By Book Club Team 
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover is an emotional contemporary romance that follows a young mother named Kenna Rowan, who seeks redemption after serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake. Coming back to the town where her life had fallen apart, Kenna wants to reconnect with her daughter, Diem, raised by her late boyfriend’s parents. But confronted with the rejection of the community and the closest people to her daughter, Kenna finds an unlikely ally in Ledger Ward, her dead boyfriend’s best friend, as she treads along a dangerous path of grief, forgiveness, and love.
| Author | Colleen Hoover |
| Publication date | January 18, 2022 |
| Goodreads Rating | 4,36 |
| Page count | 335 pages |
| Genres | Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Chick Lit, New Adult, Love, Drama, Romance |
Reminders of Him Summary
Kenna Rowan has just gotten out of prison after serving five years for the involuntary manslaughter of her boyfriend, Scotty Landry. A moment of reckless decision culminated in an accident that would alter Kenna’s life forever. Now, at 26, she returns to this small town with the hope of reconnecting with her four-year-old daughter, Diem-whom she had never met. The infant Diem is being reared by Scotty’s parents, Patrick and Grace Landry, who have wholly removed Kenna from their lives due to believing her unfit for parenthood.
At every turn, Kenna has a door slammed in her face. The Landrys are utterly protective of Diem and won’t even let Kenna in. Ledger Ward, Scotty’s best friend and Diem’s surrogate father, initially feels the same. As the beloved owner of the local bar and heavily invested in the upbringing of Diem, Ledger is one gatekeeper that Kenna knows she has to contend with if she wants to see her daughter.
With time, Ledger begins to perceive Kenna from a different angle. From disbelief to the realization of her pain, regret, and determination, he learns that since the day she was put in prison, Kenna has been writing letters to Scotty, though unsent, serving like a mirror to her feelings of guilt, love, and longing for forgiveness. Ledger becomes an unlikely ally, bound between his loyalty to the Landrys and growing conviction that Kenna deserves another chance.
Kenna struggles to prove her worthiness of staying in Diem’s life amidst her own grief and guilt. She shares moments of vulnerability with Ledger and eventually starts to heal. The two eventually work their way into a romance-the basis of which is the foundation of mutual understanding and the common desire to try and build a better life for the little girl.
The turning point follows when Kenna writes a raw, heartfelt letter to the Landrys, apologizing and showing love toward her daughter. This gesture of vulnerability makes Patrick and Grace see that Kenna really loves Diem, and she is different from that person who made such an awful mistake all those years back. They can start opening up the door toward reconciliation, allowing Kenna to rebuild a relationship with her daughter.
The story concludes on a hopeful and redeeming note when Kenna and Ledger find common ground with the Landrys on the best way to give Diem the life she deserves-a life of knowing her mother’s love.
Reminders of Him Characters
Here’s a quick rundown of the major players in Reminders of Him:
- Kenna Rowan: Heroine-young mother hoping to earn her redemption and get reunited with her daughter, Diem, upon serving five years in prison.
- Ledger Ward: Scotty’s best friend, father figure to Diem. Initially skeptical of Kenna, he becomes her ally, love interest.
- Diem Landry: Kenna’s four-year-old daughter, who is being brought up by her grandparents. She’s the heartbeat of Kenna’s journey.
- Patrick and Grace Landry: Scotty’s parents, Diem’s guardians-very protective and resistant toward Kenna because of their pain from losing Scotty.
- Scotty Landry: The boyfriend who died, whose memory touches very inch of this story.
- Lady Diana: A kind older woman who takes Kenna in when she comes back to town. She is a minor but caring figure in Kenna’s life.
- Roman: Bartending at Ledger’s bar, providing much comic relief and companionship, helping to support Ledger through the somewhat turmoil-filled path of trying to sort out Kenna’s dilemma.
Reminders of Him Review
Reminders of Him is an emotional and heartwarming story flowing from the deep-seated talent Colleen Hoover possesses in exploring complex human emotions and relationships. The novel is a poignant tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love, anchored by relatable and well-drawn characters. Kenna’s attempt to rebuild her life and reunite with her daughter is heart-wrenching yet so inspiring, as Hoover captures her pain and resilience authentically.
Told from the perspectives of Kenna and Ledger, respectively, the story becomes multilayered as a reader is exposed to both sides: Kenna’s desperation for involvement in her daughter’s life, and Ledger’s inner turmoil of loyalty toward Scotty’s family with his feelings for Kenna blossoming. The romance grows organically, adding tenderness to the layers of the narrative.
Hoover does emotional moments so well, and this novel isn’t an exception. From the letters Kenna writes to Scotty, which she doesn’t send, to the small understanding gestures from Ledger, every scene feels meaningful and raw. The themes of guilt, grief, and forgiveness are handled with sensitivity, making the story cathartic yet uplifting.
Although this is a really emotionally intense novel and arguably its strongest feature, there are places, particularly in the Landrys’ resistance to Kenna, that feel a little repetitive or even heavy-handed. Fortunately, the resolution pays off with an earned, hopeful ending that feels realistic.
Pros:
- Emotional Depth: This is a raw and heartbreaking story; hence, one easily connects to the struggle of Kenna and her road to redemption.
- Flawed Characters: Realistic, yet relatable characters and realistic emotions among them, specifically Kenna and Ledger.
- Gripping Themes: It addresses guilt, grief, and forgiveness in a manner that leaves one’s emotional quotient touched.
- Dual Perspective: The story flows with Kenna and Ledger taking turns so that one gets a sense of both sides being evened out.
- Satisfactory Ending: It feels earned and realistic and hopeful without skating over the struggles that the characters had to endure.
Cons:
- Conflict Redundancy: The resistance by the Landrys against Kenna, although understandable, might feel too prolonged or repetitive for certain readers.
- Pacing Issues: The story has a tendency to get slow, especially in the middle, as it focuses more on the character emotions and their conflicts.
- Backstory: Since it focuses on Kenna’s guilt, a bit of insight into life before the accident may have been helpful to develop her character more fully.
- Overwhelming Emotion: A heavy load of grief and guilt in this book might be too much for readers who prefer light romance or drama.
Verdict
Poignant and deep, tugging at the heart, Reminders of Him is a gut-wrenching read from Colleen Hoover, who once again proves her mastery of storytelling. Not for readers seeking fast-paced or light romance, it’s perfect for those who enjoy heartfelt stories about second chances and forgiveness.
Is Reminders of Him Spicy?
No, Reminders of Him is not really spicy. The romance between Kenna and Ledger is more emotionally intimate and trust-building than steamy. There are some physical moments, but they are pretty mild and not the focus of this story on forgiveness, healing, and familial love. So, with more emotional depth than sensuality, this read is able to transcend into a wide audience.
Reminders of Him: Age Rating
The recommended age rating for Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover is 17+. This is due to its mature themes, including grief, loss, incarceration, and redemption. While the book contains some mild romantic content, the emotional depth and heavy subject matter make it more suitable for older teens and adults who can engage with its complex and often intense themes.
Is Reminders of Him a Standalone?
Yes, Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover is a standalone novel. The story is self-contained, with no sequels or prequels, and it concludes in a satisfying and complete way. Readers do not need to read any other books to understand or enjoy this one.
Is Reminders of Him a Series?
No, Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover is not a series. It’s a standalone novel, which means the story is self-contained and does not have any sequels or prequels. But as with so many of her books, it gives out similar vibes in the emotional intensity, complex relationships, and redemption arc that make it a pretty alluring option for readers who enjoy her other works.