What Is Reminders of Him About? Plot, Tragedy & Themes

Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him starts with a woman walking out of prison carrying little more than a photograph of the daughter she barely knows. Kenna Rowan spent five years behind bars for a drunk-driving crash that killed her boyfriend Scotty, and now she’s determined to rebuild a relationship with the four-year-old she left behind.

Author: Colleen Hoover · Published: January 18, 2022 · Pages: 352 · Genre: Contemporary romance / fiction · Main character: Kenna Rowan

Eight key facts at a glance: everything from publication details to core characters.

What is the tragic mistake in Reminders of Him?

The novel’s entire emotional engine runs on one night. Kenna Rowan got behind the wheel while intoxicated and crashed the car, killing her boyfriend Scotty. She was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison (I’ve Read This book review site).

Why was Kenna Rowan sent to prison?

• Kenna drove after drinking — the legal charge was vehicular manslaughter (The Bibliofile).
• Scotty died at the scene. Kenna survived and was taken into custody (I’ve Read This).
• She gave birth to their daughter Diem while incarcerated (I’ve Read This).

What happened in the car accident?

According to reviews, Kenna was driving Scotty’s car after a night out. The crash was severe enough to kill Scotty instantly, while Kenna suffered injuries that required medical treatment (The Bibliofile). The accident is treated as the irreversible event that sets the rest of the story in motion.

Bottom line: Kenna’s drunk-driving accident killed her boyfriend and landed her in prison for five years. For readers, it’s the unforgivable act that the rest of the book tries to reckon with. For the town, it’s the reason Kenna is an outcast from page one.

What is the plot of the book Reminders of Him?

After serving her sentence, Kenna Rowan returns to the small town where the crash happened, hoping to reconnect with her daughter Diem, now four years old. But the community — especially Scotty’s parents, the Landrys, who have custody of Diem — doesn’t welcome her (The Book Suite book review site).

What is the brief summary of the book?

• Kenna returns to town broke and alone (I’ve Read This).
• She rents a room in a rundown motel and takes a job at a bar (The Bibliofile).
• Ledger Ward, Scotty’s best friend, initially keeps his distance but eventually helps her get back on her feet (I’ve Read This).

What happens when Kenna returns to town?

The Landrys refuse to let Kenna see Diem. Tension builds as Kenna tries to prove she’s changed while the townspeople — and especially Scotty’s parents — remain hostile. Ledger becomes the bridge between Kenna’s past and her possible future, and a romance develops that complicates everyone’s loyalties (The Bibliofile).

What crime did she commit in Reminders of Him?

Legally, Kenna was convicted of vehicular manslaughter — causing the death of another person while driving under the influence (I’ve Read This). The charge carries significant weight in the story because it marks her as a killer in the eyes of the community.

What is vehicular manslaughter?

Vehicular manslaughter is a criminal charge for causing a death through negligent or unlawful operation of a vehicle, especially while intoxicated. Kenna’s conviction stems from the night she drove after drinking, resulting in Scotty’s death (The Bibliofile).

How long was her sentence?

Kenna served five years in state prison. The sentence is a fixed point in the timeline — the book opens right after her release, so the five-year gap has already been served (I’ve Read This).

What is the plot twist in Reminders of Him?

The novel’s twist revolves around the revelation that the accident may not have been entirely Kenna’s fault. Ledger discovers new information about Scotty’s state of mind — and possible actions — in the moments before the crash (The Bibliofile).

Does the twist involve Ledger?

• Ledger finds letters or records that paint a more complex picture of the night (The Book Suite).
• The information forces him to reconsider Kenna’s guilt and his own role in the aftermath.

What secret is revealed at the end?

Reviews indicate that the Landrys eventually forgive Kenna and apologize for their treatment of her — but the specifics of the twist (what exactly happened in the car) remain ambiguous in official summaries (The Bibliofile). The uncertainty is part of the book’s design: it asks whether the whole truth even matters when everyone has already been hurt.

Is Reminders of Him a love story?

Yes — the central romance is between Kenna and Ledger, and it unfolds against the backdrop of grief and resentment. But calling it purely a love story undersells the weight of the other themes: motherhood, accountability, and the ache of a second chance (Goodreads book catalog).

Is Reminders of Him a sad story?

• Many readers describe it as a tearjerker (The Bibliofile).
• The story deals with death, trauma, bitterness, forgiveness, and redemption (The Film Verdict film review site).
• Hopeful ending: Kenna is eventually allowed into Diem’s life (The Bibliofile).

What themes does the book explore?

Beyond romance, the novel examines maternal love — Kenna’s fight to be a mother despite her past — and the question of whether a person can ever fully atone for one terrible mistake (The Book Suite). Goodreads calls it “a heartbreaking yet hopeful story about the healing power of love and the courage it takes to forgive” (Goodreads).

Bottom line: Reminders of Him is a contemporary romance that earns its sadness honestly. For readers who want a love story with real stakes: the emotional payoff is high. For those who prefer lighter reads: the grieving, the prison sentence, and the family rejection may feel too heavy.

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For a deeper look at the tragic mistake and emotional journey, check out this detailed plot summary of Reminders of Him that breaks down the key moments and themes.

Frequently asked questions

For readers still deciding whether to pick it up, the pattern is clear: the novel is a tearjerker romance that doesn’t flinch from the moral messiness of its premise. Kenna’s fight for a second chance is both moving and uncomfortable — and that’s exactly what has kept it on bestseller lists for months. For anyone who has ever wondered whether one mistake can define a life, the answer the book offers is a qualified, hard-won “no.”