A review by the_creepy_geek
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

5.0

SpoilerI love this book. It's like a slow motion train wreck and you know you should look away but you just can't stop watching it happen. Here's this boy, this nobody, who people barely remember. This boy who is scared of social interaction and doesn't know how to be like everyone else. He feels alone. He feels unknown. He feels lost.

One chance encounter, one mistake, one misunderstanding and he tumbles head first down a rabbit hole of his own creation. He could have corrected Connor, could have corrected Connor's parents, but his own anxiety gets in the way. Then he just wants to ease their pain, make them happy but one questionable choice leads to another and another and another until his up to his neck in his own fantasy and he can't see a way out.

I loved Evan. Yes he made some choices that are morally...well, dark grey...but his desire to offer some kind of comfort to Connor's family is good. He just gets sidetracked by the popularity, the fame, the girl.

Do I think Evan is a good guy? Yes. Do I think he went about things in a terrible way? Yes. But his heart is in the right place...mostly.

I also loved having the bits with Connor. Watching this all unfold after he's gone. Starting to see what is really happening with Evan and seeing the symmetry with his own life.

What ever Evan's methods, you can't argue that the outcome was good. He helped the family when they were overcome with grief, he started a movement in Connor's name, he reached people (albeit totally unintentionally) and made them connect with the story. He provided some light in the dark. And even when it all came crashing down, when he was back to being afraid and alone...there was still the orchard, still the movement and it helped heal the Murphy family. In the end, it helped to start and heal Evan.

Also, someone needs to take me to see the musical. Like...right now.