Blake Lively Thanks Colleen Hoover for Changing Her Life in Birthday Tribute: ‘Oh Boy Do We Love Her’

Blake Lively is celebrating It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover on her birthday.

As Hoover marked her 45th birthday Wednesday, Dec. 11, the actress, 37, shared a photo of her, Hoover and two others enjoying street corn on her Instagram Stories and penned a message honoring Hoover, set to the Wicked song “For Good,” as sung by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

“Everyone who knows this woman is changed for it,” wrote Lively, who played the lead in this year’s big-screen adaptation of Hoover’s popular 2016 novel. “She’s calm and steady. Her integrity is her foundation. Her humor levels you outta nowhere. Her quiet fortitude is mighty. And she always chooses the kindest path.”

“She loves her fans. She loves her friends. She loves her community,” Lively added. “She loves her family. But mostly she loves Diet Pepsi. And oh boy do we love her.”

“Happy Happy birthday @colleenhoover. My life has changed because of your work. Your art. Your friendship. For good,” Lively added. “So many people’s have. And we thank you. Today and every day.”

Hoover re-shared Lively’s post on her own Instagram Stories Dec. 11 and added an emoji of a talking piece of corn to the post.

Hoover announced that Lively would star with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni in the film’s adaptation in an Instagram post back in January 2023. The movie featured Lively as Lily Bloom, while Baldoni, 40, played Ryle. Brandon Sklenar portrayed Lily’s high school sweetheart Atlas, while Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj and Amy Morton rounded out the cast.

Hoover was complimentary of Lively’s work on the movie as both actor and producer while she spoke with PEOPLE back in August, saying Lively gives a “captivating, stunning and emotional” performance in It Ends With Us.

“There aren’t enough words to describe her phenomenal talent,” Hoover said at the time. “Blake Lively truly brought Lily Bloom to life in a way that exceeded all my expectations. When I wrote Lily’s character, I thought I had a fairly solid image in mind but Blake’s portrayal added so much depth and complexity to the character that I didn’t even anticipate.”

It Ends With Us is now streaming on Netflix.