What Is Reminders of Him About?
Some books stay with you long after you’ve closed the last page. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover is one of those books. Published in January 2022, this emotionally charged novel weaves together themes of guilt, grief, redemption, and the kind of love that defies all odds. It’s not just a romance — it’s a story about what happens when life breaks you completely, and whether you have the courage to pick up the pieces anyway.
The Story: A Mother’s Impossible Journey
After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the small town where it all went wrong — hoping to reconnect with her four-year-old daughter, Diem. But the bridges she burned aren’t just damaged; they’ve practically been demolished. Amazon
Kenna caused the death of her boyfriend Scotty in a drunk driving accident. Now out of prison, she returns hoping to regain custody of Diem, who has been raised by Scotty’s parents, Grace and Patrick Landry — a couple still raw with grief and furious at the woman they hold responsible for their son’s death. The Bibliofile
What makes this setup so devastating is how fair Hoover is to everyone involved. There are no clear villains or heroes here — just flawed, deeply human people trying to survive an impossible situation. Goodreads The Landrys aren’t monsters for keeping Diem away from Kenna. They’re parents who lost their son and are doing the only thing that makes sense to them: protecting what’s left.
Enter Ledger Ward
With the entire town seemingly against her, Kenna finds herself alone and struggling to prove she’s changed. Her every move is met with resistance — especially from Ledger Ward, Scotty’s best friend and Diem’s de facto father figure. This Chick Reads
Ledger runs a local bar and has developed a close bond with Diem, practically co-raising her alongside the Landrys. He lives right across the street from them. When Kenna first walks into his bar, he doesn’t recognize her — and she gives him a false name to protect herself. SuperSummary
Over time, what starts as mutual suspicion slowly shifts into something neither of them planned for. His internal conflict between loyalty to Scotty’s family and his growing feelings for Kenna adds real tension to the narrative. This Chick Reads Their relationship doesn’t feel rushed or convenient — it feels messy and complicated, the way real feelings usually do.
The Letters: A Window Into Kenna’s Soul
One of the most powerful storytelling devices Hoover uses in this novel is Kenna’s letters. Kenna reveals to Ledger that she has been writing letters to Scotty ever since the accident — a habit that helped her survive her time in prison. By the time we meet her, there are more than 300 of them. SuperSummary
These letters are distributed throughout the book, and they give readers a glimpse into Kenna’s conflicted inner life — her overwhelming remorse, her longing to see Diem, and her deep love for Scotty even in death. It’s a brilliantly effective technique that makes it impossible not to empathize with her. I’ve Read This
The Truth About Scotty’s Death
The full truth of what happened the night Scotty died is heartbreaking. Both Kenna and Scotty had been drinking and using substances. Kenna was able to free herself from the car after the crash, but the blood supply to Scotty’s arm had been cut off — so when she checked for his pulse and found nothing, she assumed he was already gone. She panicked and sought help, but no one came. Scotty was actually still alive, and he died waiting in the car. When police found Kenna, she was unconscious and later arrested. Wikipedia
Overwhelmed with guilt and unwilling to defend herself, Kenna pleaded guilty. It was only after being sentenced that she discovered she was pregnant. Wikipedia That detail alone reframes everything — she went to prison carrying Scotty’s child, giving birth behind bars, and never got the chance to hold her newborn daughter.
Forgiveness as the Heart of the Story
At its core, Reminders of Him is about forgiveness — specifically, the kind that’s hardest to give: forgiveness of yourself. Kenna doesn’t just need the Landrys to forgive her. She needs to find a way to stop punishing herself for a mistake she can never undo.
It’s only when Ledger’s bartender Roman challenges him — pointing out how often Ledger himself has extended second chances to the people around him — that Ledger begins to question whether he has judged Kenna too harshly. SuperSummary
The ending brings a sense of hard-won peace, with Kenna finally able to have a place in Diem’s life. Years later, she and Ledger have a son together, and they name him Scotty. The Bibliofile It’s a quietly beautiful resolution that feels earned rather than easy.
Why This Book Resonates So Deeply
Colleen Hoover has written a lot of emotionally intense novels, but many readers and critics agree that Reminders of Him hits differently. The emotional stakes run so high because this isn’t just a romance novel — it’s a multifaceted story about grief, family, and the struggle to move forward without erasing the past. This Chick Reads
The writing and pacing are solid throughout, and Hoover manages the tone carefully — keeping the story emotional without letting it collapse into pure despair. The Bibliofile That balance is genuinely hard to pull off, and she does it well.
Should You Read It?
If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel something real — the kind of story that lingers in your chest for days after you finish it — then yes, absolutely. Reminders of Him is not comfortable reading. It deals with loss, guilt, grief, and the messy complexity of being human. But it also holds genuine warmth, hope, and the deeply reassuring idea that people can change, and that sometimes the people who least expect forgiveness are the ones who need it most.