Reviews

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So

noorbsp's review against another edition

5.0

this book was everything. friendships, love, finding yourself, finding others, realising who you love, the start of something new. there should be more books like this one .

ambsfrc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

this was lovely i really enjoyed it!!! the queer representation was incredible, i loved the exploration of cultural identity as well and the way the two fused together. i adored the friendships in this, and i really enjoyed all the fandom stuff as well actually just because it was so realistic. i did actually cry at one point which is always the sign of a good book! i don’t have a bad thing to say about this at all 

jamiereybooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

smellie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

katebb76's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? N/A

4.5

A gorgeously wholesome read, in which friendship and love -platonic, romantic and sexual- and sexuality were explored through the eyes of a female British-Chinese young adult, Elsie. The feelings and emotions of the characters were expressed by Cynthia So in a beautifully poetic manner.

The story also included fitting-in and finding 'your' people as well as thoughts on ethnicity and culture, including attractiveness in a Western-world biased towards white people.

I loved the use of online friendship, messaging and fandom in the telling of this story, making it accessible and relatable to the YA readers it is aimed at. However this also resonated with myself, as a slightly older reader, taking me back to similar online friendships, crushes and fanfic from my own University days.

The growing mother-daughter relationship also tugged on my heartstrings as Elsie and her mother began to understand each other and connect more.

The theme of lost-and-found friendship and love was strong throughout the book, linking with the title, If You Still Recognise Me, perfectly.

I cannot wait to pass this onto my own teen daughter and have every confidence she'll love this as much I did.

slinkmalink's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

3.5

i_readsandbujos's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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? No

4.25

Cynthia So's "If You Still Recognize Me" is a sweet sapphic love story about friends reuniting after being out of touch over time and continents. This story follows Elsie whose grandmother comes from Hong Kong to live with her family in England. She has a long distance crush on her internet friend Ada who she bonded with over the comic Eden Recoiling and the fanfiction that Ada writes.   However, Joan, Elsie's childhood best friend, re-enters her life after spending several years in Hong Kong.

Parallel to Elsie and Joan's rekindled friendship, the novel uses letters to tell the story of Theresa and Rebecca, Ada's grandmother and her long-lost pen pal. Elsie and Joan use the summer to search for Rebecca and rekindle their friendship or possibly more.

In addition to the love story, So weaves in Elsie's journey about her identity as a queer person of Asian descent and the prejudices her family and friends may carry. The author's skillful storytelling and parallel narratives create a compelling exploration of reconnection and self-discovery. With its themes of love, friendship, and the power of finding oneself, this book is a heartfelt story about family, friends, and love.

gibsongirl's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.75

november_rain's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

kristiane's review against another edition

4.0

Really liked how a prominent theme was reunification. Done so well