Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Verity, by Colleen Hoover

208 reviews

mollyb13's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I have many thoughts about this one... This was my first Colleen Hoover book and maybe I should have started with one of her romance novels, but I'm a thriller girlie so of course I was going to start with Verity. If you are going to read this one, DO NOT READ REVIEWS BEFOREHAND. Though if you have any triggers/if there are topics you don't like to read please please do check the content warnings!

Overall, I'm glad I got my curiosity around this book out of the way, but to me the book did not live up to the hype surrounding it. I will likely try one of Colleen Hoover's romance novels in the future.

Pros:

1. I was too creeped out to read this in bed at night - a daytime book for me. Which is how I like my thrillers to be!
2. I read it really quickly and didn't want to put it down
3. There was some completely bone-chilling moments
   Spoiler

   VERITY STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS OMG. Verity telling Crew to hold his breath before she tipped the canoe!?

Cons:
Unfortunately the cons far outweigh the pros for me. Here are just a few things I couldn't get over:

1. Spoiler

   I really don't like open-ended books. I get that she was trying to leave you wondering, but I don't want to wonder. I want to close a book feeling like I can leave it and move onto the next thing.
2.  There was far to much sex in this book that didn't forward the plot at all.
   Spoiler

   I know Verity's letter said that one of the reasons Jeremy should have known the manuscript was fake was because there was so much sex in it. But Lowen's section had plenty as well - though I suppose it was fueled by some of what she had read in the manuscript. I'm also tired of every leading man being an absolute sex god.
3. Spoiler

   I feel like I was meant to root for Lowen but wtf she helped Jeremy kill her at the end!? It wasn't even self defense! Just turn her in! Also she seemed to not care that Jeremy tried killing Verity previously?
4. Spoiler

   This whole team manuscript/team letter could likely be pretty well solved by just talking to that agent who Verity said gave her the journaling idea in the first place... If the agent says she never suggested anything like that then likely the manuscript is true
5. I purposefully avoid reading reviews of thrillers because I like to be surprised, but had seen enough praise for this book and people saying
   Spoiler

   'the twist was shocking!' that the twist actually fell flat for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but everyone had hyped it up so much that I guess I expected to be completely mind blown. I had actually wondered if Jeremy wrote the manuscript earlier on in the book and Verity was being held captive so I was not correct but close enough to not be completely surprised. 
6. The bonus chapter, which I did not read, but read recaps of, was sus and I don't understand the point of it.
   Spoiler

   It sounded like Colleen Hoover was maybe trying to push readers towards team letter? Also Jeremy killed a woman because she recognized them at the beach?!?! This chapter sounded like it was unnecessary. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

aim_upp's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Child death, Blood, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Abortion

Moderate: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body horror

chiannedawes26's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Gonna start off by saying, this book is very disturbing all the way through. ⚠️ Please check trigger warnings!!! ⚠️ 

I read this in just over a day, it does grip you and make you want to find out what happens, and I did not see the end coming at all! 

There were a few times that I was “spooked” but it’s not very intense/thrilling like I was expecting. 

I did however like the idea, plot and the way the writer portrayed the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Child death, Child abuse, Infidelity, Abortion, and Domestic abuse

scxrlett_mxguire's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Car accident, Murder, Abortion, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, and Blood

Minor: Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse

emiliakajsaa_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I don’t think much of Colleen’s writing, she’s not the best author I’ve read from. But I have to give her this, she has a great and disturbed imagination that can come up with flawed characters like these ones. I read this book for a school project and all I can say is, I have ALOT to talk about….

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Cursing, Death, Suicide attempt, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Domestic abuse

lynzostronger's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

kimziemae's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Confinement

texas666's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Confinement, Abortion, Car accident, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship

marippe's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

i like the vision but i really dislike how its told. 
how u gon be so obsessed w a mofo named Jeremy

Lowen is the most inconsistent and forgettable protagonist I’ve read in a while. She’s so terrified of people yet she lets Jeremy follow her into the bathroom and let him watch her change??
Also extremely selfish but doesn’t seem self aware of that nor does it change

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Child death, and Domestic abuse

esey18's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse