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asteriareads 's review for:
Reminders of Him
by Colleen Hoover
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I expected a lot from this book. It seems to be a fan favourite amongst many colleen hoover fans. But it didn’t give like I expected it to give.
I liked reading about Kenna’s struggles with Scotty’s parents, giving up her daughter, the grief of a loved one and self forgiveness. The issues were all very complex and deep to read about. I also liked the fact that the author gave perspective to both sides of the grief. I felt both angry, frustrated and sympathetic to both Kenna and the Landry’s.
However, this was supposed to be woman fiction more so than a romance but it felt like the plot was side-tracked and overshadowed for the romantic relationship between Kenna and Ledger.
The ending was so convenient, anti-climatic and way too easy. Seriously? All it took was Ledger handing over Kenna’s letter depicting the event from her point of view and pouring out her guilt over Scotty’s death for his parents to change their mind about her and introduce her into Diem’s life. The fact that it was Ledger and not Kenna who made the action annoys me. In the real world a man isn’t going to save you and solve all your issues. I wanted to see a strong mother who would go to the ends of the earth to ensure her daughter knew she cared about her and fight for a place in her daughters life. She literally attempted twice and both times were thumped by the very man who brought her into Diem’s life. Talk about hard work.
There wasn’t enough moments of Diem or memories of Scotty to feel like these characters were all the important. I mourned Scotty, felt the heartbreak and cried my eyes out but they both should have been given more time on paper.
If Hoover wanted to portray the troubles of a Kenna’s fight and redemption, the romance should have taken the back burner and Kenna should have been more active and persistent in her goal.
I liked reading about Kenna’s struggles with Scotty’s parents, giving up her daughter, the grief of a loved one and self forgiveness. The issues were all very complex and deep to read about. I also liked the fact that the author gave perspective to both sides of the grief. I felt both angry, frustrated and sympathetic to both Kenna and the Landry’s.
However, this was supposed to be woman fiction more so than a romance but it felt like the plot was side-tracked and overshadowed for the romantic relationship between Kenna and Ledger.
The ending was so convenient, anti-climatic and way too easy. Seriously? All it took was Ledger handing over Kenna’s letter depicting the event from her point of view and pouring out her guilt over Scotty’s death for his parents to change their mind about her and introduce her into Diem’s life. The fact that it was Ledger and not Kenna who made the action annoys me. In the real world a man isn’t going to save you and solve all your issues. I wanted to see a strong mother who would go to the ends of the earth to ensure her daughter knew she cared about her and fight for a place in her daughters life. She literally attempted twice and both times were thumped by the very man who brought her into Diem’s life. Talk about hard work.
There wasn’t enough moments of Diem or memories of Scotty to feel like these characters were all the important. I mourned Scotty, felt the heartbreak and cried my eyes out but they both should have been given more time on paper.
If Hoover wanted to portray the troubles of a Kenna’s fight and redemption, the romance should have taken the back burner and Kenna should have been more active and persistent in her goal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident