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A review by verloren918
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- 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
3.5
Ugh, I have so many mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, in general, I liked it. It was creepy in all the right ways, even if the surprise is spoiled from the beginning just from living in society. Can you imagine, reading Jekyll and Hyde for the first time right when it came out, before it lived in the general social consciousness? I bet it was AMAZING to have that twist for the very first time. One of these days, I have to actually read the original. I've been freaked out by it ever since I was a kid thanks to the portrayal of it in The Pagemaster (seriously, that face he has when he says "my name is... MR. HYDE!" lives rent free in my nightmares). But this makes me think that I can take it :D I love that this is a queer, black retelling, and that works SO well as a theme here. It all makes TOTAL sense. I see what the author was doing and I approve. Also, as an aside, the narrator on the audio book is fabulous.
That being said, my biggest gripe is that we don't get enough of their relationship, or who Henry is before everything goes wrong, to understand why Gabriel is so obsessed and stalkery. It wouldn't necessarily bother me quite so much, except we lose a lot of context as to who Henry is (when he's said to be acting out of character, we haven't seen much to contradict it, tbh), and why Gabriel cares so much that he can't let it go. It's a little like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool when you've only been taught the doggy paddle. It didn't even have to be a lot, just like... an extra chapter near the beginning to act as some arm floaties. You know?
So, 3.5, which I think is fair. Good, could've been significantly improved by some different choices.
That being said, my biggest gripe is that we don't get enough of their relationship, or who Henry is before everything goes wrong, to understand why Gabriel is so obsessed and stalkery. It wouldn't necessarily bother me quite so much, except we lose a lot of context as to who Henry is (when he's said to be acting out of character, we haven't seen much to contradict it, tbh), and why Gabriel cares so much that he can't let it go. It's a little like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool when you've only been taught the doggy paddle. It didn't even have to be a lot, just like... an extra chapter near the beginning to act as some arm floaties. You know?
So, 3.5, which I think is fair. Good, could've been significantly improved by some different choices.