The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Hoover, Colleen. Reminders of Him. Montlake, January 18, 2022. Kindle.

In the love story Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, Kenna Rowan has little hope when she is released from jail after serving five years for involuntary manslaughter. She has used up almost all of the money that she had saved to return to the town where she met Scotty Landry, her first love. The town is also where Scotty died in a tragic car accident while Kenna was driving. Kenna hopes to be reunited with the daughter she was forced to give up while in prison. However, she soon discovers the world judges her by one terrible mistake.

The day Kenna arrives in town she wanders into a bar that has taken over the building that once housed a bookstore Kenna and Scotty frequented. The bartender seemed attracted to her and asked her to come back at closing time. As they were sitting in the booth, talking and kissing, Kenna learned the man’s name was Ledger. He was Scotty’s best friend. Ledger, meanwhile, was attracted to Kenna. Ledger sensed she was deeply saddened by something.

Kenna paid a visit to the home where Scotty grew up. His parents, who had custody of Diem, the daughter of Scotty and Kenna, still lived there. Ledger, who knew Kenna as Nichole watched from his house across the street as Kenna approached the house. When he went outside to talk to her, he inferred from her nervousness and her interest in Diem’s house that she was Diem’s mother. He intercepted and kept her from going to the house, introducing herself, and apologizing, as she had intended to do.

Kenna was angry at Ledger for keeping her from Diem, but Ledger was close personal friends with Diem and her grandparents. He knew they did not want Kenna in Diem’s life. At this point, Ledger does not believe that a relationship with her mother would be good for Diem either.

Kenna tells Ledger that she does not want to hurt Diem or her grandparents, just wants the opportunity to see her daughter. She tries to accept that the Landrys do not want her to have contact with Diem when they have her served with a restraining order. Ledger refuses to help Kenna and leaves her feeling defeated.

Roman, one of Ledger’s employees at the bar, comments that Ledger appears depressed. Ledger describes what has happened with Kenna. Roman criticizes Ledger for being cruel to Kenna and not giving her a chance to prove herself. Roman says that he always admired Ledger because Ledger had given him a second chance after Roman was addicted to painkillers following a knee injury. Ledger’s behavior is making it hard for Roman to continue to admire him.

Ledger takes Roman’s advice to check on Kenna. He arrives at her apartment to discover her playing with a girl who suffers with Downs Syndrome. At first, he believes that she is happy and carefree. He notices when the girl is out of sight, Kenna gives in to her grief. Then, Kenna pretends to be happy when the girl returns. When Kenna realizes Ledger is there, she accuses Ledger of just coming to check on her to ease his conscience if anything were to happen to her.

Kenna tells Ledger that she will leave town if that will make the Landrys more comfortable, but she does not have the financial means to do so. Ledger gives her a job at his bar where he has the chance to know her better. The two fall in love, even though they know that their love affair will not be feasible. Ledger loves Diem like his own child. He called off his wedding because his fiancé criticized him for spending too much time with Diem. If the Landrys learn Kenna is in Ledger’s life, he fears they will not allow him to see Diem again.

Ledger has learned that Kenna writes letters to Scotty. He asks her to read to him the description of the day that Scotty died. As Kenna reads the letter, Ledger realizes Kenna’s account of what happened is much different from the account the police gave them. Kenna explains she was so devastated by what happened that she was unable to defend herself. She believed she deserved to go to prison. It was only after she had pleaded guilty and been sentenced that she discovered she was pregnant. Ledger is angry at himself and the Landrys because they made Kenna the villain when she was really a victim, just like they were.

The Landrys learn Ledger and Kenna are seeing one another and give him the ultimatum he feared they would give him. He can either be in Diem’s life, or he can date Kenna. Ledger sneaks a copy of the letter Kenna read to him and gives it to the Landrys to read.

Grace Landry, Scotty’s mother, asks Ledger to take her to meet Kenna after she reads the letter. Grace tells Kenna that she forgives her and wants her to meet Diem. Patrick Landry, Scotty’s father, is not convinced allowing Kenna to be part of Diem’s life is a good idea until he sees Ledger, Kenna, and Diem interact with one another. Two years later, Kenna and Ledger have a child of their own, a boy whom they name Scotty.