Controversy over the world's best-selling book

Colleen Hoover's controversial bestseller

In the literary world, few authors can stay on the bestseller lists for months without a wave of praise or controversy surrounding their work.

Colleen Hoover is no exception. She has topped the New York Times bestseller list for six of her novels. As of 2023, It Ends With Us had sold more than 1 million copies. There are more than 44 million posts on BookTok discussing Hoover’s work, and she is the second most followed person on Goodreads, behind only Stephen King.

This month, It Ends With Us, one of Hoover's most famous novels, is being adapted into a film starring the famous actress Blake Lively.

The first book to be brought to the big screen

It Ends With Us Not only is it one of Colleen Hoover's most famous books, it's also her first book to be brought to the big screen.

The book – and presumably the film – deals with the cycle of domestic abuse; the main character, Lily Bloom, grows up with an abusive father and as an adult enters into a relationship with an abusive man. She eventually leaves after becoming pregnant and realizing that she doesn't want to raise her daughter in that environment.

Hoover said the book was inspired by the abuse her own mother suffered because of her father. The problem is that Hoover isn't actually writing about domestic violence; that's just how the book and Hoover were "marketed."

Critics say that Hoover and It Ends With Us are often classified as "romance" novels because the protagonist Bloom decides to continue co-parenting with her abuser. This implies that this is something acceptable or, worse, aspirational.

It Ends With Us is being adapted into a movie starring Blake Lively

The story romanticizes abuse

Some critics have argued that Hoover's novels - especially It Ends With Us - delivers an anti-feminist message, relies on misogynistic tropes, and even goes so far as to romanticize domestic violence.

Things came to a head last year when Hoover announced the release of a coloring book for It Ends With Us. Her publisher, Atria Books, also released a statement saying the idea was meant to be “uplifting and empowering.” However, many criticized it as an inappropriate sales pitch, and the backlash was so severe that Hoover and her publisher decided to cancel the publication.

"I hear you guys and I agree. No excuses. I've reached out to the publisher to let them know I'm not interested in moving forward with the new idea. Thank you," Hoover posted on Instagram at the time.

Colleen Hoover is the second most followed person on Goodreads, behind only famous author Stephen King.

"Like many books and films, It Ends With Us feeds into the very structures of toxic masculinity it seeks to combat. It romanticizes and glorifies a charismatic but dangerous man, and it ultimately delivers a decidedly anti-feminist message," wrote one reviewer on Bookstr.

Hoover's defenders, meanwhile, say the book shows the author had no qualms about violence because Bloom eventually left.

How did the insiders react?

Aside from apologizing for the coloring book's failure, Hoover has not directly addressed the accusations of romanticizing domestic violence. Speaking about the criticism of his work, the author shared with Jenna Bush on the Today Show: that it did not bother her.

"If people don't like what I write, I just try to avoid that side of it. I feel like when you have five books on the bestseller list, it's hard to get upset about criticism. Because you know that people out there are enjoying your work and I just focus on that," the author said.

Colleen Hoover, 45, is an American author. She mainly writes young adult romance novels. Before the book It Ends with Us, Hoover has self-published several works. In 2023, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.