Originally Published: October 9, 2018

By: Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul

A novelization of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name, Dear Evan Hansen brings new light into a stunning story.

When Connor Murphy commits suicide, the note that he stole from Evan Hansen is found in his pocket. Evan knows that it’s a self-help note written to him by him, but Connor’s parents think their son wrote Evan his suicide note. Evan soon finds himself in a web of lies while trying to help this family cope.

Unfortunately, the novelization does not hit as hard emotionally as the Broadway show does. While I sobbed through a majority of the musical, I only cried in one chapter here. It’s the songs in the show – which most of the lyrics from are omitted here – that held the emotional core.

Final say: A good companion piece. ★★★☆☆