A review by happi_mess
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

2.0

People say you fall in love, but fall is such a sad word when you think about it. Falls are never good. You fall on the ground, you fall behind, you fall to your death.

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Here's me trying to produce tears for this book:



─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Rating: ★★

I'm sorry... I just... I can't... there's... I honestly don't know why I didn't like this book as much as I thought. But nevertheless, this is the first book that I actually finished this year. One that I was motivated enough to finish. Colleen Hoover has me on a chokehold.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Positives & Negatives

☽ I actually liked the premise of the book, I just think we were constrained by time.

I felt like this book was too short for us to feel the magnanimity of the emotions that it could potentially bring us. We could have had more pain and confusion from either protagonists so we'd all feel like we're hit by a car at the end of this. Sadly, for me, it wasn't enough. I only felt like an ant bit me.

☽ There's chemistry, but it needed more time to cook. It's like raw chicken.

Strangely, I feel the motherly emotions than the chemistry between these Ledger and Kenna. And I'm not even a mother.

Spoiler

They were in love before the last chapter of the book. Jesus, you've known each other for like, what? Two weeks? And you're in love? What did the two of you really do together aside from being horny for each other? I don't get it.

☽ Scotty, I wanted to love you but I didn't really get to know you.

Sure, we were told some moments. Sure, he was already dead. But I didn't really feel that Kenna love/d him? It's like he only got brought up only when it was necessary. But this book was written because he died! I'm sure he's amazing as per the recounts of the people, but did we really get to know him enough to sympathize and feel his presence in the story? Nope, not really.

☽ Whatever happened to the accident was unbelievable.

It's like everyone who was part of that investigation was stupid? I'm not buying anything from that event.

☽ The ending? It was pure crap.

It needed to have more impact. It felt rushed and a shortcut. And the solution to Kenna's problem had been too simple. It was like her five years of anguish was unnecessary.

Spoiler

Just because of a letter Scotty's parents forgave her? That was nuts. It could have been resolved sooner if this is only what it would take for forgiveness to arise. It happened all too quickly. Then Diem just magically accepts her in her life? That's weird. I don't think that it would really happen in real life.

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In sum:

Will I recommend this book to anyone who I think would enjoy it? Definitely. Let's give it the benefit of the doubt that I only lacked the needed experiences and status in life to enjoy this story.

I honestly don't know what's going on with CoHo's writing for the past few years but it's somehow turning out to be less polished. I used to love all her works but I feel like things are heading straight for the worse. But would I still read her upcoming books? Hell, yes! I think I still have more books of her that I love than the ones that were not my cup of tea.

Would I still recommend her books? Of course. It's just a hit or miss situation based on the reader.



P.S. There goes my first complete read of the year. Hopefully this is not like a bad omen that for the rest of the year I will be reading subpar books.