When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao Summary

When Haru Was Here follows 19-year-old Eric Ly, who is struggling with grief after losing his best friend Daniel. A boy named Haru Tanaka, whom Eric met briefly in Japan, mysteriously reappears in Chicago—but only Eric can see him. Through magical realism, the novel explores how Eric navigates loss, questions what's real, and ultimately learns to confront his grief and let go.

Dustin Thao is a Vietnamese American author and the New York Times bestselling writer of You've Reached Sam. He holds a BA in Political Science from Amherst College and is pursuing a PhD at Northwestern University. Thao writes contemporary fiction that explores grief and second chances, drawing inspiration from emotional works that "pull on the reader's heartstrings" to create stories about love, loss, and healing.

When Haru Was Here is ideal for fans of emotional YA contemporary fiction, particularly readers who loved You've Reached Sam or books exploring grief with magical realism. It appeals to those seeking LGBTQ+ romance, stories about the Vietnamese American experience, and anyone interested in narratives that blend reality with imagination while addressing mental health, loss, and the journey of letting go.

When Haru Was Here is worth reading for those seeking an emotionally powerful story about grief and love. The novel combines magical realism with heartfelt exploration of loss, features diverse representation with a Vietnamese American protagonist, and delivers a plot twist ending that resonates deeply. Readers consistently describe it as beautifully written, achingly emotional, and a worthy follow-up to Thao's debut bestseller.

When Haru Was Here explores grief and the healing process as Eric copes with his best friend's death. The novel examines reality versus imagination, questioning what's real when facing trauma. Key themes include letting go and moving forward, the enduring power of love and memory, loneliness and human connection, and LGBTQ+ identity within Vietnamese American culture, all woven through magical realism elements.

When Haru Was Here employs magical realism by making Haru visible only to Eric, blurring the boundary between grief-induced imagination and supernatural presence. Thao creates dreamlike sequences where readers question whether Haru is real, a manifestation of Eric's coping mechanism, or something in between. This technique mirrors how grief distorts reality, making the story's emotional truth more powerful than literal explanations.

Eric and Haru first meet during Eric's trip to Japan, sharing an immediate and profound connection. When Haru mysteriously appears in Chicago after Daniel's death, their bond deepens as Eric finds companionship in his loneliness. Their relationship is romantic yet enigmatic—Haru appears only when Eric hears a bell, and the nature of their connection remains beautifully ambiguous, representing both comfort and Eric's struggle with reality.

Daniel was Eric's best friend and childhood crush whose death triggers Eric's grief journey in When Haru Was Here. His loss creates the emotional void that Eric attempts to fill through imaginary scenarios and his connection with Haru. Daniel represents Eric's past, his unresolved feelings, and the reality Eric must eventually confront to heal and move forward with his life.

When Haru Was Here features powerful quotes that capture its emotional depth.

• "In another world, I would spend every second with you. But I don't want you to live in that world" speaks to loving someone enough to let them move on.
• "Always" represents enduring love beyond death.
• The quote "You and I are the only thing that's real" reflects Eric's intense connection and isolation within his grief.

When Haru Was Here and You've Reached Sam both explore grief through magical elements—Haru features an invisible companion while Sam involves phone calls with the deceased. Both are emotionally devastating YA novels about second chances and letting go. When Haru Was Here adds LGBTQ+ romance, Vietnamese American representation, and more ambiguous magical realism, while You've Reached Sam focuses on a heterosexual relationship with clearer supernatural boundaries.

The ending of When Haru Was Here delivers an emotional plot twist involving letters and revelations about Haru's true nature that leaves readers heartbroken. Eric must finally confront his reality and let go of Haru, even though it means losing what held him together. The epilogue hints that Eric and Haru's connection may have originated from a paper, providing subtle closure while maintaining the story's beautiful ambiguity.

Dustin Thao employs first-person perspective in When Haru Was Here, allowing readers intimate access to Eric's thoughts and emotional state. He weaves flashbacks with present-day narrative, uses magical realism to blur reality and imagination, and creates dreamlike sequences that mirror grief's disorienting effects. Thao's prose is emotional and lyrical, designed to evoke tears while exploring themes of loss, memory, and healing with nuanced sensitivity.