- Publisher: Independently Published
- First Publication:Â 2018
You know that feeling when you pick up a book and from the very first pages, it just hooks you in? That’s exactly how I felt when I started reading Colleen Hoover’s “Verity.” This psychological thriller absolutely blew me away. I’m talking edge-of-your-seat, can’t-put-it-down kind of reading experience. The twisted plot, complex characters, and exploration of some seriously dark themes had me questioning everything I thought I knew. It’s no wonder this book has become a word-of-mouth sensation and book club favorite.
Plot:
So here’s the setup – Lowen Ashley is a struggling writer who lands the dream gig of ghostwriting for the incredibly successful novelist Verity Crawford, who is recovering from a horrific accident. But when Lowen gets access to Verity’s latest unfinished manuscript, she stumbles across something deeply disturbing – a confession to an unspeakable crime. From there, the story spirals into this crazy web of secrets and lies that had me frantically flipping pages to find out what happened next.
Lowen starts getting way too involved with Verity’s husband Jeremy (looking back, maybe a few red flags there?). But I have to admit, even I started developing feelings for the charming and complicated Jeremy as Lowen did. The push-pull tension in their relationship was deliciously addictive.
With every new bombshell revelation about Verity’s dark past, I found myself doubting everything – questioning whether I could trust Lowen’s perspective, Jeremy’s intentions, or even my own instincts about what was really going on in this messed-up situation. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Hoover would throw another curveball.
Main Character Analysis:
At the heart of this tangled narrative web are the characters, who are all intriguingly flawed and complex. Lowen starts off as this relatable, starry-eyed young writer just trying to make it. But as she gets pulled deeper into Verity’s twisted world, we see her naivety get utterly shattered. I loved watching her evolve from this wide-eyed innocent into a much savvier, tougher woman who’s willing to do what it takes to survive. You can’t help but root for her.
Then there’s the omnipresent Verity herself. Even though she’s largely absent physically due to her condition, her looming influence is felt on every page. Hoover paints her as this genius writer but also deeply disturbed person. I had so many conflicting feelings about her – was she a misunderstood victim or a calculated monster? The mystique around her character only grew more enticing as the truth was slowly unraveled.
As for Jeremy, oh boy. That man is one complicated soul. One minute I’d be swooning over his devotion and the next I’d be disgusted by his choices. His relationship with Lowen played out like a addictive soap opera at times. I don’t want to say too much more and ruin the fun of trying to figure him out yourself!
Writing Style:
Hoover’s writing style in Verity is just masterful. The rich detail, vivid character voices, and constantly shifting perspectives suck you in completely. This is psychological suspense at its finest – she toes the line between giving you just enough to propel theories while still holding back some bombshell revelations. The seamless way she intertwines past and present, truth and deception, had my head spinning delightfully. I also loved how she blended in commentary about the power of storytelling itself. For a book about an author, it was very meta in an engaging way.
Themes:
On the surface, Verity is this gripping, bingeable thriller. But it’s also layered with heavier themes that stuck with me long after devouring that final twist-filled chapter. The big one for me was this exploration of truth and deception – how easy it can be for our perceptions of reality to be manipulated through artfully constructed stories and lies. In our social media-saturated world where narratives are so controlled and reality is often distorted, this theme feels incredibly timely and resonant.
The novel also looks at ideas around obsession and codependency in relationships. I found myself honestly disturbed at points by how dark and toxic some of the dynamics got between Lowen, Verity, and Jeremy. It gave me a lot to ponder in terms of where we draw boundaries in our willingness to forgive or justify toxic behavior from those we care about.
Other themes I appreciated were the struggle over identity, how childhood trauma shapes people, and the ethical lines authors should have in fictionalizing real events. Hoover tackles these meaty topics in a way that feels organic to the twisted story rather than heavy-handed.
What People Are Saying:
If you’ve been on BookTok lately, then you already know the hype around Verity is very real. It seems like every second video is someone raving about how mind-blowing this book is. The rave reviews have propelled it to the top of bestseller lists and turned Hoover into a reader’s favorite author. Even big-name authors have sung its praises. With all the buzz, I honestly went in with sky-high expectations that remarkably were still exceeded. This book has developed a cult following for good reason.
My Personal Take:
Okay, I’m just going to come right out and say it – Verity is a good psychological suspense and mind-trickery. From the moment I read that first shocking line, I was completely and utterly hooked. Hoover’s skilled storytelling and layered character work completely sucked me into this twisted world that felt both disturbingly real and like some fever dream all at once.
Part of what made the book so gripping was how Hoover steadily built up the sense of delicious paranoia and unreliability. I genuinely didn’t know who or what to believe as the narrative got darker and more disturbing. Even my opinions on the characters would do these whiplash-inducing shifts – one minute I’d be rooting for Lowen, the next detesting her choices. The constant reminders that we were dealing with an unreliable narrator made every new piece of information ripe for overanalyzing from multiple angles.
In a lot of ways, reading Verity reminded me of being on one of those mind-twisting true crime meditation apps that were all the rage earlier this year. You think you have a good grasp on the facts, but then your perception gets shaken and you’re rethinking everything you thought you knew. Hoover is just a master at screwing with your head in the most delightfully unsettling way.
What really set this one apart for me though was Hoover’s ability to blend these salacious, shocking thriller elements with rich psychological exploration. Yes, the juicy plot and suspense were absolute page-turners. But she also gets you thinking hard about profound questions around truth, human nature, morality and more. I found my mind going to some pretty dark places following the threads of themes like deception, trauma’s effects, and how far we’ll go for success or love.
I actually joined a hot Verity-themed Reddit discussion thread with a community of fellow hardcore fans to overanalyse and swap theories. Having an outlet to process all the madness with others who had gone through the same mind-pretzel experience really enhanced my enjoyment. We’re already gearing up for the inevitable movie adaptation!
Wrapping It Up:
At the end of the day, Verity is a masterwork of utterly compulsive, unputdownable fiction that burrows deep under your skin. Hoover’s deft hand at crafting layered characters, chilling suspense, and thought-provoking thematic depth results in a reading experience you won’t be able to shake for a long time. This book pulled me in completely and did not let go until the wildly satisfying yet still-haunting conclusion.
If you’re looking for a read that will keep you feverishly theorizing and questioning everything until the final jaw-dropping moment, Verity needs to be at the very top of your TBR list. Just make sure you clear your schedule first – this is the kind of book you’ll want to devour in one electrifying binge-reading session.