Multi-stranded and suffused in sapphic love, Cynthia So’s If You Still Recognise Me debut is a compassionate, cute ode to fandom, finding love, and finding your people. The novel also deftly explores the intersection of sexism and racism, homophobia, and abusively manipulative relationships while remaining a super-sweet coming of age story that’s populated by characters who will make many a heart melt. This book was everything that I love in YA contemporary: a coming of age story exploring the complexities of family, friendship and first love, alongside an equal balance of lighthearted teen fun and touching moments. I related a lot to Elsie, our main character, and really loved watching her come into herself as the novel progressed. She’s introverted and struggles to make friends but lives for a graphic novel series and its fandom. I adored the emphasis placed on online friendships as, honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without mine. Cynthia So beautifully captures the fears, wishes and dreams of teens during those weeks inbetween school and university life, where everything seems to be changing constantly.

Not only does Cynthia So show the importance of fandom spaces and give online friendships the importance they deserve, but they also use it to highlight the disparity of queer and POC rep in media, and the effect this not only has on teens themselves, but how it can negatively impact those around them. At one point of the book, Joan explains how there isn't really any queer rep in Hong Kong and the effect this has on her homophobic dad. Positive queer and POC rep is SO important, and that's what Cynthia So provides with this book.

Age range(s)

The novel is truly a complex love letter to those who have grown up with fandoms as a central comfort and is a refreshing display of what representation should be. The book itself is so beautifully written and the way in which culture, sexuality and relationships are intertwined throughout the book, is so heart achingly emotional to read. We aren’t only just given over five main queer and poc teenagers, we also get to read about the reconnecting of deep relationships that will almost most definitely make you want to pull the tissues out! This is definitely a novel that makes people who feel unseen and unheard, feel represented and loved without even asking.

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So is just so SO perfect. Refreshing, relatable and raw in its honesty, this is the book I wish I'd had as a queer teen discovering my identity.” - Sarah Underwood, author of Lies We Sing to the Sea If You Still Recognise Me is a moving and heart-warming story about queer love, family, culture and fandom and So's has a uniquely poetic style that sees beauty in the everyday and makes the familiar feel fresh and new - Ciara Smyth, author of Not My Problem Exploring the bonds of friendship, family, fandom, culture and queer community, this is a story about finding who you really are at the heart of all the things you love. -- Sera Milano, author of This Can Never Not Be Real

Published Reviews

This book has incredible representation, and necessary discussions as to how important representation is not only for queer people accepting themselves but also for non-queer people to become accepting. Also, highlighting how damaging it can be when the representation we have is overwhelmingly white.