Colleen Hoover Unfazed by Blake Lively's Controversial ‘It Ends With Us’ Costume: Here's Why

Colleen Hoover and Blake Lively. Shutterstock; Splash News

Blake Lively was flourishing in her role as protagonist Lily Bloom in the upcoming film adaptation of "It Ends With Us". However, her outfits received criticism from devoted fans of the book.

Last month, the 35-year-old former "Gossip Girl" star and her co-stars Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, and Hasan Minhaj began filming in New Jersey. During this time, Lively's wardrobe choices caught the attention of onlookers. Playing the role of a red-headed, aspiring florist, she was seen wearing oversized sweaters, with visible boxers underneath cargo pants and camouflage prints. Fans of the book quickly took to social media to express their disappointment, suggesting that Lily should have a more fashionable wardrobe.

In May, a social media user took to Twitter to express their confusion and disappointment about Blake Lively's appearance in the upcoming movie "It Ends With Us". They questioned how the renowned attractive actress could be made to look frumpy, commenting on her outfit and wig, which they compared to something one might find at a party store. Another user chimed in, stating their initial excitement for the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book, but their enthusiasm quickly waned upon seeing the wardrobe choices for Lively's character.

Blake Lively and Brandon Sklenar on the set of ‘It Ends With Us’ in New York City on May 18, 2023. Nancy Rivera/Splash News

During her Book Bonanza festival, bestselling author Hoover opened up to Jenna Bush Hager and expressed her appreciation for the conversations sparked by the outfits worn by characters in the project. According to Hoover, she pays more attention to the conversations and the story being portrayed, rather than the specific outfits worn by the characters. She further remarked that some outfits may appear out of context but she remains unconcerned about it.

Hoover’s acclaimed novel, published in 2016, chronicles the complicated relationship between Lily Bloom, a recent college graduate, and neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (portrayed by Baldoni, 39). Their story takes an unexpected turn when Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), resurfaces. The characters' ages, particularly Lily's, who is initially portrayed as 23, have received criticism from devoted fans.

"When I wrote It Ends With Us, the new adult genre was immensely popular. The characters were typically college-aged. That's what I was contracted to do. I made Lily very young," confessed Hoover on Friday. The book was inspired by her family's personal encounter with domestic abuse. "I wasn't aware that it takes neurosurgeons around 50 years of schooling. You don't find a neurosurgeon in their twenties. As we started working on the movie adaptation, I realized we needed to age the characters appropriately, because I made a mistake. That's on me."

It Ends With Us suspended production earlier this month amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. It is not known when filming will resume.