Today, Colleen Hoover’s beloved 2022 novel Reminders of Him officially opens in theaters nationwide, courtesy of Universal Pictures. For the millions of CoHo fans who have been counting down the days, the wait is finally over, and early coverage suggests this may be the most critically embraced adaptation of Hoover’s work yet.
After a perfect outing with her boyfriend, Kenna (Maika Monroe) makes an unbearable mistake that sends her to prison. Seven years later, she returns to her hometown in Wyoming, hoping to rebuild her life and earn the chance to reunite with her young daughter, Diem, whom she has never known. When Diem’s custodial grandparents refuse Kenna’s attempts to see her daughter, she discovers unexpected compassion and then something truer and deeper with former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger (Tyriq Withers). As their secret romance develops, so do the dangers for both of them, leading Kenna toward heartbreak and, ultimately, the hope for a second chance. At its heart, the film is described as a story about motherhood, forgiveness, and the power of love to heal even the most shattered heart. The source material has sold more than 6 million copies in the United States and has been translated into 45 languages.
This adaptation carries a distinction no previous Hoover film has had: Reminders of Him is the first screenplay Hoover has actually written herself. She was involved with Confess, It Ends with Us, and Regretting You as an executive producer, but this film features a script she co-wrote with Lauren Levine, meaning fans of her prose voice have particular reason to be excited. Leading an all-female filmmaking team, director Vanessa Caswill (Love at First Sight, the Little Women mini-series) brings the story to life, with the film produced by Hoover, Levine, and Gina Matthews.
The ensemble cast rounds out the world beautifully. Lauren Graham and three-time Emmy winner Bradley Whitford play Diem’s grandparents, Grace and Patrick. Rudy Pankow appears as Scotty, Diem’s father. Grammy-winning country music sensation Lainey Wilson, known for Yellowstone, makes her feature film acting debut as Kenna’s friend and coworker Amy. Noah Cyrus also attended the premiere to promote her original song “Light Over the Hill,” written specifically for the film’s soundtrack.
Much of the buzz surrounding the film centers on its lead. A decade-plus into her career, Maika Monroe has cemented herself as one of this generation’s defining scream queens, with credits including It Follows, The Guest, Watcher, and Osgood Perkins’ 2024 hit Longlegs, which was that year’s highest-grossing indie film. This role marks a deliberate and meaningful pivot. Monroe has spoken candidly about what drew her to the part: “There’s so much going on. And she has this really incredible arc. I mean, you meet her, she’s just gotten out of prison, she’s trying to get her life back together. And she’s really a broken person, not only with the loss of her partner, the person that she loved most in the world, but also her childhood. So there are very intense, visceral feelings.” Leading up to the theatrical release, Monroe and Withers went on tour across the country, surprising fans at early screenings.
Opposite Monroe, Tyriq Withers plays Ledger Ward, and industry observers are watching closely as the young actor builds a portfolio that spans horror, drama, and commercial studio fare. He has embraced the challenge of this particular role with evident thoughtfulness. “I think this still is a challenge because you are living in the quiet softness of vulnerability,” Withers told Marie Claire. “That change of pace is always nice. And I think we’re not defined by the type of movie. It’s a testament to both of our abilities to showcase the range.”
The critical reception has been notably warmer than previous entries in the Hoover cinematic universe. On Rotten Tomatoes, 62% of 53 critics’ reviews are positive, surpassing It Ends With Us‘ 55% and Regretting You‘s 29%. Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman praised Monroe’s sorrowful vibrance and noted that she creates a primal tug in the audience, while describing Withers as a soulfully hunky gentle giant in the role of Ledger. IndieWire was perhaps the most enthusiastic of the major outlets, calling this easily the best Hoover film adaptation yet, bolstered by strong performances and an emotional center that does not primarily rely on tortured romance, praising the film as smaller, quieter, and true. Collider described the pairing of Monroe and Withers as believable and the overall film as sappy but sincere. Screen Rant noted that even the harshest critics have admitted Monroe’s performance brings a gravitas that keeps the story from tipping into pure melodrama.
Both It Ends With Us and Regretting You struggled with professional reviewers despite overwhelming audience love. It seems the CoHo formula is finally being refined into something critics can get behind. The film is projected to open with an estimated $10 to $15 million from a budget of $25 million. The premiere at the Hollywood Legion Theater on March 9 was met with significant enthusiasm, with fans especially thrilled to see Lainey Wilson stepping into her first film role with natural ease and confidence.
Reminders of Him is rated PG-13 and runs 1 hour 54 minutes. It is now playing in theaters nationwide.
