Bestselling author Colleen Hoover is offering fans a candid look into her ongoing health journey as she nears the end of cancer treatment. The writer behind blockbuster novels like “It Ends With Us” has been open on social media about her diagnosis, treatment plan, and how the experience has affected both her personal life and professional schedule.
This week, Hoover shared a reassuring update with followers on Instagram, revealing she is almost finished with radiation therapy. “Second to last day of radiation,” she wrote in an Instagram Stories post. “I wish I could blame my hair and facial expressions on @Texas.Oncology, but they’ve been great. Hope you never need them, but highly recommend them.”
The photo accompanying the message showed Hoover standing in front of a mirror wearing a hospital gown, her hair pulled back into a loose, unpolished updo—an image many fans praised for its honesty and vulnerability.
Back in December, the 46-year-old author first revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer in a Facebook post. While she did not specify the type of cancer, Hoover shared that her doctors recommended radiation treatment only and that chemotherapy was not part of her care plan.
The diagnosis also explained her recent absence from several high-profile appearances. In an October Instagram post, Hoover told fans she would be stepping back from upcoming events. “I will not be moderating the signing for @lukasgage this month, nor will I be able to attend the premiere or any events for @regrettingyoumovie,” she wrote at the time.
“I’m super bummed, but am having an unavoidable surgery and can’t travel for a while,” Hoover added, hinting at the medical challenges she was facing before publicly confirming her cancer diagnosis.
“Regretting You,” originally published in 2019, was recently adapted into a feature film, adding to Hoover’s expanding presence in Hollywood. Several of her novels have been optioned or adapted for the screen, making her one of the most influential romance authors of the past decade.
Despite the physical and emotional toll of treatment, Hoover has continued to work. Her newest novel, Woman Down, was released this week, drawing immediate attention from fans and fellow creatives. The book centers on Petra Rose, a once-adored author whose career implodes after a film adaptation of her work sparks viral backlash. Branded a fraud and accused of chasing fame, Petra retreats to a remote lakeside cabin in hopes of rebuilding her reputation and rediscovering her creative spark.
The story takes a darker turn when Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with troubling information, pulling Petra back into the spotlight and blurring the lines between fiction, reality, ambition, and accountability.
Support for Hoover has poured in across social media. Fellow author Elin Hilderbrand cheered her on, writing, “You go, baby!” Reality TV star Lisa Barlow commented, “Can’t wait to read,” while a reading podcast shared, “WE CANNOT WAIT! We’re cancelling all plans to read.”
As she approaches the final days of radiation, Hoover’s transparency has resonated deeply with readers. By sharing both her vulnerability and resilience, she continues to connect with fans, not just through her stories, but through her real-life strength during an incredibly challenging chapter.
