Colleen Hoover

  • Love after loss: ‘Reminders of Him’ leaves a lasting mark

    Love after loss: ‘Reminders of Him’ leaves a lasting mark

    There is always a certain expectation when a Reminders of Him adaptation arrives especially one written by Colleen Hoover herself. At the exclusive premiere In The Know Media experienced a film that carries its emotional weight with quiet confidence and sincerity.

    At its centre Kenna Rowan played by Maika Monroe delivers a raw and deeply human performance as a mother attempting to rebuild her life after prison. Her journey is not softened or rushed allowing the audience to sit with her grief guilt and hope. Opposite her Ledger Ward portrayed by Tyriq Withers brings a quiet intensity with their connection unfolding in subtle and meaningful ways.

    The emotional tension is heightened by Diem’s grandparents played by Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford whose protective instincts add complexity to the story’s exploration of forgiveness and accountability.

    Directed by Vanessa Caswill the film resists melodrama and instead leans into stillness and reflection. A particularly moving thread is Kenna’s habit of writing letters to her late boyfriend a quiet expression of love grief and everything left unsaid.

    This theme extended beyond the screen at the premiere where guests were invited to write their own love notes on small wooden hearts a simple but powerful touch that mirrored the film’s emotional core.

    This adaptation does not offer easy answers but instead invites reflection on motherhood redemption and the courage it takes to begin again. It is a deeply affecting film that lingers long after the credits roll.

    The perfect rom com to tuck into this coming long weekend.

  • There was before you. There was during you. No one ever plans for an after you

    There was before you. There was during you. No one ever plans for an after you

    The emotional powerhouse novel Reminders of Him by #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover is making its highly anticipated transition from page to screen. Now adapted into a transformative feature film, the story explores motherhood, forgiveness, redemption and the kind of love powerful enough to survive even the most devastating mistake.

    After what should have been a perfect evening out with her boyfriend, Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe; The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Longlegs) makes a split-second decision that alters her life for ever. The consequences send her to prison for seven years. Upon her release, Kenna returns to her hometown in Wyoming carrying the weight of regret — and a single hope: to reunite with her young daughter, Diem, the child she has never had the chance to know.

    But rebuilding a life from the ashes of the past is never simple. Diem’s custodial grandparents, Grace and Patrick — portrayed by Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford — fiercely protect their granddaughter and refuse Kenna’s attempts at contact. Their resistance forces Kenna to confront not only her past actions but the painful reality that forgiveness cannot be demanded — it must be earned.

    Amid the heartbreak, Kenna finds an unexpected connection with Ledger Ward, a former NFL player turned local bar owner, played by Tyriq Withers (HIM, I Know What You Did Last Summer). What begins as compassion quietly deepens into something more meaningful. Yet their growing, secret romance threatens to unravel fragile relationships and places them both at risk, pushing Kenna towards emotional devastation — and ultimately, the possibility of a second chance.

    The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Rudy Pankow (Outer Banks, Uncharted) appears as Scotty, Diem’s father, while Grammy-winning country music sensation Lainey Wilson (Yellowstone) takes on the role of Kenna’s loyal friend and co-worker, Amy. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Robertson (Schitt’s Creek) as Kenna’s landlord, Zoe Kosovic as young Diem, Hilary Jardine and Nicholas Duvernay as members of Ledger’s bar team, and Monika Myers making her screen debut as Kenna’s neighbour, Lady Diana.

    Directed by Vanessa Caswill (Love at First Sight, Little Women miniseries), the film is led by an all-female creative team. The screenplay was written by Hoover and Lauren Levine, based on the bestselling novel. Produced by Hoover, Levine and Gina Matthews, with Robin Mulcahy Fisichella serving as executive producer, the project is presented by Universal Pictures in association with Heartbones Entertainment and Little Engine.

    First published in 2022, Reminders of Him has sold more than six million copies in the United States alone and has been translated into 45 languages, further cementing Hoover’s status as one of contemporary fiction’s most influential voices. Her catalogue includes global sensations such as It Ends with Us, It Starts with Us, Layla, Heart Bones, Confess and Verity.

    With its emotionally charged narrative and powerful performances, Reminders of Him promises to be one of the most talked-about adaptations of the year — a story that asks whether love can outlive regret and whether redemption is ever truly beyond reach.

    In The Know Media will be attending the exclusive premiere — look out for our full film review and red-carpet coverage.