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Remembering You
“Careful there, Robbie.”
My sweater obscured part of my sight, and my fogged-up glasses managed to take care of the rest of it, but I’d recognize that voice anywhere, even after eight long years. It was deeper now, a bit more gravelly, but it most definitely belonged to the guy I’d spent most of my early teenage years pining after. My first—and unrequited—love.
“Troy?” I exclaimed, blinking my confusion as he helped pull my sweater the rest of the way off. Troy Jacobs’ gorgeous lips twitched in amusement. “You remember me. Didn’t know if you would.”
“Oh, I remember you,” I mumbled. Hard to forget your first kiss—or the first guy you ever loved.
A 9,600 word short story about first love, second chances, and family.
“Troy?” I exclaimed, blinking my confusion as he helped pull my sweater the rest of the way off. Troy Jacobs’ gorgeous lips twitched in amusement. “You remember me. Didn’t know if you would.”
“Oh, I remember you,” I mumbled. Hard to forget your first kiss—or the first guy you ever loved.
A 9,600 word short story about first love, second chances, and family.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2018
46 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Crystal Lacy
19 books329 followersCrystal Lacy lives with her loving family in Hawaii, where it is always either drizzling or sunny and never snows—which is a shame, because she prefers being cold to being damp and hot unless it’s for Very Good Reasons. She writes queer romance, mainly M/M, but also some F/F. She has aspirations to one day write a YA novel about cats.
Crystal is a long-time fangirl and writes slash fanfiction for the Untamed/CQL and NBC Hannibal fandoms under the name crystalusagi. She has a deep love for fandom culture, and can be frequently spotted on Twitter and Tumblr reblogging pretty fan art.
Join her readers' group on FB for sneak peeks, extras, and the chance to grab advanced reader copies at https://facebook.com/groups/lacybits
Subscribe to her newsletter at crystal-lacy.com/subscribe for monthly book giveaways, recs, news, and more!
Crystal is a long-time fangirl and writes slash fanfiction for the Untamed/CQL and NBC Hannibal fandoms under the name crystalusagi. She has a deep love for fandom culture, and can be frequently spotted on Twitter and Tumblr reblogging pretty fan art.
Join her readers' group on FB for sneak peeks, extras, and the chance to grab advanced reader copies at https://facebook.com/groups/lacybits
Subscribe to her newsletter at crystal-lacy.com/subscribe for monthly book giveaways, recs, news, and more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 10, 2018
Awww, this story was such a short, cute, 33-page read that really made me smile.
Robbie's 14 y.o. insecurities toward his slightly-older next-door neighbor, Troy, on-page were totally palpable, leaving him a bundle of jumbled nerves when, the day after their one and only kiss, Troy disappeared from his life for almost a decade.
[Younger Robbie]
The circumstances behind their reunion were slightly sad, but didn't bring down the feeling of excitement at them seeing one another again after so long apart.
For the story to have had so few pages, their friendship and renewed closeness felt very real, leaving me reading with baited breath to see if they'd pick up where they'd left off, and maybe take their kissing further.
No, not *that* 'further', you buncha Jezebels! Toward a real relationship, of course! :- P
The only thing I would've changed about this story would've been to include a few more broad overview details, like where in the US had Robbie and Troy been living during their time apart, how long was Robbie to be in town and why he was returning back to the states.
Just small stuff, but my inquiring mind's OCD was *pinging* off the charts with those questions, kind of like seeing a screenshot of someone's cell phone with only 3% charge remaining. GAH! The struggle is real, folks.
I'd rate this short at around 4.25 stars and recommend it, for sure. : )
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The author is giving this short story away for free at the following link:
https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
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December 31, 2020
This was a really cute story. When the characters are this good, I always wish the story was a little bit longer.
********
Re-read 12/2020
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Re-read 12/2020
December 4, 2020
A cute but too short friends to lovers tale.
I could see the potential but felt a great deal was missing.
Wish I could say that I'll be remembering this one, but I'm not quite so sure....
I could see the potential but felt a great deal was missing.
Wish I could say that I'll be remembering this one, but I'm not quite so sure....
January 21, 2019
I have a soft spot for friends-to-lovers romance trope. 😁 I just find it incredibly endearing, sweet and romantic about two friends finally admitting their feelings to each other and falling in love. 🥰 And let me tell you, this one hour short listen definitely didn’t disappoint me. 😉
Robbie and Troy’s were each other’s first kiss but they were step cousins at that time. And then, they were separated for several years. And when they finally meet back, they are no longer related and they found that they still harbor feelings for each other, feelings that won’t go away and emotions that won’t let them forget that sweet sweet kiss all those years ago. 😌 It’s time to reunite their body and soul and admit that they belong to each other.
I love Crystal Lacy’s books because they are quite different and unique. Most of her stories are set in Hawaii and it’s rare to see stories that are not set in mainland when it comes to the states. So I love the diversity and uniqueness that Hawaii has to offer in these stories. 💜 And she always manages to arouse tender, loving feelings in my heart. So kudos to that! 👏 As always, Kenneth Obi did a marvelous job narrating this little shortie. 👍 Immensely enjoyed it. I wish this could be a bit longer but this is a very lovely bite-sized audio that you can enjoy in just one hour. So squeeze this lovely treat to your TBL and TBRs. 😉
4.5 you never forget your first kiss stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Audio rating
Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Disclaimer: An audio copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Robbie and Troy’s were each other’s first kiss but they were step cousins at that time. And then, they were separated for several years. And when they finally meet back, they are no longer related and they found that they still harbor feelings for each other, feelings that won’t go away and emotions that won’t let them forget that sweet sweet kiss all those years ago. 😌 It’s time to reunite their body and soul and admit that they belong to each other.
I love Crystal Lacy’s books because they are quite different and unique. Most of her stories are set in Hawaii and it’s rare to see stories that are not set in mainland when it comes to the states. So I love the diversity and uniqueness that Hawaii has to offer in these stories. 💜 And she always manages to arouse tender, loving feelings in my heart. So kudos to that! 👏 As always, Kenneth Obi did a marvelous job narrating this little shortie. 👍 Immensely enjoyed it. I wish this could be a bit longer but this is a very lovely bite-sized audio that you can enjoy in just one hour. So squeeze this lovely treat to your TBL and TBRs. 😉
4.5 you never forget your first kiss stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Audio rating
Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Disclaimer: An audio copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
November 27, 2019
This was adorable short Christmas novella! Low angst and steamy, this story featured second chance at love, two young men getting reacquainted and their sweet mothers rooting for their happiness. At times the story tugged at my heart strings. It's my first time reading Ms Lacy's work, and I liked her turn of phrase. I will certainly check out her other books.
March 6, 2024
An innocuous, rom-com that is sadly forgettable.
Read
December 5, 2020 **Currently free**
This didn’t work for me personally. However, I don’t feel comfortable rating it. It was so short. Only 42 pages. And I think that’s where my disconnect comes from. It would have worked better as a slightly longer story. I have really liked another short one by this author though so maybe that’s not why. (My Best Friend’s Secret) I’ve liked a longer one by them too. So I will still be willing to try more of theirs in the future.
This didn’t work for me personally. However, I don’t feel comfortable rating it. It was so short. Only 42 pages. And I think that’s where my disconnect comes from. It would have worked better as a slightly longer story. I have really liked another short one by this author though so maybe that’s not why. (My Best Friend’s Secret) I’ve liked a longer one by them too. So I will still be willing to try more of theirs in the future.
February 10, 2019
Audiobook review3,5 stars
Remembering You was a sweet short story (only about an hour's listen - or less if you speed the narration up). It all starts eight years ago with a game of truth or dare between Robbie and his step-cousin Troy. A game that would lead to a first kiss. A first kiss that would linger in their memories for a long time to come. It would only be a memory as Troy and his dad up and left the day after never to return again. Until now, when Troy's dad recently passed and Troy needing his family. Feelings are still there for them both and it's not long before there's a new first kiss - and one that doesn't stop there.
This was a sweet and uncomplicated story about second chances and finding the right time and the right place to start something. There wasn't much going on, as we were only with them for a moment, the moment where their lives changed. I can't say that the story evoked many emotions in me - short stories rarely do, there's just not much time or space for it. However, I did enjoy it all the same. Kenneth Obi delivered a straight forward narration of this book, with voices and feelings to match and made the listen a good one.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
October 31, 2021
Remembering You
By Crystal Lacy
This was an okay holiday book. I liked both Robbie and Troy, but there was just so much missing between them. It felt like it was just the bare bones of a story.
They spent most of their time apart. There wasn't really a full discussion about what happened either. It was more like let's get the past over as quick as possible and just as quickly move on. I know it was a short story, but the most important parts of their relationship were missing from it.
By Crystal Lacy
This was an okay holiday book. I liked both Robbie and Troy, but there was just so much missing between them. It felt like it was just the bare bones of a story.
They spent most of their time apart. There wasn't really a full discussion about what happened either. It was more like let's get the past over as quick as possible and just as quickly move on. I know it was a short story, but the most important parts of their relationship were missing from it.
February 3, 2019
This book was cute.
It was on the shorter side at just around an hour long if your listening to the audio.
Two characters Robbie and Troy grow up together and then grow apart as they get older only to reconnect and form a relationship when Troy comes back.
I wasn’t impressed with how Troy left and didn’t really explain his reasoning for not having contact with Robbie for the almost decade afterwards. I kinda Hated how Robbie just let the relationship happen with limited communication. But. It’s a super short story. If we got too much more detail it would have added too much as well. So overall I think this book was nicely done as a novella.
Kenneth Obi did a good job at capturing these guys. Robbie sounded like an adorable character and Troy had a complete different voice so it was easy to keep track of who was talking and what was happening in the story. Cute book and narration.
It was on the shorter side at just around an hour long if your listening to the audio.
Two characters Robbie and Troy grow up together and then grow apart as they get older only to reconnect and form a relationship when Troy comes back.
I wasn’t impressed with how Troy left and didn’t really explain his reasoning for not having contact with Robbie for the almost decade afterwards. I kinda Hated how Robbie just let the relationship happen with limited communication. But. It’s a super short story. If we got too much more detail it would have added too much as well. So overall I think this book was nicely done as a novella.
Kenneth Obi did a good job at capturing these guys. Robbie sounded like an adorable character and Troy had a complete different voice so it was easy to keep track of who was talking and what was happening in the story. Cute book and narration.
December 19, 2019
Abolutely adored this second change romance short story... Robbie and Troy were clearly destined to be together and how they ended up there couldn't have been sweeter!
December 1, 2020
This was a super-cute and sweet second chance at first love story. This is the first time I've read Crystal Lacy, but I immediately checked out her other books because I liked this one so much, despite its short length. I could have easily read another 100 pages about Robbie and Troy, their time together as teens, and their reunion.
November 27, 2019
Audible Review
Overall 3.5
Performance 4
Story 3.5
Sweet and short!
This was a really cute, sweet , second-chance holiday love story. A little feels thrown in with the sweet and it made for an enjoyable, quick listen.
I feel like if I say much more this review will be as long as the audio!
My first listen with Kenneth Obi as the narrator- I'll be looking into more of his books.
*Borrowed through the AE package.
Overall 3.5
Performance 4
Story 3.5
Sweet and short!
This was a really cute, sweet , second-chance holiday love story. A little feels thrown in with the sweet and it made for an enjoyable, quick listen.
I feel like if I say much more this review will be as long as the audio!
My first listen with Kenneth Obi as the narrator- I'll be looking into more of his books.
*Borrowed through the AE package.
December 10, 2018
I enjoyed how daring Robbie was, even at fourteen. When he sees Troy again after eight years both men are a little awkward. It doesn't take long for old feelings to return and become more. I loved that Troy surprises Robbie with arrangements for their future.
January 1, 2019
4-1/2 Stars
I think we all that one crush that we probably still dream about once-in-a-while so reading Robbie and Troy's reconnecting was a lovely gem of a holiday tale. Its been days since I read this and I'm still smiling when I think about it.
I think we all that one crush that we probably still dream about once-in-a-while so reading Robbie and Troy's reconnecting was a lovely gem of a holiday tale. Its been days since I read this and I'm still smiling when I think about it.
May 18, 2019
3.3 Stars
Cute and sexy.
Cute and sexy.
December 11, 2020
Cute
3 stars
Cute short about a guy meeting up with his crush 8 years later.
It was ok but I needed it to be longer. With the shortness I didn’t get a chance to really connect with the characters and understand why they were together
3 stars
Cute short about a guy meeting up with his crush 8 years later.
It was ok but I needed it to be longer. With the shortness I didn’t get a chance to really connect with the characters and understand why they were together
December 13, 2020
This a short but sweet holiday romance that picks up between two men 8 years later in their lives. I love the way there were able to reconnect and have things come out even better.
December 5, 2023
3.5 stars
Review - A Christmas story of second chances. Robbie never forgot his first kiss/first love. Now its been years and maybe his love wasn't as unrequited as he thought! Liked the setting and all knowing mothers
Review - A Christmas story of second chances. Robbie never forgot his first kiss/first love. Now its been years and maybe his love wasn't as unrequited as he thought! Liked the setting and all knowing mothers
January 22, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.5
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 5
Short, Sweet and Wonderful!!!! Together Crystal and Kenneth are magic!!
This is a great feel-good second-chance story. Lovely and surprisingly dynamic characters for such a short story. Believable second-chance with your first (unrequited) love. Crystal has so much talent to put so much feeling into such a short story, wonderful work!
Kenneth Obi’s narration is awesome as always and I am always in awe of how he manages to sound different for each character over each different audiobook! Such a talent!
All in all, this is a perfect short story to lift your mood and give you all the feels!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.5
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 5
Short, Sweet and Wonderful!!!! Together Crystal and Kenneth are magic!!
This is a great feel-good second-chance story. Lovely and surprisingly dynamic characters for such a short story. Believable second-chance with your first (unrequited) love. Crystal has so much talent to put so much feeling into such a short story, wonderful work!
Kenneth Obi’s narration is awesome as always and I am always in awe of how he manages to sound different for each character over each different audiobook! Such a talent!
All in all, this is a perfect short story to lift your mood and give you all the feels!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
November 25, 2019
It's a cute short story. I enjoyed listening to it but it wasn't anything monumental. If anything, they didn't really go much into where in the "mainland" they were living.
I feel like it could have been slightly better with outside details but as far as the 2 MCs go, chemistry was good and it was pretty well done.
Nothing much to complain about.
I feel like it could have been slightly better with outside details but as far as the 2 MCs go, chemistry was good and it was pretty well done.
Nothing much to complain about.
December 1, 2019
This was cute with some nice steam. Just spans a few days plus the epilogue, which was really sweet, so there's not a whole lot it, but I felt enough of a connection between the MCs in that time that I want to check out more of this author's work. I'd like to see what she can do with a full novel, and the Hawaii setting is a nice change of pace.
August 9, 2021
REMEMBERING YOU was a short but sweet romance between two childhood friends/step-cousins who are reunited as adults while Robbie is home for the holidays. They each had crushes on each other as teenagers but after Robbie's aunt got divorced he never saw Troy again. This was a quick and easy read but not overly memorable.
December 16, 2018
AHHHHHHH I NEED MORE CRYSTAL LACY BOOKS HNNGHH I CAN'T GET ENOUGH ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
October 6, 2019
Very cute. Second chance romance with a bit more. Even though it was short, it was well written and the characters spoke to me.
November 19, 2019
it was a really cute book, good way the pass the time
June 2, 2024
old post reposted
New author, same old binge-reading habits. Crystal Lacy, the new(ish--to me--sorta) author. "Remembering You", the same old binge-reading habits (available through #BookFunnel).
["“Careful there, Robbie.”
My sweater obscured part of my sight, and my fogged-up glasses managed to take care of the rest of it, but I’d recognize that voice anywhere, even after eight long years. It was deeper now, a bit more gravelly, but it most definitely belonged to the guy I’d spent most of my early teenage years pining after. My first—and unrequited—love.
“Troy?” I exclaimed, blinking my confusion as he helped pull my sweater the rest of the way off.
Troy Jacobs’ gorgeous lips twitched in amusement. “You remember me. Didn’t know if you would.”
“Oh, I remember you,” I mumbled. Hard to forget your first kiss—or the first guy you ever loved."]
These two were soooo damn cute! The angst wasn't all that terrible, just a precursor to them getting together. Spoiler alert.
Also, Christmas in Hawaii? Sign. Me. The. Fuck. Up.
Much like the last piece, because it was so short, just shy of 45 pages, I can't gush too much about their love without spoiling anything, even though I want to. So seriously, just go read it (to read this one, you have to sign up for Crystal's newsletters to get a password that unlocks previously posted short stories locked in a cute little safe on her website).
#rememberingyou #crystallacy #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
New author, same old binge-reading habits. Crystal Lacy, the new(ish--to me--sorta) author. "Remembering You", the same old binge-reading habits (available through #BookFunnel).
["“Careful there, Robbie.”
My sweater obscured part of my sight, and my fogged-up glasses managed to take care of the rest of it, but I’d recognize that voice anywhere, even after eight long years. It was deeper now, a bit more gravelly, but it most definitely belonged to the guy I’d spent most of my early teenage years pining after. My first—and unrequited—love.
“Troy?” I exclaimed, blinking my confusion as he helped pull my sweater the rest of the way off.
Troy Jacobs’ gorgeous lips twitched in amusement. “You remember me. Didn’t know if you would.”
“Oh, I remember you,” I mumbled. Hard to forget your first kiss—or the first guy you ever loved."]
These two were soooo damn cute! The angst wasn't all that terrible, just a precursor to them getting together. Spoiler alert.
Also, Christmas in Hawaii? Sign. Me. The. Fuck. Up.
Much like the last piece, because it was so short, just shy of 45 pages, I can't gush too much about their love without spoiling anything, even though I want to. So seriously, just go read it (to read this one, you have to sign up for Crystal's newsletters to get a password that unlocks previously posted short stories locked in a cute little safe on her website).
#rememberingyou #crystallacy #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
January 6, 2021
Remembering You is the story of Robbie and Troy, previously cousins through marriage, who meet again over the Christmas holiday in Hawaii. This is told in first person from Robbie’s pov.
This is a pleasant Christmas story about second chances between two cousins now that they’re grown. Robbie has had a crush on Troy since he was a teenager, but then one day, Troy and his dad moved and Robbie didn’t see Troy again until Christmas many years later. The story starts with Robbie and Troy when they were younger then makes a jump to current time so the story establishes that they already have sort of an interest in each other. It’s not a surprise when they fall in love.
The story is a quick and easy read. I didn’t get much of a Christmas feel from it, it read more like a romance, but that’s just me. I’m not a fan of first person, especially from one pov, but this is a short story so it was okay.
Remembering You is a quick, holiday read. I give it 3 Stars.
This is a pleasant Christmas story about second chances between two cousins now that they’re grown. Robbie has had a crush on Troy since he was a teenager, but then one day, Troy and his dad moved and Robbie didn’t see Troy again until Christmas many years later. The story starts with Robbie and Troy when they were younger then makes a jump to current time so the story establishes that they already have sort of an interest in each other. It’s not a surprise when they fall in love.
The story is a quick and easy read. I didn’t get much of a Christmas feel from it, it read more like a romance, but that’s just me. I’m not a fan of first person, especially from one pov, but this is a short story so it was okay.
Remembering You is a quick, holiday read. I give it 3 Stars.
March 23, 2021
A short but sweet story
Robbie and Troy get a second chance after years of not seeing each other, but Robbie still remembering their first kiss. Were his eyes deceiving him, having Troy back in his life?
This is a very short but pure second chance romance.
I loved Kenneth's narration, clean, easy to listen and very pleasant on the ears, I listened at 1.10 speed on Audible.
Remembering You
A Second Chance Romance
By: Crystal Lacy
Narrated by: Kenneth Obi
Length: 1 hr and 4 mins
❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.10 speed on Audible
Robbie and Troy get a second chance after years of not seeing each other, but Robbie still remembering their first kiss. Were his eyes deceiving him, having Troy back in his life?
This is a very short but pure second chance romance.
I loved Kenneth's narration, clean, easy to listen and very pleasant on the ears, I listened at 1.10 speed on Audible.
Remembering You
A Second Chance Romance
By: Crystal Lacy
Narrated by: Kenneth Obi
Length: 1 hr and 4 mins
❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.10 speed on Audible
November 23, 2020
First love and more
What is not to love when it comes to the innocence of first love? Robbie returns home to Hawaii only to be greeted by Troy, his first teen age crush and his first kiss. It’s been 8 years since the awkward game of Truth or Dare they played in Robbie’s bedroom. And it was the last time they talked. But fast forward to the present and it’s the Christmas holidays and we all know what can happen during this magical time of year.
What is not to love when it comes to the innocence of first love? Robbie returns home to Hawaii only to be greeted by Troy, his first teen age crush and his first kiss. It’s been 8 years since the awkward game of Truth or Dare they played in Robbie’s bedroom. And it was the last time they talked. But fast forward to the present and it’s the Christmas holidays and we all know what can happen during this magical time of year.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews