Colleen Hoover took the internet by storm in the last five years, so it’s no surprise that many of her novels have been adapted. With Regretting You being her second adaptation following It Ends With Us, it’s safe to say that the world was waiting with bated breath to see how this film would perform. With a blend of humor, drama, complex relationships, and romance, Josh Boone’s take on the novel was very close to the novel. Though, like all adaptations, some of the book-to-screen choices may leave readers wanting more. 

On paper, the movie had everything you could want from a Hoover film: an emotional story about love, loss, and forgiveness, a star-studded cast, and the built-in fanbase that’s made Hoover’s books viral sensations. While it doesn’t hit quite every emotional note, the movie still has plenty of charm to offer.

Regretting You captured a number of moments that fulfilled the Hoover magic her readers typically love. The cinematography is soft and intimate, which fits the story’s tone, and the soundtrack adds an extra layer of emotion without overdoing it. But for those looking for the emotional gut-punch that the books often deliver, you might find that the film—similar to It Ends With Us—takes a softer approach to some of the more heartbreaking elements. 

It’s just a bit safe, perhaps for the broader audience the film provides. Hoover’s writing has always been messy, complicated, and deeply human, and the film seems to sand down some of those rough edges. However, the story’s core, which focuses on love, regret, and the ties that hold families together, makes it worth watching, especially for fans who want to see their favorite characters brought to life.

Overall, Regretting You is heartfelt, easy to watch, and moving, but for those who like the way Hoover dives headfirst into some of the most painful and difficult elements of the human experience, you may find the movie gentler than what you’re anticipating. Still, if you’re a fan, it’s worth the watch.

Books to Read After Seeing Regretting You

At Home on Marigold Lane by Debbie Mason

After a painful divorce, family therapist Brianna MacLeod returns to her hometown of Highland Falls, doubting her ability to help others when she couldn’t save her own marriage. As she starts rebuilding her life, she begins counseling her roommate and her neighbor’s daughter—only to be unexpectedly reconnected with her first love, Caleb Scott. Caleb, struggling to support his stepdaughter after his own failed marriage, is drawn to Bri again. Though both are hesitant to risk their hearts, their renewed connection might be the second chance they’ve both been searching for.

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Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie

After a painful breakup and leaving her graduate program, Kathleen Cheng returns to her childhood home in Oakland feeling lost. But her mother, Marissa, has changed. She no longer depressed, she’s full of life and planning to remarry a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. As Kathleen takes a job at a startup offering touch-based therapy, she begins to explore new ideas about intimacy, belonging, and connection. Her evolving relationship with her mother forces both women to confront their shared past—cultural divides, old wounds, and unspoken love—and learn how to see each other as equals.

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The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev

When 65-year-old Bindu Desai unexpectedly inherits a million dollars, she panics—fearing the money will uncover a shameful mistakes from her youth—and impulsively buys a condo in a luxurious Florida retirement community. Her sudden move shocks her daughter-in-law, Aly, who’s still living with Bindu after divorcing her son and is struggling to fight for her career ambitions at the news station where she works. Meanwhile, Aly’s daughter, Cullie, faces the possible collapse of her tech company and must develop a dating app, despite never having dated herself. Enlisting her mother and grandmother for “research,” the three Desai women find themselves confronting old secrets, new beginnings, and their own definitions of love and success.

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The Someday Daughter by Ellen O’Clover

Audrey St. Vrain has spent her life defined by her mother’s fame. Camilla St. Vrain, author of the bestselling self-help book Letters to My Someday Daughter, built an empire around teaching women to love themselves. But Audrey, the real “someday daughter,” has always felt more like a prop than a person. Eager to create her own life, Audrey plans to spend the summer at a prestigious premed program with her boyfriend before college. But when Camilla insists she join her on a book tour instead, Audrey reluctantly agrees, seeing it as a final chance to understand their strained relationship. As the tour unfolds, and as Audrey grows close to Silas, the charming video intern, she begins to question everything she thought she wanted and what it truly means to define herself on her own terms.

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Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Elsie Porter’s life changes forever when a chance encounter at a pizza shop leads to a whirlwind romance with Ben Ross. Within months, they get married. But their whirlwind romance doesn’t last long—just nine days later, Ben is tragically killed in an accident. Grieving and alone, Elsie must face his mother, Susan, who never even knew she existed. As the story weaves between Elsie and Ben’s brief, beautiful love story and Elsie and Susan’s journey toward understanding and healing,

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What’s Next For Colleen Hoover’s Book To Screen Adaptations

Colleen Hoover fans have a big year ahead. Reminders of Him is coming to theaters on March 13, 2026, with Hoover co-writing the script with Lauren Levine. Then,  a few months later, Verity hits theaters on October 2, 2026. The psychological thriller was directed by Michael Showalter and stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. From heartbreak to twists and turns, 2026 is shaping up to be the year Colleen Hoover takes over the big screen.