Morgan Grant and her daughter Clara explore what's left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover eac...
“Regretting You” is an unapologetically melodramatic adaptation of author Colleen Hoover‘s bestselling novel, capturing the tangled emotions of grief, betrayal, and reconciliation between a mother and daughter. Directed by Josh Boone with a soapy flair that feels entirely intentional, this straightforward film may not be high art, but it’s a great story and highly entertaining.
Single mom Morgan (Allison Williams) is struggling to hold her life together after the sudden death of her husband Chris (Scott Eastwood). Grieving and adrift, she finds herself at odds with her teenage daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace), whose own heartbreak fuels anger and resentment. What begins as a domestic drama soon evolves into a gripping exploration of loss, truth, and reconciliation. As long-buried family secrets come to light, Morgan and Clara are forced to confront betrayal, grief, and the fragile, complicated love that still ties them together.
The film is theatrical (sometimes even overwrought) but it is well-suited to the source material. The heightened tone underscores the emotional chaos of grief and the volatility of adolescence as two romantic stories are told through both women. I’ll admit that aspect of the story is a little off-putting, especially as these two are finding romance through unimaginable grief (if nothing else, it’s awfully awkward).
The performances are much better than expected, with Williams bringing a quiet strength to Morgan while Grace delivers a grounded performance of a young woman who is impulsive, wounded, and yearning for independence in ways that feel achingly real. Together, they make the mother-daughter tension feel alive and believable.
The themes of grief, healing, and self-discovery are handled with a refreshing honesty. There’s a lot of truth in the way the film explores both Morgan’s struggle to regain her identity after betrayal and Clara’s rush to find freedom amid the chaos. It’s also a coming-of-age story wrapped in tragedy, a reminder of how growing up and letting go often happen side by side.
The writing is perceptive if somewhat straightforward, with dialogue that feels genuine and a particular knack for capturing the emotional lives of women. The emotion feels earned because the story itself seems like something that could actually happen. The way these characters process grief, which is messy, uneven, and full of misplaced anger, rings true. It makes the moments of light and love all the more rewarding.
Fans of the book will find this easy to watch adaptation faithful and emotionally satisfying. The only major misstep is the ending. It’s a corny, overly tidy finale that undercuts some of the emotional honesty the film earns along the way. Still, “Regretting You” remains a heartfelt (and occasionally devastating) drama about love, forgiveness, and the fragile ties that hold families together.
