The wave of Colleen Hoover adaptations continues with Reminders of Him, the latest novel from the bestselling author to reach the big screen. Directed by Vanessa Caswill and based on Hoover’s widely read 2022 novel, the film stars Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers in a story about grief, redemption, and the fragile possibility of second chances. The film follows Kenna Rowan, a young mother returning to her hometown after serving time in prison, hoping to rebuild her life and reconnect with the daughter she was forced to leave behind.
Now that major publications have weighed in, Reminders of Him reviews suggest a sharply mixed reception. While several critics praise Monroe’s emotionally grounded performance and the film’s willingness to engage with themes of grief and forgiveness, others argue that the adaptation leans too heavily on familiar melodramatic beats that have become synonymous with Hoover’s storytelling.
Much of the praise directed at the film centers on Monroe’s performance as Kenna, a character navigating guilt, motherhood, and the painful aftermath of tragedy. Critics widely agree that Monroe brings emotional authenticity to a story that could easily have tipped into sentimentality. The San Francisco Chronicle described the performance succinctly, writing that “Maika Monroe shines in a romance with a cruel edge.” For many reviewers, Monroe’s portrayal provides the film with its most compelling element — a sense of lived-in emotional conflict that grounds the story’s romantic drama.
Similarly, critics highlighted the emotional weight that Monroe brings to Kenna’s journey of redemption. The outlet The Film Verdict observed that “Maika Monroe’s haunted performance gives this sappy adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller its only genuine sentiment.” That comment reflects a recurring theme across many reviews: even when critics found the script overly familiar, they acknowledged Monroe’s ability to elevate the material.
Some critics also responded positively to the film’s exploration of grief and emotional healing. The publication InBetweenDrafts wrote that “Reminders of Him refuses to let you look away from grief — it just pulls up a chair next to you in it.” This sentiment captures one of the film’s central ambitions: to treat loss and guilt not as fleeting plot devices, but as emotional realities that shape every decision the protagonist makes.
Another critic who found value in the adaptation’s emotional core was IndieWire, which suggested the film marks an improvement over earlier Hoover adaptations. In its review, the publication wrote that “finally, a Colleen Hoover adaptation with some actual heart.” For critics who shared this perspective, the film’s quieter moments — particularly those involving Kenna’s internal struggle with motherhood and forgiveness — allowed the story to resonate despite its conventional framework.
However, not all critics were convinced that the film’s emotional sincerity was enough to overcome its narrative weaknesses. Several reviews argue that the adaptation struggles with predictability, leaning heavily on familiar romantic-drama tropes.
Writing for The Guardian, critic Adrian Horton described the film as a “contrived Colleen Hoover romance [that] has its charms.” While the review acknowledges that the film can be engaging, the phrase captures a broader sentiment among critics that the story often feels engineered to deliver emotional impact rather than developing organically.
Other critics were even more direct in their criticism. Slant Magazine described the film as “another earnest and predictable Colleen Hoover adaptation,” suggesting that despite strong performances, the storytelling follows a familiar formula. The critique reflects a common concern about Hoover adaptations in general: that their narratives often rely on heightened emotional scenarios and dramatic coincidences.
Similarly, Screen Daily offered a harsher assessment, writing that “Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers star in [a] predictable, shallow adaptation of Colleen Hoover novel.” In this view, the film’s emotional ambitions are undermined by a script that rarely ventures beyond the conventions of romantic melodrama.
Perhaps the most scathing critique came from Deadline, whose review bluntly declared that “logic flies out the window (again) in the latest ludicrous Colleen Hoover adaptation.” This criticism reflects the frustration some reviewers felt toward the film’s plot mechanics, which they argued rely on improbable situations and heightened drama to drive the narrative forward.
Yet even among critics who found fault with the story, some acknowledged that the film attempts to approach its material with a degree of restraint. Variety described the movie as “a restrained Colleen Hoover soap opera,” noting that while the narrative carries the hallmarks of melodrama, the filmmaking occasionally holds back from pushing the sentimentality too far.
Likewise, Radio Times called the film “a heartfelt but ordinary addition to the Colleen Hoover canon.” That description neatly summarizes the overall critical response: a film that delivers emotional sincerity and solid performances but rarely breaks new ground.
Ultimately, the mixed reception surrounding Reminders of Him reflects the broader challenge of adapting Hoover’s emotionally intense novels for the screen. Her stories have attracted millions of readers precisely because of their dramatic stakes and cathartic emotional arcs — qualities that can sometimes feel exaggerated when translated into cinematic storytelling.
For fans of Hoover’s work, the film may deliver exactly what they expect: a deeply emotional romance centered on redemption and second chances. For critics seeking a more nuanced or innovative take on the genre, however, the adaptation may feel overly familiar.
Still, the film’s central performance ensures that it never entirely collapses under the weight of its melodrama. As many reviewers note, Monroe’s portrayal of Kenna provides the story with a sense of emotional gravity that keeps audiences invested even when the narrative follows a predictable path.
Whether viewed as a faithful adaptation for Hoover devotees or a conventional romantic drama elevated by strong acting, Reminders of Him ultimately lands somewhere in the middle — a film whose sincerity resonates with some viewers even as its storytelling divides critics.
Film Details
Film: Reminders of Him
Director: Vanessa Caswill
Writers: Colleen Hoover, Lauren Levine
Cast: Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, Bradley Whitford
Runtime: 114 minutes
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Distributor: Universal Pictures
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