What I Thought of When I Think Of You
Some books leave you smiling, some leave you crying, some leave you pissed, and some leave your mind forever changed. Maybe it heals you, affirms you, teaches you or exposes a new way of thinking. When I Think of You by Myah Ariel did all of the above.
When I Think of You is one of those reads that you’ll never be the same after. It’s a book rightfully listed in the Romance genre but speaks volumes beyond that. Myah Ariel hasn’t only written a story that pulls on the strings of your heart. She’s laid on the reality of what love does to your heart and how it changes you forever.
Despite the main couple's meet-cute origin, When I Think of You isn’t the book flooded with romance. You won’t find dreamlike dates or even witty banter, but it offers so much more. It gives us inherent examples of what it is to be loved, known, and seen. And if that doesn’t make for the best romance, I don’t know what does.
Beyond the way the lines make your heart flutter I fell in love with the Romance genre because of the truths it typically exposes about the human experience. Notoriously the fulfilling, yet complicated aspect of that experience is love. And when discussed in a romantic context outside situations inevitably influence and suffer influence.
While delivering a story of a remerging first love, Ariel uncovers how abandonment issues, feelings of inadequacy, and youthful naivety lead us to flee from the demanding vulnerability of love.
Our main characters Kaliya and Danny are vehicles for the reality that love comes to us in unexpected ways, changes us forever, and finds us time and time again.
With the single POV from Kaliya, Ariel skillfully reminds us of the couple's past while taking us along their adventure of Danny’s future film. But it digs deeper than the production process, it highlights the struggle of breaking the barriers of the film industry as a Black Woman.
Ironically the film exposes the trials, tribulations, and overcoming joy of his parent's love story while nudging him and Kaliya to explore their own.
Kaliya earned a special place in my heart as I saw many parts of myself reflected in her. Beyond her mirroring effect, I felt affirmed as she continually prioritized herself. Amid her burgeoning spark with Danny, she protected her needs.
What landed When I Think of You a 6 start raising in my book? Maybe it’s the tagged excerpts that triggered tears in my eyes and a grin on my cheeks. More importantly, it was the triumphant journey of love for a Black Woman who was enduring the systematic barriers of the film industry. Especially amid recent American political events, this tale affirmed my every frustration but urged hope to come alive.
Every Black Girl who finds herself a hopeless romantic wants a love story that realistically depicts our struggles but reminds us that we’re deserving of love anyway.
And who better to deliver than that fellow sister?
Thank you Myah Ariel for this literary gem. A tale that has solidified a place in my podium of books and my heart. One that I hope everyone takes the time to experience and enjoy.
And if you aren’t convinced yet, I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from the book.
“Because when all is said and done, you are perfect to me. And I am ready to stop pretending that getting along fine will suffice in the place of perfect. And that means I'd be a fool not to try again with you. If you'll let me.” - When I Think of You, Myah Ariel
With Love,
Allie
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