Remember Us by Azalée Fray: a touching romance, between love and unspoken words
Published on Updated on Lahna Bouquine
My rating: 3.5/5 · Author: Azalée Fray · Edition read: Pocket Romance
Before you begin: this read contains sensitive themes. Remember to check the book's trigger warnings.
Remember Us is the story of two teenagers who love each other deeply, but who are each living through their own personal hell. Finding each other becomes their way of escaping it all. I really enjoyed following May-Lee and Kaiden: their story truly touched me. 💜
May-Lee and Kaiden: a refuge, then wounds
Ever since they first met, May-Lee has found a true refuge in Kaiden. At first, he is her best friend, the one she can tell everything to, the one who listens to her and takes care of her. Kaiden, for his part, remains more mysterious: he prefers to be there for her rather than confide his own problems to her.
The starting point of their reunion — plot details
Their relationship becomes very intense, until the day everything stops abruptly. Kaiden disappears without explanation and without staying in touch. They meet again four years later, with many unspoken things, wounds, and this question: why did he leave at the moment when May-Lee needed him most?
What I liked
You never doubt the love they have for each other, but Kaiden’s departure calls a great many things into question. I wasn't expecting all these revelations: for a good part of the book, I was in the same state of confusion as May-Lee.
I also really appreciated Azalée's writing, which I found very poetic, as well as the alternation between past and present. I love this structure: it allows you to discover their relationship at different moments in their lives and makes their story even more intense.
My reservation regarding the pacing
I would have liked to have some answers a bit sooner and for the major plot twists to have arrived more in the middle of the book, rather than in the final chapters. That is my small regret at the end of this read.
My verdict
A truly touching story, carried by a writing style I enjoyed discovering, even if the distribution of the revelations left me wanting a bit more.
And you, could you forgive someone who disappears for four years without any explanation?
Book provided by Pocket Romance. Thank you for sending it. 💜
Find my original review on Instagram and Pocket Romance on Instagram.
To extend your reading break
If you like the alternation between past and present, discover my favorite, Rewind It Back.
To accompany your reading, find the Reading Is My Jam bookmark in the shop.
Lahna 🤍
A little companion for this read
Illustrated bookmarks to match your favourite reading mood.
