If You Still Recognise Me
by Cynthia So
Narrated by Siu-see Hung

I was easily drawn into Elsie's universe and her self-discovery during the summer before college thanks to the narrator.
This audiobook explores LGBTQ+ subjects and conveys potent anti-prejudice messages. When the narrator so convincingly represented Elsie's sections, I couldn't help but smile. The theme of the audiobook, which emphasises how white cis females are disproportionately favoured by mainstream media, is among its most engaging features. It clarifies how these prejudices may affect how we judge appearance and the people we find beautiful, which makes it a thought-provoking aspect of the story.

The different storylines in the audiobook flow together naturally, building to a touching and rewarding finale. Who doesn't enjoy a happy conclusion?


#IfYouStillRecogniseMe #NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this adventurous and sweet YA sapphic romance.
The audiobook was amazing and the narrator easily transported me into the world of Elsie and her finding herself throughout the summer before she begins University.
This book was such a perfect read, I’m at a loss of words.

I recently had the pleasure of listening to "If You Still Recognize Me" by Cynthia, and I have to say, it left a lasting impression on me. First and foremost, I appreciated the content warning at the start of the audiobook - it's something more books should have, either at the beginning or the back, to normalize content warnings.

This audiobook delves into LGBTQ+ themes and delivers powerful messages about prejudice. I couldn't help but smile when the narrator portrayed Elsie's parts so well, sounding just like Anne from "The Parent Trap." It added a delightful touch to the story.

What sets this audiobook apart is its mature handling of real and current issues, making it a brilliant choice for young adults. If you're a fan of "Heart Stopper," you'll likely enjoy this as well. It combines education with wholesomeness and reminded me of "Letters to Juliet."

The story covers a range of themes, from young love and first love to heartbreak, friendship, and self-discovery. The friends-to-lovers journey is beautifully portrayed, and the adventure aspect keeps the plot engaging.

One of the audiobook's most compelling aspects is its message about how mainstream media can influence our attractions and preferences, particularly favoring white cis females. It sheds light on how these stereotypes can impact our perceptions of attractiveness and who we're drawn to, making it a thought-provoking element of the story.

The various plots in the audiobook blend seamlessly, leading to a heartwarming and satisfying conclusion. Who doesn't love a happy ending?

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley for gifting me this audiobook, as it introduced me to a story that reminds us that love conquers all. "If You Still Recognize Me" is truly wholesome and leaves you with a powerful message about love, attraction, and acceptance.

This queer coming of age story by Cynthia So, beautifully narrated by Siu-see Hung, is a book I wish had been around when I was growing up. It is the summer after A levels and, with a new job at a comic shop, a holiday to Cornwall planned with her best friend Ritika, Elsie has a busy couple of months before starting university. She also has to look after her recently bereaved grandmother who Elsie’s mother has brought back with her after attending her father’s funeral in Hong Kong. Her mother hadn’t been to Hong Kong to visit her parents for eight years previously, for reasons that nobody will speak about. Elsie, however, is currently preoccupied with her online friend Ada, a friendship that has developed into a crush. Elsie’s relationship with Ada is built around the fanfic that Ada writes for an epic comic they both adore with two queer characters. Unexpectedly, her childhood friend Joan comes back into her life after years living in Hong Kong. She had been Elsie’s best friend when they were little but, inexplicably and painfully, Joan had never responded to any of Elsie’s letters or emails since she left. Ritika, Elsie’s best friend since secondary school has to put up with some selfishness from Elsie (she invites Joan on their holiday without consulting Ritika; she puts all her energy into a quest involving Ada’s grandmother and a long lost love instead of spending quality time with her on holiday). The quest is an elaborate plan to please Ada and show her how she feels about her - Elsie doesn’t find it easy to say how she feels. Her family is not ones for saying “I love you” out loud or having conversations about feelings. She is unsure how they would feel about her bisexuality and finds it hard to share her feelings with her mum especially. Also, Elsie is only now realising just how badly her ex boyfriend treated her and how that is not what a relationship should be. This is the summer that Elsie really grows up, making friends with Felix at the comic store and having honest conversations with her family about the secrets that are damaging their relationships. She finds the courage to be honest with Ada, Joan and Ritika and sees those relationships respond and change. This book has a lot of depth and emotional intelligence while also being a fun, often funny, enjoyable novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, to the publisher Bolinda and to the author for offering me an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly enjoyed listening to this book and the characters are characterized so honestly and so mundane.

The whole story itself was just brilliant and I believe that many people are struggling and maybe going through the same problems the characters are going through, especially if you are not straight.

*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

i loved reading this book! the characters were really well formulated, and conflicts were well structured and felt realistic. i loved how real all the fandom stuff felt. the writing style really drew me in and was beautiful, also the use of food as a love language was really great. so happy books like this exist and are exploring complicated themes with grace and sincerity.

It was okey, at times it was really good and I really connected to the story, but then there was slower moment that actually lasted quite long at it threw me off, cus I lost focus.

Overall cute and heartwarming coming of age story, sometimes the characters irritated me, predictable and comforting.

Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

SUCH a good book OMG!! y’all are missing out on something there! like i teared up! that’s how good it is. i completely fell in love with Elsie and her friends and family, they were all so real, like it was real to me!!! joke aside, Elsie’s story was so complex and her struggles both really relatable, as a 17 yo, and foreign to me, the whitest of white person out there 😭. however i couldn’t help but sympathize with her in her search for who she is and who she wants to be. to be honest, this book to me is the definition of why we need queer and POC perspectives in literature and ESPECIALLY in YA literature: 1) i didn’t need to relate to her to enjoy and appreciate this book and the story it was telling and 2) i couldn’t help but think about the thousands of queer chinese girls going through the same questioning and struggles as Elsie or who had similar experiences to hers and just for that, i couldn’t help but love it. each of her relationships with every single one of the characters were so well developed and each of those characters felt like actual people to me. i’m going to stop ranting and give this the 5⭐️ it deserves.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was the perfect mix of romance, serious topics, and just teens going through life. The characters felt believable and the way the interacted felt true - nobody overreacted for the sake of plot, you could understand the reasons behind everyone's behaviour and I felt it showed a number of different issues teens may experience, especially in friendships, that could help them in real life.

This adorable, nerdy inclusive coming-of-age story is pure delight. It's touching, hilarious, heart-breaking and, most of all, uplifting.

Grappling with the end of A-levels, her first job, grieving her grandfather, having her grandmother is nearly a stranger stay with her and the return of her long-lost childhood best friend, !8 year old Elsie has a lot going on. She's experiencing an unrequited crush built in a beautiful tumblr fandom and figuring out how to navigate in a world that sees her as lesser for being Asian, queer and a woman. Elsie is relatable, funny and infuriating in the way that only an 18 year old with a crush can be.

Cynthia So delicately tackles the experience of conflicting dual identities in such a beautiful and lyrical way. They have a unique voice and one I would love to read more from. They've managed to breath life into every single character and all of the side characters were rich and beautiful.

The narrator was wonderful and really brought to life the story.

Thanks to netgalley for the audiobook arc, all thoughts will be mine.

This book was absolutely everything I needed when I was a teenager and I'm so happy teenagers can have this.
If you still recognise me is a story about friendship, fandoms, grieving, romantic gesture and above all it's a coming of age story.

All of the characters were so vibrant and different and it was so good to see different genre of queer people being happy. I love queer joy. We need more of that.
I didn't expect to cry but, the grief was so well written. Gosh. I will think about it for a long time.
Elsie, is a 18 years old bisexual and she's desperately trying to find her way back to herself after a devastating relationship. She was so sweet and relatable. And I can't explain how I wanted to hug her.

The audiobook was SO good. I giggled so much while listening, and I think it's one of the best way to approach this story. The narrator did an amazing job bringing all of the characters to life !

I really enjoyed this YA novel, and would have no hesitation in recommending it, initially I’d really like to give kudos for the trigger warning announced at the beginning of the title. It’s the first time I remember ever hearing it, and it’s important,

This is a beautiful yet complex coming of age story, the usual teenage angst trope is fully immersed in the homophobia and racism that our protagonists face, it’s soul destroying, the way in which the story is told makes it real, it’s disturbing and upsetting by my god it’s so important to realise the reality.

Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.