Goodreads says, "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."
Lowen is a struggling writer. She is about to lose everything when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes her way. Verity Crawford, the bestselling author, has been injured and is unable to finish her popular series, so her husband, Jeremy, wants to hire another writer to help finish it. All Lowen has to do is read Verity's notes and source material to help finish the series. This should jump start her career, right? Once she gets to the Crawford's house, Lowen has a hard time going through all of Verity's notes and stumbles upon an unfinished autobiography that was never published. Naturally, Lowen is curious, and starts reading it despite the fact that it appears it wasn't meant for anyone's eyes. The manuscript includes disturbing thoughts, Verity's confessions, and so much more surrounding the day her daughter died an untimely death. The more Lowen reads the manuscript and spends time in the house, the more she is sucked into Verity's world including the attraction she feels for Jeremy. Meanwhile, Verity is still living in the house, but is pretty lying in a comatose state and needs her caregiver to help her with just about everything. Should Lowen tell Jeremy what is in the unfinished manuscript or will it send his world crashing down further? Verity by Colleen Hoover is nothing less than brilliant. I haven't had a book suck me in like that in years.
Lowen is a sad sort of character in Verity. She can't really get her life back on track after taking care of her sick mother. When this job mysteriously falls into her lap, she thinks this might be exactly what her life needs career wise and financially as she is in dire straits. Once at the Crawford's house, things are beyond creepy. There's Verity who lays staring at the wall after her accident. Their young son lives there, but is still getting over the various family tragedies. Lowen can't help but question how so many tragedies could happen to one family. She starts wondering if they were really tragedies and innocent accidents or was something more sinister at play? It doesn't help that she thinks she saw Verity out of bed staring at her, which should be impossible. Is her mind playing tricks on her? Then once she reads Verity's autobiography, she starts to become even more horrified by what really happened and what Verity is actually like. She can't help but feel for Jeremy and starts to harbor feelings for him. I mean awkward, right? She is living in Verity's house and working for the family!
I don't want to give too much away about Verity, but be prepared to be shocked and then shocked again. I didn't see the big plot twist coming and I was completely wrapped up in the story. It should be known that I wasn't wrapped up, because I cared, I was wrapped up in the plot, because it was like a murder scene. I just had to know what was going to happen and I couldn't stop looking at the horrible picture the story was painting. Be forewarned, Verity includes a lot of triggers. I couldn't almost read it at one point. There's child abuse, graphic sex scenes, violence, disturbing thoughts, and more. Despite this, I continued with the story and I am glad I did, because Colleen Hoover brought her A-game. Once I was done, I not only wondered what the heck did I just read (readers like the debate the ending!), but also I was impressed by Hoover's ability to weave the story together the way she did.
So, if you are looking for a domestic suspense/thriller that is all-consuming and slightly disturbing, check out Verity. I couldn't stop thinking about this book for days. It is one of the best thrillers I've read in a long, long time. Have you read Verity? Are you a fan of Colleen Hoover? Let me know in the comments below.
This book was so wild and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteIt really was wild! It kept me up at night! Thanks for visiting, Angela!
DeleteColleen Hoover can write in so many different genres, it's incredible. This one was so different and so good!
ReplyDeleteI was so surprised by this one! The only other novel I have read from her was definitely more of a romance. Thanks for visiting, Michele!
Delete