Hesitation. That was my initial reaction when I was gifted a copy of this book. Almost every LGBTQIA+ book I’d previously read by an indie author had left me disappointed and wary of trying another. Too many of them felt lacking in substance, to the point that I started wondering whether the ease of publication had become part of the problem.
Fear was what Ethan felt for his partner, John. Their relationship had become toxic. Ethan knew better and his friends encouraged him to let go of the relationship, but fear kept him completely attached to something that was nothing but wrong for him.
So when Ethan finds himself thrown into an alternate universe—a world that seems almost too perfect—everything is suddenly working out well: his job, his family… his relationship. Confusion is his initial reaction. It fuels his hesitation and nearly causes him to reject all the beautiful things this new world has to offer.
Surprise was my next reaction.
I remember going through the first few chapters and telling my fiancé how surprised I was that there was actually a story here. I was even more impressed when the story reached its fantastical element and introduced the alternate universe.
No part of the book felt boring. I was rooting for Ethan. Like him, I was also blinded by John’s manipulative love. But unlike him, I could see the voice of reason in his friends.
Joy and excitement were all I felt when Ethan finally received all the love this other world had to offer. I didn’t need to know every detail of his life’s story to know that nobody deserved the life he had with John.
If Nick told me this was his passion project, I’d completely believe him. I loved the story and the characters. The world felt real, and I could see the love for storytelling in his writing.
I’m so glad I chose to finally read this book. I’d become so used to gay literature that seemed to offer little beyond libido while presenting itself as something beyond stereotypes simply because it was written by a gay author that I’d begun denying stories like this one a chance.
The fear and hesitation I felt were all too similar to Ethan’s experiences. Those same emotions led him to believe that what he had was okay—that it was enough. But as soon as he took the leap and allowed courage to guide his decisions, doors began to open for him.
Remembering You is a beautifully sad story that reminds us that we shouldn’t settle for less. To understand what we deserve, we must first learn to love ourselves. So, if you’re also feeling fearful and hesitant, know that you’ll never see the beauty on the other side of the mountain unless you take that first step on the journey.
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