Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Verity, by Colleen Hoover

202 reviews

pernillelsk's review

dark tense fast-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? Yes

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Chronic illness, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Car accident

kejerajae's review

dark emotional 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

Dark and convoluted, but so good. This is Colleen Hoover’s best book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Chronic illness, Grief, Pregnancy, Car accident, Murder, and Child death

aimzmac's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, and Grief

oliviapankiw's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. i don’t like colleen hoovers other stuff but this. she needs to stick to writing thrillers because DAMN. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Death, Chronic illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

e_papankova_333's review

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!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Abortion, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Car accident, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

squidknees's review

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!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Child abuse, Suicide, Medical trauma, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Abortion, Alcohol, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Self harm, Medical content, Murder, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Infidelity, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Ableism, Torture, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Classism, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, and Dysphoria

Minor: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Animal cruelty

lcesario's review

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abortion, Car accident, Child abuse, Ableism, and Chronic illness

cameronestridge208's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Abortion, Child death, Child abuse, and Death

mollyb13's review

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

natalienandez's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Abortion, and Child abuse