Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartrending tale of new beginnings has sex, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In REGRETTING YOU, Clara is a high school senior, and the same age her mother, Morgan, was when she got pregnant with Clara. Now a loving but overprotective stay-at-home mom, Morgan clashes often with her daughter, especially about Miller Adams, whom Clara's parents are sure is a bad influence on their daughter. While Morgan struggles to find meaning in her life as wife and mother, Clara and Miller get closer against her parents' objections. But when a sudden loss turns their world upside down, Clara and Morgan's relationship is in danger of falling apart.
Is It Any Good?
With themes of grief, loss, and new beginnings, this novel is a real page-turner. Regretting You manages to take a story of devastating loss and turn it into one of hope and healing. The characters of Clara and Morgan, while not entirely likable, feel very real. While Morgan's relationship feels a little rushed and unrealistic, Clara and Miller's blossoming romance gets more time on the page, giving it the space it needs to feel real.
In typical Colleen Hoover fashion, the story pulls no punches. The storyline is both bleak and romanticized, creating a very readable story with plenty of drama to keep the pages turning. Moving between Clara and Morgan's perspectives allows you to feel the challenges and frustrations from both mother and daughter, giving more depth to this family story. The intense themes and sexual content make this story best for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the communication between Morgan and Clara in Regretting You. Can you think of an example of when keeping the truth from someone to protect them is a good choice?
What do you think of the drug and alcohol use in this book? Do you think Clara's experimentation is realistic?
Does someone's family history mean they are bound to make the same mistakes?
If you watched the movie based on this book, which parts translated easily to the screen? What didn't make it or work out as well? What are the challenges of turning a novel into a movie?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads , Moms ) , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Integrity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Montlake
- Publication date : December 10, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 365
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : January 15, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate