Description
Reminders of Him A Novel Hoover, Colleen: 9781542025607:: Books
Reminders of Him A Novel Hoover’s story is about a little girl who finds a picture book and tells the stories in it to her dad as they drive.
Her dad tries to talk her out of wanting the book, but she eventually wins.
As if that wasn’t enough for one night, he brings home a new puppy and shares it with his daughter until she falls asleep.
But when he wakes up in the morning, the pictures from last night are nowhere to be found! He searches all around for them (I mean all over) and finally sees a note that says, “For life’s too short not to love.”
He knows it was left by his daughter, which means his heart has been broken.
Wendy LeGrand –
4.5 starsIt is no secret that Colleen Hoover knows how to craft an emotionally intense story that could very well be the life story of any one of us. The myriad of people who have read her books and then posted somewhere on social media that they related so completely with a particular story is endless. I see posts, daily, about how these stories touch their lives. And Reminders of Him is no exception.I am not saying that countless people can relate to the fact that this young woman spent years in prison because she made one life altering decision one night. I’m saying that countless young woman can relate to Kenna, as a person, as someone who grew up in the same kind of environment she was subjected to. Who felt mostly unseen their entire lives, like they weren’t important or worth anything, until they met a Scotty of their own.Even though Scotty is gone, he played such an integral role in this story. He was still Kenna’s sounding board every single day. She basically had no one at all in the world, so it was no wonder she still clung to him all these years later as someone she loved, admired, and was devoted to. Even though Ledger’s initial feelings towards her were not positive, he quickly turned into that one physical person Kenna was able to turn to for the same comfort she always got from Scotty.I’m not going to lie, a large majority of this book felt super heavy to me. Like there was never going to be a way that anything positive was going to happen. It just felt like an insurmountable, no-win situation. Until finally, some rays of sunlight started to peek through. I really have no clue at all how Kenna stayed on her feet every day. I feel like I would have crumbled long ago and never have found a way to rise out of those ashes.This was a powerful read. It definitely tugs at all the heartstrings. Ledger was otherworldly. Are there really guys out there like him? I’m pretty sure there are, because I married one. I hope every woman out there finds her own Ledger.My only complaint was that it wrapped up too quickly in the end. I wanted to see so much more interaction between Kenna, Diem and Ledger. But at the same time, Colleen ended it perfectly. Wow, just wow.
Mary Fenlon –
My goodness, I have read other Colleen Hoover books which I liked, but wasn’t interested with the intense sex scenes. I hesitated to read more of them as I just didn’t want to be bothered by all of those segments that were a bit too much and detracted from the real story.I’m so very glad I tried one more time because I couldn’t stop reading this.It’s so much better than I ever could’ve imagined! While I don’t care for hot sex scenes in books, this one kept them short enough that they were realistic and enjoyable and not over the top.The story itself is amazing and so refreshing and I cried happy tears. Something a story rarely causes me to do.So so so good!!!
K. Turner –
This is my second book by Colleen Hoover and I honestly didn’t think anything could top the first, It Ends With Us. And while I’m not sure I would say this tops it, it’s right there beside it. I haven’t read a novel from cover-to-cover in a single day since I was a teenager… until this book.Reminders of His is classified as romance, and while there is romance within it’s pages, that’s not the most prominent love story. And this love story completely, utterly gutted me. There were only a handful of pages I read without tears in my eyes.If you’ve read anything by Colleen Hoover, you know she’s a master with words, and this book was no different. Her writing is absorbing and mesmerizing, and she creates beautifully imperfect characters that you are immediately drawn to and feel like you know yourself. The story itself, however, is truly spectacular. It’s raw and human and so real. There are no “bad guys” in this one–only people who have loved and lost and are doing the best they can to cope. Any person with feelings is going to have a lasting lump in their throat. And for the mothers out there, it’s going to cause you physical pain.One last note on the story. Colleen has done a exceptional job of humanizing a person we, as a society, love to demonize because of their record. I personally had family members who were in prison and can attest to the accuracy with which the author portrays the difficulties and challenges faced when inmates are released back to the streets. This struggles this main character faces just because of having been to prison are real. The story provides an urging to society to remember that people are human and make mistakes and many do not deserve to be demonized as a result; a mistake doesn’t make someone a bad person.
Janet Sastini –
I saw this book on my recommended reads, but I wasn’t sure if I would like it. I read a few of the reviews and decided to give it a shot and I’m extremely glad I did. I felt Kenna’s sadness and longing for hope through the letters she wrote to Scotty. I cried for her and her struggles to forgive herself for the tragic accident that took the life of the man she loved, blaming herself and feeling she deserved a much stronger punishment than seven years in prison, that she didn’t even try to fight for herself. I felt anger at those that couldn’t see past their own grief and pain to do more than place blame and condemnation towards Kenna. All until she was able to finally share some of the letters she wrote to Scotty with his best friend and he realized just how wrong they all had been about her. Make sure you have tissue close by as I’m sure you will need some. This book was well written to the point that I could picture things in my mind while reading this story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Brittany Tellefsen –
Absolute perfection!!Five years ago, Kenna made a devastating mistake that led to the death of the man she loved. Now out of prison, she is returning to the town in which the tragedy occurred, hoping to start a relationship with her four-year-old daughter, Diem. But she knows it won’t be easy and, in fact, it seems everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut her out even though she is doing everything she can to prove herself and absolve of her sins.Though unlikely, Kenna finds support in the form of Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and someone with a big connection to her daughter. Though he should hate her, and does at first, as he gets to know Kenna, Ledger sees beyond her mistakes to the kind, loving, smart, strong woman she is. A woman who has held her own share of unimaginable grief and loss and just wants the chance to know her daughter. And though it puts him in a terrible position, he cannot help but develop feelings for her.Despite the impossible circumstances, Ledger and Kenna form a bond that defies logic and they know they will have insurmountable odds to beat if they are to be together and if Kenna is going to be allowed to be a mother to her daughter.I am not sure what more I can say about this book aside from the fact that it was utterly beautiful. Harrowing, raw, emotional, it tugged at my heartstringsIt is no secret that I am rarely disappointed in anything Colleen Hoover writes. I find that she is a master of writing nuanced characters that have deeply complex relationship dynamics and often times, immense flaws that only had to their complexity. Reminders of Him was no different.Told from the perspectives of both Kenna and Ledger, you follow each on intensely emotional journeys separately, as well as together.For Kenna, it is a journey of redemption. Absolution. The journey of a mother who just wanted to see her daughter and who will do whatever she has to to make that happen. It is about proving her worth, atoning for her sins, and showing that she is not a bad person. She is just a person who made a really bad mistake.For Ledger, his journey is one of forgiveness. Of doing what is right. Overcoming years of hatred to see beyond the loss he suffered to the heart of the person who caused it. Realizing that the love and relationship he has developed with Kenna’s daughter is only one that can be enriched and benefitted by Kenna’s presence, not harmed by it. But he is put in an awful position as being with Kenna, fighting for her, means betraying the people raising Diem. The ones most affected by Kenna’s mistake.Though this is a relatively brief novel, it packs a severe punch. One that his agonizing and heart-wrenching as you route for Kenna, but cannot help but be appalled by her past. As you are frustrated with Ledger, but also understand his actions and his reasonings. There is so much depth here and it was so well done.
Carla the Reader –
People have been raving about Colleen Hoover’s books for several years, but I still hadn’t read any. I finally picked up It Ends With Us and now Reminders of Him. She is definitely deserving of the praise and I will be picking through her backlist. In this book we meet Kenna Rowan, a young woman who made some awful mistakes and paid a terrible price. She has a four year old daughter that she has never seen, and is being raised by her paternal grandparents, as her father is dead. They do not want Kenna anywhere near Diem, but she just wants to see her, to meet her, not take her from her grandparents. When she returns to town, she meets Ledger, the best friend of Kenna’s deceased boyfriend, a man who is very close to his family and an integral part of Diem’s life. He is attracted to her, until he finds out who she is. When they begin to develop feelings toward one another, Ledger tries to resist, but he wants to do what is best for both Kenna and Diem.This story was so emotional, I was glad I had tissues near by. We learn about Kenna’s past and the accident that changed her life completely through letters she has written while in prison. She shares her feelings and thoughts that she couldn’t tell anyone about. I wanted to reach into the book and hold Kenna close, stroke her hair and wipe her tears. She is a character that gets under your skin and breaks your heart over and over. Ledger was another amazing character. He wanted to do what was right for everyone, even if it caused those he cared about some pain. He looked beyond all he heard about Kenna and saw what was in her heart. The romance was slow to develop, but there were a couple of sex scenes that I could have done without. One thing I have come to learn quickly is that Colleen Hoover writes amazing characters who become real, people you want to know. The story itself is very well written, with well developed characters, an excellent plot and one that I wanted to know what was going to happen, but didn’t want to end. I loved the epilogue as it tied up the story nicely, yet was short and sweet. I definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy romance, second chances, family stories, forgiveness and family.I did a read/listen with this book and both formats were wonderful. Brittany Pressley and Ryan West do a fantastic job narrating this book. The emotions shine through with their performance and when I was listening I was totally immersed in the story. When I had a chance to sit, I read and again, was pulled into this story. I recommend either format.
Colleen Noyes –
This is my first Colleen Hoover book (I know I know I know). 10% in an I am already bawling, tears streaming down my face like I am Kenna and can feel everything she is going through, the self torture, the pain, the struggle, the fear. This book already has me by the eyeballs and I can’t put it down.I can not with Kenna’s mother. All of the history that Kenna describes breaks my heart. As a parent how could you ever be like that with your child? A part of you?Like Kenna and Ledger in this story I am so torn. I can feel every single thing, I found myself crying and not realizing I was crying. I found myself holding my breath, waiting on pins and needles, I found myself shaking my head and my heart filling with so much pain, empathy, and frustration for what they must be going through. Each of them.This book deals with love, heartache, betrayal, grief in more ways than one, regret, and so much more. I could not put it down and by the end it left me way beyond spent. I can not wait to devour all of Colleen Hoover’s Books. If you love a good tear jerker book, with heartache and romance then grab this asap.
SEXY ROMANCE READS –
Wow! Just wow. I wasn’t sure how to write this review or where to start this review. This book was so much and its hard to put it all into words.I finished this book in a day and a half. I just couldn’t put it down, I just had to know what was going to happen.This is one of the saddest book I’ve read. Kenna’s story just broke me heart. This book really made me cry.Kenna made one mistake and it has impacted her whole life, and let be honest even before her mistake she didn’t have the best life.She was finally able to have a moment of happiness and its ripped away from her in the harshest of ways possible.I couldn’t believe how unfair her life has been and I just wanted her to get a win just one.Ledger was a bit of a jerk in the beginning which was understandable given the situation.But he was a caring and considerate to the people he cares about and extremely protective.“I don’t like that the one person I dislike the most in this world reminds me of the person I love the most.”After some time he realizes that maybe he didn’t know the whole story and he was led to believe something that wasn’t true. And maliciously but because that was what it seemed like.Ledger starts to see a side of Kenna that he didn’t realize existed and he sees the sadness in her, even though he doesn’t want to he finds himself being protective of her.Kenna does everything she can to try to redeem herself, but it seems like its always out of her reach.Everyone judges her and doesn’t know a thing about what she’s been through the hurt, the pain, the utter despair and the depression she felt. It just broke my heart.“So, you decide right now, right here. Are you gonna live in your sadness or are you gonna die in it?”Colleen Hoover really took me on a rollercoaster ride in this book. You feel the hurt of all the character and their pain.“Please don’t,” I whisper. “It hurts enough already.”What was really amazing too was while we were in the present in the story we got to understand the past and the relationship between Scotty and Kenna. And how much they felt for each other.This was beautifully written I literally could put the book down all day I just had to know how things would end for Kenna, Ledger and the rest of the characters.“Maybe it doesn’t matter whether something is a coincidence or a sign. Maybe the best way to cope with the loss of the people we love is to find them in as many places and things as we possibly can. And in the off chance that the people we lose are still somehow able to hear us, maybe we should never stop talking to them.”It takes Kenna a really long time but she does find a way to forgive herself for the mistake she’s made. And for her to find some sort of happiness. I enjoyed this part some much and was so happy for her.“Now that I’ve forgiven myself, the reminders of him only make me smile.”Ledger and Kenna are so good together, I love that Ms. Hoover took the time to let the characters really get to know each other and it wasn’t rushed. They peeled back every layer and got to the heart of everything. Which bound them together even more.Colleen Hoover weaves a story of love, loss and forgiveness that will have you crying and wishing that you could give Kenna a hug. I wanted so much for things to go right for her for. And for someone to give her a chance.This is an amazing story, that will bring all your emotions to the forefront and make you cry.
Meghan K. (Books2lovenow) –
This is an incredible book. Its a love story of relationships, grief, and finding forgiveness and joy again. Colleen Hoover has written something you rarely see in books that life is messy. Rarely is their a clear-cut villain that would make real life easier to understand. Its a lovestory of motherhood and hope. I cried more reading this book than I have reading anything in years. You cry in pain and sadness and you cry in happiness and joy. You laugh because sometimes in grief the only you can do is laugh or give into the pain.I really appreciated the spotlight on the bleakness of prison and the inhumanity it often holds. There’s an exploration of how hard it is for some to go on after prison. The book is really about the layers to forgiveness and the many ways it makes into your life.This is really very poetically written. Its worth all the tears to read, but have a tissue box or two ready when you do.
Mya –
Good from start to finish. It upset me how unwavering Scotty’s parents were to Kenna, but given the circumstances, I can understand their reasoning.Kenna is resilient, strong and also broken. All of these things can exist together without making a person weak. She finds an unlikely ally in Ledger, the best friend of her deceased boyfriend. Despite his hate for Kenna in the beginning, Ledger is the missing piece needed to reunite Kenna with her daughter, Diem.CH did a great job of creating characters that are all sides of the coin. Both villian and victim. It’s the reality we live in and not everything is black and white.I’m glad Kenna, ledger, Diem and the laundry’s got their happy ending. Although, I wonder what happened to Lady Diana and Ruth and Ivy.