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A review by bookishevy
Verity by Colleen Hoover
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
I wanted to read It Ends with Us before the film came out, but I was in the mood for a thriller and so decided on Verity as a launchpad into the Colleen Hoover universe, and it's a doozy.
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling author who takes up Jeremy Crawford on his offer to finish the remaining three books of his wife Verity's series since she is unable to, after an accident leaves her incapacitated. So, Lowen moves into their home and, while going through Verity's office for notes and outlines, finds a manuscript of an autobiography in which Verity makes eerie admissions about her daughters' deaths. Lowen decides not to tell Jeremy about the manuscript because it would further devastate him, even though she knows she could use what's in the manuscript to steal him from his wife.
In the beginning, I was getting Rebecca vibes because even though the story is told from Lowen's POV, it revolves around Verity. But it becomes soap operatic with Lowen's suspicions about Verity, even though I wanted Verity to terrorize TF out of Lowen. That would have been hilarious. The first "twist" is Jeremy's reaction to learning what Lowen already knows about Verity. I didn't think he had it in him because he has the personality of a turnip. But the second twist is a letter from Verity that paints a bigger picture of who he is. Or does it?
In the end, the reader must decide what is true: the manuscript or the letter. I didn't care enough to think about it because none of these characters are redeemable. Amy Landon's acting makes Verity sound like a soulless robot, which I guess works, because what kind of mother writes those things about her kids? Regardless of intent. This story had potential, but Hoover doesn't explore its traumatic events. She just uses them to bring Jeremy and Lowen together.
I'm on the fence about reading anything else from this author.
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling author who takes up Jeremy Crawford on his offer to finish the remaining three books of his wife Verity's series since she is unable to, after an accident leaves her incapacitated. So, Lowen moves into their home and, while going through Verity's office for notes and outlines, finds a manuscript of an autobiography in which Verity makes eerie admissions about her daughters' deaths. Lowen decides not to tell Jeremy about the manuscript because it would further devastate him, even though she knows she could use what's in the manuscript to steal him from his wife.
In the beginning, I was getting Rebecca vibes because even though the story is told from Lowen's POV, it revolves around Verity. But it becomes soap operatic with Lowen's suspicions about Verity, even though I wanted Verity to terrorize TF out of Lowen. That would have been hilarious. The first "twist" is Jeremy's reaction to learning what Lowen already knows about Verity. I didn't think he had it in him because he has the personality of a turnip. But the second twist is a letter from Verity that paints a bigger picture of who he is. Or does it?
In the end, the reader must decide what is true: the manuscript or the letter. I didn't care enough to think about it because none of these characters are redeemable. Amy Landon's acting makes Verity sound like a soulless robot, which I guess works, because what kind of mother writes those things about her kids? Regardless of intent. This story had potential, but Hoover doesn't explore its traumatic events. She just uses them to bring Jeremy and Lowen together.
I'm on the fence about reading anything else from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent