It’s been a year since his best friend, Sam, died. Even though Oliver knows he won’t get a response, he can’t stop texting Sam’s number, especially as the anniversary of his death approaches.

Then one day he accidentally hits the call button, and someone picks up.

The voice on the other end isn’t Sam. Sam’s number was reassigned and a stranger has been receiving Oliver’s private and vulnerable messages for months. But Ben, a college student in Seattle, won’t remain a stranger for long. When they finally meet in person, their spark is undeniable. Everything seems perfect until Oliver discovers something strange might be keeping them apart.

In You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao, the story is a timebending romance, sweet and unexpected but also strange and haunting. Oliver hasn’t been ready to move on from his friendship with Sam but Ben’s texts leave the pair connecting but under mysterious circumstances. Still, Oliver continues to pursue the relationship until things start falling apart in his own life. 

I love the twists in the story and how time plays a part in the pair’s relationship. What I also felt was moving was how Oliver grows throughout the story, until he realizes he has to start figuring out his own path in life. Ben and his friendship with others helps him realize that path and I like the realistic ending to the novel, the ideas the novel explores and the way parts of the story are told through texts. It is a unique and interesting story that is a bittersweet and strange romance. 

If you like timebending romance, interesting characters and strange events, this novel might be for you. The characters are compelling, Oliver and Ben are both interesting and Oliver’s growth is integral to the plot. I especially love how the romance ends in the story.

Rating: 5 out of 5 texts. 

Penguin RandomHouse

Dustin Thao website