The #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller that People Magazine calls “a poignant, addictive read.”From #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us comes a novel about family, first love, grief, and betrayal that will touch the hearts of both mothers and daughters.Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.Morgan is determined to … 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.
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It’s been a couple years since I’ve read a Colleen Hoover book and this one sparked my attention after several people giving rave reviews. My favorite CoHo books tend to be her older ones so I went in without expectations. There are essentially two stories being told in this book. Morgan, Chris, and Jonah. Then Morgan’s daughter Clara and Miller. Everything is dual POV and the story starts in the past and then fast forwards.
I really liked this book but it was difficult to read at times. I liked Clara’s love story a bit more due it’s sweetness and innocence. But man, Clara drove me nuts sometimes with her behavior. Morgan did as well although I identified better with her since she’s much closer in age with me. In comparison to CoHo’s previous books, I’d compare this most to It Ends with Us or perhaps Hopeless for the teenage piece. I cried, I wanted to stomp on my kindle, and I laughed too. I think Miller is my favorite character from the book. He’s what teenage girls dream of.
I can’t get into the story without spoilers but if you’re looking for some good angst, witty banter, and an overall great story then please read this.
I’ve enjoyed every single Colleen Hoover novel that I’ve read so it’s a little crazy that I haven’t read them all, I think. I don’t know why I haven’t read them all–maybe a fear that I’ll find one I don’t like? I don’t know. What I do know is that the last few things I’ve read from her, I’ve devoured.
Regretting You is my first read of 2020 and I stayed up way too late reading it and probably was way too invested in the story and characters than I should be, as noted by my inability to stop thinking about anything but how pissed off I was at both Morgan and Clara at different points in the novel when I should’ve been planning for my classes. Or how when I got to the 80% mark on my planning period I was stressed out at how close I was to finishing and how much more story I wanted instead of running to the front office to make sure I got give a make up exam later this week. Or how I legit got to the last 5% and felt like the choice to stop reading so that I could spend a little more time with these characters was a hard one. Obviously I had absolutely zero will power and squeaked out the last of the reading before my last class of the day which just left me in a fog of Clara and Morgan and Jonas and Miller and thinking about what would happen next and where they all would end up.
So who would like this novel that I’ve given an endorsement but not really analyzed it deeply? I think teenagers and readers with teens or readers who had challenging parental relationships may identify with some of the conflicts Morgan and Clara had. I think people who like YA fiction or romance will find this an enjoyable read. And I definitely think you have to like reading from two perspectives, as this is how the novel is structured. Finally, if you like really wonderfully kind male characters, you’ll love Miller and Jonas.
Happy reading, y’all.
I am a huge Colleen Hoover fan, to the extent that I preordered this book before I ever even read the blurb. Each one of her books are so different and amazing in their own unique way. This book was no different, I wanted to savor it but read it in less than a day! How Colleen can make me feel so many different emotions (heartbreak, anger, hope and even some butterflies) with such finesse is unknown but nothing short of perfection. I wasn’t expecting to encounter all of the twists and turns that this story had waiting for me. From the nostalgia of high school sweethearts, to the heartbreak of losing a husband and father and then the struggle of beginning a new life after that tragedy. The painful road that Morgan and Clara had to travel made my heart hurt. I cried for them, for their loss and their struggles of dealing with their loss and the struggle of finding their way back to each other as mother and daughter after so much loss and betrayal. This book took me on a journey that may have hit a little too close to home at times but was impeccable nonetheless. Bravo Colleen for yet another book that made me cry, yell, laugh and sigh…the book hangover for this one is gonna be pretty severe.
Too predictable for me. Not enough suspense.
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.
Wow, that was an amazing story! I wasn’t prepared to become so emotionally invested that early in a book. Things got heavy pretty quickly and the unraveling of the details was an interesting lesson in perspective. I don’t want to give away any details, just read and enjoy!
Regretting You is told from the alternating POV of a mother and her daughter as they journey through a crisis of grief and betrayal. There are no twists and turns here. None of Colleen Hoover’s signature big reveals. Just a slow moving story that drags on much of the time in my opinion. Admittedly, it did solicit some tears at one particular scene but I remained unaffected for the majority of this book which is rare for me when reading this author. Give it a try and see if you respond differently!
Anytime Colleen writes a book it’s an automatic buy, I don’t have to read the synopsis to know that I am going to love it, but Regretting You hit me in a way I didn’t think was possible. I wasn’t excepting the story line to go the way it did but I am thankful for it because it’s realistic and you connect with the characters on such an intense level that you feel there pain, grief and happiness in ways that stay with you long after you have finished the book. Thank you Colleen for taking the time out of your life to write these stories that make you feel!
My first book of 2020 and OMG! Amazing way to start this new year!
I love CoHo books but I haven’t read one of her in a long time. She has an particular way to write and I wasn’t into it for a few month but when Regretting you went live I had to readed it.
Morgan and Clara relationship was real, the anger, resentment and love was so true and they learn how to live with them and have a healthy interaction and they became a family again.
Miller was everything, he was mature and every move he make was with his heart.
Sometimes I hated Jonah because he was to selfless and thought about everyone but himself but in the end he had his happy ending. He was a great dad to Elijah.
Two things that I missed: 1. An epilogue! I needed to know about how life continue from them a few years in the future, I was so sad that We didn’t get that. 2. Jenny’s letters! What was said in those letters!?
Amazing book, once again Colleen give us a 100 stars book!
I did it guys. I jumped in and I finished this book in one day. This story was definitely different. It ripped my heart out and handed it out to the person in the next car. The life lessons that Colleen peppers throughout her book lifted me up while reading. The character of Morgan, besides being a mom, was so relatable to me. She was missing something in her life, felt that missing puzzle piece, and didn’t even realize it until something happened. I can completely relate. I relate to Morgan so much that it is scary. Mic drop. Colleen wrote this story in two different point of views. The mother’s view, Morgan, and the daughter’s view, Clara. Colleen has done it again. I was highly addicted and flabbergasted at the turn of events that only happened like 30% of the book in. This story is completely original and unique. It has Colleen’s natural flow and charisma. The wittiness between Clara and Miller was perfect. I loved their relationship. And Jonah? *Sigh* you just need to read this book to experience Jonah. You need the whole effect. I’m sad the suspense of reading yet another Colleen Hoover book has been completed. Until the next one!
It’s 6 am and I just finished this amazing book. This author never fails to pull out all my emotions. Once started I couldn’t do anything but read. All evening and all night. I Couldn’t put it down. This is already in my top 3 of all her books. It’s a story of tragedy, betrayal, grief, romance, family and learning that not everyone is really exactly who you think they are. It’s also a story about a mother and teenage daughter figuring it all out after tragedy.
This story is a must read for anyone who loves a well told story. I would say it’s probably an age 15 thru all adults appropriate book due to a couple of sexual situations, teen drinking in one scene and some language. Personally I would have read it and loved it when I was younger than that, but felt it needed to be mentioned.
If you haven’t read anything by Colleen Hoover you are really missing out. I don’t think she knows how to write a less than stellar book.
Commitment and betrayal altered the lives of these characters. It only took one incident to unleash a betrayal so hurtful it reached the lives of four other individuals.
People are people…to error is human…people make mistakes…life is a lesson. Healing and forgiveness is Morgan’s journey going forward.
Narrators:
Tanya Eby and Lauren Ezzo were the two female narrators who performed the scenes of Morgan and Clara. I couldn’t even begin to tell you which one of these ladies performed which scenes as this was my first time listening to both of them. Both gave an excellent performance bringing the characters to life thus bringing the story to life. This was my second look at the book using the ebook as a guide while listening. This always enhances my reading experience. These ladies were wonderful.
Overall:
This is my second time reading this and as soon as I began the emotions came flooding back. I remembered instantly who these characters were and the direction of this story. I love revisiting books using audiosync.
I love the dual points of view. I love both characters having a voice in regards to this new situation.
I hate knowing this secret. I want to reach inside the pages of this book and scream to Morgan to talk to Clare. I ache for them and this situation.
I love the emotions Colleen exudes from these characters. I feel them. I dissect the words and think to myself they are only words, words I’ve chosen to use numerous times and yet mine don’t have the same impact. Why is it when Colleen pens these words to paper I feel them? She gets inside my ever-loving mind.
Colleen you are a remarkable person. I can feel your soul in these characters.
I want to be kissed like that…a kiss of passion.
Clara and Morgan are reactionary characters that had me wanting to scream at them to share how they felt. The secrets and misunderstandings between mother and daughter will have you screaming at you ereader shouting to both Morgan and Clara to communicate with one another before more hurt and confusion happens.
This is the type of book that will leave you with unanswered questions and that’s okay because it means you are invested in the lives of these characters and Colleen succeeded in writing by making these characters feel alive.
You know what’s great? Reading a book for the second while enjoying two narrators perform the scenes when you already know the outcome. This allows me to focus on other aspects that I wasn’t focusing on the first time. There are so many great moments in this book. I can tell Colleen took her time writing this book.
I ABSOLUTELY Loved It.
I fell in love right from the start.
The rollercoaster ride of this story comes with an adrenaline rush.
Quote “I’m confident that I’ll never spend a single second of my life regretting you.”
The dual POV, Back and Forth from both leading ladies was a fabulous way to show us both perspectives. I was conflicted because I hurt for all parties (Well. Not all parties. Some were not so nice people)
The pace, flow and unraveling of events was perfect. Kept me turning pages
Quote When he parts my lips with his and I feel his tongue slide against mine, I experience a full-body shiver. It’s so much all at once. It’s an awakening, but it’s also a death. It’s the realization that I’ve gone my whole life being kissed by the wrong man.
I was soo mad at Clara at one point. BUT I understood her reasoning.
I got very upset at Morgan’s actions, choices, lack of communication. BUT again I understood “HER” reasoning.
Ugh!!! The angst. I almost couldn’t handle it but I did because I love these kind of books where I’m so invested in my characters happines.
THEIR thoughts, feelings, opinions and conclusions of the events were justified. They each saw things differently and were definitely affected by it differently. So I can’t be too mad at them cause I might’ve done the same.
After I got off the rollercoaster I went down the road of broken hearts. I hurt for them. Life is really not fair and it doesn’t care what day it is.
OH MY WOW! The chemistry came out of the pages for me. With so little I absolutely felt the strong connection between them and I fucken loved it.
~ ~ This is what a GREAT author does.
Quote ••Resentment is a heavy load to carry through life.••
SOOOOO I think I’ve rambled enough and really all I wanted to say was that this book is AMAZING!
This book was beyond brilliant. Colleen Hoover is one of the most amazingly talented authors of all time, in my opinion. I’ve yet to read a book of hers that wasn’t a five star read. Regretting You was no different. This book hit me to my soul so hard, I cried and cried. This book will forever be in my TO BE RE-READ pile.
Colleeeeeeen!!!! Jesus Christ, just when I think I can’t admire and respect an author more, she hits me with this book!
It is absolutely no secret that I live and breathe CoHo books. I’m a massive, geeky fan of everything she writes, and if there is one author whose books/career I would want to emulate, it would be her. Perhaps my favorite thing about her is how she refuses to be shackled to a single genre, and that skill was on display beautifully here. Sure, she can write just about anything. But here, she wrote a gorgeous rendition of a mother & daughter navigating through the world of grief.
Perhaps the best part of this novel were the characters. We see into the heads of both Clara (the daughter) and Morgan (the mother), so by the end, readers know them each very well. These characters were crafted masterfully – they had REAL thoughts, frustrations, doubts, hopes. There wasn’t a single facet to them that felt fictional, and as a writer, that’s one of the hardest things to accomplish. Seriously, these characters were so rounded, so three-dimensional, I was grunting and chastising them like I would to real people! When Morgan was frustratingly keeping things from Clara, I was groaning that she needed to be honest, and when Clara was making rash decisions in the heat of her anger, I was sat in my chair telling her to take a freakin’ breath, girl.
Of course, the pacing and writing style were absolutely stellar. The story moves along at just the right pace – really, the meat of the novel only takes place over the course of about 3 weeks, but it’s never boring. No scenes could be omitted without the whole book feeling different, and that’s the goal of any book, isn’t it? The descriptions were rich, the dialogue so effortlessly natural, and the self-reflection balanced (i.e. not too much navel-gazing) for the context of this book.
I really loved both Morgan and Clara. I already noted how well-rounded they are, but I liked seeing the aspects of them that were similar and those that were markedly different. With Morgan specifically, I liked her sub-plot of finding her passion. After so many years of selflessness, she deserves to have something just for HER. That’s the healthiest thing alive. I also liked how she was willing to change her mind and opinions about things (even if it took her a hot minute to get there). Unneeded stubborness is a pet peeve of mine. I thought her journey through grief was realistic and perfect for her and what she was feeling about her past.
And Clara. What a beautifully honest portrayal of a teen facing some of the worst things life has to offer and dealing with it the best ways she can. Again, I thought she was written unflinchingly realistic, even in the hard moments that set her back (because that’s real life, man). The use of dramatic irony was superb here: reading the things she thought were true but, due to Morgan’s POV, readers know are false, was the most supremely appropriate yet frustrating thing. It reflected the know-it-all attitude of a teenager, further displaying how Clara doesn’t know everything. And it’s turned right back on Morgan who assumes, just because she’s the mother, that she knows all, when in reality, she has to discover certain truths (both small events and larger thematic concepts) on her own.
Miller. Okay, how long did you think I could go without talking about my darling Miller? I know I say this about all of CoHo’s heroes pretty much, but both Miller and Jonah have absolutely pierced arrows through my heart. Miller was e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in this book. Honestly, there was nobody better for Clara. He was level-headed, kind, romantic, and selfless. He loved Clara amidst the worst moments of her life, was patient with her when she made some stupid mistakes. I hate to say it, but I think Miller might be my favorite character.
Well actually, I say that, but Miller’s grandfather, Gramps, might actually take that crown. This old man had more lines that left me gagging than any other character. He was such a smartass, always giving Miller a hard time, but good LORD I loved him. Yeah, sorry Miller… Gramps has stolen my heart.
I also appreciated Jonah. What a great guy he is, no? Stepping up to take care of his son (view spoiler), never interfering with Chris and Morgan even though he so desperately wanted to, honoring Morgan through the thick of everything… I liked him SO much better than Chris or Jenny throughout all the flashbacks in Morgan’s POV (so sue me, I like the calm, broody guys), and when we find out more about (view spoiler) When Jonah said “I’m worried we got it wrong,” I felt that. Damn. ‘Cuz they really, really did. But I just love Jonah and how GOOD he is. Ugh.
One thing I wish about the cover? I totally relate to Miller’s aversion to the color orange (I even sent a picture of the page where they were discussing it to my roommate, as we have had an almost identical conversation), so even though orange is my least favorite color, I think it would have been hilarious to make the cover some shade of orange. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cover (and its current color of red is gorgeous!) but if it was a tangerine shade? Talk about merging the two story lines together with the ripped up letters and the offending orange! 🙂
Long story short? Read this book. Filled with love, loss, hope, and self-discovery, Regretting You is an absolute masterpiece.
Another good book by Colleen Hoover, guaranteed to take you on an emotional roller coaster with mother and daughter. This is a story of loss, betrayal and guilt. It’s also a story of love and self-love; of finding your passion and not being afraid to chase after it.
Regretting You is a heart rending journey of healing, young love and love denied.
Love that this book had a twist shortly after turning a few pages.
I wasn’t expecting this story at all, I went in blind and at all times the unknown was very welcome.
Morgan’s life took a turn of the worst kind after she lost her husband and her only sister in terrible circumstances. Searching for a job, dealing with her teenage daughter drama is the last thing Morgan needs. She only wants to move on and forget about everything in her past that is no longer serving her and at the same time keeps hurting her so bad.
Clara had everything she needed until life took everything that she counted for.. her dad, her dear aunt.. she is lost and doesn’t know whom to trust anymore, giving several wrong steps, believing things that are not real and building a wall in her relationship with her mother.
Regretting You, was a very surprising book, Morgan and Clara’s characters evolved so much with the story. at times I hated Morgan and Clara because they were frustrating and VERY stubborn. The solution to their constant fights was always very obvious but they kept putting walls with their lies and secrets.
I felt Morgan Character so much, it wasn’t fair everything that was happening to her, I wanted to hug her but at the same time, I wanted to shake some sense to her because she was so stubborn, her ways to deal with Clara were too PG for my taste.
Clara was a difficult character for me to like as she was always changing, her emotions were a constant roller coaster, her attitude towards Morgan was always very disrespectful, I didn’t like her most of the times specially when she was mean to her mother. Probably Colleen wrote Morgan and Clara’s characters in a way, we would hate them at times but Clara was excelling lol
Regretting You was written in a way that the story will keep you wanting to know more and more and will always make you feel all the feelings of the characters: love, hate, regret, faith, hope, and betrayal so many emotions the main characters go through and also the secondary characters, they give so much to the story and add more love to these two women trying to find their way in life.
Regretting You is a story of hope, and understanding is a story where nothing is lost until the last breath of hope
Regretting You is absolutely fabulous!!!!! Author Colleen Hoover delivers another phenomenal book that captures the realities of a seemingly picture perfect life and then a tragic accident changes everything. Secrets, lies, misunderstandings complicate the relationships.
Regretting You is an emotional, angsty, surprising story about first love, second chances, and friends. It is a story about family and the rollercoaster ride that is a mother/daughter relationship. It is about forgiveness. It is beautifully written, authentic and ripe with emotion.
The characters are complex, real and truly relatable. I loved them. I felt like I knew them. I cried with them, laughed with them and shared their anger. They carved a special place in my heart. Their story will stay with me.
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is a MUST read. The only thing you’ll regret is not reading this book. 5+++ Stars!!!!!
I have never been disappointed after reading a Colleen Hoover novel, and Regretting You was just as fantastic as I hoped it would be. I went in blind, as I think it should be. Don’t even read the blurb! Just knowing that’s it’s a mother/daughter story is enough- dive right in, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.