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When Then Became Now
When Then Became Now is a memoir set in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980s. It's about two teenagers, John and Monique, who fall in love and share the span of their relationship, which crumbles from drug use to the end of John's life thirty-three years later. John left behind a son and two grandchildren for whom he was writing his life story. Unfortunately, being homeless, his journal was lost to the streets of Southern California.
With grief in her heart, Monique writes to share
the one story she can share with John's son. One of her and his father.
This story has some harsh elements, but is presented with love
to let John's family see the man she knew before his pain and addiction destroyed him. This book is for anyone who has struggled with either addiction or loves someone who has.
It's a love story, an unconditional friendship story, and a family story.
With grief in her heart, Monique writes to share
the one story she can share with John's son. One of her and his father.
This story has some harsh elements, but is presented with love
to let John's family see the man she knew before his pain and addiction destroyed him. This book is for anyone who has struggled with either addiction or loves someone who has.
It's a love story, an unconditional friendship story, and a family story.
206 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2021
About the author
Monique Rardin Richardson
8 books5 followersMonique Rardin Richardson is the award-winning author of the memoir When Then Became Now, a deeply moving account of her lifelong friendship with a man struggling with homelessness and addiction.
Her other books include the poetry collection Pieces of Me, the fantasy novellas The Unlikely Dreamcatcher and Despina the Anti-Cupid, and the romance Our Last Hello.
An accomplished photographer, she has exhibited her work in notable galleries, including the de Young Museum Open show in San Francisco. She lives in the Bay Area.
Her other books include the poetry collection Pieces of Me, the fantasy novellas The Unlikely Dreamcatcher and Despina the Anti-Cupid, and the romance Our Last Hello.
An accomplished photographer, she has exhibited her work in notable galleries, including the de Young Museum Open show in San Francisco. She lives in the Bay Area.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 27, 2025
RIP JOHN,
John + Monique = Kindred Spirits
when i read the synopsis of this book i immediately bought it. There's something about memoirs especially when its set in the 70s/80 I'm immediately drawn to it.
"The ‘80s were such an incredible time to be alive.
Rardin Richardson, Monique. When Then Became Now (p. 37). Independent. Kindle Edition. "
( I'll say this until my last breath I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG ERA ). . Something that I love about memoirs is the fact that I can feel what the author is saying and how they felt at that time, not many memoirs have done that for me only 2-3 including this one... ( A piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown & Cher ) That's an amazing feeling to experience as crazy as that sounds. I love hearing about peoples lives, the struggles they endured, the happiness, the sadness and everything in between.
This was an amazing read and one that I will be thinking about for along time.
John + Monique = Kindred Spirits
when i read the synopsis of this book i immediately bought it. There's something about memoirs especially when its set in the 70s/80 I'm immediately drawn to it.
"The ‘80s were such an incredible time to be alive.
Rardin Richardson, Monique. When Then Became Now (p. 37). Independent. Kindle Edition. "
( I'll say this until my last breath I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG ERA ). . Something that I love about memoirs is the fact that I can feel what the author is saying and how they felt at that time, not many memoirs have done that for me only 2-3 including this one... ( A piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown & Cher ) That's an amazing feeling to experience as crazy as that sounds. I love hearing about peoples lives, the struggles they endured, the happiness, the sadness and everything in between.
This was an amazing read and one that I will be thinking about for along time.
December 3, 2025
From the beginning of this story, the author drops hints that things will not work out with her teenage relationship with John, yet she pulls the reader in with her descriptions of his gallantry and kindness, their adventures and escapades. The couple faces challenges of abuse, addiction, poverty, homelessness and more. Despite the difficult situations they found themselves in, I couldn’t help but root for them. And I was especially touched by the author’s deep love for John over the years.
June 29, 2022
I absolutely adored this book. I started reading it and just couldn’t stop and finished the whole thing in two days. This is one of those memoirs that combines all my favorite elements: intriguing characters meshed with a slice-out-of-time that feels so real it’s like you’re actually there.
This particular story takes place in the Bay Area (around Oakland) in the 1980’s and it was so fascinating to read all the little details the author included about the culture and the environment of that region during that time. The character development was also phenomenal—I really feel like I got to know the characters so well, especially the main character, John. I won’t include spoilers for those who haven’t yet read the book, but John was a truly heartbreaking character and his journey deeply moved me. By the end of the story, I felt exactly as if I had met him and known him in real life, the characterization was that well done. I really felt a bond with him.
I was also so interested in watching the narrator’s journey unfold. It was really cool to see her move from a struggling teenager who was doing her best to deal with a mom who had issues, to an adult woman who ended up becoming a successful writer and artist. So many of the situations the narrator went through resonated with me because of my own upbringing and I felt a sense of being seen and understood for those experiences. Reading this story definitely brought me a greater degree of acceptance for my own life, and also greater acceptance for the experiences others have gone through that might be very different from my own.
This was an amazing read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves memoir, memoirs by women writers, or who is interested in learning more about first-hand experiences with addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues.
This particular story takes place in the Bay Area (around Oakland) in the 1980’s and it was so fascinating to read all the little details the author included about the culture and the environment of that region during that time. The character development was also phenomenal—I really feel like I got to know the characters so well, especially the main character, John. I won’t include spoilers for those who haven’t yet read the book, but John was a truly heartbreaking character and his journey deeply moved me. By the end of the story, I felt exactly as if I had met him and known him in real life, the characterization was that well done. I really felt a bond with him.
I was also so interested in watching the narrator’s journey unfold. It was really cool to see her move from a struggling teenager who was doing her best to deal with a mom who had issues, to an adult woman who ended up becoming a successful writer and artist. So many of the situations the narrator went through resonated with me because of my own upbringing and I felt a sense of being seen and understood for those experiences. Reading this story definitely brought me a greater degree of acceptance for my own life, and also greater acceptance for the experiences others have gone through that might be very different from my own.
This was an amazing read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves memoir, memoirs by women writers, or who is interested in learning more about first-hand experiences with addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues.
January 22, 2024
Some relationships transcend the boundaries of traditional romance, deepening in meaning and affection through life’s challenges. These connections stand as testaments to the enduring nature of love and the unbreakable bonds built by shared experiences. Such is the relationship of John and Monique in this tender memoir, “When Then Became Now,” by Monique Rardin Richardson.
Set in the 1980s in the San Francisco Bay Area, the memoir recounts the heartfelt and tumultuous journey of John and Monique. Their story is rich in emotions and depth, unfolding over several decades, marked by a profound bond that is challenged by the harrowing trials of drug addiction. Monique’s poignant retelling honors their shared memories and the essence of John before his struggles overtook him. It’s a touching story of love, loss, and resilience, resonating deeply with anyone who has experienced the effects of addiction.
What a beautiful story. Richardson captures her audience with her authenticity, effortlessly drawing them into the highs and lows of her and John’s life together. Her writing is infused with raw emotion that just oozes off the pages. She invites readers to walk alongside her through every twist and turn of their journey, making each moment feel deeply personal, as if they were part of the reader’s own experiences.
Monique and John’s story is undeniably moving in their early romantic relationship, as an invisible bond endures through subsequent marriages, families, and various life stages. There is, however, a noticeable contrast in the writing style at times. Richardson adeptly captures the lingering affection between her and John, surviving through their separate lives and intermittent reconnections until John’s passing. Yet, when she depicts their individual struggles, such as John’s homelessness and Monique’s experiences of abuse, the tone shifts to a surprisingly casual one. It’s an interesting choice, perhaps aiming to reflect the everyday reality of such hardships, but it feels disconnected in these moments, contrasting with the overall emotional intensity of the memoir. But while these instances were a bit jarring, they really didn’t take away from the entirety of the experience for me.
I recommend “When Then Became Now” by Monique Rardin Richardson to readers who enjoy stories of deep human connection, struggles with the shadows of addiction, and the beautiful, complex nature of love.
Set in the 1980s in the San Francisco Bay Area, the memoir recounts the heartfelt and tumultuous journey of John and Monique. Their story is rich in emotions and depth, unfolding over several decades, marked by a profound bond that is challenged by the harrowing trials of drug addiction. Monique’s poignant retelling honors their shared memories and the essence of John before his struggles overtook him. It’s a touching story of love, loss, and resilience, resonating deeply with anyone who has experienced the effects of addiction.
What a beautiful story. Richardson captures her audience with her authenticity, effortlessly drawing them into the highs and lows of her and John’s life together. Her writing is infused with raw emotion that just oozes off the pages. She invites readers to walk alongside her through every twist and turn of their journey, making each moment feel deeply personal, as if they were part of the reader’s own experiences.
Monique and John’s story is undeniably moving in their early romantic relationship, as an invisible bond endures through subsequent marriages, families, and various life stages. There is, however, a noticeable contrast in the writing style at times. Richardson adeptly captures the lingering affection between her and John, surviving through their separate lives and intermittent reconnections until John’s passing. Yet, when she depicts their individual struggles, such as John’s homelessness and Monique’s experiences of abuse, the tone shifts to a surprisingly casual one. It’s an interesting choice, perhaps aiming to reflect the everyday reality of such hardships, but it feels disconnected in these moments, contrasting with the overall emotional intensity of the memoir. But while these instances were a bit jarring, they really didn’t take away from the entirety of the experience for me.
I recommend “When Then Became Now” by Monique Rardin Richardson to readers who enjoy stories of deep human connection, struggles with the shadows of addiction, and the beautiful, complex nature of love.
August 8, 2024
WOW!
This was not what I was expecting when I picked up this book. Once I did though, I could not put it down.
It is a short read which is great for a filler book, but this is still packed with so much!
I read the entirety of this book within 12 hours I would say. I was hooked from the first page. As a chemical dependency counselor, anything that talks about addiction is easy for me to dig into and the story was written so beautifully.
I love how it was a point of view from Monique's perspective that still highlighted John as it was his journey she was portraying. I even cried toward the end when he told her he finally understood why he loved her.
John never caught a break, and even when he did it was short-lived. He tried to be the best he could be with what he was given but always tried to stay strong for everyone but himself I felt. He was not able to get a handle on his addiction because he never thought he was worthy of what he truly could possess.
Phenomenally written. I cant express it enough.
This was not what I was expecting when I picked up this book. Once I did though, I could not put it down.
It is a short read which is great for a filler book, but this is still packed with so much!
I read the entirety of this book within 12 hours I would say. I was hooked from the first page. As a chemical dependency counselor, anything that talks about addiction is easy for me to dig into and the story was written so beautifully.
I love how it was a point of view from Monique's perspective that still highlighted John as it was his journey she was portraying. I even cried toward the end when he told her he finally understood why he loved her.
John never caught a break, and even when he did it was short-lived. He tried to be the best he could be with what he was given but always tried to stay strong for everyone but himself I felt. He was not able to get a handle on his addiction because he never thought he was worthy of what he truly could possess.
Phenomenally written. I cant express it enough.
February 9, 2025
A heartbreaker of a book. A true telling of soul mates who were torn apart by drug use. Monique reminisces on her journey through life and her fortunate meeting with John as a teenager. It was a devastating beautiful story, where Monique shared how their meeting shaped their futures and how they were torn apart, but always focusing on John as a person and not just his drug addiction
November 26, 2024
Touching book about her relationship with John and his trials with addiction.
April 8, 2026
I loved reading this book, a labor of love from Monique Rardin Richardson, who poured her heart and soul into writing John’s unfinished legacy, even if it was their story instead. What a remarkably kind thing to do. This love story brought back a rush of childhood memories, both the joyous and the difficult ones. It also stirred thoughts of my own relationship with my mother, which bore a striking resemblance to the author’s experiences. Reading this memoir about John and Monique’s unbreakable bond has been a truly heartwarming experience. Well done!
July 5, 2023
Such a tender story of love, courage and friendship. Well-done!
November 22, 2023
One of those books you can't put down. A nonfiction coming-of-age, autobiographical book, the main subject is the teen-hood (during the 80s) boyfriend of the author. A story about first love, addiction, a breakup, loss, and a connection rekindled just in time. Brought back so many memories of our hometown. (It's odd when you know most of the subjects and locations in the book.) By the way, Monique Richardson is one of the most talented people around. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not just because I personally know the author since childhood - but because I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews