-cutter book that would ride the coattail of its predecessor. That quickly changed a few pages into the book.

It was very nostalgic to read about some of the characters from You’ve Reached Sam; however, the previous MC of the book had space and never fought the new MC, Oliver, for any of the spotlight. I enjoyed their contribution to the storyline, but even more that they did not overshadow the new main character. It brought fresh air to the storyline with a hint of history to bring the characters even more alive.

The pacing of the book was overall normal with its moments of speeding up. The world-building was enough to where you could separate locations without it being overdone and over-explained. That being said, due to the theme of the book, I did have some concerns as to if it would become blended and lost. However, I do believe Dustin Thao did an amazing job at keeping everything moving forward with everything where it should be, and the execution of the theme was grand.

Ben and Oliver had the cutest and most heartwarming adventure together, and you could feel the emotions they felt. Their different personalities complemented each other well without them becoming one. They had their individualism, which helped in being empathetic towards them and making their feelings more realistic than fictional.

Overall, I am giving the book 4.5 out of 5 as it did not leave me with any questions but wanting more of their stories.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a chance to read an advanced copy of You’ve Found Oliver.
When I read it, You’ve Reached Sam was one of those books that stayed with me. I was excited to step back into that universe and see Oliver’s story play out.
While there were a lot of moments in this book I enjoyed, it ultimately fell a little flat.
At times, I found Oliver a little hard to like.
The time traveling aspect took away from the story for me more often than not. The concept was interesting but I don’t think it was executed quite right.
The most disappointing moment for me personally was Oliver and Ben reconnecting in the end only for Ben to have no memories of their connection. I can appreciate the idea that they get a clean slate, but it’s still a little sad to know that Oliver alone holds the memories of their time together.
I would also have liked to see Julie and Oliver talk about the calls from Sam in the first book. It would have been a nice insight to their mutual connection to Sam after he passed and ultimately their link to one another.
3/5 stars. 🌟