Amazing book, could barely put it down. As I had to know what was next.
Which is what I love about Colleen Hoover books, they are both easy to read and have compelling stories making want read it in one setting. I also never tried reading thrillers before and found this book a good way to get into the genre.
However as much as I loved this book. I wouldn't give it more the 3.5 stars. As there was a lot of stuff in the book, I found it pauseable. I didn't like how the character acted. And disagreed on how they handled the situation.
Now I have a lot to say about this book and will write some spoilers from now on.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
The none trust in Law enforcement. Of course, if the police were called on from the beginning, there would be no story. This kind of annoyed me in some ways, because it was not because they believed the police wouldn't believe them. They had the evidence. It also it would have resolved a lot. Which kind of annoyed me, I don't like situations where the answer is so clear but the character won't do it. And instead makes the situation 10 times worse. In this book 100 times worse.
One the thing I found pauseable was Lowen had taken 2 weeks to finish the manuscript, but read books from a series and only took 1 to 2 days. Now since the manuscript was autobiography and she didn't want to intrude on Verity life. She technically did have permission to read and look through everything in the office and technically she came there to help Verity publish her work. An autobiography would be something the publishing company would have been excited about. And who are we kidding, that was hell of an Autobiography I would have read in one day.
But of course, again there would be no book if Lowen didn't take her sweet time. But then how would Lowen get to know Jermey if not under this special circumstances. I also found it pauseable for her not to share the informasjon she found.
Now the ending. It was shocking. Making me question everything. Someone we believe to be a awful person might be an innocent victim of what became a deadly misunderstanding. Or did she get to have enough time to create the most perfect excuse of all time. One that would get her scotch free for the alleged crime she committed.
Honestly, I would have believed the letter if it was not for one key character. The son, Crew. The way he behaved and his actions. Kids are after all influenced by their parents. The question is how much, and how bad?
First of when he "played" with a knife in his mother room and accidentally "cut himself" with. Did that really happen or did Verity hurt him? She did after all "allegedly" kill her daughter. But explained in letter she says didn`t kill her daughter, and stayed in the house because of her son. Wanting to run away with him. But another thing she explained in the letter was how her action made Lowen paranoid. But yet never talked about the knife. The knife her son accidentally "cut himself" with. Because Lowen saw the knife, but could not find Verity room afterward. A pretty god reason to be paranoid about, yet not important enough to be mention?
The second thing was when Lowen started asking Crew questions. At one point he started to get nervous, and told Lowen his mother told him not to talk to her about that. When Lowen continued to ask questions, a 5-year-old boy went as far as cutting himself in the mouth to the point of bleeding, with the knife he was licking peanut butter from. And instead of crying or panicking, there was fear in his eyes. A 5-year-old, getting that scared to answer questions. This is what makes it very hard for me to belive Verity letter. And the knife accident being a simple accident.
Up to this point I have colored Verity as villain, like the book did. And I might be very much wrong. There are many good explanations in the letter Verity wrote, and a statement that she loved her children. Not wishing to hurt or kill them. I also relate to Verity creativity prosess. I have also written done book ideas, scenes and characters that even make me question my mind sanity. Yet I can't stop being wary of Verity. As when her own parents heard about their grandsdaughters death and their daughter car crash. There response was evil people gets what they deserve. I have a hard time believing it they saying that simple because they did not approve of her writing thrillers.
As for Lowen and Jermey. I did not like how Lowen handled things. And the action done in the name of love for Jermey was disturbing, by both Verity and Lowen. That man needs to mourn, therapy and a new start. He lost his twins daughters for god's sake, on top of that finding out his wife might have killed one of them. Al though I can understand Lowen and Jermey falling in love with each other. As he needed comfort, and Lowen who has her own struggles meets a man that way too good to be true. I could not agree with them by choice created another child within 2 weeks of getting to know each other. While his wife was right upstairs. It just became so wrong, and found this a relationship I did not ship.
As for the bonus chapter that came out this year. I was shocked and it definitely made me once again question everything. Many say this bonus chapter confirms that the letter was true. But for me it was more the aftermath, the psychological trauma of the events that happened in the book caused, rather than a direct confirmation of the letter being true. What the bonus chapter did confirm however, Jermey was definitely too good to be true