Verity book review

Verity by Colleen Hoover
on December 7, 2018
Pages: 333
Goodreads

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

A standalone romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

Verity is the second Colleen Hoover book that I have read and I actually enjoyed this one way more than Too Late. I think it’s because there was definitely more of a storyline and the characters were way more developed and I enjoyed them more. I will say and I have a feeling that this might be an issue with any of Colleen Hoover’s books, I really didn’t enjoy the ending. The twist was well done but I thought that Lowen’s part in the story was a little confusing especially with the way that she seems to build friendships and relationships all the way through. I desperately wanted the ending to give me some closure and satisfaction but I was actually left feeling a little underwhelmed.

Although the characters in Verity were better, I did think that they were a little stereotypical but I enjoyed reading about Lowen as a writer and the self-doubt that she went through on a daily basis. I did wish that she was a little more flawed and that she struggled with the writing process it would have made her into more of a relateable character. I think Jeremy came across as a little flat as a character, I would have loved to have had a little bit more of a character pushed through and for there to have been more to the relationships all the way through.

I think the best bit of Verity was the mystery elements all the way through the story. It was something that added a little spice to a book that could have been a little bland otherwise. I really enjoyed trying to figure out what actually happened and reading about a character where you weren’t sure what to believe. It was really well done, and I loved the idea that I still don’t quite know what to make of the ending and what to believe.

I think the worst bit of Verity would have to be the relationships that run through the entire book. I found them all to be a little shallow and I’m not entirely sure what they were actually based on, none of them seemed to be based on shared interests or experience. I think I would have much preferred to have had relationships that were based on more than just physical reactions. I also think Lowen and her reaction to everything was a little unrealistic and something I really didn’t enjoy about the ending. I definitely found that part of the story problematic.

I would recommend Verity, I do think that these books need to be taken with a pinch of salt and that they do contain some problematic issues. I want to say that this book was the best but unfortunately I struggled with some of the characters. Definitely just a guilty pleasure read!

Are you a huge fan of Colleen Hoover? Which is the next book I should try? Let me know in the comments!