Dustin Thao author photo

Dustin Thao

Dustin Thao is a Vietnamese American novelist who writes contemporary young adult fiction, often exploring grief, love, and magical realism. He is best known for You’ve Reached Sam, a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller, and for When Haru Was Here, which reinforced his place in emotionally resonant YA romance.

传记与作者历程

Dustin Thao is a Vietnamese American novelist based in New York City. Born in Oregon, he has said he began writing around age sixteen and spent some school lunch periods in the library when he did not have many friends, an experience that sharpened his attachment to young adult fiction and to stories about first love, first heartbreak, and first encounters with death. He later graduated from Amherst College with a B.A. in political science and entered a Ph.D. program at Northwestern University focused on critical media literacy. ((https://www.dustinthao.com/about-me))

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名言

quote
I write contemporary YA stories with hints of magic
-Q&A: Dustin Thao, Author of You’ve Reached Sam
quote
You’ve Reached Sam is a story about grief and second chances
-Q&A: Dustin Thao, Author of You’ve Reached Sam
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Since I drew from some of my own personal experiences, the writing ended up being cathartic for me
-Q&A: Dustin Thao, Author of You’ve Reached Sam
quote
Because in the end, it was a story I had to write for myself
-You’ve Reached Sam Interview
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I love an emotional story, especially ones that make you cry, but I think there should always be some light in the end
-Dustin Thao on writing, grief and his emotional YA debut, You’ve Reached Sam
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I also wanted to remind readers that letting go isn’t about forgetting
-Dustin Thao on writing, grief and his emotional YA debut, You’ve Reached Sam
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I started writing You’ve Reached Sam for myself
-Dustin Thao's Debut Is a Love Story Wrapped in Loss
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I think it's stories like that that I gravitate to the most—ones that have an emotional impact—and those are the stories that I really wanna write
-Dustin Thao's Debut Is a Love Story Wrapped in Loss
quote
The story of Oliver was important because he’s the only character that didn’t get closure
-Dustin Thao Writing ‘You’ve Reached Sam’ Spinoff

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Taoism and Trauma Healing Exploration

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Read romance and fantasy

This learning path serves readers seeking to explore two of the most popular and emotionally engaging literary genres, perfect for both newcomers wanting structured guidance and experienced readers looking to expand their horizons. By progressing from foundational works through hybrid and darker subgenres, learners gain both breadth and depth in understanding how romance and fantasy create powerful escapism, emotional resonance, and imaginative storytelling that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.

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Teenage love
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Teenage love

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社区声音

"Dustin Thao's Debut Is a Love Story Wrapped in Loss"

Goodreads

"No one captures the beauty in heartbreak like Dustin Thao"

Julian Winters

"Thao does a beautiful job of employing magic realism in this sometimes poignant but always captivating gay love story"

Booklist

"No one writes romance like Dustin Thao and this one is a beauty"

Kathleen Glasgow

"Get your tissues ready, this is another heart-wrenching, stunning exploration of love and loss from Dustin Thao"

Alex Aster

"Thao casts an intelligent look into the harm and benefits of one teen's coping mechanisms in this sharply depicted exploration of grief and moving on"

Publishers Weekly

"It's magical how Dustin Thao can make you fall in love with having your heart broken"

Adam Silvera

"Thao's writing is intimate and vulnerable, balancing humor and heartbreak with emotional honesty"

Kirkus Reviews

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platform
comments
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