An emotionally charged preview
The trailer shows Kenna at different stages of her life: before the tragedy, during her years in prison, and, most importantly, upon returning to her hometown after a long absence. The editing alternates warm memories with the harshness of the present, highlighting the weight of her past choices and the lasting impact on everyone around her.
Without revealing too much, the preview relies on controlled glances, tense silences, and emotionally loaded encounters to make it clear that no one escaped the consequences of that accident — not Kenna, not her late boyfriend’s family, and not the daughter she never had the chance to raise.
What is the story of Reminders of Him?
After an accident that ends in tragedy, Kenna (Maika Monroe) is convicted and spends several years in prison. Once she regains her freedom, she returns to the town where everything happened with one goal: to rebuild her life and try to reconnect with Diem, the daughter she never knew.
The problem is that the girl’s grandparents carry deep wounds and refuse to accept Kenna’s presence, seeing her as the source of all the pain they’ve endured. In this hostile setting, an unexpected ally emerges: Ledger (Tyriq Withers), a local bar owner and an important figure in the family’s life.
As the two grow closer, Kenna must balance her desire for redemption with the fear of causing even more damage. The film promises to explore this delicate emotional triangle, showing how each character deals with trauma in their own way.
Cast: familiar faces in a heavy, emotional story
Alongside Maika Monroe, known for her roles in thrillers and horror films, and Tyriq Withers (also featured in the sports-horror movie GOAT (2025)), the cast includes several notable names:
- Maika Monroe — Kenna
- Tyriq Withers — Ledger, a bar owner and key emotional anchor
- Lauren Graham — in a role tied to the family’s core and its most difficult decisions
- Bradley Whitford — an authoritative figure with a stern stance toward the past
- Rudy Pankow, Jennifer Robertson, Zoe Kosovic, and country singer Lainey Wilson round out the cast in roles interconnected with the central emotional conflict
From page to screen: Colleen Hoover in cinemas
Colleen Hoover has built a massive readership with novels that blend intense relationships, delicate themes, and broken characters striving to rebuild themselves. Reminders of Him is no exception: guilt, forgiveness, motherhood, loss, and love are all intertwined in the story.
The film arrives at a moment when book-to-screen adaptations are booming, especially those aimed at young adult audiences. For Hoover’s longtime fans, the movie should feel like an emotional reunion; for newcomers, it may serve as an entry point into the author’s world.
Direction, screenplay, and tone
The film is directed by Vanessa Caswill, known for contemporary romance and sensitive drama. Colleen Hoover herself collaborates on the screenplay, helping preserve the emotional tone and character essence that readers know from the book.
Based on the trailer, the film seems to embrace an intimate aesthetic: everyday settings, soft lighting, and a strong focus on expressions rather than large cinematic set pieces. The goal appears to be immersing viewers in Kenna’s emotional conflict, making them feel the tension in every encounter, every closed door, and every fragile opportunity that appears.
Themes: guilt, forgiveness, and rebuilding from the wreckage
More than a romance, Reminders of Him presents itself as a drama about how we navigate the aftermath when everything falls apart. Some of the major themes the film may explore include:
- Guilt and responsibility: how much of the burden must Kenna continue to carry?
- Forgiveness: is it possible for all sides? And when does forgiveness stop being justice and become cruelty?
- Motherhood and bonds: how do you form a connection with a child who grew up without you — and perhaps shouldn’t even know who you are?
- Second chances: the story questions whether everyone deserves one, and where the limits lie.
These themes resonate strongly with audiences who enjoy grounded emotional dramas, similar in tone to stories like A Noite Sempre Chega and contemporary romances built on difficult choices.
Watch the trailer for Reminders of Him
When does Reminders of Him premiere?
According to the distributor, Reminders of Him will premiere in Brazilian theaters in 2026, with a release planned for March. After its theatrical run, the film is expected to arrive on streaming platforms, expanding its reach among Hoover’s global fanbase.
Until then, the trailer does an excellent job of engaging fans and introducing the story to those unfamiliar with the book, highlighting the emotional tone, the difficult romance, and the enduring weight of the past.
Is it worth keeping an eye on?
If you enjoy romantic dramas with a more mature tone, filled with imperfect characters trying to do their best with what they have, Reminders of Him is definitely one to watch. The combination of a beloved author, a strong cast, and a story rooted in grief, love, and reconciliation suggests packed theaters — and plenty of emotional conversations afterward.