Reviews

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So

clarerkatie's review against another edition

5.0

i’m trying to put into words how this book made me feel, it’s a wonderfully queer coming of age story, that so beautifully explores sexuality friendship, and family.

my heart hasn’t felt so light in a long time, this book has given me so much happiness, my inner child feels so seen.

elsie is such a dynamic character, her story her experiences, she was so loveable, i need an elsie in my life, i need a million stories just like hers.

if i could rate this more than 5 stars i would, this book will forever stay with me, im so thankful i found it im so happy i had the chance to read it!

mochiwaffles's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

amazingmyrsky's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

charlotte06's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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

4.75

Someone told me this is trashy teen romance. 🙄 
That simply doesn’t do it justice and whoever says so is just wrong.

kavanagh57's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

camilla98_'s review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

hhjlvnar's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.0

wunder's review against another edition

3.0

I had trouble getting engaged with this book. It picked up a bit around 1/2 or 2/3 of the way in, but that is a long time. I don't think it was any one thing, sort of a combination.

Something about the first person narration was distancing, which is odd. It felt like Elsie was observing her own life instead of living it. When she first sees Joan, it reads "I study the person who interrupted us..."

There is plenty of description of what people are wearing, but not much reaction to it.

There is very little sense of place. I was surprised to find it was set in Oxford, because I hadn't seen anything British about in the story, not even terms like pavement or lorry. Other than complaining about the heat (which doesn't seem like England to me) and riding trains, we don't get any feel for where this happens.

The connections to comics seemed off, too. Does anybody just read one comic? Yes, Elsie is introduced to more, but has she just been waiting each month for her one true comic? Compare it to [b:Verona Comics|51901322|Verona Comics|Jennifer Dugan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570286270l/51901322._SX50_SY75_.jpg|66816175] by Jennifer Dugan, where the characters bond over a particular comic, but read widely. Or [b:Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good|51284112|Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good|Nancy Werlin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597019457l/51284112._SY75_.jpg|71860276] by Nancy Werlin, where the found family of fandom is a huge part of the story.

What others have said about the representation and the heartwarming story is all true, but I also have to care about the characters. It was just hard to connect with them.

etonmess2's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-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? Yes

4.25

hue's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.0

My problem was mainly with the narrator. The character itself, Elsie, was very immature for being 18. She read more like a 15/16 year old. The sort of stalky plotline with Ada's grandmother was almost creepy. Elsie didn't seem to care about her friends boundaries nor about their feelings whatsoever. She was selfish and hasty with decisions that didn't involve her at all. It made me really uncomfortable.

The writing left something to be desired. It was meh at best, and the dialogue between characters—both in person and via text messages—was clunky and strange. I don't think anyone speaks like that in real life. It sort of ruined the connections between the characters. 

Often I found the story rather overwritten. The plot was predictable, a bit messy and all over the place at times. If it would've focused on a few plot lines rather than so many at the same time (that didn't seem to go anywhere) it could've been a more pleasing reading experience.

I did however like most of the side characters. I adored Ritika (who I would've loved as the main character) and Felix. I also really liked Ada and Joan, but I feel like they could've gotten more character development to be more "realistic" somehow.

I also saw no chemistry between Elsie and Joan, which is unfortunate. It could've been really good.

The representation, and the many colors of the Queer rainbow was extremely nice! I do wish I would've like the story just a little more, but alas.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship