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First, we had It Ends With Us back in 2024, followed by Regretting You just a few months back. Now, the third Colleen Hoover novel to receive the big screen adaptation treatment is Reminders of Him. When Diem’s custodial grandparents adamantly refuse Kenna’s (Maika Monroe) attempts to see her daughter, Kenna discovers unexpected compassion, leading to something truer and deeper, with 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. Easily the best adaptation of the three so far, Reminders of Him boasts solid performances led by naturalistic chemistry, with a central character worth rooting for in Kenna. What it lacks in strong dialogue and surprises, it makes up for with emotion and charm.
Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him finally gets the adaptation it deserves.
From It Follows (2014) to 100 Nights of Hero (2025), Maika Monroe has cemented herself as a talented, fan favourite actress, and continues the streak with Reminders of Him. Playing a character that requires intense emotion due to past trauma, five years spent in prison and being kept from her daughter is no easy task, yet Monroe effortlessly conveys the sadness, passion and drive of Kenna. Starring opposite as love interest Ledger Ward is Tyriq Withers (HIM), who is doing well to cement himself as an actor worth watching. Ledger is both swoon-worthy and compassionate, the perfect love interest for a movie of this type. He not only spent the last five years looking after little Diem and putting the childs needs before his own, but is the only person that gives Kenna a chance. The pair have excellent chemistry and a romance you can’t help but root for, despite it being problematic. Building out the supporting cast is Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) and Bradley Whitford (Get Out) as Diem’s loving grandparents, and we even receive a small supporting performance from country star Lainey Wilson. The cast are great.
The best thing about Reminders of Him is how easy it is to root for the characters and their goals. Despite Kenna’s troubled past, you truly believe from frame one that she deserves to meet her daughter. As soon as the romance between Ledger and Kenna begins to bloom, it just feels right, and you want them to work out. Grandarents Grace and Patrick may be preventing the happy ending you want to see at times, but it’s impossible not to sympathise with them and wish for them to heal. At the centre of it all is little Diem, an incredibly sweet child who is completely innocent in all of this, surrounded by people she loves but also, people who are preventing her from having a mother. Every single character here is likeable and feels real, which makes Reminders of Him digestible and something you want to watch. The location is fun too, giving off a small-town, country and western vibe that helps set it apart slightly. This is complimented further by a guitar stringed soundtrack, beautiful rural visuals including fields and mountains and plenty of trucks, cowboy hats and boots. It has a really immersive vibe to it.
Of course, Reminders of Him is not without issues, most being within the writing department. If you’ve seen the trailer, or even read the premise, it’s obvious where things will go immediately. There are absolutely no surprises in store here, whether we’re talking about the romance our outcome between Kenna and Diem – what you see is what you get, it’s all very obvious. Though this doesn’t prevent the movie from being a good watch, it does mean it feels formulaic and lacks any excitement or stakes. Too often, the romance takes a back burner, as the story is far more occupied with filling us in on background we’ve already figured out and focussing on the tragedy of it all. Though the other elements involved in the plot are interesting, especially Kenna trying to get back on her feet for her daughter, the romance often feels like an afterthought and gives us less return than hoped for. Reminders of Him manages to avoid feeling as cringeworthy as the two CoHo adaptations that have come before it, but the dialogue is severely lacking and often gives our talented cast little to work with. In terms of run-time, it does feel inflated coming in at just under two hours. There’s a lot of filler and repetition present, and due to the predictability at play, shaving it down to around the 90-minute mark certainly would’ve lessened the feeling of waiting around that comes with familiar plots. To put it simply, it feels too long.
Fans of the novel will be pleased to see a faithful adaptation of this story, and those who have been disappointed with prior Hoover adaptations will hopefully find more to like in here. Despite a longer-than-needed run-time and plenty of iffy dialogue, the likeable characters, chemistry induced romance and commendable performances ensure it’s more than worth your time. From its country vibe to the emotional climax and all the drama in between, Reminders of Him is a solid film handled well by director Vanessa Caswill.
Grade: B-
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Reminders of Him
When Diem's custodial grandparents adamantly refuse Kenna's attempts to see her daughter, Kenna discovers unexpected compassion, and then something truer and deeper, with former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger.
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Director: Vanessa Caswill
Cast: Maika Monroe , Tyriq Withers , Rudy Pankow
