Colleen Hoover Cancels Appearances Due to Surgery Amidst Legal Battles and Film Premieres
Bestselling author Colleen Hoover is stepping back from her professional obligations.
The 45-year-old novelist shared this development on her Instagram account on Friday, October 17. “It’s with regret that I must inform you I won’t be hosting the signing for @lukasgage this month, nor will I be able to be present at the premiere or any associated gatherings for @regrettingyoumovie,” she communicated. “While deeply disappointed, I must undergo an essential surgical procedure and will be unable to travel for a period. Nevertheless, I urge you to support @lukasgage and also the @regrettingyoumovie. @annatodd will now step in to moderate for @lukasgage, so please find details for his Los Angeles event on his profile.”
Hoover will be absent from the debut of the cinematic version of her 2019 novel, Regretting You, scheduled to hit cinemas on Friday, October 24.
“Remember to tag me in all your @regrettingyoumovie updates once it comes out next week!” she requested. “I’ll experience it through your eyes. It’s disheartening to miss this film’s launch and premiere, yet I’m immensely thankful to the cast and crew who made it happen.”
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The author offered no further details regarding the operation or any associated medical issues.
This announcement coincided with a report from People indicating Hoover was among individuals deposed in the continuing legal dispute involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Lively, 38, initiated legal action against Baldoni, 41, in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, the creation of an adversarial workplace, and a defamation campaign by her former It Ends With Us costar and director. Baldoni refuted these claims and filed a countersuit; his case against the actress was rejected, but Lively’s is slated for trial in March 2026.
The publication also mentioned Hoover’s recent participation in a deposition, alongside It Ends With Us castmates Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, who were deposed earlier this summer.
Regretting You chronicles the journey of a mother and daughter, Morgan and Clara, portrayed by Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace, respectively. The two must discover novel methods of bonding following a tragic accident involving Morgan’s husband and Clara’s father, Chris (Scott Eastwood). Other notable cast members feature Dave Franco as Jonah, Mason Thames as Miller, and Willa Fitzgerald as Jenny. Josh Boone serves as the film’s director.
“Our aim is to stay as faithful to the source material as we can,” shared film producer Flavia Viotti with Entertainment Weekly in July 2025. “We recognize Colleen Hoover possesses a dedicated readership, and we have no desire to let them down. However, I believe fans will be pleased.”
The adaptation of Regretting You is merely one of multiple Hoover novels that have either been released cinematically or are slated to be. Lively and Baldoni previously featured in It Ends With Us, which premiered in cinemas in August 2024.
Hoover revealed that another one of her books, Verity, is being turned into a motion picture by Amazon MGM Studios, with a cast including Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett, and Dakota Johnson. This particular film is scheduled for an October 2026 theatrical release.
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Earlier in April, Hoover confirmed that filming for the movie had wrapped. “That’s a wrap on production! … My gratitude goes out to the whole cast, crew, and production teams!” the writer noted in an Instagram video caption. “And a special thanks to @annehathaway for this clip. I’m eager for everyone to see this; it promises to be both intricate and stunning!”
