Reminders of Him 4⭐️/5

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

4⭐️/5

Colleen Hoovers writing and characters remind me of the Sarah Dessen novels of my 2000’s teenagedom, just more elevated. You trade adolescent banter and miscommunication for more raw emotions and adult problems with questions that don’t have simple answers.

This book, like many of Hoovers others, has a through line of heartbreak, seemingly devastating or complicated circumstances, and a connection between MC’s that draws you in close, like you’re listening in on an intimate conversation, careful not to interrupt.

This is what it felt like to dive back into a Colleen Hoover novel with her recent release, Reminders of Him. I read this book in 24 hours because I just couldn’t stop! I want to keep it brief so you go in blind, but I love the way the characters were drawn to one other, their raw emotions and family dynamics, and the dual POV! This story explores family, forgiveness, and pain, both new and old, but it also leaves room for a few heartfelt moments as well.

It felt a little predictable at times, but wasn’t too distracting. I almost felt like we could have used another 50-100 pages to call back to some of the unexplored or underdeveloped elements (sometimes it breezed past moments or obstacles in a way that felt slightly unrealistic), but I still enjoyed this story overall.

Our favorite Weepy Girl Winter™ author gave a sweet and funny nod in her Acknowledgements to the fact that she doesn’t write rom-coms despite her best effort. Her characters always seem to have a more intense story to tell. So, this story is not a rom-com, but would we want it any other way?! She is my favorite non-rom-com author, and I can’t wait to read more from her! (less)