Verity by Colleen Hoover

Themes: Thriller, romance

The synopsis

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.

The review

I have to say I’m a bit disappointed by this book given the great reviews I heard about it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a very good thriller but I was waiting for the moment where I would be ‘Yes, this is definitely the 5 stars book everyone adores’ which never came. There was tension, there were things at stake but I think that the first… not disappointment but surprise came from the fact I was expecting something way more creepy than that. The second disappointment came from the characters, which I found a bit empty, as was their relationship.

Despite these negative points, there are still a lot of positive points in this book, beginning with the writing of the Machiavellian character, which I found really well executed. Concerning the plot, I was still very surprised by the final twist, even though I had guessed the 1st one (as a lot of other readers I think).

In Brief: I am not adoring this book and don’t fully understand the hype around it, but still really enjoyed the story and the setting. The alternation between the plot and Verity’s book gives good pacing to the plot and you end a chapter wanting to go on with your reading.

Question to those who’ve already read it: team book or team letter (I’m definitely team letter 😉)? Tell me in the comments what you think and your theory!

My rating: 4/5