Verity, a Romantic Suspense Thriller by author Colleen Hoover, is the type of story that creeps its creepy little way to the darkest corners of your mind, digging its claws in and sticking there, keeping you in thrall well after you’ve finished the last sentence.
You’ll be left breathless, not necessarily because of how twisted the story is (which is very) but because of how precisely the narrative comes together. After reading Verity, you’ll probably be asking yourself, what the hell is going on in this author’s head?!
Abbreviated Overview of Verity by Colleen Hoover, via Amazon
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Publish date: December 7, 2018
I’m not going to lie— whether you finish this story simply scratching your head or angrily whispering What the F— hinges solely on your tolerance for the outlandish, wacky, downright maddening twists.
While not quite fitting the bill to be categorized as a traditional Gothic Romance, I’d argue that the core elements are here:
- Impressively beautiful yet gloomy/spooky setting? Check.
- Tragic backstory? Check.
- Handsome love interest with a lot of baggage? Check.
- Creepy first wife situation low key giving off Jane Eyre vibes? So much check.
I found Lowen to be mildly unlikeable, and yet her character was, in many ways, remarkably relatable. She’s not a reliable narrator, and damn, does this girl jump to conclusions. Still, you’re quickly engrossed in her point of view and her growing sense of uneasiness as she learns more about Verity through a horrifyingly honest (maybe too honest) manuscript that nobody was ever meant to read.
As the plot progressed, I could not put this book down— I needed to know what would happen next with Lowen, Jeremy, and Verity; and holy moly, what is going on with Crew?
The good thing about sins is they don’t have to be atoned for immediately . . .
Verity by Colleen Hoover
In bringing the story to an end, the last chapter cleverly circles back to the dictionary meaning of the word verity, and just when you think you’ve got closure, you’re harshly reminded of the inconvenient and uncomfortable adage: not everything is as it seems. Or is it?
Shout out to the woman who posted about this book in one of my Facebook mom groups, musing on what I think we’re all asking once we’re through: Did I love this book or hate it? Either way, I can’t stop thinking about this goddamn story.
Content Warning: sex scenes, graphic depictions of death, elements of narcissistic psychopathy, an at-home pregnancy termination attempt, murder
Where to Buy Verity
- Available to read for free with Kindle Unlimited
- Bookshop.org (support local bookstores!)
- Books-A-Million
- Barnes and Noble