by Val Emmich
First published 2021
Evan Hansen never expected anyone to read the letter. When the high school senior's therapeutic writing exercise falls into the wrong hands, it pulls him into the Murphy family's tragedy. Connor Murphy, a troubled student, has died by suicide, and his parents believe Evan was Connor's closest friend. Evan knows he should tell the truth. He and Connor barely knew each other. But the Murphys welcome him into their beautiful home, desperate for stories about their enigmatic son. For the first time, Evan belongs somewhere. His anxiety fades. The girl he likes notices him. He starts a website that goes viral, spreading a message of hope. Every day feels amazing. But lies grow complicated. As Evan sinks deeper into deception, he helps others while betraying himself. The Murphy family needs him, but his secret threatens to destroy everything. Evan must face his greatest challenge: choosing between the belonging he craves and the authenticity he fears.
Genres: fiction, drama, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: High School
Period: Contemporary
368 pages · Hardcover · Poppy
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness, suicidal-ideation, suicide