'It Ends With Us' author Colleen Hoover responds to backlash over Blake Lively casting and costumes: 'You've seen a couple of outfits that are completely out of context'

• Author Colleen Hoover addressed the backlash over the book-to-film adaptation of "It Ends With Us."
• Per Today.com, she said: "I don't remember describing outfits at all. I don't care what they have on."

Author Colleen Hoover said she is "extremely happy" about how the film adaptation of her book "It Ends With Us" is coming along, despite backlash from fans.

The highly anticipated book-to-screen adaptation of one of BookTok's most popular reads is set to star Blake Lively as Boston florist Lily Bloom, and Justin Baldoni as her too-good-to-be true neurosurgeon boyfriend, Ryle.

However, that anticipation was dulled somewhat when filming for the movie began in May and fans got their first glimpse of the two stars on set. On TikTok, the same platform that made the book a bestseller, fans began to question whether the film would live up to expectations.

Many users ripped apart the costumes for Lily, which included quilt-inspired printed pants and jackets, baggy camouflage pants tucked into combat boots, and even one look which featured a pair of pants that appeared to have two waistbands.

Speaking at her annual Book Bonanza Festival this weekend, Hoover said that she knows fans are "upset about outfits," but she "loves" that the character's wardrobes have generated such lively conversation because it shows that people "care" about the project.

Per Today.com, she told presenter Jenna Bush Hager: "I don't remember describing outfits at all. I don't care what they have on. In my head, it's about the conversation they're having and the story. It's the same way in the movie."

"You've seen a couple of outfits that are completely out of context. I'm not worried about it," she added.

On social media, fans of the book also expressed confusion over the casting of Lively and Baldoni, who are both much older than their characters in the book. While Lily is supposed to be 23 and Ryle 30, the actors are 35 and 39, respectively.

Hoover explained that the characters have been aged up in the movie because she "messed up" when she first penned the book, which was published in 2016.

"Back when I wrote 'It Ends With Us,' the new adult (genre) was very popular," she said. "You were writing college-age characters. That's what I was contracted to do. I made Lily very young. I didn't know that neurosurgeons went to school for 50 years. There's not a 20-something neurosurgeon."

Hoover said that her involvement in the movie — she serves as an executive producer — allowed her to correct her mistake. "As I started making this movie, I'm like, we need to age them out," she said. "So that's my fault."

Despite the fan backlash, Hoover said that she is "extremely happy with the casting," which also includes "1923" breakout star Brandon Sklenar. He will play Lily's first love who reenters her life just when she thinks she's got everything figured out.

Production on the film has been temporarily paused until after the Writers Guild of America strike has been resolved, but Hoover said that when "It Ends With Us" arrives in theaters, fans won't be disappointed.

"You guys are going to be so happy," she told the audience largely made up of "CoHorts," the name given to her dedicated fan base.

"I got to see the footage they filmed thus far. I'm not a crier. I know that I write emotional books but I'm not an emotional person. And I cried so much on set," said the author.