Book review : Verity by Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover has done something no other author has done before. She has gone from writing romance to writing a creepy stalker thriller! I have a few friends who are authors and their books have gone from one genre to another, but never have I seen anything like this. I have been a big fan of Hoover since I read her first book Slammed and I have to say, I think this is her best book yet!

Lowen Ashleigh, a failing novelist, Jeremy Crawford, and Jeremy's wife, Verity, who was just rendered paralysed by a car accident, are the main characters of Verity.

When Lowen Ashleigh, accepts the job opportunity of a lifetime, she is a struggling writer on the verge of financial collapse. From the rush and bustle of Manhattan to the calm Vermont countryside, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Lowen. A publisher hired to ghostwrite the final three novels of a successful series. Jeremy Crawford, the husband of popular novelist Verity Crawford, sought to bring her in after the author was injured in an accident.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford house to conduct some research, sorting through years of Verity's notes and outlines in the hopes of uncovering anything that would lead the series in the route the author intended.

Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that seem to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse.

Instead, she becomes engrossed with Verity's life. Verity was able to stay in her own house, sleep in her own bed, and spend time with her husband, Jeremy, and their little kid. The anguish and pain that pervades everything is unavoidable.

my blood runs cold when my eyes are pulled to the figure standing at the top of the stairs. She’s just standing there, watching her husband as his mouth roams over my breast.

My entire body stiffens beneath Jeremy.

She finds uncovers a document that appears to be Verity's autobiography while rummaging through Verity's notes. Which was never meant to be read by anybody. Page after page of harrowing confessions, including Verity's account of what happened the day her daughter died. Lowen is frequently perplexed as to whether she is reading reality or fiction.

Lowen resolves to keep the book concealed from Jeremy since he knows the contents will be devastating to the father, who is already suffering. However, as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy become stronger, she sees all the ways he could help her if he reads his wife's comments. After all, no matter how dedicated Jeremy is to his damaged wife, he would be unable to continue to love her if he knew the truth.

Verity’s fists clench at her sides before she rushes back in the direction of her room.

Mommy said I shouldn’t talk to you if you ask me questions about her. Crew, does your mommy pretend she can’t talk?”

There were a lot of creepy and unpleasant moments here, both in the present and via Verity's autobiography, which we got to read select chapters of alongside Lowen.

Verity possesses all of the qualities that make a terrific thriller: It's intense, dark, frightening, perplexing, and twisted. The lives of the folks that populate the pages are far from flawless; each character is dealing with a traumatic event.

Hoover states in her Acknowledgements that she wanted to venture out and write on her own for this independent endeavor, which is admirable and thrilling when you consider where her inner drive may lead readers next.