Released on Oct. 24, “Regretting You” — an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name — attempts to translate the author’s emotional storytelling to the screen. To some extent, it succeeds.
Compared to last year’s disjointed “It Ends With Us” adaptation, “Regretting You” feels more cohesive and self-aware. It may stray from the source material, but the movie offers enough glimmers of warmth, humor and humanity to make it worth a casual watch.
Set in a quiet Texas town, the story follows Morgan Grant (Allison Williams), a young mother grappling with the revelation that her husband had an affair with her only sister before his death — a fact she keeps secret from her teenage daughter, Clara (Mckenna Grace). While confused by her mother’s silence, Clara navigates all the chaos that adolescence brings, including a budding romance with the introspective and nonchalant Miller Adams (Mason Thames). As Clara and Morgan struggle to understand one another through their grief, the film examines how people try to rebuild after lacerating betrayal.
One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in its depiction of adolescence. The awkwardness of first love, the impulsivity of teenage emotion and the immaturity that shrouds coming of age are captured with surprising authenticity. Clara’s moments of reckless affection and stubborn defiance feel real, mirroring the very messy contradictions that define young adulthood. There’s humor too: Moments of spark and wit cut through the heavier themes and remind viewers that grief and hatred, though consuming, cannot erase the absurdity of life.
Despite these touching moments, the film loses its footing with the pacing of the adults’ storyline.
Morgan’s character growth feels rushed, and her eventual healing arrives too suddenly to feel earned. The dialogue, though serviceable, often flattens the emotional depth the scenes require. There are slight flashes of sincerity — a few flashbacks and pauses that briefly bring the characters to life — but the movie too often substitutes much-needed quiet introspection with overwrought monologues or overdramatic arguments.
Much like “It Ends with Us,” the newest Colleen Hoover adaptation stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. What could have been a heartfelt exploration of love, grief and forgiveness instead becomes an uneven portrayal of growing up, breaking down and trying to heal.
With two more Hoover adaptations — “Reminders of Him” and “Verity” — already in the works, perhaps Hollywood is still learning how to navigate the fine line between emotional storytelling and excess. For now, “Regretting You” sits somewhere in the middle — not a masterpiece, but not quite a misstep either.
Timothy Ro is a senior staff writer covering arts and culture.
