Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Verity by Colleen Hoover

202 reviews

tashiea's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

I actually liked the writing style! The plot was intriguing but there was so much wrong with it.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
 
When I say there's so much wrong with it, I'm not talking about the actual subject matter (which is super dark and fucking creepy as hell), I'm talking about the PLOT HOLES.

<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEpgAeGXEAIsiPs.jpg"> 

Unfortunately for those who haven't read it, much of this book is gonna be discussed in spoilers because this book is very plot based and obviously if I point out issues, it's gonna be spoilery. So let's get her going...

My opinions are still the same whether or not the letter is real. Because it doesn't matter either way. In the end, these plot holes are still not explained. Ready for the big one? I do not believe it is physically possible to pretend to be in a coma for months. There's just no way. The nurses had to know at least. There never really was any explanation given for their creepiness. How did the doctors not say anything? Wasn't there brain scans done? You can't fake those. It doesn't add up. It's this gaping hole that the entire plot balances on, and without it being fill, everything falls apart. 

I think the writing exercise is also unlikely to ever be real (like who the fuck would every suggest writing shit like that? That's not something a normal person could write and be okay with. I think if it was just fantasy stories, it'd be fine, but once you start basing it on your family and your life, that crosses the line. 

Also, why the fuck was this manuscript just laying out? Obviously Verity did not try hiding it very well, I'm surprised Jeremy didn't stumble on it while she was writing it, it probably was just chilling on the desk the entire time. It just felt sooooo off.

Also you can't convince me that the kid was smart enough to not say something to the Dad. He would have let it slip. Still don't understand the knife scene and what that was supposed to mean. Doesn't she actually like the son? Maybe it's been too long and I forgot about her hatred to him too.

A non-spoilery (well it's a super mild spoiler) discussion finally! (The spoiler was really long for those who don't want to open it) The cheating. The fucking cheating. I hate cheating, but like in this case it really didn't make sense to me. This man is married, his wife is literally upstairs, and he has a kid who is constantly wandering around. How stupid and shitty are you to cheat like that? Are you a fucking teenager with raging hormones? Keep it in your fucking pants. Like a damn adult. God. I skipped through the sex scenes mostly, but the ones that involve biting the headboard made me laugh. It's gross and stupid. 

Anyway now that I'm angry about that, I should say that it wasn't a terrible book. I actually enjoyed the writing style and I get how it sucks people in. I finished the book in one day, so it was good. I just can't stand the plot holes and the cheating. I will most likely not be reading any other Colleen Hoover books.

Rating System:

★ - Avoid at all costs. Don't even look at it.
★★ - I would recommend for people not to read it.
★★★ - It was okay. I might recommend for certain people.
★★★★ - I'd recommend it to most people.
★★★★★ - I'd literally gift this to someone. Must read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

anastasiak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

jody_08's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, and Murder

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

This is an excellent domestic thriller.  The ending surprised me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

glens's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, and Car accident

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Self harm and Death of parent

martini666's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

smkelly1997's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

A great book. A great twist. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

dahliae's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

anxieteaandbiscuits12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

2.25

I was actually apprehensive about reading verity as I have a very love hate relationship with Hoovers books, aka I did like It Ends With Us but hated Ugly Love to the point I was going to refuse to read anymore (I don’t like the trope where the book ends with the female protagonist pregnant or having a baby with the male protagonist to be seen as growth which is common in this authors books), but I had been brought this for my birthday so I thought it would be best to see whether this was just as overhyped as other CoHo books or if this was genuinely good.

I found the book was an easy read, I read it in a few hours and found that it did a good job of keeping me on edge and really screwed with my perceptions of the characters. I found that although it was set majority in one setting that helped keep things off balance. However, I felt like I was waiting for something to happen for the majority of the book, especially between Verity and Lowen and one of the plot twists

that Verity could move and talk etc

was predictable. 

I do like that the book leaves the reader with that one big unanswered question, I would like to find out for sure at some point after I mulled it over just to see if I was right or wrong and just to see if there is one final plot twist (involving Jeremy). Overall I enjoyed it as a psychological thriller but wasn’t blown away by it, it’s a good story and easy read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

aliciaallen'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion

Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy