4.5 ⭐️

Along with the Good, Bad and Ugly of REGRETTING YOU is an amazing story that tests the mother/daughter bond. This one will make you think. It will make you question yourself and what you would do and how you would act if you were in Morgan or Clara’s shoes. After all the heartache these characters go through, it had such a sweet ending, and left me with a huge smile on my face.

I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard CoHo fan, like so many other readers would. And I'm not really sure why. Prior to Regretting You, I had read three of her books, which is only a very small percentage of how many she's published, and have really enjoyed each one. I think part of why I don't always gravitate towards her books is because sometimes I don't want to feel as much as her books make you feel. They're heart wrenching and angsty and full of love (and sometimes anger) and so many other strong feelings. That's what makes her books so good. But I find I can only read so many of those kinds of stories before I feel a bit wrung out. All that to say, I'm really happy I read Regretting You, her newest novel which is just out today.

Here's the synopsis:
Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.
Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.
With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.
While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.
I really wasn't sure what to expect with this book. Or, more accurately, how I would feel about the book. Typically I stay away from stories about mothers or accidental pregnancies (which is hard to avoid because they're usually, you know, a surprise). That's not a life I want and I don't really get it. So, I just tend to steer clear because I might not like a book and it probably wouldn't be the book's fault because it's my own personal (very weird) bias. But I could sense that Regretting You would be different. And it was.

I loved the dual narrative. I don't think it would have been as strong a story had it not been both Morgan and Clara's story. I hadn't fully realized until reading a Q&A with Hoover (I've included parts of it at the end of this review), that this is a novel that combines YA and adult into a wonderfully blended contemporary story. I loved both characters and really appreciated that, despite all the swoony bits, this was a story of a teenager and a woman who have been knocked down by the most devastating news and work through that grief separately and then together. They grow up a bit, Clara especially, and realize what needs to be done to change their lives - and it doesn't have to involve a romance (though that's a nice bonus if it happens).

Side note: it was super weird to realize that Morgan was just two years older than me and had an almost 17 year old daughter. I'm still not OK with the fact that I'm supposed to be an Adult in Certain Situations and to read someone who is so close to my age have a kid in her late teens was very odd. I can't explain it well and it so was not a bad thing. I guess it kind of opened my eyes a little bit, which is why I think everyone should read all sorts of books, because it gives a glimpse into a life that isn't your own and allows you to think about things from a different perspective.

As expected, this novel made me feel all the feels. There were times I wanted to bawl my eyes out (I did cry but I tried to keep it from being too explosive and violent. Didn't want to startle my rabbit, who was near me as I was reading) and there were moments where I was so angry at some of the characters. There were super swoony moments too which made my heart warm and cheer for a Happily Ever After for these characters I had come to love.

Regretting You is a novel you need to put on your TBR list if you enjoy contemporary stories that are raw, emotional, and oh so wonderful. Colleen Hoover has given readers an absolutely wonderful novel to read and I hope you all do - and love it like I did.

*A copy of this novel was provided by Thomas Allen & Son and Montlake, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Bonus! Below is a Q&A with Hoover, as well as a giveaway link!
You are ‘label-less’ in the fact that you write in several genres. Readers never know what to expect next. If someone asks, how do you label yourself?
When I self-published my first novel I had no idea what genre to put it in. I thought I had written a drama but it turns to that I had written a romance. I’ve learned a lot since then, but I still don’t put a lot of weight in genre when I write. When your best friend is begging you to read a book, it’s not going to matter what genre it is when someone you trust is passionate about the story.

What can you tell readers about your latest release Regretting You?
I would spoil it if I told you about it! Most of my books are like that. I can’t say what they are about or it spoils it. But I can say that Regretting You is told from a dual point-of-view centered on the inner lives of both a teen and adult protagonist.

Sounds like lots of different types of readers will be interested!
Absolutely. I wanted to write a book that bridged the gap between young adult and contemporary romance so that mothers can read with their daughters. I think it’s exciting to see people sharing reading experiences.

This was a good book that ended with a HEA. I did get bored for awhile because the hard hit came early and I felt like nothing of significance could really happen after that point. I was a bit frustrated with Morgan. I hated her choices and attitude towards everything. I’m glad she came around and the book ended nicely. I would recommend this to others.

We want to preface this review with a non-spoiler tag which means we cannot fully explore why we felt the way we did, whilst reading Regretting You.

‘It feels like I’ve been inside a snow globe that someone shook up, then dropped. I feel like the contents of my life have shattered, and fragments of me have spilled out all over someone’s dusty hardwood floor. I feel irreparably broken.’

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is a story of friendships, love, betrayal and survival. It’s about life, and specifically a mother and her teenage daughter’s relationship through grief and emotional heartbreak. It’s a story of making soul destroying decisions and ignoring a vital part of your heart, doing the best you can to live in peace and quiet, whilst making selfless decisions as well as succumbing to temptation. It’s about drawing on personal strength when you most need it.

‘For some reason, sadness in music eases the sadness in my soul. It’s like the worse the heartache in a song is, the better I feel. Dramatic songs are like a drug, I imagine. Really bad for you, but they make you feel good.’

Colleen Hoover is a magnificent writer and always manages to surprise us. Her stories are full of emotion, angst, intricate relationships and they always come with life lessons, inspiration and hope. Nine out of ten times this Author has managed to draw every emotion out of us, compelling us with her words. She’s a gifted story-teller.

“I’m learning that sometimes you have to walk away from the fight in order to win it.”

Sadly and surprisingly, Regretting You just didn’t work for us. Whilst we enjoyed parts of it and absolutely had to know how this story was going to unfold, we didn’t feel any connection with the characters. Don’t get us wrong, there were moments of sheer emotional beauty where the Colleen Hoover we know and love shone like a beacon. However in between those moments, we caught ourselves reading in a monotone voice, as it felt somewhat flat, repetitive and very unlike this Author. In other words, we struggled to find that much loved Colleen Hoover spark, the intensity of emotion she elicits and the unwavering love we feel for her characters.

‘The search for myself is becoming my favorite part of my new journey.’

We were quite surprised that the crux of this story was only explored one-sided. It felt unbalanced in the sense that the lives and the destinies of two sisters’ hearts are almost mirrored, yet different paths are chosen. We would have enjoyed further exploration of this. Colleen Hoover tends to always delve right into the heart of a character, examining the psyche and thought processes of her characters. Regretting you, in our opinion, only skimmed the surface, making it hard for us to connect, reconcile character actions and feel fully invested in a story which should in theory have been utterly soul destroying. It felt incomplete somehow.

‘I can’t imagine all the invisible bruises she’s covered in right now, and I hate that some of them are there because of me.’

There absolutely were moments we loved too. We loved that the POV’s were mother and daughter as it highlighted the struggles of communication, hopes and dreams through the teenage angst years. The fact that we all ‘knew best’ as teenagers, however as adults we fondly smile at that teenage bravado whilst at the same time feeling confused that we actually -as adults- haven’t got a clue what we’re doing half the time. Especially when tragedy strikes. We feel that helplessness all over again and wonder what happened. How did we become who we are, and what made us make certain important life decisions along the way?

‘Who am I to raise a human? Who am I to teach someone morals? Who am I to help guide someone else through life when I’m wearing a blindfold and running in the wrong direction?’

We’re incredibly sad that Regretting You was just ‘okay’ for us. We didn’t love it, but we liked it enough to finish it. Onward and upwards; we look forward to the next book from this much loved Author.

“Life doesn’t play favorites.”

At seventeen Morgan had no particular direction for her life to go, she definitely never thought it would go in the direction it did. Now, at the age of thirty-four, she’s a wife and mother and seems to have a pretty stable life. Her daughter sees her sees her as an uneventful and predictable person. She doesn’t realize that all Morgan wants is to give her the love and attention she never received from her own parents. With her daughter entering her last years of high school, Morgan starts to want to live her life for herself, do things for herself, discover who she really is; but when someone from her past unexpectedly reenters her life and a completely unexpected turn of events thrusts them directly into each other’s lives, Morgan is forced to face her past; all the while trying to protect her daughter from the most devasting hurt she can experience.

Clara doesn’t dislike her mother at all, but she doesn’t wish to be like her either. You can set a clock by her mother’s routine and know what day of the week it is based on what she does or cooks for dinner. All Clara wants is to pursue a degree and career in acting but her parents are completely against it, especially her straight-laced mom. Unforeseen events put Clara and her mom at complete odds which has Clara rebelling in ways she never imagined. Factor in the attention she’s suddenly getting from one of the hottest guys in school, who her parents don’t want her involved with and it’s a recipe for a very rocky road for the two.

Colleen Hoover has managed to do it once again, completely gut me! I won’t lie, I completely devoured this book in a day. I couldn’t put it down. While Morgan and Clara are the main characters in this book, there are other characters that have just as big of an impact on the story. This story is told in such a way that you feel the pain, the joy, the giddiness the gut wrenching hurt from each character. I don’t know how she does it, but Colleen Hoover brings everyone to life.

Definitely put this on your TBR for 2020.

Colleen Hoover has become an author that I am always intrigued by - I absolutely LOVED It Ends Witth Us and All Your Perfects, but was less interested in November 9 or Ugly Love. Despite not loving the latter, I am always excited to pick up her books. Regretting You was no exception.

What I Liked:

I loved how this story explored grief for mother and daughter. Grief is such a heavy emotion, experienced extremely differently by every individual impacted. I liked seeing how they processed differently, and how that often negatively impacted their emotions. It felt very real to me, as I clashed similarly with my mother at the loss of my grandather in high school. I loved seeing Jonah struggle, but also step up with Elijah. That showed strength in his character, and made me root for him further.

What I Didn't Love:

I thought Clara and Miller's relationship was too "instant love" for me. Teen romance can often be a whirlwind, but this one just seemed too quick to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves Colleen Hoover, or those who are new to her work!

This book hit me right where it counts…the feels. This epic story about love, family, heartbreak, angst, acceptance, and self-discovery had me at hello. From the very beginning of the story, I found myself unable to put it down. There’s so much here to love, so much to capture your attention and to get your heart beating. Another amazing story by Ms. Hoover – one that has definitely made it into my CoHo top 5!

I don’t really want to tell you much about this book. I NEED for you to experience the heartache, the confusion, the anxiety on your own. I want you to be fully committed to the story and to each and every page just like I was. You deserve to experience this for yourself. But, I do want to tell you that I loved these characters. I adored how real this story felt and how gripping this mother and daughter story was…how their lives traveled the same road in very different ways.

This is a story of tragedy compounded by additional tragedy, it’s a story of betrayal and lies, it’s a story of self-discovery and self-forgiveness. There is is so much on these pages that it’s almost exhausting…but in the best possible way. Seriously, Ms. Hoover has the midas touch when it comes to helping me understand situations that seem foreign to me and having me fall head over heels in love with a story. You need this book in your life. Trust me – run, don’t walk – grab your copy today!!

Starting a Colleen Hoover book is always an exhilarating experience because you never quite know what to expect. The description might give you some indication of what’s to come, but it will in no way prepare you for the impact of the narrative or the way the author seems to reinvent herself with each new story she writes. With a title like Regretting You and a blurb that promised heartbreak and turmoil, I readied myself for what would undoubtedly be an emotional roller coaster of a journey.

Told in alternating perspectives between a mother and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Regretting You follows the story of two women and their respective journeys of self-discovery. After becoming a mother in her teens, Morgan Wright is trying to prevent her daughter, Clara, from making the same mistakes she made. But when an unimaginable tragedy alters the course of their future, and changes everything they thought they knew, both Clara and Morgan find themselves at a turning point in their lives.

I typically prefer knowing as little as possible about a book before going in, but I was particularly grateful that I avoided even the tiniest spoiler about Regretting You. As such, I’d hate to reveal too much so I’ll just say that this book blew me away. It’s emotionally gripping and completely engrossing in a way that had me glued to my Kindle from start to finish. It’s gut-wrenching and angst-filled, with a narrative that’ll have you gasping aloud and exclaiming in surprise. The story is raw and messy and real, but it’s also sweet, hopeful, and romantic. As with every book by Colleen Hoover, the writing is evocative and thought-provoking and transcendent in a way that it stops feeling like you’re reading a book.

If you read books by Colleen Hoover like It Ends with Us or All Your Perfects, you’ll be better prepared for the onslaught of emotions that consumes you right from the first page of Regretting You. Then again, you probably won’t. It’s an intense, riveting, unforgettable read that’ll resonate with you long after the book’s end.

*complimentary copy provided by publisher for an honest review

Rating: 5 Stars

Another cant put it down until you finish by the Queen of contemporary romance! Drama at every turn! Great depiction of how mother always puts others before her no matter the cost to her own feelings.

My Thoughts:
Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors. I read Hopeless when it was first released, and have been addicted ever since. Therefore, it was no surprise to me that I loved her latest novel, Regretting You.

Regretting You is definitely in my top five books of the year. There's so much that I loved about the book. First of all, I love how Colleen Hoover can write crazy plot twists. I didn't read the synopsis at all, so what happens towards the beginning caught me completely by surprise. There were a few things after that that completely shocked me too. There's a certain thing that's revealed in the middle that I didn't see coming at all. I had to stop and re-read that part to make sure I was reading it right.

Also, I love the relationships that she creates between characters, whether it be a family dynamic or a relationship dynamic. Morgan and Clara might not always have the perfect relationship with all of the chaos surrounding their lives, but when it comes down to it, they have each other's backs. I like that the author shows that real side to all of the relationships in the book. Love, whether it be family or romantic, is always messy and complicated, but one hundred percent worth it in the end.

In fact, the only thing that keeps this from being a five star book is the ending. I found it to be a little lackluster after all of that build up, especially the way the school project ended. I just expected more. Other than that, I absolutely loved Regretting You. Although at this point, I'm pretty sure Colleen Hoover could re-write the phone book and I'd love it. I can't wait for her next release.

I give Regretting You: 4.5/5.

I was down for the past couple of weeks and did not want to read anything. I tried but couldn’t, my mind kept going somewhere else. I got Regretting You from NetGalley and knew I had to start it soon. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to read it at work, class, driving lol. It was the first book that I was able to focus one.

Clara, Morgan, Miller and Jonah are amazing and I love how in this book we get almost 2 different stories but intertwined. Colleen did an amazing job writing this book. Morgan is one of the main characters and Clara’s mom. In the book we get Morgan’s and Clara’s point of view which I love, because you get to see how each age reacts to what is happening and what they go threw in life. Everyone reacts differently, sees things differently.

They go through hell and back. There are so many secrets that it can make anyone crazy. But Morgan needs to keep them a secret and keep it together for her daughter. Everything she has ever done in life has been for her, she has always been first since the moment she found out she was pregnant. She has put her life to the side and has felt empty for a reason she did not want to acknowledge. But what if the truth needs to come out for them to move on and get back their relationship. Can Morgan tell Clara the truth or will Clara be mad at her mom forever.

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review and opinion. I definitely think this is a must read for all.

This is one of those books that will take you on a roller coaster of different emotions. There is sadness for the losses and then anger when truths are revealed. There is redemption that is filled with happy tears. There were times I wanted to make Clare understand what she was saying was so hurtful for her mother but you knew she would have to come to that place in grief on her own. It was a well-thought out way of writing to get us there. The relationships were really lovely and I loved the way they spoke to each other.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for a copy of this book.

Great story and characters, I read it in one sitting because the story kept me hooked and entertained, all the way through the end.

I have loved every single book I have ever read of Colleen's and even gave them all 5 stars, but unfortunately that just wasn't the case with this book.

I did not see that first twist coming at all and was sitting there with my mouth hanging open. After the first big shock, I was interested to see how it was going to play out and effect everyone. This is where a couple of my issues come in. First of all, nobody talked to each other and wanted to keep secrets, which just really annoyed me. My other issue was Clara. I didn't like her for the majority of the book. I understand that she didn't have all of the information, but jumping to that conclusion instead of trying to find out what's going on and then treating Morgan the way she did really rubbed me the wrong way.

Another issue I had was with the letters that Morgan discovered. It felt like there was this big build up to her finally reading them and getting some answers. So when she ripped them up that was a huge disappointment and left the reader with a lot of unanswered questions.

My favorite part of the book was probably the last 10% or so with what Miller did for Clara. I thought that was really sweet.

I finally got to read a Colleen Hoover book and it was everything that I knew it would be. Not being able to put down her latest, Regretting You, if you are a fan of her books, you won’t be disappointed. Told through the perspectives of Morgan and Clara, mother and daughter, we experience their family journey of loss, love and forgiveness.

Morgan’s life began early. Like many mothers who have kids young, life happens really fast and those big goals and dreams get tucked away. Many find themselves living vicariously through the children but for someone like Clara, she sees her future going differently. She has big plans for her life that her mother sees differently and besides, she’s a teenager, so it’s inevitable that she would clash with her mom. Luckily, between her “cool” aunt Jenny and her dad Chris, they have a way of reaching her to make everything better.

After a tragic accident, they find themselves facing more questions than answers. With their life upside down and emotions taking the best of them, Clara finds comfort in the one person she is not allowed to be around and Morgan’s past comes down in revelations that change her life forever.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It took me forever to read one of them but glad I finally did. These characters really hit something hard with you. You really don’t want to let them go. There is such a special takeaway from this mother/daughter relationship. The up and down but most importantly how they found their way together through this situation really make you laugh and cry. So excited and looking forward to her next book. If you are a fan, than you will love this one. Add it to your tbr list.

Well for starters I had high hopes because I’ve loved every Colleen Hoover book I’ve ever read. Regretting You did not disappoint. This book is about Morgan and Clara, a mother and daughter and the dynamics of the relationship. As things between them fall apart, can they be put back together? Colleen Hoover has a way of just grabbing your heart with her books this Regretting You does just that. I loved this book so much and it is definitely added to my top reads list. I highly suggest reading this book!

Yayy, finally, I have finished reading this gem. Took me long enough to finally put it down. First thing first, in my honest opinion is that this book good enough to read in my spare time, but I don't think it's the best book of Colleen Hoover. But I was so glad that I got a chance to read it first since the publisher sent me an e-Arc on netgalley (Thank you very much!!).

Overall, the book was good, though it didn't make me cry a river like I expected. I do really like the story line and that relationship between Morgan and Clara was just on point, I liked them a lot. It made me realize that open up in a family was needed just as much as compassion and trust. Without opening up, there might be leading to some wrongs. Highly recommended!!

Wow! What an emotional story!
Author Colleen Hoover tends to shake me up now and again and that's a good thing!
Main characters Morgan Grant and her 16 yr old daughter Clara will stay with me for a very long time. Their unique storyline revolves around love, loss, betrayal and family dynamics.
And what an ending!
Colleen Hoover gives us a beautiful and tragic story that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Another amazing story from Colleen Hoover. It’s lovely, charming yet bittersweet. The characters are relatable and real. This book was great!!

Quite honestly, Colleen Hoover books are my jam. I’ve been reading them for what seems like years (because it has been years, maybe even longer) and every book to date has delighted me. The last few books have had somewhat darker vibes and have been pitched at an older audience (or, as someone who frequents the children’s bestsellers lists, a more mature reader), so I was unsure who the target audience for this would be. Thankfully it was just right!

Examining the relationship between mother and daughter, immediately following tragedy, was most definitely a story I did not expect to find a lot of joy in. Add in the early twist in the tale, and it seemed to be too dark to even consider a happy resolution. Thankfully I know I can rely on Colleen Hoover to resolve the conflicts, if not happily then at least satisfactorily.

Like all the books that came before it, I read this book in a day. I knew this would happen, so I had cleared the day for relaxing on the couch. Another thing this book had in common with the author’s others – tears. All of the tears. The sad tears, the happy tears and the laughing tears. Just all the tears.

In case it’s not obvious, I loved this book. If I were to describe the storyline it might appear far-fetched or mundane, but that’s where Hoover’s skill in crafting a character takes over. Very quickly, I become attached to her characters and invested in their endings. Which come too soon. Because I always race through her books.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced egalley. And thanks to Colleen Hoover for continuing to write magnificent stories.