Reviews

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron

faydrielreads's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Preface- I have never read the original story of Jekyall and Hyde. So many of issues are with the original and not necessarily this book. 

I'll start with the positives. I really enjoyed the author's style of writing. I felt like it transported me to the time period. 
I really enjoyed the conversations around blackness and the rampant racism and homophobia of that period.

I did enjoy the beginning of the story when Gabriel and Henry were falling in love. My main issue with it was Gabriel's obsession with Henry once Henry started to distance himself. I understand he cares deeply for Henry and is concerned but it felt overbearing for over 2/3 of the book to be just his constant obsessing with little to no other plot lines eith the exception of the blip of his change of employment. This ruining the book for me, could have been shorter. 

cecilivre's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Rocking w this adaptation heavy!! Love the reworking of quotes and plot lines from the original into the new plot!! Loved the recurring themes and the more specific metaphoric and literal split. Very engaging and entertaining!!! Made me care about side characters and the relationships Jekyll and Hyde had with others much more. Great read!!!!! 👍👍👍

thereadingpan's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is the first “remix” I’ve read of this series, I was very interested in the concept. I did find the book to be really slow on the start up, the first 40% felt boring and slow march of not much. Once Hyde showed up that helped! 

The gore was good and well placed, the descriptions of scenes was very well done, I just can’t get over that I was bored half the time in a story that plot wise is anything but boring.

jess_always_reading's review

This was not for me, the author sped through the romantic relationship that we're then supposed to be invested in for the rest of the book and I just didn't care about the characters enough. Disappointing given every other book in the series that I've read has been awesome. 

moxiegirlzriot's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

vezreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense

4.5

monobella's review

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

3.5

meowster18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book had me quaking at the end. Loved the characters and loved the story. My only gripes were that the ending felt rushed and the main character clingy behavior annoyed me but the story flushed out in such a way that you can empathize and sympathize with Gabriel. Great story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Classism, Stalking, Racism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, and Outing

Minor: Grief

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

5.0

These remixes are really hitting it out of the park for me. In this remix of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Gabriel Utterson is a 15-year-old boy Black student studying medicine in London. He experiences the racism and discriminatory hiring practices of the Victorian era. He also meets and falls in love with Henry Jekyll, whose father teaches at the university they both attend. The whole books is filled with atmosphere, Bayron really captures Gothic imagery and the tone and pace of a Victorian novel. Even though I knew the plot of the original, I was really invested in Gabriel's first-person narrative as he uncoils the mystery of Jekyll and Hyde.

catgiven94's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0