Colleen Hoover, best selling author behind It Ends with Us, was caught in a wave of criticism after announcing her upcoming novel Woman Down.

The book, set for release on January 13, 2026, sparked heated reactions across social media even before reaching shelves.

The story follows Petra Rose, a writer who faces a viral backlash that forces her to retreat to a lakeside cabin.

Fans quickly noticed similarities between Petra’s journey and Hoover’s own heartbreaking experience during the controversy surrounding her best selling film adaptation of It Ends With Us.

However, the comparisons were strong as they get strong reactions online, with some readers accused the author of turning her personal drama into profit.

One critic mocked, “So Hoover’s writing herself into fiction now? Can’t escape the internet, huh?” Another added, “Petra Rose is basically Hoover’s 2025 autobiography disguised as suspense.”

Whereas others suggested that she was leaning into controversy as a marketing tactic.

The response was not all negative, as some supporters argued that Hoover’s choice to explore themes of online shaming and creative pressure felt raw and timely.

A Reddit user defended the writer, saying, “It’s brave to turn your own experience into a story, even if the internet doesn’t like it.”

Posts, memes, and debates about the novel gained thousands of shares, showing just how divided the conversation become.

The artist herself did not directly respond to the criticism, focusing instead on promoting the novel and its teaser.

For Colleen, Woman Down looked set to be one of her most closely examined books yet.