It Ends With You, Hoover

Colleen Hoover Announces Controversial Coloring Book Based on Her Novel, “It Ends With Us”

By Gretchen Lembcke-Pena, Editor-in-Chief

Spoilers ahead for It “Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover.

Renowned romance author Colleen Hoover recently announce on Instagram her first coloring book based on her novel, “It Ends With Us.” This was not received well since the novel is about the sensitive topic of domestic abuse.

The story follows the protagonist, Lily Blossom Bloom, finding her way through relationships, grief and acceptance after her father’s death. At his funeral, she meets Ryle Kincade, with whom she gets into a relationship that later replicates her childhood abuse. As she tries to escape Ryle and find closure, scenes of abuse and trauma ensue in the book that labels itself as a romance when it is, in fact, something much darker.

“Nothing about this should be categorized as romance. I am genuinely appalled and baffled by the fact that anyone would ever classify this as a romance book,” said popular book reviewer, A Clockwork Reader. “It’s a book about a girl in an abusive relationship trying to work through those emotions and eventually get out of this relationship.”

Having sold over four million copies of her novel since 2016, Hoover had the opportunity to repurpose it as a coloring book. It was set to release on April 4, 2023; however, the news was so shocking that even her fans, CoHorts, questioned why she decided that in the first place. The backlash was so quick and relentless, Hoover canceled its release altogether.

 “I hear you guys, and I agree with you. No finger pointing,” said Hoover on her Instagram story addressing the scandal. “I have contacted the publisher to let them know I would prefer we don’t move forward with it.”

Although this occurred in early January, the controversy continues. iPulse asked Lynn graduate student Maria Serpas what she thought of the situation, having already read the book.

“I think this was definitely a bad and tone-deaf decision,” said Serpas. “Instead of creating a coloring book to empower victims of domestic violence, she could have donated money from the book sales to foundations dedicated to protecting and aiding said victims.”

Hoover has not made any further comment on the matter and has returned to social media with the announcement of her upcoming novel, “Never Never.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, reach out to Lynn University’s Title IX corrdinator at titleixcoordinator@lynn.edu.

Colleen Hoover, author of “It Ends With Us.” Photo/LiteraryHub.
Book cover of “It Ends With Us.” Photo/Simon & Schuester.
 
Instagram post of the coloring book. Photo/Insider.
 

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