Based upon the best-selling book Regretting You by Colleen Hoover published in 2019, a film adaptation of this novel premiered at the box office in Oct. 2025.  Filled with “family, first love, grief, and betrayal,” main characters Morgan Grant and her 16-year-old daughter, Clara, clash (as many mothers and daughters often do).  The only family member who can ease the tension between these two is Chris, Morgan’s husband and Clara’s father; however, he heartbreakingly succumbs to a tragedy that will change Morgan and Clara forever. 

Colleen Hoover is a wildly successful author, publishing award-winning novels such as Verity, It Ends With Us, and Reminders of Him. As her career continues to progress, many of her books have turned into movies that are gaining much attention from fans and readers alike. The first adaptation of her books was It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The movie received a lot of backlash due to on-set drama that was revealed as the movie made its debut and still currently is in the headlines. (The Torch reviewed this film back in Oct. 2024.)

Similarly, Regretting You remains a hot topic of conversation with a Rotten Tomato score of 28%. Many critics called the plot “basic” with characters that were “irritating” due to not being able to fix simple misunderstandings. Some share the opinion that McKenna Grace and Mason Thames, who star in the film, “lack the emotional depth” needed to play such vulnerable characters. The movie itself gained a lot of attraction due to the book, which many fans agree was much better. Unlike the movie, the novel received more positive feedback; it was praised as an “emotional rollercoaster” with great characters. Overall, the book has a 4.1 out of 5 star review on Goodreads, which means that 82% of readers did enjoy it. 

For more specific criticism and compliments, the casting breakdown can be evaluated. Many critics agreed that Grace’s character was irritating yet realistic. The majority of Grace’s feedback was positive, with viewers agreeing that her onscreen chemistry with her offscreen boyfriend Thames saved the production from being a “huge failure.” For her co-star and boyfriend Thames, “bland” was a word that came to a couple viewers’ minds. While this could be attributed more with the script itself, his performance was described as calculated and “formulaic,” not a flattering observation whatsoever; however, it is important to take these reviews with a grain of salt and realize that not every movie will turn out perfectly, especially when it is an adaptation of a book many already consider challenging to recreate on a screen. It is not uncommon for the book to be better than the movie, considering imagination and interpretation are left up to the reader.

Difficulties often arise when movie producers take a top-selling novel and turn it into a movie, with all of the different elements that go into it like casting, plot changes, and perspectives. Colleen Hoover has been a controversial author in the past, so it is possible that fans made biased reviews based upon her personal conflicts rather than the actual story. Overall, it seems to be the common belief that while the movie was enjoyable and simple, the book held more emotions and depth that made it more special and likable. 

Regretting You is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and other online sources. Critics and fans alike agree the movie was not a total failure (it did earn over $48 million in theaters, afterall) as it did have some unforgettable moments.

Tell us Torch readers: What is your take?