If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So
By Kate 12th October 2023
If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So
About the Book
Elsie has a crush on Ada, the only person in the world who truly understands her. Unfortunately, they’ve never met in real life and Ada lives an ocean away. But Elsie has decided it’s now or never to tell Ada how she feels. That is, until her long-lost best friend Joan walks back into her life.
In a summer of repairing broken connections and building surprising new ones, Elsie realises that she isn’t nearly as alone as she thought. But now she has a choice to make…
My Review
If You Still Recognise Me tells the story of Elsie as she experiences The Summer; the big one between finishing high school and starting university. After finishing exams, she’s free and decides to spend the summer having a good time with friends, especially messaging Ada, whom she has a crush on. But when Joan, her best friend who’d moved away and lost contact with her, returns, suddenly Elsie’s summer and feelings become more complicated.
After a death in her family, her Po Po comes to live with her for the summer before returning to Hong Kong. Now she must work on not only repairing her relationship with Joan but also with her grandmother while trying to establish one that means more with Ada.
I like the characters in the story, but don’t have a particular favourite. The story is nicely paced and easy to follow. That being said, I did read the book in one day, so I did enjoy it but nothing particularly stood out to me. However, I did like seeing the relationships between characters grow and develop.
This book has several same-sex relationships, which are positive and ones I like, making it a good book for people looking for an LGBTQIA+ read. The relationships take centre stage in the story, and ultimately everything works out. I enjoyed exploring the relationship between the main girls in the story, and I liked the relationship between the uncle and a man called David.
Overall, I liked this book and might re-read it if I want to, but it’s not a favourite. This book belongs on the second shelf, and I’m giving it 4 stars.
Have you read If You Still Recognise Me?
If not, don’t forget to add it to your TBR list.
Happy reading!
Kate x
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Review Rating system
My ratings are based on my own personal opinions and are subjective.
5 stars ★★★★★ I can’t wait to reread it. Definitely belongs on my top shelf! Highly recommend.
4 stars ★★★★ A great read. Lots of great qualities but just missing the cherry on top. Belongs on my middle shelf. Would recommend.
3 stars ★★★ A good read but lacked the wow factor. I liked the book but probably won’t reread it. Relegated to the bottom shelf.
2 stars★★ Not good but not completely bad. Lacked personality for me. Safe to say I won’t be reading it again. Donate to the charity shop.
1 star ★ A dull read. This book has no place on my bookshelf. Borrow from the library, if you must.
DNF: I did not finish reading this book. It was just not for me.
Hi there!
I’m Kate and I’m an avid teen reader. I’ve been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. But my love for books goes beyond just reading them – I’ve helped out at the school library, co-hosted a book club, and even wrote a few reviews for the school magazine. And now, I’ve decided to start my own book blog! Why, you ask? Well, firstly, I want to up my digital game. And secondly, I want to share my passion for reading with others and help them find their next favourite read. I’ll be dishing out book reviews, recommendations, and character analyses to help you discover new worlds, one page at a time. I do hope you’ll join me on the journey!
Discovering New Worlds, One Page at a Time!