Verity: The thriller that will capture your heart and blow your mind, from the author of IT ENDS WITH US

5 Stars – Addictive, disturbing, and completely unforgettable Verity is one of those rare books that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into a dark, unsettling world where every character feels layered and nothing can be trusted at face value. It’s haunting, twisted, and incredibly addictive. The writing is sharp, and the tension builds in such a subtle, psychological way that I found myself questioning everyone’s motives—second-guessing every action, every look, every word. What makes this book truly brilliant is how it plays with your mind. It doesn’t hand you a tidy answer. Instead, it invites you to sit in the discomfort of uncertainty and draw your own conclusions. It left me feeling unnerved in the best way. Colleen Hoover creates an atmosphere that is equal parts claustrophobic and intimate. I loved how much was unspoken—how the silences and small moments carried just as much weight as the major plot points. There’s symbolism, subtle hints, and clever details that had me flipping back pages to re-read. If you enjoy morally grey characters, unreliable narratives, and stories that spark endless “what if” conversations—this book will completely consume you. I couldn’t stop reading, and now I can’t stop thinking about it

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer, taken by surprise when she receives an unexpected offer - to complete the remaining books in a highly popular series by the author Verity Crawford. Lowen soon finds herself arriving at the Crawford's family home to sort through Verity's notes as part of her research. Verity herself has recently been left severely injured after a car accident, and is cared for by her devoted husband Jeremy. However, when Lowen discovers a hidden manuscript for an autobiography written by Verity, she is unprepared for the dark secrets it exposes about the author! My first read from Colleen Hoover, I had heard a lot of praise and hype around this book, and whilst I wouldn't say it was a perfect read, I can certainly understand why it has received such attention. It is also quite apparent that Hoover must have been influenced by Daphne du Maurier's classic Rebecca, however, I liked that she was still very much able to make this her own story. Like Rebecca, this has a gothic feel to it, with a sense of something sinister lurking and a palpable tension throughout the story. Also like Rebecca, it explores themes of love and marriage, jealousy, as well as deceit and justice, and how well you can ever truly know someone. Whilst the story is told from Lowen's perspective, the book is interspersed throughout with chapters from Verity's autobiography that Lowen is reading, a device which generally works well, and allows the reader an insight into the dark psyche of this now severely impaired woman, and the relationship that existed between Verity and Jeremy. In Verity, Hoover creates a truly disturbing character, she is obsessive and manipulative, the chapters written from her perspective chilling and seriously messed up. My only criticism of Verity's manuscript is that I felt too much of it was wasted on repetitive erotica scenes between her and Jeremy, and whilst I did understand the relevance of this, I just thought it was overdone. Also readers should be prepared for genuinely horrifying content in these parts - warnings of child abuse. Reading the manuscript Lowen is increasingly disturbed by it, and the sense of foreboding gradually builds throughout the story, with odd happenings occurring that rouse Lowen's suspicions. I liked however that Lowen has to question herself, is she genuinely seeing things or is she merely paranoid, her state of mind affected by what she has been reading? If she has reason to doubt herself, then certainly as a reader we do, and her very reliability as a narrator does come into question. Is she for instance too influenced by her growing feelings for Jeremy, and what of some of the undeniable parallels between her and Verity? Furthermore, what of Jeremy himself, is he simply the innocent victim in all that has gone on, the kind and caring father, or is there a darker side to him too? Certainly, all these characters are flawed human beings, the question is to what extent are they who they seem to be? The theme of identity and separating truth from lies is explored even further with regards to writers and the writing process - how much of their own identity do authors use in their characters? Furthermore, where is the line between truth and fiction? The ending, without giving away spoilers, only raises further questions and causes you to reevaluate everything. Certainly it is not an ending that ties everything off neatly, rather the reader is left to make their own judgement on what they believe to be true. I do think the last two chapters were rather rushed, and written in a manner designed to be shocking for the sake of it, as opposed to fully and carefully thought through, and as such whilst I overall like what the author was going for here, I just thought it could have been executed a bit more skillfully, as opposed to the slightly clumsy approach that we got. Overall, whilst certainly flawed, and far-fetched to the point of absurdity at times, this was nevertheless a gripping, albeit often uncomfortable read, and one that after the end, still had me thinking about it.

Wow, things just took an unexpected turn, didn't they? Let's rewind a bit. The central character in focus is Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford to complete a series of novels left unfinished by his incapacitated wife, Verity. As Lowen delves into Verity's notes at the Crawford home, she stumbles upon a manuscript that appears to be an autobiography, revealing a side of Verity that is far from flattering and, at times, downright horrifying. Caught in a web of morbid curiosity, Lowen finds herself unable to resist reading the autobiography, even though she knows she shouldn't. As she navigates the eerie atmosphere of the Crawford residence and grapples with her own natural paranoia, a complex relationship with Jeremy begins to form. The tension escalates steadily, reaching its climax in the final chapters, which unfold with unexpected twists and turns, leaving readers with a sense of exhilarating whiplash. Lowen, facing a string of challenges including the recent loss of her mother to cancer, eviction, and anxiety issues, forms a connection with Jeremy, who harbors his own share of tragedies. While the prevalence of tragic characters in women-led thrillers is a trend the reviewer critiques, it is acknowledged as a reflection of the world's general emotional turmoil. Despite this observation, Lowen is not dismissed as annoying or silly; instead, her character is relatable and sympathetic, as are the reactions of the other characters in various situations. The book's ending is immensely satisfying, left a lasting impact. In conclusion, Verity is lauded as a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression, whether you embrace it or not.

A book I wish I'd written myself. From the unsettling events on the very first page, this psychological thriller doesn't let you put it down. An absolute masterclass of the genre that beautifully combines passion, intrigue, obsession and truly dark themes - it could be used as a prime example of how to write an unreliable narrator. I became just as obsessed with this book as Verity is with her husband Jeremy! I wish every psych thriller I read was this good!

A great read. Edge of seat stuff. Will leave you wondering once your finished.

Tjejen gillade den, då är jag nöjd :)

I loved this book so much. The plot twist, the characters just kept me glued to it to know what happens next. I'm still conflicted between team manuscript or team letter. When you pick this book up DON'T READ IT AT NIGHT!! It will creep you out. A bit of SPOILER! Verity is an author and is married to Jeremy and they have 3 children but the twins die and things take a turn for the worst. Verity is bed ridden after her accident and can't finish her remaining 3 series,so Jeremy talks with her publisher to hire another author to finish the series for her and he goes to the meeting where he meets Lowen a small author who just lost her mother and is looking for a job to distract herself. Lowen takes the offer Jeremy has negotiated with her and in order to start the series, she needs to familiarise herself with Verity's work. Lowen agrees to stay in there house for the weekend to get the notes she needs only to come across Verity's manuscript that was never to be read by anyone and things take a turn after she realizes she's is falling for Jeremy and is conflicted whether to give him the manuscrips to read or keep them to herself, what unravels next is shocking,,, It's a must read for thriller lovers.

This is a gripping thriller that forces you to want to take a break from the darkness, yet want to know what happens next, all in the same breath! It makes you feel utter disgust and then compassion for the same character. And while gluing you to your reading seat, it subtly emphasizes the importance of clear communication in a relationship. Hats off to the author for producing such a powerful masterpiece!

one of the best books i have read so far this year

je suis fan de Colleen Hoover, j'ai donc précommander ce livre en version originale dès sa sortie et je l'ai fini en un week-end. Pour faire court ce livre est parti d'une remarque de l'auteur car ses livres étaient régulièrement classé en thriller psychologique sur amazon alors qu'il s'agit en général de romances avec de nombreux rebondissements parce que Colleen Hoover adore jouer avec ses lecteurs. Donc nous voici avec un vrai thriller psychologique. Il commence avec un accident, un monsieur qui se fait écraser, ce qui donne le ton du roman. Lowen qui est une auteure rencontre le mari d'une autre auteure dans des circonstances particulières et elle accepte d'écrire la fin des romans de cette femme, qui a eu un accident et qui n'est visiblement plus en état d'écrire. Elle va donc vivre chez cet homme et se lier d'amité avec lui alors qu'il a déjà connu plusieurs tragédies, il a perdu ses deux filles. On va lire parallèmement d'un chapitre à l'autre, la vie de Lowen et celui de Verity l'auteur handicapée, car Colleen adore alterner les points de vues des personnages. On va découvrir Vérity et ses terribles secrets. J'ai encore été absorbée par l'histoire, je me suis demandé ou est ce qu'on allait et la fin est terrible! Car encore une fois j'avais oublié le goût de Colleen pour les rebondissements! Un excellent roman à lire lorsque l'on aime les thrillers. Il y a un côté inquietant dans ce roman car on a l'impression que Lowen perd la tête ou que Verity n'est pas vraiment telle qu'elle est sensé être.