Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - Verity

Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Verity, by Colleen Hoover

199 reviews

e_papankova_333's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

The only relatable thing about this book was, when she wanted the attention of the husband to herself and hated children. Also, there are a LOT of tw!!!

Content Warnings

squidknees's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious 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

3.25

Quick and fun. Thrilling!

Content Warnings

lcesario's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

3.5

I honestly went into this book thinking that I wouldn’t enjoy it but, saying that would be wrong. While I did enjoy the book, I feel as though Colleen Hoover tackles such harsh topics without a delicate hand. It’s disappointing seeing the topics that were covered so callously and it felt as though it was thrown in for shock value. However, I do think that this is a well written book. I really enjoy the plot, and while I did have a feeling about the ending, I still was just as shocked as if I didn’t know it. She did throw in a great twist at the end, and I would be excited to read something similar if it wasn’t so gruesome in it’s nature regarding topics that are hard for most people. I probably will pick up this book when I’m in the mood for feeling scared, but I don’t think I will be recommending this to anybody who may be has suffered some of the themes that were covered in this book.

Content Warnings

cameronestridge208's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

Content Warnings

mollyb13's review against another edition

Go to review page

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:

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!
I read it really quickly and didn't want to put it down
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:

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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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.

Content Warnings

natalienandez's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.25

Content Warnings

acogna's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

The thing is, this book has an excellent plot. I mean that in the best way. It's extremely Rebecca-esque with the big house and beautiful untouchable husband and the shadow of the former wife that needs to be filled in. But the strange inability for this book to engage with its meta-narrative of writing

Spoiler

and especially writing as a tool for destruction

and in general its extremely uncomfortable moments of prose genuinely shattered any praise for this book I could give.

Spoiler

That twist in the end is also quite expected, but in hindsight it was also extremely dumb. There's a lot to be said there about whether or not writing should be believed at face value, but it doesn't go into it farther than that. Also, I just think the twist is just super inconsistent with the rest of the plot. And I also think just writing fucked-up shit like that, even as a coping mechanism, should be put under lock and key forever. Why the fuck was her laptop open for that? Why the fuck was it open on something like that?

Anyway, like all Hoover books I will never read, I will give it the same diagnosis: great plot, terrible execution. Her plot made me finish this in a day; her prose made me want to finish it faster, and not out of love for it.

Content Warnings