Blake Lively’s Sweet Tribute to Colleen Hoover Will Melt Your Heart

Blake Lively celebrated Colleen Hoover’s 45th birthday on December 11 with a heartfelt tribute shared on Instagram.  

“Everyone who knows this woman is changed for it,” Lively started her post for Hoover. “She's calm and steady. Her integrity is her foundation. Her humor levels you outta nowhere. Her quiet fortitude is mighty. And she always chooses the kindest path.”

Lively continued, “She loves her fans. She loves her friends. She loves her community. She loves her family. But mostly she loves Diet Pepsi. And oh boy do we love her. Happy Happy birthday @colleenhoover. My life has changed because of your work. Your art. Your friendship. For good. So many people have. And we thank you. Today and every day.”

Blake Lively starred as Lily Bloom in the 2024 film adaptation of Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us, now streaming on Netflix. She plays a character who is dealing with the aftermath of an abusive family life and entering into a similar one as an adult. The film also starred Justin Baldoni and Ryle Kincaid, Brandon Sklenar as Atlas Corrigan, as well as Jenny Slate and Hasan Minhaj. 

‘It Ends With Us’ adaptation: from page to screen  

The novel It Ends With Us was written and originally published by Hoover back in 2016 by Atria Books, nearly 8 years ago. Hoover has spoken about how surreal it is to see her work come to life on the big screen.

“The movie experience adds another layer to the connection readers already have with the characters,” Hoover said. “The power of visual storytelling is undeniable, and it can evoke even stronger emotions and empathy from the audience by bringing a sense of immediacy and intensity to the story.”

Hoover also added, “It's been a true team effort, and I can't wait for those who loved the book to see the movie and experience the magic they’ve created on the big screen.”

Colleen Hoover praises Blake Lively’s performance 

The cast and crew have been very open about sharing their love for one another, but Hoover has praised Lively’s talent in a number of interviews. Hoover spoke about the actress’ portrayal of Lily Bloom.   

“There aren't enough words to describe her phenomenal talent,” Hoover said of Lively. “Blake Lively truly brought Lily Bloom to life in a way that exceeded all my expectations. When I wrote Lily’s character, I thought I had a fairly solid image in mind, but Blake's portrayal added so much depth and complexity to the character that I didn't even anticipate.” She added, “I am in awe, truly. I couldn't be more grateful for her incredible performance.”

Upcoming film adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s novels

Fans can look forward to more Colleen Hoover stories on-screen, with 2018’s Verity, 2019’s Regretting You and 2022’s Reminders of Him all in development.

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