Reading Verity… A book review

Leaving my usual go-to of French historical fiction novels to read Verity. It was a wonderful veer off course. This time my reading was by the New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover and my first introduction to this author.

‘Find what you love and let it kill you.’

Colleen Hoover, Verity

Bone-chilling, confronting, and gut-wrenching in its intensity, Verity thrills the reader from the first jaw-dropping sentence to the last.

I found it entrancing and was pulled into the vortex of a world my subconscious knew existed, but my conscious mind rejected.

The book’s back cover describes the story as being about Lowen Ashleigh. A struggling writer offered an amazing opportunity to complete best-selling author Verity Crawford’s remaining book series. That sounds pretty standard.

Then, weave in Lowen’s stay in the Crawford home to dissect years of notes and story outlines of the planned books. What Lowen discovers is more than a plot-line for a few books. Instead, she uncovers the truth of Verity and Jeremy’s life through Verity’s secret manuscript. The manuscript unveils lies, secrets, betrayal, and violent madness.

What Lowen discovers in the Crawford home is Verity’s obsession for a man and how her obsession plays out as hatred, manipulation, and murder.

It is also the story of good and love. Of Jeremy. A wonderful man, loving and devoted to his wife. And of Lowen, the writer whose life becomes unwittingly entangled in the mangled mind of a murderer and her part in saving Jeremy from a lifetime of enslavement to his wife.

‘What you read will taste so bad at times, you’ll want to spit it out, but you’ll swallow these words and they will become part of you, part of your gut, and you will hurt because of them.’

Colleen Hoover, Verity

I moved through repulsion at Verity’s premeditated evil and intrigue over the virtues of Jeremy, wondering initially if he was good or a villain in disguise. Then I felt deep compassion and empathy for Lowen. I was in her corner every step of the way.

Reading Verity feels like being in a haunted house. You are jumpy, twitchy, watchful, and hear noises that are just in your head. It feels like Verity is watching you, waiting to stab you in the back, or the front, or wherever she chooses. At the turn of every page, you hold your breath and wait, expecting to find that someone has been murdered or tortured in the basement.

It’s that kind of book. You are hanging on the edge, ready to jump or scream at any moment.

Verity is described as a ‘romantic thriller’. However, I didn’t find it such. While, there is a romantic element to the book, and I adore the relationship and sexual tension between Lowen and Jeremy but it’s not particularly romantic. If you’re looking for horror – this is not your read. If you’re looking for a love story, this is not a traditional love story, although it is a modern one, and you may love the unfolding of a new relationship as much as I did.

The book is dark and disturbing. It is sexual and intense. It is uncomfortable and confronting.

Verity did not leave my hands until the last word was read. Verity still hasn’t left my heart or mind weeks later.

The popular question among readers is, ‘Are you Team Manuscript or Team Letter?’ For me, it’s a resounding Team Manuscript. Verity was calculated, evil and manipulating right to the end. Or is that simply what the clever author wants me to believe? You will have to read the book to make up your own mind.

Some reviewers are shocked that the author could conjure such a heinous theme. I am not. I think Colleen Hoover has bravely broached a topic that is real, ugly, and lurks in sinister corners of society within our midst every day. We just have our heads buried in the sand because it’s too awful to understand. I mean, what mother on the planet could ever dream of hurting her own children? You only have to look at the statistics, and the answer is clear. Plenty. There is even a word for the murder of children by a parental figure. Filicide. But that is another story, isn’t it? For this reason, I would keep that in mind before reading this book.

For those who have suffered trauma or are triggered by violence and abuse of children, it may be best to read something else.

Verity was a brave write.

Verity was a brave read.

I don’t use the word brilliant often, but that’s what Verity is.

Brilliant.

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