Regretting You

Directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) from a screenplay by Susan McMartin, Regretting You is a cinematic adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2019 novel. The story centers on Morgan Grant (Allison Williams), a woman who put her personal aspirations and college dreams on hold after becoming pregnant at seventeen, and her spirited sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara (Mckenna Grace), an aspiring actress determined not to repeat her mother’s overly cautious, predictable life.

The delicate peace of their suburban household—frequently mediated by Morgan’s charming husband Chris (Scott Eastwood)—is violently shattered by a sudden, fatal car accident that claims the lives of Chris and Morgan’s younger sister, Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald). In the wake of this shared tragedy, the fragile foundation of the family collapses, unleashing a deluge of hidden secrets and simmering resentments.

As Morgan navigates suffocating grief and turns toward Jenny’s grieving fiancé Jonah (Dave Franco) for support, Clara rebels against her mother’s emotional withdrawal and finds comfort in Miller Adams (Mason Thames), a quiet aspiring filmmaker. The film follows the parallel emotional journeys of two generations learning how to rebuild their identities, confront uncomfortable truths, and salvage love from devastating loss.

The central message of Regretting You is that silence and protective deception can be more destructive than harsh truths, and that maternal love requires vulnerability rather than control. Director Josh Boone explores the painful yet liberating milestone when children realize their parents are imperfect, fallible humans rather than infallible guardians. The film underscores that grief is not a straight line toward acceptance, but a messy reckoning where forgiveness—of both oneself and those who have caused hurt—is the only path to genuine second chances.

Different readings offer varied perspectives on the story:

Released in the wake of the 2024 cinematic phenomenon It Ends With Us, Regretting You served as the second major studio translation of Colleen Hoover’s literary catalog. The film's emergence highlights the strong purchasing power of female-driven literary fanbases and the modern BookTok community, capable of propelling mid-budget domestic melodramas to commercial viability. While critically polarizing, its production demonstrates Hollywood's renewed interest in contemporary romance and family-centered weepies reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks adaptations.

Critical Reception (Rotten Tomatoes: ~28%): Critics largely criticized the film for its melodramatic contrivances, predictable twists, and reliance on soap-opera misunderstandings rather than nuanced dialogue.

Audience / Fan Reception (Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: ~85%): Fans and romance readers praised the adaptation for staying faithful to Hoover's book, celebrating the performances of Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace and the chemistry between Grace and Mason Thames.

Verdict: A targeted, crowd-pleasing emotional weepie tailored specifically for contemporary romance devotees, despite its structural and conventional flaws.