03/01/2020
After an unplanned pregnancy triggers marriage between two mismatched teenagers, Morgan and Chris, they adjust and over the next 17 years build a satisfying life around their much-loved daughter, Clara. Then, the day after Morgan's 34th birthday, a car crash destroys the family. She copes by lying to her daughter and avoiding reality. Clara seeks refuge with her friends, and distances herself from her mother. Miller, Clara's boyfriend, supports her and adds a charming, romantic touch to her life. Mother and daughter continue at odds until Clara learns more about her parents' lives, and, finally, they reconcile. Tanya Eby (Morgan) and Lauren Ezzo (Clara) alternate reading the first-person chapters. Eby's pacing and voice modulation reflect Morgan's uncertainty, bewilderment, and despair. Ezzo's crisp speech characterizes an angry teenager interacting with an incompetent adult (as she sees her mother), while the undertones Ezzo adds to portray Clara's inner misery are very effective. Miller's hesitant, but steadfast character is brought out by Ezzo's deepened voice and slower pace. VERDICT Recommended for listeners who enjoy novels centered on family relationships.—Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Williamsburg, VA
★ 10/14/2019
Betrayals, secrets, and shifting family loyalties keep the pages turning in this excellent contemporary from Hoover (All Your Perfects). Morgan Grant’s relationship with her 16-year-old daughter, Clara, is precarious. Clara, weary of her mother’s overprotective tendencies, relies on her Aunt Jenny as a confidant. When both Jenny and Morgan’s husband, Chris, die in a car crash, things become even more strained between the mother and daughter, as a confused and grieving Morgan contends with the discovery of a betrayal by Chris while trying to prevent Clara from learning the truth about her father and fighting feelings for Jenny’s baby daddy. Flashbacks to Morgan as a teenager reveal parallels between her and her daughter, adding depth to their relationship. Hoover expertly conveys complex character dynamics while avoiding sappiness and finding room for insight and love in the midst of tragedy. Though there is a romance, the real love story here is between Morgan and Clara. This is Hoover at her very best. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel & Goderich Agency. (Dec.)
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
A 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist: Best Romance
“There is plenty of trademark Hoover emotion and surprises in this engrossing read…This twisting novel will instigate excellent book discussions about regrets and second chances.” —Booklist
“Betrayals, secrets, and shifting family loyalties keep the pages turning in this excellent contemporary from Hoover…This is Hoover at her very best.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The emotions run high, the conversations run deep, and the relationships ebb and flow with grace.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A fantastically raw story about love, grief, and family.” —HelloGiggles
“A book about grief, friendship, and mother-daughter relationships, it’s at turns heartbreaking and ebullient.” —MindBodyGreen
“Colleen Hoover’s new novel delivers moments that are heartbreaking and heartfelt…a stirring mother-daughter story full of hope, loss, and great love.” —Woman’s World
“A poignant, addictive read.” —People Magazine
“For Morgan and Clara, coming to terms with the past means letting go and moving forward, and mother and daughter eventually meet each other halfway. Regretting You is a powerful story of love, hope, and redemption—and a tour de force for the incredibly gifted Hoover.” —Washington Independent Review of Books
2019-10-14
When tragedy strikes, a mother and daughter forge a new life.
Morgan felt obligated to marry her high school sweetheart, Chris, when she got pregnant with their daughter, Clara. But she secretly got along much better with Chris' thoughtful best friend, Jonah, who was dating her sister, Jenny. Now her life as a stay-at-home parent has left her feeling empty but not ungrateful for what she has. Jonah and Jenny eventually broke up, but years later they had a one-night stand and Jenny got pregnant with their son, Elijah. Now Jonah is back in town, engaged to Jenny, and working at the local high school as Clara's teacher. Clara dreams of being an actress and has a crush on Miller, who plans to go to film school, but her father doesn't approve. It doesn't help that Miller already has a jealous girlfriend who stalks him via text from college. But Clara and Morgan's home life changes radically when Chris and Jenny are killed in an accident, revealing long-buried secrets and forcing Morgan to reevaluate the life she chose when early motherhood forced her hand. Feeling betrayed by the adults in her life, Clara marches forward, acting both responsible and rebellious as she navigates her teenage years without her father and her aunt, while Jonah and Morgan's relationship evolves in the wake of the accident. Front-loaded with drama, the story leaves plenty of room for the mother and daughter to unpack their feelings and decide what's next.
The emotions run high, the conversations run deep, and the relationships ebb and flow with grace.
