People become famous either through plenty of appreciation or controversy. Colleen Hoover is one such author who is experiencing both equally. She is the loved and favorite author of many, but she also faces criticism due to various reasons.
It’s been days since Colleen has been in the controversial talks, and people are talking against the plotlines of her books and the constant trauma-related issues she writes about.
However, readers have mixed opinions regarding the author and her works. I will be discussing the controversies about Colleen Hoover in detail and also share my view on the same.
So, let’s talk about the popular author Colleen Hoover and uncover the disputes following her. Let’s get started, shall we?
Who is Colleen Hoover?
Colleen Hoover has topped the New York Times Bestselling author list an ample number of times. Born on 11 December 1979, this 43-year-old author resides in Texas with her husband and three children.
Initially, she worked as a social worker and later became a counselor for WIC, which is a nutrition program for children, women, and infants.
During her time at WIC, she started writing her first novel. Colleen self-published her debut novel Slammed in 2012, which appeared on USA Today’s Bestselling book list a few months later. Following this, she has written over 20 novels and received immense appreciation from the readers. However, she is also facing some criticisms lately.
She writes contemporary romance, new and young adult, and thriller genres. One of her most popular books is “It Ends With Us.”
Controversies About Colleen Hoover: What’s the Chaos About?
Colleen Hoover gained immense popularity through social media such as Facebook and TikTok, but lately, controversies about her books and life have flooded the internet.
However, if you walk into a bookstore, you can see her book collections on the bestseller shelves. So, if her books are still trending, then what’s the controversy all about?
In this section, I will discuss the issues people are raising against the author. So, let’s dive in!
- In January 2023, an announcement was made on social media by Colleen Hoover that her popular novel, It Ends With Us, is going to be made into a coloring book.
The fans did not take this well and were highly against the idea of this book launch. It Ends With Us is a book that highlights topics such as domestic violence, trauma, and more; hence, according to the readers, coloring scenes from this book will be an incorrect depiction.
Due to all the chaos and disagreements, the coloring book was canceled, and Colleen Hoover personally issued an apology to her fans. She stated that:
“The coloring book was developed with Lily’s strength in mind, but I can absolutely see how this was tone-deaf. I hear you guys, and I agree with you. No excuses. No finger-pointing. I have contacted the publisher to let them know I would prefer we don’t move forward with it. Thank you for the respectful discourse and accountability. Nothing but love.”
However, the damage was already done, and the fans were disappointed.
- The novel It Ends With Us is being adapted as a film, where stars like Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and more are cast for the roles. The release date is yet to be announced, but the shooting has already begun.
The fans of the book did not appreciate the casting for the adaptation. They are far older than the characters in the books, which triggered many readers who have pictured them as young and lively. But many fans are excited about the movie and are eagerly waiting.
- Some people have made statements that Hoover’s books romanticize abuse. Along with this, it is also said that the books are not fit for the romance genre. Romance novels are a kind of escapism that makes your heart flutter and giddy. However, the audience claims that Hoover’s depiction of abuse and trauma is a constant element in her books, which does not fulfill the romance aspect.
- CoHo’s books are considered as wrong influences for the young generation. As the books became famous through social media, their reach to the young audience is high, which might lead the audiences to picture love incorrectly.
The lack of self-worth of women in the books is also said to be a destructive demonstration that can wrongly affect young women.
- Apart from her work, Colleen’s personal life has also created controversies. A girl took to social media to accuse Hoover’s son of sexual harassment and also stated that the author blocked her when she informed her about this situation.
The girl’s tweet was:
“Her son also sexually harassed me, and she aired me and blocked me when I spoke up about it to her.”
“Long story short, we were friends on [Snapchat]…when I was 16, and he was fully aware of how old I was cause I always talked about the fact I was still in school.”
To which Hoover’s reply was:
“Things being said about my son aren’t accurate. People are commenting that I blocked a girl for informing me that my son sexually assaulted her when she was sixteen. This absolutely did not happen, and this is not even initially what was said by this person.
We discussed what happened, I apologized to her and thanked her for bringing this to my attention, and I offered to send her our home address and lawyer info should she want it. I held my son accountable for sending a message to her that was inappropriate. I addressed it directly with her and with my son.”
My View on “Colleen Hoover Controversies”
I have read a few of Colleen Hoover’s books, including It Ends With Us, and my experience was good. Overall, they were a satisfied read. However, I agree with the point of constantly using trauma and abuse in the books, as after a period, it gets repetitive.
I believe Colleen combines reality with fiction to create a storyline. A few of the controversies might be correct, but she demonstrates a lot of real-life facts regarding relationships. Nowadays, most relationships deal with issues that lead to abuse and trauma.
I guess the issues illustrated in her books reflect her own experience of childhood abusive trauma. Her father was abusive toward her mother, which she had to deal with, and although her mother came out of the abusive relationship, for a child, it’s not that simple to heal from the trauma, and it stays with you for a long time, and you express it some way or the other.
I would also like to add that in many of Colleen’s books, the depiction of women is weak, traumatized, and anxious. However, in the end, character development can also be seen, which makes up for the prior issue.
I will not make any statement regarding the personal life issue related to her son, as I do not know the actual situation or the people involved.
I have a contradicting opinion about the wrong influence on the young generation statement. Today’s generation is smart enough to understand the basic difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
However, I am not saying that people are not influenced by what they read or write. As a responsible person, we should know how to differentiate between right and wrong.
I think Colleen tries to highlight the fact that the majority of men have excessive control over women and how the dominance affects the females negatively, ruining their whole lives.
The value of a story depends on the person who is reading it; a few will resonate, but some may not. That’s how it works; however, Colleen can try something new without inducing trauma and abuse factor in the stories. Who knows, a fresh story can be the solution to bring peace to the chaos.
Verdict
Colleen became the BookTok sensation within a short span of time while gaining a plethora of followers. Her books are liked by a lot of people; however, as I mentioned in the article, she is also on the list of hot topics when it comes to controversies.
I hope through this article, you were able to understand the reason behind the disputes about the author.
Are you a CoHo fan? What is your opinion regarding this issue? Tell me your views in the comment section.