Review of "Verity" by Colleen Hoover (with some Spoilers)

The name Verity means truth. The title suggests that this book is about a woman called “Verity”. She tells her story, and it is up to us to decide which part we believe. This story has two narrators. One is Lowen Ashleigh and the other is Verity Crawford. Lowen is a not so famous writer who ends up in Verity's house. Verity is a famous writer with a famous series to finish, but she had an “accident” and she is basically paralyzed and can't write. So, her publisher finds another writer who is Lowen to complete the three remaining books in the series. However, she doesn't want to go to Veirty's house, but she eventually will go there and accepts the publisher's offer. While in Verity's study, she finds a mysterious and personal manuscript written about Verity's life with Jeremy (Verity's husband), their sex life and how their twin daughters died. Verity shows herself to be a cold-blooded mother in the manuscript and Lowen believes what she wrote and a fear grows in her as she reads more and more of the manuscript, which was believable because it was well written.

This story is about truth and lies and how truth can be manipulated through written words and how it can affect a family. If you like a good thriller, and page turner, you would like this book. It is easy to follow and the language is pretty simple. You can finish it fast. There are spooky scenes and hot scenes.

In my opinion, the +18 scenes were not steamy enough. But those parts where verity talks about the death of her children raised my eyebrow, and they were intense. I think this book is a good example of crossing the line. Some things should never be written, especially if they are about the death of one's children. It is too personal. I think Verity took it too far.

I gave it four stars and deducted one star because I don't like to read about children getting hurt, especially by their own mother. Even if it is a lie. When you read the book, you know what I'm talking about. I think the subject of the book is kind of sensitive because children are innocent.

I also wanted to know more about Verity's parents. There is a brief mention of them in the book, saying that they disowned their daughter because of the books she writes. Maybe the coldness that Verity feels comes from her upbringing. I think Lowen and Verity had one thing in common, and that was a tough childhood. Verity with her religious parents turning to fiction and writing from the villain's POV because she wants to taste darkness as well. On the other hand, we have Lowen with her sleep walking habit and how that led to her mother being afraid of her hurting her. I think Lowen is the kind of person who only speaks when it is to her benefit, as we see at the end when she finds Verity's letter. She doesn't want to destroy her beautiful future with Jeremy, and she justifies that by calling Verity a "manipulator of truth."

There were some moment when I was reading that I laughed at the author's attempt to scare me or make the book creepy and unsettling. For example, that part when she dreams about her daughter Harper trying to kill Chastin. That part was funny, and I wasn't scared at all. The same as the +18 scenes, they weren't that good. The relationship between Lowen and Jeremy moved too fast, and I sensed that the author doesn't know Jeremy well to write better dialogues for him. We just know he is hot and a good father. He sounded so mysterious to me and I wanted to know more about him.

How did I find this book?
I saw it once on an Instagram explore and when I searched for top 100 best-selling books of New York Times, this book was on the list and the name caught my attention. I wondered what it was about. I didn't read any synopsis for it, I just read chapter one, and I was immediately hooked by how simple and effective the writing was. For English is not my first language and I look for easy books to read. Not so easy, I want to learn some words, but I want it to be not very difficult to follow. So, I choose this book to read and give my precious attention. I wouldn't say this was a waste of time since I actually enjoyed it trying to spook me, but it failed.

How Much time did it take me to finish it?
It took about 2.5 days and I just wanted to read till the end, because it was so entertaining. The story was fascinating, the type of story that if you don't finish it fast, you can't think about other things. You just want to know how the story ends. And it ended good. I enjoyed the reading process and the ending.

Do I want to see this book turned into a movie?
Yes, absolutely. I would watch it with enjoyment. I think it is worth watching one time. I'm curious to know who would play Jeremy because we don't have his POV in the book and as I said he is a mysterious good-looking kind man. One, Lowen and Verity, are fighting to have as their lover. I will know I will enjoy Lowen being crept out by Verity trying to scare her. We read in the book that Lowen wants to run away from that house, but she never does because Jeremy is too hot. This would be interesting to watch. 😃

Overall, this was an interesting book.
My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️