My daughter recently heavily recommended Colleen Hoover’s book – It ends with us. She loved it and asked me to get her more of Hoover’s books. So, I casually started browsing my local library and chanced upon Verity.
Book Synopsis
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife cannot finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what happened the day her daughter died.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.
~ Synopsis from GoodReads
My Review
I love it when Snubnose is excited about a book, as she is not the most prolific reader, and has a history of not finishing books. So, when she raved about Colleen Hoover, I thought she was a kind of YA writer, and I was excited to get her more of her books. But Verity is not a book for a 16-year old, and now I think I should look a little more closely into the rest of her books too. In fact, I just read a review of It ends with us that seems to indicate it’s a pretty toxic love story!
That said, Verity is not a bad book. I enjoyed it, but it also features a couple of highly toxic relationships (is this a feature of Hoover’s books?). I would best describe Verity as a more evil version of Gone Girl – twisting, unsettling, violent, creepy, sinister, sexy, and psychologically mind-bending.
It’s also forgettable. It’s a good mystery, but I am struggling to find anything to say about it beyond the fact that it’s twisted. The only thing that elevates Verity is the twist at the end that had me questioning everything I believed while reading the book. There are just enough clues to leave reasonable doubt about what happened and keep me thinking about these characters long after it ends.
Last thoughts
I recommend this novel if you’re looking for a thriller and are okay with some very light crossover into romance or erotica, maybe a little horror. This is one of those books that would probably work better as a low-rent show or movie. I would probably enjoy watching it more than reading it.
I HEAR YOU that this book is a mess, but I’m also so charmed that Snubnose is old enough to fall in love with a messy, age-inappropriate romance novel. Bless her sweet heart.
She is all about teen-y romances these days. Still hasn’t heard of Twilight though. Surprised that series has lost its popularity so quickly.