In August of 2024, a movie adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover was released. Fans flooded theaters, eager to glimpse their favorite book come to life. Two hours and 10 minutes later, many were met with disappointment. Viewers’ feedback ranged from “terrible adaptation of an important novel” to even harsher feedback: “Hated the book and hated the movie just as much.”
As of October 24th, a second of Hoover’s critically acclaimed novels has been adapted into a film, leaving viewers wondering one thing: Will Regretting You be a bigger success than its predecessor?
Regretting You follows the life of Clara Grant, a 16-year-old whose father and aunt are victims of a tragic car accident. Their deaths expose deep family secrets, driving a wedge between Clara and her mother, Morgan. Throughout the story, Clara is forced to navigate her relationship with her love interest, Miller, in the midst of grief and family trauma.
So far, the movie has received a whopping 28% rating by Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollywood Review argues that it is “plodding, uninventive [and] unthoughtful,” even going as far as to say the Colleen Hoover “adaptation craze” should come to an end. Specific complaints stem from how Clara’s grief is addressed. Critic Jocelyn Noveck from the Associated Press points out that her mourning period for her family is overshadowed by the “cheese factor” and corniness between Clara and Miller.
Other complaints are related to the plot itself, specifically the opening scene of the movie: Miller is moving the city limits sign so that his favorite pizza place will deliver to his house. He waves over Clara to assist him with moving the sign.
This moment has evoked debate— why did Miller walk to the city limits sign when he drives his car for the rest of the movie? Why did he need help carrying it when he had supposedly moved it many times by himself? How would moving the sign allow the pizza to be delivered to his house when the delivery system is on the internet?
These are just a few of the many inconsistencies in Regretting You. However, the debate and controversy this movie has evoked have not managed to stifle Hoover’s series of adaptations. Both Verity and Reminders of Him are scheduled to release as films in 2026. Until then, viewers can only hope that their favorite novels will be done justice this time around!
