5 Shocking Reasons Why Colleen Hoover's 'It Ends With Us' Is Still Dominating Bestseller Lists In 2025

Despite being released nearly a decade ago, Colleen Hoover’s groundbreaking novel, It Ends With Us, continues to be one of the most talked-about and best-selling books globally in late 2025. This enduring popularity is driven by a potent combination of its raw, emotional core, the viral power of the BookTok community, and, most recently, a wave of controversy surrounding its highly anticipated film adaptation. As of the current date, December 18, 2025, the conversation around the book and its themes—namely domestic abuse and the cycle of violence—remains urgent and relevant, cementing its status not just as a romance novel, but as a cultural phenomenon that has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

The novel, which tells the heart-wrenching story of Lily Bloom, her turbulent relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, and her reconnection with her first love, Atlas Corrigan, has transcended its genre to become a staple of modern fiction. The latest developments, from the film's cast drama to the author's candid reflections on the book's legacy, ensure that the conversation around *It Ends With Us* is as fresh and intense as ever, drawing in new readers who are curious about the story that has defined a generation of contemporary romance.

Colleen Hoover: A Brief Biography and Publishing Profile

Colleen Hoover, often affectionately called "CoHo" by her massive fanbase, has become a publishing force unlike any other in the 21st century. Her career, which began with self-publishing, quickly skyrocketed, leading her to become a consistent #1 *New York Times* bestselling author across multiple genres, including romance, young adult fiction, and psychological thrillers like *Verity*.

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• Full Name: Margaret Colleen Hoover (née Fennell)
• Born: December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, U.S.
• Primary Genres: Romance, Young Adult (YA) Fiction, Women's Fiction, Thriller
• Debut Novel: *Slammed* (2012)
• Publisher: Primarily Atria Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)
• Total Novels: Over twenty-four novels and novellas as of her latest count
• Key Awards: Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance (for *It Ends With Us* and *It Starts With Us*), Nielsen BookData Platinum Award for *It Ends With Us*
• Record: Known for simultaneously holding multiple top spots on bestseller lists, a rare feat in publishing

The Unstoppable Sales Phenomenon: 10 Million Copies and the BookTok Effect

The longevity of *It Ends With Us* is a staggering success story, largely fueled by the organic, word-of-mouth power of social media. The novel was initially released by Atria Books in 2016, but its sales exploded years later, thanks to the massive community on TikTok known as "BookTok."

How BookTok Revived a Six-Year-Old Novel

Prior to 2021, *It Ends With Us* was a successful book, but not a blockbuster. The TikTok effect changed everything. Short, emotional videos—often featuring dramatic readings, tearful reactions, or aesthetic summaries—began circulating with the hashtag #ItEndsWithUs, which has now amassed billions of views.

This viral momentum turned the book into a sleeper hit, propelling it to the top of bestseller lists in 2022, six years after its initial publication. The phenomenon demonstrates a powerful shift in the publishing industry, where authentic reader enthusiasm can eclipse traditional marketing campaigns. The novel’s raw depiction of a complex, toxic relationship resonated deeply with a young, engaged audience who appreciated its dedication to victims of domestic violence, inspired by the author’s own family history.

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Record-Shattering Sales Figures

The sales milestones for the book are unprecedented for a novel of its kind. In September 2024, Atria Books announced that *It Ends With Us* had sold a total of more than 10 million copies worldwide across all formats: print, audio, and ebook. This figure is a testament to its sustained, global appeal. Furthermore, the novel achieved a Platinum Award in the UK for selling over one million copies in that region alone.

The success of the first book directly led to the 2022 sequel, *It Starts With Us*, which continues Lily and Atlas’s story from Atlas's perspective and provides a much-needed sense of closure for many readers. The two books together form the core of the *It Ends With Us* series, solidifying the narrative arc of Lily Bloom's journey from surviving a cycle of violence to finding true self-determination.

Controversy and the Film Adaptation’s Unsettling Impact

The book’s journey to the screen has been fraught with controversy, providing the latest wave of publicity and discussion in 2024 and 2025. The film adaptation, directed by Justin Baldoni (who also plays Ryle Kincaid) and starring Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, faced immediate backlash from the moment the cast and costumes were revealed.

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The Casting and Costume Debate

A significant portion of the fanbase criticized the casting choices, particularly the age difference between the 42-year-old Lively and the younger Lily Bloom described in the novel. The most intense criticism, however, was directed at the costumes worn by Lively during filming, which many felt were too glamorous or "fashion-forward" and failed to capture the down-to-earth, florist persona of the character.

This controversy highlighted the deep emotional connection readers have with the source material, leading to a heated public debate over creative license versus reader expectation. The intense scrutiny and criticism created a contentious environment for the production.

Author's Candid Admission of Embarrassment

The most surprising update came directly from Colleen Hoover herself. She admitted that the lawsuits and public drama surrounding the film—including a complaint filed by Blake Lively in late 2024—have "clouded her connection to the book."

Hoover stated she was "embarrassed to say I wrote" *It Ends With Us* due to the negative publicity and legal issues that the adaptation generated. This candid admission provides a fresh, human perspective on the challenges of adapting a deeply personal and sensitive story for a massive Hollywood production. Despite the turmoil, the film was released in the United States on August 9, 2024, and is available to stream on platforms like Netflix (USA), ensuring the story reaches an even wider, global audience.

The Complexity of Themes: Domestic Abuse and the Cycle of Violence

At its core, the novel is a powerful exploration of the complexity of love and abuse, which is the primary reason for its enduring emotional impact. *It Ends With Us* tackles the difficult subject of domestic abuse with nuance, forcing readers to confront how easy it is to fall into a cycle of violence and forgiveness, even for an intelligent, independent protagonist like Lily Bloom.

The narrative structure is designed to challenge the reader's preconceived notions about victims and abusers. By establishing Ryle Kincaid as a charming, successful neurosurgeon who commits acts of violence, the book illustrates that abuse is rarely black and white. It delves into the painful reality of generational trauma, as Lily struggles with the realization that she is living a life tragically similar to her mother’s, who endured abuse from Lily’s father.

The central conflict—the choice between the love she craves and the safety she deserves—is what makes the novel a heartbreaking and brave piece of women's fiction. Her ultimate decision to break the cycle is a powerful message of self-determination and empowerment, resonating with millions of readers who have faced similar difficult choices in toxic relationships. The book’s legacy is not just in its sales, but in its ability to start difficult, necessary conversations about a sensitive, real-world issue.