If you’re curious about the latest adaptation of Regretting You by Colleen Hoover, here’s my take: while the film has themes worth exploring, overall it didn’t deliver for me.
What Didn’t Work
From my perspective, the movie normalizes and somewhat trivializes cheating, secret relationships, and communication breakdowns — treating them as casual and almost consequence-free. That was uncomfortable for me. The young daughter’s burden — caring for her mother while navigating her own relationships — felt heavy but was portrayed in a way that seemed under-explored. The friendships and romantic relationships in the film often felt shallow, repetitive, and with predictable outcomes. The whole production didn’t live up to what it could have been. Cheese and familiar tropes abound, and the predictable plot made it a “pass” for me.
Themes and My Discomfort
The depiction of cheating and open relationships lacked emotional weight — the hurt, fallout, and complexity of betrayal seemed glossed over. The film attempts to show generational pressures and the expectations placed on younger people (especially women) — but it felt uneven and inconsistent. The premise had potential: mother-daughter dynamics, relationship breakdown, dealing with secrets — but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark from my view. If you’re someone who expects strong moral clarity or relational accountability, this film might frustrate you.
Full Plot Summary (Spoilers Ahead)
Josh Boone directs this adaptation, with the screenplay by Susan McMartin, starring Allison Williams as Morgan Grant and McKenna Grace as her daughter Clara Grant.
In the film, Morgan and her husband Chris Grant (Scott Eastwood) are together with Morgan’s younger sister Jenny Davidson (Willa Fitzgerald) and Jenny’s partner Jonah Sullivan (Dave Franco) in their younger years. Morgan becomes pregnant as a teen, and relationships among the group are complicated by unspoken feelings. Fast forward 17 years: Morgan has a teenage daughter Clara, who is preparing for college and navigating her own romantic crush on Miller Adams (Mason Thames). The family appears stable until a car accident exposes the secret affair between Chris and Jenny — the betrayal cracks the foundation of their relationships. Morgan and Jonah must deal with grief, betrayal, and the emotional wreckage of unknowingly built-on lies. Meanwhile Clara is trying to make sense of her own life, relationship struggles, and feelings of loyalty to her mother and the family she knows. The story resolves with confrontations, admissions of truth, and attempts at reconciliation — though many viewers and critics found the narrative uneven, emotionally over-wrought, and predictably structured.
My Verdict
Overall, I didn’t enjoy it much. I believe it could’ve been so much better. If I were recommending:
Skip it if you’re sensitive to themes of cheating and expect portrayals of accountability and emotional weight. Consider only if you’re a fan of the actors (Williams, Grace) or enjoy dramas with heavy relational focus, even if they’re flawed.
Final Thoughts
In terms of blog content for HeadphonesThoughts.com:
The film had a promising premise — but the execution disappointed me. Cheating, lying, and complex relationships were shown, but the treatment felt casual and lacked depth. For future posts: You might compare how this film handles themes of betrayal and responsibility versus other films you’ve reviewed (for example, contrasting with a film that treats those themes more sensitively).
Message me on Social media (@headphonesthoughts) (@headphonesTblog) and/or email me @ contact@headphonesthoughts.com
Whatever life takes you, enjoy your life. Think positive, and be positive.
–Always look to the rising sky
Read my quote or thought of the week series
Follow me on Social Media:
Instagram @headphonesthoughts
X @headphonesTblog
