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A review by princeeskeleton
Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
3.0
* 3.5 star review
This book follows the story of one family after their son, Justin, returns home after being kidnapped four years earlier. It's a multi-perspective book that shows how the family is reacting to Justin's return, the trauma that happened to him, and the years of turmoil that occurred after Justin's kidnapping.
Although I did enjoy this book immensely I found parts to be too slow, and that the novel had a lot of lose ends that left me feeling like their should be some more closure.
What I liked about this novel:
- The writing was beautiful, especially the character writing. The characters were written like actual human beings. The author avoided any cliches when it came to writing these characters, and instead wrote them as flawed and messy, but still admirable to an extent of some.
- The overall premise was very interesting. I've read my fair share of books about abduction/murder cases, and a lot of times it ends either happy or bad. With this book we get neither a happy or bad ending, instead we get an ending that is real and raw. This book also focus on the kidnapping of a young boy, which i've hardly ever seen. Usually books like these seem to have young girls being kidnapped, murdered, etc..
- The book explores trauma, and how trauma can affect the whole family very well and compassionately.
What I didn't like about this novel:
- This is very slow paced, which most of the time I don't mind, but with this book I felt that it was too slow at points and wanted the author to get to the point already.
- Didn't feel I got any closure from this novel. I felt that their was still more to explore with the story, and that more ends needed to be tied.
- The dialogue between teenagers seemed really unnatural. Griff and Justin simultaneously seemed to be written with dialogue that was too young and too old for their age group. I also felt that some of the slang, and overall dialogue between teenagers used was a bit dated.
- I kind of wished the author wrote Justin's perspective as well, but you know.
Although I did enjoy "Remember Me Like This" I felt that the book could have offered me a bit more, and I craved some more closure and engage in the overall story. Instead it fell a bit flat for me.
This book follows the story of one family after their son, Justin, returns home after being kidnapped four years earlier. It's a multi-perspective book that shows how the family is reacting to Justin's return, the trauma that happened to him, and the years of turmoil that occurred after Justin's kidnapping.
Although I did enjoy this book immensely I found parts to be too slow, and that the novel had a lot of lose ends that left me feeling like their should be some more closure.
What I liked about this novel:
- The writing was beautiful, especially the character writing. The characters were written like actual human beings. The author avoided any cliches when it came to writing these characters, and instead wrote them as flawed and messy, but still admirable to an extent of some.
- The overall premise was very interesting. I've read my fair share of books about abduction/murder cases, and a lot of times it ends either happy or bad. With this book we get neither a happy or bad ending, instead we get an ending that is real and raw. This book also focus on the kidnapping of a young boy, which i've hardly ever seen. Usually books like these seem to have young girls being kidnapped, murdered, etc..
- The book explores trauma, and how trauma can affect the whole family very well and compassionately.
What I didn't like about this novel:
- This is very slow paced, which most of the time I don't mind, but with this book I felt that it was too slow at points and wanted the author to get to the point already.
- Didn't feel I got any closure from this novel. I felt that their was still more to explore with the story, and that more ends needed to be tied.
- The dialogue between teenagers seemed really unnatural. Griff and Justin simultaneously seemed to be written with dialogue that was too young and too old for their age group. I also felt that some of the slang, and overall dialogue between teenagers used was a bit dated.
- I kind of wished the author wrote Justin's perspective as well, but you know.
Although I did enjoy "Remember Me Like This" I felt that the book could have offered me a bit more, and I craved some more closure and engage in the overall story. Instead it fell a bit flat for me.