Colleen Hoover Says She’s Now “Embarrassed” to Claim It Ends With Us After Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Legal Drama
Colleen Hoover is opening up about the unexpected emotional toll surrounding It Ends With Us amid the ongoing legal battle between its movie stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
The bestselling author, whose 2016 novel became a viral BookTok phenomenon, admitted in a new Elle interview that the controversy has changed the way she publicly talks about the story. The book’s themes of domestic violence were deeply personal to Hoover, inspired in part by her mother’s real-life experiences — which made the backlash especially painful.
The hit novel became Hoover’s first major film adaptation, starring Lively as Lily Bloom and Baldoni as both her co-star and director. But months after the movie’s August 2024 release, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation — allegations he denies. The case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
Hoover shared that the drama has overshadowed the success of her story:
“I can’t even recommend it anymore. I feel like the lawsuit has overshadowed it,” she said. “I’m almost embarrassed to say I wrote it.”
She added that even when people ask what she does, she avoids mentioning the book by name. The attention has also been difficult for her mother, who inspired parts of the narrative.
“Now it gives us PTSD to think about it,” Hoover revealed. “I feel awful because it feels like she’s gone through more with the aftermath of this film than she did with my dad.”
Although she remains proud of the novel, Hoover said she feels that pride “less publicly” now due to the ongoing controversy.
Still, the author continues to expand her presence in Hollywood. Her hit thriller Verity is set for an October 2026 film release starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, while Regretting You and Reminders of Him have recently been adapted for the screen. Hoover also has a new novel, Woman Down, arriving in January — a story about an author facing a viral backlash over a movie adaptation.
Hoover previously expressed public support for Lively when the allegations first surfaced, calling the actress “honest, kind, supportive and patient.”
As the legal battle heads toward trial, Hoover hopes time will help bring clarity and healing — both personally and professionally.
