"Ended up choosing the worst roles possible": Colleen Hoover controversy explored as Blake Lively memes erupt online

As Colleen Hoover continues to reign over BookTok, netizens are displeased to hear that actor Blake Lively is starring in an upcoming movie based on the author's hit book. For the unversed, it was recently announced that the Gossip Girl actor and fellow actor Justin Baldoni are slated to star as the protagonists in the film adaptation of It Ends With Us.

Netizens have since taken to social media to express their disappointment over Lively’s decision to star in the film:

The upcoming film is being developed by Sony Pictures, with Baldoni directing and executive producing the film under his Wayfarer Studios banner. Blake Lively will be executive producing alongside Hoover, Steve Sarowitz, and Andrew Calof. Christy Hall has penned the screenplay for the hit book's official film adaptation.

No release dates for the film have been officially announced at the time of writing this article.

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Netizens disheartened to hear that Blake Lively is starring in It Ends With Us’ film adaptation

It Ends With Us follows a small-town girl named Lily, who moves to Boston to become an entrepreneur. She ends up meeting neurosurgeon Ryle and as romance ensues, her past relationship with Atlas Carrigan, her first love, lingers at the back of her mind. As expected, Atlas ends up reappearing and threatening the life Lily has built with Ryle.

Colleen Hoover recently took to Instagram to film herself outside her childhood home where her mother brought the author and her siblings after leaving an abusive marriage. Hoover told her followers:

"I just want everyone to know how appreciative I am to my mother, who got us out of a scary situation when I was a little girl and brought us here to this house which doesn’t look like much, but this house was full of love and joy. Thank you, mom, for making that very difficult decision. This house hold nothing but wonderful memories for me."

She further went on to reveal that It Ends With Us was inspired by her mother, adding:

"It’s just, it’s bittersweet. So many people have had to go through that. But to know that my mom’s decision has helped so many people get out of that… I love you, mom."

Internet users did not take the news of Lively, who has amassed a large following from her acting credentials and jaw-dropping fashion moments, starring in the movie well. Many expressed displeasure over the news of her upcoming project with Hoover. Check out a few of these tweets below:

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"CoHo's writing just makes me go WTF?!": Why has Colleen Hoover amassed criticism recently?

Colleen Hoover is best known for her romance novels, including November 9, Without Merit, and Ugly Love, amongst others. Despite being a 'must-read' amongst bookworms, several critics have slammed the author for romanticizing abuse, toxic masculinity, and making female characters passive as compared to their male counterparts, among other issues.

YouTuber Whitney Atkinson took to Twitter to raise awareness of a character considering the use of “physical force” to prevent his love interest from leaving him, in the book November 9. Screenshots revealed that he forcibly took his fellow character’s car keys to get her to stay with him.

In Colleen Hoover’s Variety, which includes themes of miscarriage and abortion, the author included disturbing scenes of fake pregnancies and a character attempting an at-home abortion.

While Colleen Hoover's books are simply pieces of fiction, they can have a lasting impact on the way a reader deals with their own romantic relationships. As Atkinson stated online:

"Romance novels are almost always read by women- in the new adult genre, particularly young women- and what authors depict in their books dictates how young women interpret love and relationships…"

She continued:

"Abusive situations and dialogue being normalized in romance novels tells women, "it’s okay to have a man control you, what you do, what you wear, and where you go, because it means he loves you," which I don’t think is okay."

It Ends With Us also includes concerning scenes where a character has violent outbursts towards his love interest as his relationship deepens.