Once upon a time, there was a novel called Regretting You, written by the beloved author Colleen Hoover. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, highly regarded by readers and critics alike. The novel was a two-for-one package deal, combining a new adult love story with a women’s fiction storyline that left readers feeling intense and consumed.
Book review: Regretting You
Regretting You follows the story of Morgan Grant and her teenage daughter, Clara. They were experiencing the usual issues faced by mothers and daughters, but Morgan would do anything to protect her daughter, even if that meant stopping Clara from repeating the same mistakes she made as a teen. Morgan had gotten pregnant and married at a young age, which meant that she couldn’t do all she hoped to do with her life.
Clara knew that her mom’s life was not the life she wanted for herself, and she had very different hopes and dreams. But things went awry when Clara’s dad, Chris, was involved in a life-shattering accident. Clara and Morgan had to learn to support each other as best they could following this tragedy. But when Morgan reached out for a man she shouldn’t have, Clara retaliated and indulged in a forbidden romance. The question on everyone’s mind was whether this grieving mother and daughter would find a way to forgive and support one another.
As a reader, I quickly became invested in Regretting You. The pages seemed to take on a life of their own as I made my way through the story. What I loved and appreciated the most about Regretting You was the double romance and family drama story that we were issued with in Colleen Hoover’s novel. I was particularly drawn to the past narrative, which opened this tale and involved the main character Morgan, her husband Chris, her sister Jenny, and Jenny’s boyfriend Jonah in the past. This glimpse into the lead’s life as a teen set up the rest of the story well and provided an essential insight into Morgan’s behavior. This was my favorite part of the novel, and I completely fell for Jonah, the lead male character of this tale.
When we moved into the present time narrative, we met Morgan’s sixteen-year-old daughter Clara. I am not a parent of teenagers just yet, or daughters, but I valued Hoover’s insight into navigating the rocky world of parenting a teen girl. I can’t say that I’d like to be placed in Morgan’s shoes as a mother who wants what is best for her daughter, but I was with her every step of the way. Hoover did an excellent job of drawing out the issues and conflicts related to a typical mother/daughter relationship dynamic. She also gave us a good glimpse into the world of teenage dating and rebellion thanks to Clara. Both Miller and Clara were interesting protagonists who added a great new adult romance element to this tale.
The other side of this story is Morgan’s experience, which is at a predictable stalemate just as this family is impacted by the accident that issues a big tragedy for this mother and daughter. I could sympathize with the sense of routine, stability, and commitment that Morgan was trying to provide her family. However, I also wanted Morgan to realize her true happiness and love for another man. The terrible earth-shattering accident that occurs to Morgan’s husband Chris is the catalyst for Morgan’s reawakening.
Hoover used this situation to explore issues of grief, loss, confusion, mistrust, betrayal, anger, distance, angst, retribution, parenting woes, emotional pain, and rebellion. When Jonah and Morgan came together on the pages of this book, it seemed to cast a light on a dark world. I really wanted both characters to find happiness. I was pleased and relieved to see the characters find peace by the close of this novel.
If you enjoyed Regretting You, be sure to check out some of Colleen Hoover’s other bestsellers, such as It Ends With Us, Confess, and Maybe Someday. These novels are sure to capture your heart and leave a lasting impression. Colleen Hoover is a master storyteller, and her novels are not to be missed.
