Colleen Hoover Reveals New Book About a ‘Viral Backlash’ Is Not Based on ‘It Ends With Us’ Drama

Author Colleen Hoover — whose It Ends With Us made headlines for the behind-the-scenes drama on set of its 2024 film adaptation — says her new book does not mirror her personal life.

In Woman Down (out Tuesday, January 13), a “viral backlash over her latest film adaptation” forces the main character to “take a hiatus,” according to its description. The book is Hoover’s first published novel in four years.

Though many fans may see similarities to the legal drama involving It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the 46-year-old author advised readers that “this is in no way a replica of my journey or my morals, nor is it a reflection of how I feel about my peers or this industry,” she wrote in an author’s note, per People.

“This is simply a fun journey the characters took me on and nothing more,” Hoover continued. “Please, I beg of you, do not try to make ties between my personal life and this story, as there are none.”

“Overall, there are very few similarities between my life and this book,” she added in a statement to the publication.

Following the release of the It Ends With Us film adaptation, the press tour was plagued by reports of a toxic and hostile work environment between its stars, Lively (who was also a producer) and Baldoni (who was also the director).

In a November 2025 interview with Elle, Hoover confessed that she’s “almost embarrassed to say I wrote” It Ends With Us following the headline-making scandal, adding: “When people ask what I do, I’m just like, ‘I’m a writer. Please don’t ask me what I wrote.’”

“But it is sad,” she added, “because I was very proud of that book. And I’m still proud of it, but less publicly so.”

According to Elle, Hoover received about 30 emails from people wanting to adapt Woman Down, “sight unseen,” prior to its release.

One day before the release of her latest novel, Hoover revealed via her Instagram Story that she is currently undergoing “radiation” at Texas Oncology. However, she did not provide any additional details about her diagnosis.