Book 3: Reminders of him by Colleen Hoover

Summary: In an effort to reconcile with her 4-year-old daughter, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where everything went wrong after serving five years in jail for a catastrophic error. But it seems difficult to repair the bridges Kenna burned. No matter how hard Kenna attempts to establish herself, everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to keep her out.

Ledger Ward, the proprietor of a nearby tavern and one of the few people still connected to Kenna’s kid, is the only person who hasn’t totally shut the door on her. But if anyone were to find out how Ledger is gradually taking over Kenna’s life, both would run the risk of losing the respect of everyone who matters to them.

Despite the pressure they are under, the two connect, but as their romance develops, the risk increases. In order to create a future based on healing and optimism, Kenna must discover a way to put her past transgressions behind her.

First impressions: Reading this particular book of hers made me feel a completely different way compared to Hoovers other books. This seems incredibly raw and weighty instead of the usual butterflies and heart flutters her books normally offer me. It’s undeniably more of a life narrative than a love story. The writing and characters in these books are my favourites.

I found myself relating to Kenna and the feelings she experienced without even realising it. The finest thing about reading about her development and self-forgiveness was throughout the book. She shows that even though people make poor judgements, that doesn’t make them awful people. She demonstrates this by fighting and being selfless.

What I loved: Even though Reminders Of Him was incredibly sad, I couldn’t put the book down, it had such a wide depth of emotion. I cherished the book. I couldn’t help but feel bad for Kenna because it was such a horrible situation. I won’t lie; there were times when I BAWLED my eyes out because of the heartbreaking circumstances. The characters were engaging, and it was super enjoyable to see how the characters interacted with one another.

The appeal of Colleen Hoover’s works is that they engage you in the narrative and that her writing style enables you to experience every feeling, heartbreak, and thought experienced by the characters, which truly brings them to life. I especially loved the story’s message of hope and healing and found it to be both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Impact on teens: “Reminders of Him” by Colleen Hoover can have a significant impact on teens who are dealing with grief and loss. The story explores the complex emotions that come with losing a loved one and the struggle to move on with life. Teens who have experienced loss may find comfort in reading a story that acknowledges their pain and offers a message of hope and healing.

The story can also help teens who have not experienced loss to develop empathy and understanding towards those who are grieving. It can be a valuable tool for helping young people learn about the grieving process and the importance of supporting loved ones who are going through a difficult time.

Overall rating: 4/5

I most DEFINETLEY recommend this book! This book was amazing to me. It’s a really well-written narrative with rich, significant characters and a masterfully weaved plot and I honestly just couldn’t get enough.