The Official It Ends with Us Coloring Book
| Company type | Coloring book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | January 2023 |
| Founder | Colleen Hoover, Emma Taylor |
| Products | Coloring book |
| Parent | Atria Books |
The Official It Ends with Us Coloring Book is a coloring book developed by author Colleen Hoover alongside illustrator Emma Taylor, designed as a companion piece to Hoover's 2016 romance novel It Ends with Us. The project was unveiled in January 2023 but was swiftly discontinued the following day due to public criticism related to the novel’s focus on domestic violence.
Overview
It Ends with Us centers on Lily Bloom, a recent college graduate who faces domestic abuse within her family. After marrying Ryle, a controlling and abusive partner, she reconnects with Atlas, her childhood friend and first love. Some readers expressed concern over marketing the book as a romance given its prominent depiction of an abusive relationship.
Publisher Atria Books characterized the coloring book as an engaging experience that includes quotations from the novel and 30 illustrations portraying its "most memorable scenes and locations."
Publication history
In January 2023, Hoover announced plans for the coloring book with an intended launch in April. Following widespread online criticism, she communicated via Instagram the next day that she would request the publisher to cancel the release. Hoover explained that the coloring book was created to reflect Lily’s resilience but admitted it was ultimately "tone-deaf." Atria Books confirmed the cancellation, emphasizing that the project aimed to be inspiring and empowering by reflecting Lily Bloom’s narrative, and expressed appreciation for Hoover’s audience.
Reception
The announcement sparked concern among fans who felt the coloring book format conflicted with the novel's serious themes of domestic abuse. Negative feedback appeared on platforms like TikTok and Goodreads, where critics worried it might inadvertently "glorify" abuse, citing scenes such as Ryle pushing Lily down stairs. The Mary Sue underscored potential issues of attracting underage readers and misrepresenting Hoover’s intentions. Conversely, some supporters argued that the novel does not condone abuse and encouraged withholding judgment until viewing the actual illustrations.