In November of 2016, Dear Evan Hansen took Broadway by storm. The story and music have provided a voice for teens struggling with anxiety and mental health, as the protagonist of the story, Evan Hansen, is a lonely and anxious teenager. Evan’s therapist urges him to write letters to himself to explain his feelings, however, these letters soon end up in the wrong hands and are misinterpreted. As the novel continues, we are able to see Evan metamorphize with his lies that he develops, which ultimately leads him to step outside of his comfort zone.

Written by Val Emmich, along with the help of Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul, all 352 pages of this novel were engaging and told more than just the story of an average high schooler. The realistic plot and relatable characters made this book enjoyable, as what happened to Evan could happen to anyone.

As an avid listener to the Grammy-winning Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack, I was thrilled to notice that lyrics from each song were used throughout the novel as dialogue. The only place that the novel drifts from the musical is providing Connor’s opinion throughout the story, especially after his death; he and Evan switch off as the narrator of the story.

The novel of Dear Evan Hansen is sure to not disappoint; fans can also look forward to a film of this story that conveys such an important message.