A review by proudtobeabookaholic
Verity by Colleen Hoover

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Lowen Ashleigh is a rather unknown writer when she gets an offer she can't refuse. Verity Crawford is a bestseller author who, after a car accident, is unable to finish her succcessful book series, so her husband Jeremy hires Lowen to do it for her. To be able to go through all of Verity's material and notes she moves in with the Crawford's. What she hadn't expected to find was a biography written by Verity. When Lowen starts reading it she feels sick...

This is definitely different from Colleen Hoover's other books! Yes, there's love and steamy sex scenes here as well, but this is first of all a dark psychological thriller. The feeling of discomfort is almost constant, and I both want to read more, but at the same time I'm not sure I will be able to. The thing with alternating chapters from Lowen's POV with chapters from the biography is brilliant, and sets the tone for the whole book. As a reader I often doubt who - if anyone - I can trust. I wouldn't call this a horror story, but it's definitely one of the most uncomfortable books I've ever read (in a good way)!

The reason for not giving "Verity" five stars is that Lowen feels a bit pale as a character. Despite being mostly from her perspective I find her slightly underdeveloped. It feels like I get closer to both Jeremy and Verity - and Verity is kind of in a coma. Otherwise I have nothing to complain about. I also don't want to reveal any more, because I think you should read this book without too much knowledge going in. If I were to choose a book that's similar to this one I would probably say "Shutter Island", and I believe "Verity" would be a great movie as well!
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