BOOK REVIEW: Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

 NISRINA ISNAWATI (30802300024)

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“and sometimes we do things for people we love, even though we wouldn’t choose to do those things for ourselves.”-kenna.

“Reminders of Him” is one of Colleen Hoover's books that really stirs up our emotions, filled with pain, but also with hope. The novel tells the story of Kenna, a woman who has just been released from prison after serving five years for a terrible accident that killed her boyfriend, Scotty. Upon her release, Kenna's only dream is to meet her daughter, Diem, who was born while she was in prison and is now being raised by Scotty's parents.

Here, Hoover really takes us into Kenna's chaotic mind, filled with her lingering guilt, her longing to be a mother, and her heartbreaking loneliness. Through the letters she wrote to Scotty, we can feel the depression that surrounds Kenna, and how deep her loss and regret are.

In terms of plot, Hoover presents the story from two perspectives, those of Kenna and Ledger (Scotty's best friend), allowing us to understand the conflict from both sides. The main themes are redemption, mistakes, second chances, and the courage to face other people's judgments.

This book contains many painful yet beautiful quotes that may drain the reader emotionally. In my opinion, the novel's weakness is that the plot is slow because it tends to focus more on the characters' emotional wounds, and the themes of family and forgiveness feel very heavy to read.

“Reminders of Him” is a very emotional novel, suitable for readers who enjoy stories about sacrifice and second chances. It is not just a romantic story, but the journey of a mother to regain the life that was taken from her.