Reminders of Him - Colleen Hoover - A Short Summary and Review

 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover — Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

Life and a new love after prison.

A short summary:

Reminders of Him follows Kenna Rowan, a young woman returning to the town she once fled after serving time in prison for a tragic mistake that forever altered her life. Her sole purpose in returning is to reconnect with her young daughter, who has been raised by her late partner’s parents, the Landrys. But re-entry is not simple. Kenna is met with suspicion, hostility, and grief from those still mourning her victim, and every step toward forgiveness is complicated by the pain she caused. As she struggles to build a fragile bridge back into her child’s life, she forms an unexpected connection with Ledger Ward, her daughter’s guardian and one of the few people willing to see her beyond her past. The story weaves through themes of grief, regret, maternal longing, and emotional reckoning as Kenna confronts the cost of redemption while working toward healing in a community not ready to forgive.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Are you gonna live in your sadness, or are you gonna die in it?"

Colleen Hoover, Reminders of Him

Questions to ponder while reading:

Have you ever done something terrible?

Is there a wrong time for romance?

My review:

This was an emotionally driven, quick-to-read novel built around the tension between forgiveness and consequences. Hoover excels at crafting emotionally charged scenes and internal reflection, and the story delivers plenty of heart-pulling moments as Kenna faces the weight of loved ones who are not ready to give her a second chance. While the themes of grief and redemption were compelling, the romance element felt uncomfortable given the situation and the emotional stakes; it often seemed to overshadow the deeper moral questions the book was poised to explore. Rather than strengthening the story, the romantic arc sometimes felt misplaced, distracting from what could have been a more powerful focus on accountability, family healing, and personal atonement. Still, the novel succeeds in provoking emotional responses and thoughtful reflection on whether forgiveness can be earned or must be granted freely.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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