Remembrance: A Mediator Novel

I was excited when I learned Meg Cabot wrote adult books. I loved her books as a pre-teen. I made a mistake and read this book first in the series. It didn't really matter because it basically just went over everything that happened in the past books. Don't waste your time reading them, all you need is this one. I really disliked how she kept repeating herself over and over again like it was a book for a child that wasn't paying much attention. I also hated the way she handled Paul and just kept lying. Her dead/undead boyfriend has some serious anger issues he needs to get over. Suze could have been a better female role model, also. Overall I was disappointed in this book and I especially hated the voice of Johanna Parker, the narrator. She definitely did not read the book the way it was intended and I felt like she changed the intended mood.

There’s nothing better than a cheeky Meg Cabot novel to cheer me up, and so knowing this week would be sticky (deadlines, workmen in, toddler in a ‘Mummy, Mummy, Mummy phase), I turned to Remembrance.

Reading this was like sinking into a hot bubble bath: brilliant, buoying escapism. If you’re a fan of Meg and her Mediator series, this won’t disappoint – if anything, I think I’ve come to prefer the grown-up and bad-ass Suze and the always-mighty-fine Jesse. I especially love Suze’s inability to get through any situation without cursing; finally some realism in the genre!

The story had me turning the pages quickly, and had plenty of twists and turns and action. I was surprised that a novel I knew would make me laugh out loud (‘I ain’t afraid of no ghosts,’ had me choking on my coffee) also moved me in places. There’s some serious subject matter here wrapped up in the light-hearted humour, and the book is all the better for that.

I finished this novel in the middle of a soft-play centre, snatching moments to read between Mummy-look-at-me, and was instantly bereft. I can only hope Meg is continuing Suze’s story, and soon, because her writing is my passport to a cheery day.

My most anticipated read of 2016 was Meg Cabot’s Remembrance, because you guys, this book is from the Mediator series!! This was one of my first paranormal YA series I read in a time where there was NO paranormal YA! It was dark times, but luckily I was able to stumble upon a few books here and there, and this series was one of them! And oh, how I ate it up! It totally threw me through a loop when Haunted came out and not only had the covers changed and we went to hardcover vs paperback, but Meg started writing under Meg Cabot for them when she initially wrote them as Jenny Carroll! I was new to basically all publishing things back then, because when I saw Haunted…a tale of the mediator…I thought, “oh that reminds me of Jenny Carroll’s Mediator series!” and then sure enough as I read that description I knew right away that it was the same series!

So long story, short, I’ve been a long time fan of this series. When Meg announced in 2014 that she was writing this book, I was over the freaking moon! And then when Edelweiss approved my request, I was sooo excited! I dove into it as soon as I could and pretty much lost myself into Suze’s world once again!

I didn’t really have time for a series re-read, but in a way, it wasn’t necessary. I remembered enough of the major details, and that’s really all that’s needed. Because this is the first ADULT installment in the Mediator series! While the series was initially YA, this is NOT A YA book! Susanna is grown up now, as it was six years ago when she graduated high school, so she’s 24 or 25 ish. Not sure if it’s ever said, but you basically can do the math! In a way, this book reminded me of my love of watching the Veronica Mars movie. A series I once so loved and then returning back again, nearly 10 years later as well! I think the last book published in 2006 or so, so yes, it was just that magical, just like Veronica Mars’ movie was! This is definitely a read that all Mediator fans MUST read! But I will say, new fans can read this one, just be aware you’ll be majorly spoiled for events of the earlier YA series.

Now onto the actual review, since I spent three long paragraphs gushing over my complete love and adoration for this book and series! Susannah and Jesse have been pretty happy these past years. Though, Susannah is getting a little tired of waiting for the big day. There were stipulations Jesse made before they could get married, and you know, finally have sex. But Susannah has a lot more to deal with then just the relationship woes. Her first problem is that a certain someone comes crashing back into her life to make it a living hell once again. Yes, Paul Slater is back.

Paul has become your basic new millionaire playboy and his heart or some other body part is still set on having Susannah all to himself. He has bought her old family home and tells her of a curse, a darkness that is likely inside of Jesse, her once ghost boyfriend turned human and alive again. A darkness that will take hold of him if the place he died is destroyed. And since he died in Susannah’s old family home, destroying it would put a major cramp in their relationship. Paul requires Susannah to go on a date with him and give him one more chance. Completely ignoring that she is engaged to Jesse. Paul certainly hadn’t changed much since high school!

Susannah’s other problem involves a teenage girl at her old school, where she currently interns un-paid, who happens to have a ghost hanging around her. And naturally, her old mediator skills are being put to use yet again.

In a lot of ways, this book pretty much like reads its YA predecessors. There’s danger, yet Susannah doesn’t seem to care. She keeps certain secrets from Jesse. There’s a good ol’ mystery to solve and a ghost to help.

I did a lot of gushing over this book! We get to see a lot of the characters again, and I was all for that! Even that little twit, Kelly is back in the picture! Seriously, it was like the Veronica Mars movie all over again! Just that absolute love to see all your old friends and enemies again! It was totally gush worthy! I totally see and understand all the long time VM fans’ excitement for the movie, as I was a late to the game kind of girl for that series. But the Mediator series was one I adored from the getgo. I thought book 6 was a fine and awesome ending, but yet, when Meg said she might and then actually writing a book 7 I was over the freaking moon, as I said! It was just awesome!

Susannah still has her same snark, which I loved! In a lot of ways, she is kind of like Veronica Mars, except she sees ghosts amid looking for the bad guys who usually did harm or wrong to the ghosts. And then Jesse is usually there to help her out of course! And let’s just say there’s definitely a good reason why this is an ADULT book! Susannah is very grownup, in her own way, and there’s definitely mature situations, though we have seen that in some YA books these days, but never so much from this original YA series. Plus the case she ends up working is kind of dark, thus another reason to make this an ADULT (ish) read.

But again, I was in high school when I started reading the “adult” books, so I’m not saying this is like Fifty Shades of Grey but any means. Just be aware that there is a bit more romantic element to it, plus a disturbing (ish) twist to the case Susannah works.

I had not one complaint about this book. None whatsoever! It was positively perfect for me. But as I said, I am a long time fan of the Mediator series, so returning to this world was a delight for me! It was nice seeing all the characters again and having some of that same feeling to the series from when Suze was a teenager. It’s definitely a read for all fans of Meg Cabot’s Mediator series! It’s positively to die for! LOL!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

This review will contain some spoilers from the previous books in the series.

Remembrance is the seventh and final book in the Mediator series. It is an adult/New adult conclusion to the beloved YA series (the last book came out more than 10 years ago).

I read and loved this series many years ago. As soon as I heard about this book I was so excited. I was thrilled with the idea of getting to revisit these characters as adults.

The book takes place six years after the last book. The narrator is Susannah Simon (Suze). She is a mediator (she can talk to the dead). But now instead of being in high school she is all grown up. She is still super tough and sassy though.

At first I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book. Because it had been so long since I read the last book I was having trouble remembering a lot of details. I did go back and read detailed recaps of the previous books. So that helped. Plus once I really got into Remembrance a lot of the previous story-lines came back to me.

The main premise of the YA books was that Suze was a mediator. She helped ghosts cross over. Her love interest was Jesse, a ghost who haunted her house. However, in the last book he became human.

I liked that Paul (another mediator) was back in this new book causing trouble once again. He was such a villainous character in the YA books and his appearance definitely caused even more trouble in this book.

I've always loved the whole mediator thing. So I think part of the reason I didn't love the first part of this book was that it wasn't about her seeing dead people. It was more focused on demons and curses. But once the ghost Lucia became more involved in the story I started enjoying the book. I also really enjoyed Suze's relationship with Becca (a student who needed help).

Jesse is in the medical profession. And Suze is now doing an internship for Father Dominic at the Mission Academy (where she went to school). I loved Suze's interactions with Father Dominic (a priest and another mediator) and I loved that she was going to be a school counselor.

I really enjoyed the stuff with Kelly (an old school nemesis). And with the triplets. I loved the stuff about Suze's old house. The case that Suze was dealing with was interesting. The last chapter, however, really made this book. It was superb. It was a really good conclusion to a series that I enjoyed immensely when I was younger.

Thanks to edelweiss and William Morrow Paperbacks for allowing me to read this book.

Interestingly enough, there’s nothing much adult about it. Aside from the age of the characters and intimate scene between Suze and Jesse, of course. Rest assured that there’s no colourful language in this paranormal/fantasy.

The writing is charming. The characters are an interesting bunch. It’s plot driven. My only concern is that Remembrance could use a little bit more edge.

Full review on Priscilla and her Books

I started reading this series years ago...I had forgotten all about it until I saw this book on the shelf at the library! Good closure to the series, with an opening left just in case the author wants to pick it up again at a future time. Meg Cabot is nice, breezy, author...easy to read, and fun as well!

Meg Cabot has been one of my favorite authors for over a decade. When I heard about this book, I about peed my pants with excitement. Another Mediator book?? OH HELL YEAH.
My only disappointment in this book is ****SPOILER**** she doesn't kill Paul. I would've loved to see that jackass die.

Meg Cabot knocks another one out of the galaxy with this latest in the Mediator series that I had long believed tied up quite beautifully and put away a long time ago. This book is a real gift and delight. Welcome back Suze Simon and the gang!

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Honestly, I had been hyping this book up for months, that when I finally received it I was almost afraid of reading. Alas, I did read it and I loved it, there were some interesting and shocking period, and it was nostalgic in some ways such as Paul and his ways. The characters are nicely developed and you get to meet all the people you fell in love with during the series. Honestly, I haven't loved a book this much in a while.

Absolutely loved this continuation of Neg Cabot's Mediator series. It has been years since first enjoying the Mediator YA books, and Rememberance was everything I could have hoped for in an adult-oriented return to the series. Meg Cabot perfectly captured the original personality of the series, while adjusting Suze's voice and thoughts to her newfound adulthood, and appealing to an adult audience. Fans of Meg Cabot's YA and adult novels alike will enjoy this read, and loyal fans of the original Mediator series will be pleased.

Excellent follow up that was a delightful surprise to find. I read the original series years ago and never thought there would more, but I always wanted more. So happy to see that Cabot continued the story and gave us a satisfying conclusion. Must read if you are a fan of the originals! ( Warning, though, definite change in tone, some PG13 stuff here)

Meg Cabot knocks another one out of the galaxy with this latest in the Mediator series that I had long believed tied up quite beautifully and put away a long time ago. This book is a real gift and delight. Welcome back Suze Simon and the gang!

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