Worth The Hype? A Boo(k) Review of Colleen Hoover’s Verity

As fun as it sounds to sit around a camp fire and tell ghost stories, I don’t think the dramatics— the flashlights and sound effects—that make these stories so entertaining translate quite as well in writing. However, with spooky seasons upon us, it would be a waste not to take advantage of this ominous atmosphere. For those of you looking into horror/mysteries, I’m sure you’ve encountered Verity on a Goodreads recommended somewhere. If you are having trouble deciding whether or not it’s worth a read, maybe my review will help you.

Regardless of whether or not you are a reader, you’ve probably heard of Colleen Hoover—the pinnacle of pandemic authorship. Despite the mixed opinions on her romance novels, as a whole, I think Verity, her brief foray into the thriller genre, has been generally well received. 

The novel follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer nearing the end of her career when Jeremy Crawford, the husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, offers her the job of a lifetime. Having been injured in a car accident, Verity is unable to continue her ongoing and highly popular series, which Lowen has now been hired to complete. 

As part of her research, Lowen temporarily stays at the Crawford house with the couple and their young son. However, while sifting through Verity’s notes, Lowen uncovers an unfinished autobiography in which Verity offers a chilling retelling of the night their family was forever changed. 

Lowen initially decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, but as their feelings for each other grow, Lowen must decide whether or not to reveal to Jeremy the true, horrifying truth about his wife. 

In terms of the plot and storyline, I did find this story to be quite unique. The majority of the narration happens in the first person, from Lowen’s point of view. This is sometimes intercepted by occasional excerpts from Verity’s manuscript, which is written from her perspective. As Lowen continues to read this autobiography and uncover more details about the events leading up to that fateful night, Lowen becomes increasingly doubtful of herself and her perception of reality. Her understanding of the truth is also highly influenced by her feelings of Jeremy, whose version of the story almost directly contradicts with Verity’s. 

Furthermore, the book closes with an open ending, one in which Lowen finds a supposed letter from Verity claiming that the manuscript was merely a writing exercise in “antagonistic journaling.” Thus, Lowen and readers alike are torn between two possible versions of the truth, the manuscript and the letter. 

Overall, I find the concept of the book pretty interesting. It was an easy read, a book that is good at building tension and knowing when to share or withhold information to readers to keep them on their seats. There are interesting details scattered throughout that seem accidental, but end up contributing to the mystery surrounding Verity’s character. Atmospherically, the story is quite good. 

In terms of the ending—which I believe makes or breaks most thrillers and mysteries—this one was alright. For the build up that occurred throughout the story, I was expecting something a bit more dramatic, with more shock value. Personally, I am also not the biggest fan of open endings as there is no clear resolution to the story. While open endings such as these can generate a lot of discourse online and leave readers to return to the story to analyze all the clues, this to me, is a bit like cheating the story. By leaving it up to interpretation, Hoover doesn’t have to fully flesh out a satisfactory ending that explains the clues scattered throughout. If you’re someone like me who has a hard time remembering books after a reading them, open endings only make these stories more forgettable. 

However, the main reason why I would not recommend this book is because of the characters, all of whom are extremely problematic in one way or another. Lowen, in my opinion, is incredibly difficult to like. She is the typical horror-movie protagonist, one who constantly makes the wrong choices that places her in danger. She is reckless, yet morally grey and borderline psychotic, which makes for a confusing character. Since she also narrates the book, you can’t help but feel frustrated by her decisions and how she chooses to justify them in her head. 

Jeremy, Verity’s husband, is also quite messy, though the extent of his problematic behavior does also depend on whether you are team manuscript or letter. However, regardless of which version of the story you believe, I think it’s reasonable to agree that starting a new relationship in the same house that your toddler and heavily injured, paralyzed wife still reside in, is on the whole, extremely problematic and immoral. 

Thus, it is unsurprising that the relationship between these characters is quite unpleasant to read about. I found the romantic aspects of this story to be rather overwhelming and oftentimes unnecessary. While I understand that Colleen Hoover comes from a romance background, Lowen and Jeremy’s relationship often disrupted the flow of the plot, cutting into whatever tension was being built. 

In conclusion, if you’re looking to read a book just for the vibes, then Verity may be for you. It’s a good start for anyone just getting into these thriller genres—fast paced and an easy read. However, if you’re a thriller addict looking for complex characters, intricate plots, and shocking twists, then I would try my luck somewhere else.