Reminders of Him Ending Explained: A Detailed Spoiler Analysis
Warning: This article contains full spoilers for Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover. Do not read further unless you have finished the book or want all plot details revealed.
The Climax: Ledger’s Plea and Grace’s Forgiveness
The story’s turning point arrives in Chapter 40 (outline chapter 43). Ledger, knowing Kenna’s last hope rests with Scotty’s parents, confronts Patrick and Grace on their front porch. He gives them one of Kenna’s letters to Scotty—the same letter that changed his own view of her. Ledger argues that the Landrys are defining Kenna by “the worst moment of her life” and that they owe Diem the chance to have another loving adult. Grace breaks down, and though Patrick remains silent, they take the letter inside.
The next morning, Grace appears at Ledger’s door with swollen eyes, saying, “I want to meet Kenna.” She visits Kenna’s apartment alone and returns a ring Scotty had bought for Kenna years earlier—a gold ring with a pink stone that Scotty couldn’t afford but his parents loaned him the money for. Grace admits she had kept the ring for Diem but now gives it to Kenna because “Scotty bought it for you.” She openly forgives Kenna, saying she had assumed Kenna’s silence in court was indifference, but reading the letter showed her Kenna’s genuine grief. Grace tells Kenna, “We go forward,” and they embrace.
This moment of forgiveness unlocks the final act: Kenna finally meets her daughter.
Major Character Outcomes
Kenna Rowan
After five years of separation, Kenna is reunited with Diem. She begins a daily presence in her daughter’s life, though Diem continues to live primarily with Patrick and Grace. Kenna sees Diem every day and the child stays overnight with Kenna and Ledger twice a week. Kenna also gives birth to a son with Ledger and names him Scotty, honoring her deceased boyfriend. Her emotional arc moves from guilt and self‑loathing to acceptance and joy—she writes her last letter to Scotty explaining she no longer needs to write because she is no longer lonely.
Ledger Ward
Ledger decides not to move into the new house he built. Instead he sells it to Roman at cost. He chooses to stay in the house next to Patrick and Grace, where he can remain part of Diem’s daily life. His relationship with Kenna deepens into love, and he becomes the father of their son. He also earns the respect of Patrick after the confrontation—Patrick tells him, “If you tell me Kenna is worthy of Diem, then I believe you.”
Diem Landry (age seven in the epilogue)
Diem continues to split time between her grandparents’ home and Kenna’s home. She appears fully adjusted, calling Kenna “Mom” and Ledger by name. The epilogue shows she has a room in both houses and that the family eats dinner together every night.
Patrick and Grace Landry
Grace fully forgives Kenna and actively facilitates the reunion. Patrick initially punches Ledger when he learns of the relationship but later, after watching Kenna with Diem at dinner, tells Ledger that he trusts his judgment. Both grandparents accept Kenna as part of the family without conditions.
Roman
Ledger’s best friend and sponsor remains a supportive presence. He is the one who pushed Ledger to give Kenna a second chance early in the book, and he eventually buys Ledger’s new house.
Resolved and Unresolved Threads
Resolved
- Mother‑daughter reunion: Kenna regains a relationship with Diem.
- Guilt and self‑forgiveness: Kenna writes her final letter to Scotty, stating that memories of him now bring only smiles.
- Landrys’ forgiveness: Both parents soften and welcome Kenna.
- Ledger and Kenna’s romance: They become a committed couple and have a child.
- Scotty’s legacy: The baby named Scotty ensures his memory continues.
Unresolved
- Permanent custody: The book does not specify a formal custody arrangement. Diem still lives primarily with her grandparents, but Kenna’s role as mother is secure.
- Kenna’s past criminal record: The story ends before any discussion of legal restoration or expungement.
- Ledger’s relationship with his own parents: Benji and Robin appear only briefly; their arc is not resolved.
The Epilogue: Kenna’s Final Letter and the Birth of Scotty
The epilogue is a letter from Kenna to Scotty, written after she has given birth to a son. She explains why her letters have become rare: “I used to write because I felt alone, so I guess it’s good the letters are few and far between.” She describes Diem at seven—grown, happy, splitting time between two homes. Kenna expresses deep gratitude to Patrick, Grace, and Ledger for their unconditional acceptance.
The emotional payoff arrives in the last lines: Kenna names her baby boy Scotty. She says, “When they placed our newborn son on my chest, I looked at him through teary eyes and said, ‘Hello, Scotty.’” The letter ends “With love, Kenna.”
This scene confirms that Kenna has fully healed and that Scotty’s memory is honored not as a source of pain but as a legacy of love.
Reasonable Interpretations of Ambiguities
The Dove (Chapter 42)
Ledger sees a dove shortly after learning the Landrys have accepted Kenna. He wonders, “What are the chances that Scotty had no connection to that?” The book leaves the dove’s meaning ambiguous. It can be read as a sign from Scotty, a coincidence, or a psychological projection of Ledger’s need for closure. Hoover does not confirm any supernatural reading.
The Upbeat Playlist (Chapter 45)
A playlist of 22 upbeat songs (P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass,” Pharrell’s “Happy,” Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”) appears after the epilogue. Some readers interpret it as a reflection of the story’s emotional tone—joy, resilience, and new beginnings. Others see it as a direct authorial commentary on Kenna’s transformation. It is not part of the narrative but functions as a thematic coda.
Kenna’s Self‑Forgiveness
Kenna’s healing is complete by the epilogue, but the novel never shows her explicitly forgiving herself in words. Instead, her actions—naming her son after Scotty, spending time with Diem without guilt—signal inner peace. Whether she has fully absolved herself or simply learned to coexist with her past is left open.
6 Reader Questions and Answers
1. How does Kenna finally meet Diem?
Grace, after reading Kenna’s letter, goes to Kenna’s apartment and forgives her. She then invites Kenna to dinner. At that dinner, Diem spontaneously climbs onto Kenna’s lap, initiating the first physical contact between mother and daughter.
2. Why does Grace give Kenna Scotty’s ring?
Scotty had bought the ring years earlier with money he borrowed from his parents. Grace kept it for Diem but decided Kenna should have it because “Scotty bought it for you.” The gesture symbolizes Grace’s full forgiveness and her acceptance that Kenna was Scotty’s true love.
3. Do Kenna and Ledger end up together?
Yes. They become a couple, live together (Kenna moves into Ledger’s house after he cancels his new home), and have a son together. Ledger chooses Kenna over his new house, and the Landrys eventually support the relationship.
4. Does Diem live with Kenna full time?
No. Diem continues to live primarily with Patrick and Grace. Kenna sees her daily and Diem stays overnight twice a week. The arrangement balances Diem’s established routine with Kenna’s desire to be present.
5. What happens to the new house Ledger built?
Ledger decides not to move. He sells the house to Roman at cost. He tells Kenna, “My people are here. This is my home,” choosing to remain next door to the Landrys.
6. Is Kenna still writing letters to Scotty at the end?
No. In the epilogue she explains she writes much less often because she is no longer lonely. Her final letter includes the biggest news: she has given birth to a son and named him Scotty. The letter marks the end of her writing ritual.
Final Thoughts on Theme Resolution
Reminders of Him resolves its central themes of redemption, forgiveness, grief and guilt, motherhood, and second chances through both action and symbol. Kenna earns her place in Diem’s life not by erasing the past but by owning it. Grace and Patrick move from anger to compassion. Ledger chooses love over convenience. The epilogue’s baby name—Scotty—is the ultimate reminder that even devastating loss can evolve into a source of hope. The novel leaves readers with the quiet certainty that healing is possible without forgetting.
For more on the characters and themes, visit the full book guide.