The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Thao, Dustin. You've Reached Sam. St. Martin's Publishing Group, 2021.

Julie begins the novel thinking about the times she spent with her late boyfriend, Sam, and how much she wishes she could go back to the moment they met. He came into the bookstore where she worked part time and left an origami cherry blossom on the front counter. He often came to spend time with her at her job, or she would meet him at the cafe where he worked and prepared lavender lattes for her.

Julie meets her friend and Sam's cousin, Mika, at a diner. Mika is upset that Julie did not attend Sam's funeral, but Julie has been doing everything she can to avoid thinking about Sam and her loss. She goes to the lake to write in her journal and brings the yearbook that Sam wrote notes to her in. When she calls Sam to apologize for throwing away his things, he picks up the phone and surprises her.

Sam speaks normally to Julie, as if nothing has happened, and she is so comforted to hear his voice again even while she struggles to understand how this is possible.

At school, Julie is treated like an outcast by most of the other students. She has a small friend group that also liked Sam, but she feels quite disconnected from the rest of her classmates. She calls Sam as much as she can.

Julie continues working part time at Mr. Lee's bookstore with a younger boy named Tristan. Mr. Lee was with Julie when she found out Sam died and drove her to the hospital. He gives Julie a clothbound notebook that was donated to the bookstore to encourage her to continue writing.

Julie does not attend the candlelight vigil planned by Mika, upsetting her and causing her to question whether Julie ever loved Sam. Meanwhile, Julie is accepted to Central Washington University and rejected from her dream school, Reed College.

Julie can no longer keep her phone connection with Sam a secret, and she allows Mika to talk on the phone with him. Mika thanks her, but the connection weakens. Julie cannot reach Sam for a little while, during which she waits anxiously by the phone.

As Julie attends Tristan's film festival to support him, she feels disheartened by Sam's efforts to end their connection. He is eager for her to move on with her friends and go to college and accomplish her dreams. Tristan's film is based on the way Julie has inspired him to pursue his goals.

She daydreams about what her life with Sam would have been like, imagining their apartment and moving to Portland.

Julie prepares for graduation and the last night that she will be able to talk to Sam. When they hang up for the final time, Julie sobbed, but knew that it was time for her to continue her life. Sam asks her to forgive him for holding onto her for so long.