Regretting You

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pages: 363

Date Started: 3 April 2022

Date Finished: 6 April 2022

With all the hype I read about Colleen Hoover in 2021, I have decided to read all her books. This was my second book by the author.

The story follows the mother and her teenage daughter, Morgan, and Clara. A typical teen relationship that goes through a love-hate pattern. Morgan had Clara when she was just 17 and gave up on her dreams to raise Clara. Both Clara and Morgan have very strong personalities and clash often. A tragedy strikes the family and they put their differences aside to make things work. The story goes through Morgan's teen phase and how she clashes with Clara's teen years.

I liked all the characters in the book. Morgan is a mother trying to protect her daughter; Clara, a typical teen always thinks her mother is stopping her from doing things. The supporting characters were portrayed well too. Miller and his relationship with his grandfather are sweet and sarcastic. Jonah, although heartbroken, tries to make peace between the mother and the daughter.

When I finished the book, I felt it was way longer than necessary. The story was captivating, but I felt it could have been reduced by at least 50 pages. The author is convincing when it comes to the struggle of relationships between parents and teens. The challenges of teens of being free, yet being grounded and the fear of parents for their kids have been written thoughtfully. I felt the story was simple and consistent. There were no unexpected turns either. When I read the first chapter, I guessed what the plot might be, but thought the story stretched more than it should have.

Favorite lines from the book:

• People who make mistakes usually learn from them. That doesn't make them hypocrites. It makes them experienced.

• Life doesn't play favorites.

• Jealousy can make a person do some shitty things.

• Sometimes you have to walk away from the fight in order to win it.

• Chromophobia is a persistent and irrational fear of color.

• Grown-ups might not have their shit figured out any more than we do. They just wear more-convincing masks.

• I wonder if humans are the only living creatures that ever feel hollow inside.

• Grief is a beast, but it’s also a great excuse.

• I’ve never hated watermelon Jolly Ranchers. I only saved them because I knew they were your favorite.

• Clara isn’t struggling because Chris is no longer here. She’s struggling because he’s never coming back. There’s a difference.