Verity: The thriller that will capture your heart and blow your mind, from the author of IT ENDS WITH US

No wonder this book is trending in the good reads reading charts. It is a pretty unsettling and creepy read, that quickly grabbed my attention with its story and alluring characters. I liked how Hoover didn't hold back with the story, she wrote some disturbing stuff that some other authors, I imagine, wouldn't dream to think of writing.Ultimately, characterisation stole the show. The somewhat twisted love triangle between Lowen, Jeremy and Verity was what created suspense. I didn't even notice when I connected to the characters, because the primary objective was to get to the bottom of the mysteries. It wasn't until the end of the book, I realised I cared about Lowen and Jeremy. I wouldn't say Lowen was a really likeable narrator, but she wasn't unlikeable either. I certainly empathised with Jeremy, due to the grief and tragedies he and his family had to endure.I like characters like Verity. They're enigmas, that every reader who enjoys such characters, wants to get to the bottom of. Hoover checked every box, as she was a deeply complicated and disturbing character, right until the last few pages.The book's structure alternates between Lowen and Verity's perspectives. The reader is aware of Verity's perspective prior to the events of the novel, through the secret autobiography that Lowen reads. This structure definitely kept the pace of the book going, as I was engaged throughout reading it. Sometimes, from my own personal experience reading books like this, this can be a tricky thing to achieve without frustrating the reader, but Hoover pulled it off flawlessly.As well, this book is steamy (fog up the glass steamy…). Just as the steaminess was beginning to get a little too much for my enjoyment of the story, Hoover halted it, as if she'd read my mind. In fact, Lowen herself said it. This really reinforces for me, that Hoover knew exactly what to give to the reader, and in what dosage.I was trying to decide if I felt this story was original, because at times, I felt I was reading something very similar to some movies I've seen (not naming them, as to prevent spoilers). However, I think the ending of this book, definitely deserves Hoover's own mark. It's quite haunting, actually.Overall, I'd say Hoover has just shown us how to write a romantic thriller and has utterly convinced me I'm to never 100% trust my future spouse. The mysteries of the story were well devised - I had to keep reading to find out all the answers to said mysteries Hoover created. My favourite thing about Verity, is how the ending isn't a fully rounded ending, as it's open to discussion and interpretation. What was the truth? What really happened? Hoover, I’m so mad and glad that the ball is in the readers court! I rated Verity 5 stars on goodreads, and read it within a day. I hope Hoover continues venturing into the thriller genre, I’d definitely pick up whatever she writes next.

This is only my second Colleen Hoover book and I loved it just as much as the first one I read (It Ends With Us), although it has a very different tone. It's described as a 'romantic thriller' and that's definitely what it is.The story is narrated by Lowen, a struggling writer who's commissioned to finish a successful series of novels written by bestselling author Verity Crawford, after Verity is involved in an accident which leaves her unable to write herself. Lowen moves into the home where Verity is being cared for by her husband Jeremy, and begins to read through the contents of Verity's office. There she finds an unpublished autobiography which holds terrible secrets...I was hooked from the get-go and raced through this. Once Lowen is in the Crawfords' house, the atmosphere and tension is built subtly but effectively. with Lowen left wondering if she's imagining things as she gets to know more about Verity, Jeremy and their previous life together. The characters were well developed, but I did think Lowen was a bit flat compared to the others and was more of a tool for telling the story. The dual narration between Lowen and Verity (in her autobiography) gave a perfect balance between the mystery of what had happened in the past and the suspense of what was coming. And the ending... I don't think I've ever read a book where I immediately had to jump online to see what other people were saying about it! I was desperate to discuss it with someone, and I'll definitely be suggesting this book to my book club so that I can do just that!A lot of the book is very disturbing, and there's a huge focus on sex, but it all added to the heightened emotion which left me having to turn the page well into the night. Verity is an indie project from Colleen Hoover, and boy did she gamble well in releasing this one herself. I can't get it out of my head, and I can't wait to read more of her novels.

I’m not really into reading books, but after watching the movie trailer, I wanted to read it!Good book, happy I managed to finish it before watching the movie. Defo would recommend!

Wow .... just ....wow. That was one hell of a wild ride. It was equally enthralling and unsettling and I loved every page of this book.Loren has lost her mother and is meeting her publisher because she is now broke after taking time out from her writing to nurse her dying mother. On the way she witnesses a terrible accident and this throws her into the path of Jeremy. They have an instant connection and spark but he’s married and her life is already complicated.Jeremy turns up again at the meeting she was headed to and a lucrative but daunting offer is put to her. Jeremy’s wife is famous bestselling author Verity Crawford, she’s been in a terrible accident and the publishers want Lowen to take over Verity’s book series and write her 3 last books. They offer her a large sum of money but it’s really the prospect of seeing Jeremy again that makes her say yes.Lowen takes the job and moves into the Crawford family home to work through Verity’s notes and plan out the first book. While she does this she stumbles on an autobiography written by Verity that paints a sinister, twisted and malevolent picture of Verity’s true nature, her complete obsession with Jeremy and her lack of care for her dead children.Should Lowen tell Jeremy about Verity’s true personality and her possible responsibility for the loss of their children to win him for herself or should she leave the house and never come back? Also is Verity really as unresponsive, incapacitated and vulnerable as she seems? Lowen has to decide what she must do before time runs out and the secrets within the Crawford house destroy another life.Full 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the way for this story. Gripping the edge of my seat the whole way through and that ending, omg I’m still not sure what just happened. This book has such strongly developed characters, a shocking and engrossing plot with one of the most blindsiding, jaw dropping twists I’ve ever read. This is an amazing, romantic, psychological thriller and one I won’t forget for a long time.

I liked it.. I’d read it again but the Colleen controversy is disappointing

Just fabulous. Couldn't put it down.So exciting and can't wait for the film.

THIS REVIEW INCLUDES SPOILERS !!! I've indicated when they start and end so read at your own risk. This review has also been posted on Goodreads.I think Verity for me personally doesn't tick all the boxes to be considered a 4-star book. The book was mainly plot-driven and whilst the actual writing itself was okay (at times), it's not enough for me to give it any more than a 3.5 (after writing this whole review I think I might've been too generous).In terms of how the book was written, it felt like I was reading something on Wattpad (absolutely no disrespect to Wattpad authors) and there were times when I had to stop and stare at the words I was reading in disbelief. And not the type of disbelief you'd want a reader to be feeling. There are a lot of unnecessary sex scenes as well that I just straight-up skipped because they didn't add to the plot at all and it honestly got quite repetitive. Also, so many plot holes, don't get me started. I'm starting to think my three stars were generous.I kept reading though because I wanted to know what happened next and find out what the big shocking ending was. A lot of the transitions from scenes/chapters were also just Lowen saying she needs to do something and then it happening in the next scene. So for example Lowen would say 'I need to read the manuscript' and the next chapter would be the manuscript or 'I need to eat' and the next scene would be her going to the kitchen.Like I said before it's definitely mainly plot-driven and I think the main reason why the plot is so popular is because of the shock factor and the twist right at the end, which is why I kept reading. Also, it's lowkey very similar to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I find quite a lot of the elements in Verity to be drawn directly from the novel by Maurier, so I guess she took inspiration from that.**START OF SPOILERS**The first half of the book dragged on quite a bit, it went quite slow for me and I found Jeremy's introduction quite odd. He didn't seem very likeable to me and I didn't really trust him at all. The way he was also open to Lowen's advances and even initiated it just made me not like him even more. This is partly why I believe the letter; if he had in fact read the manuscript before then I get why he'd be more open to cheating on his wife. But if he hadn't read the manuscript then why on Earth was he behaving that way???? Have some decorum, please.There's also the fact that I wasn't a big fan of Lowen herself. The way she hyper-fixated on Jeremy at certain parts of the book (actually all throughout the book) made me dislike her; he's a married man leave him alone. Also, Lowen seems to have psychotic tendencies (amplified in the extended chapter), and some of the things she did just annoyed me? I don't know, I just didn't like her much, I'm sorry.I did, however, like Verity. I think she was the character that had the most substance and I'd like a separate book that's just an extended version of her manuscript. The more I read her chapters the more my mouth fell open in shock and I lowkey wanted to skip the normal chapters to find out what happened and hurry up and finish the book so I never have to read it again. With that being said throughout the whole book she was this psychopathic, sex-obsessed, monster of a woman, so while she did have the most substance out of all the characters it wasn't very good substance.Also with the whole manuscript and letter discussion, I feel like Hoover's done it in a way there's no actual support for either one because there's always some plot hole or something that just makes it more confusing. There are quite a couple of loose ends (that don't get tied up in the extended chapter). I don't know if this is a good thing (probably not), but it's one of the many things that frustrates me about the book.A lot of the things just didn't make sense to me. How did she fake the brain scan? Why couldn't they have just asked the editor/publisher or whoever it was that told her to write that abomination of an autobiography if what Verity is saying is true? Instead of being creepy why didn't she ask Lowen or April for help? Why did she wait so long to go and look for the manuscript? If she didn't want anyone to find it why wasn't it locked away somewhere or hidden (like her letter was) or even password protected? Why on Earth did she print it out? Couldn't she have just gotten Crew to get it from her office? Why was Jeremy's first instinct to kill her, on both occasions? I have so many questions about this book.END OF SPOILERSAll in all, it was an okay book. I don't want to be too harsh and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, to be honest. I'd recommend reading it if you want to read a light thriller but also don't expect much from the writing and don't expect to want to finish it. I nearly gave up less than halfway through and I only kept reading it because a friend told me to. Half of the book was just sex scenes as well which was frustrating. But also read Rebecca!! If you're looking for a gothic romance I'd 100% check that out.UPDATE: I just remembered the 'spicy' scenes were horrific and not in a thriller/horror novel way, moreso an 'omg why has she written this is everything okay up there' way :/

Not my usual kind of book to read but really enjoying this author at the moment and could not put this book down.

Tjejen gillade den, då är jag nöjd :)

I loved this book so much. The plot twist, the characters just kept me glued to it to know what happens next. I'm still conflicted between team manuscript or team letter. When you pick this book up DON'T READ IT AT NIGHT!! It will creep you out. A bit of SPOILER! Verity is an author and is married to Jeremy and they have 3 children but the twins die and things take a turn for the worst. Verity is bed ridden after her accident and can't finish her remaining 3 series,so Jeremy talks with her publisher to hire another author to finish the series for her and he goes to the meeting where he meets Lowen a small author who just lost her mother and is looking for a job to distract herself. Lowen takes the offer Jeremy has negotiated with her and in order to start the series, she needs to familiarise herself with Verity's work. Lowen agrees to stay in there house for the weekend to get the notes she needs only to come across Verity's manuscript that was never to be read by anyone and things take a turn after she realizes she's is falling for Jeremy and is conflicted whether to give him the manuscrips to read or keep them to herself, what unravels next is shocking,,,It's a must read for thriller lovers.

Heel goed, de verkoper had een aardig berichtje in het boek gedaan omdat hij dacht dat het de verkeerde taal was. Uiteindelijk had ik graag de Engelse versie, dus bedankt!

I love it 📚This is the first thriller book that I have read ... and I enjoyed it ! the twist! si good!

I’m excited for the movie. I cannot put down this book. I also purchased the audiobook for when Verity was narrating. I enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend!