Verity | Colleen Hoover
“Verity” is a romantic thriller novel written by Colleen Hoover. It was published on December 7, 2018. Here’s a summary:
The story revolves around Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin. She is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime when Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, offers her a lucrative deal. Verity is incapacitated due to an accident, and Jeremy needs someone to complete the remaining books in a successful series his traumatized wife is unable to finish.
Lowen agrees to the job and travels to the Crawford home to go through Verity’s office for notes and outlines pertaining to the series. As she’s searching through Verity’s files, she discovers an unpublished autobiography revealing horrifying and dark truths about Verity.
The manuscript is filled with confessions of unspeakable acts involving her family, adding a chilling new dimension to Verity’s persona. This leaves Lowen in a quandary – should she reveal what she found to Jeremy, potentially crushing him, or conceal the truth?
While staying at the Crawford house, Lowen finds herself increasingly attracted to Jeremy despite the complex situation. They grow closer, but the revelations from Verity’s manuscript hang over their budding relationship like a dark cloud.
The tension escalates as Lowen must decide whether or not to disclose her findings. The novel ends with a twist, leaving readers to question the truth about Verity and the choices Lowen makes.
“Verity” is a compelling and chilling novel that delves into themes of truth, morality, attraction, and the blurred lines between love and hate. The character-driven plot, the atmosphere of suspense, and the unexpected ending make it a memorable read.
Biography of Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover is a popular contemporary author known for her romance novels. She was born on December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Before becoming an author, Hoover graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a degree in Social Work. She worked in the field for several years before starting her writing career.
Hoover self-published her debut novel, “Slammed,” in 2012. The book quickly became a sensation, reaching the New York Times e-book bestseller list. This led to a publishing deal with Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.
Since her debut, Hoover has written numerous popular novels, including “Hopeless,” “Maybe Someday,” “Ugly Love,” “Confess,” “It Ends with Us,” and “Verity.” Several of her books have become New York Times Best Sellers.
Hoover’s writing is often lauded for its emotional depth and well-developed characters. Her novels frequently tackle serious issues such as abuse, mental health, and death, providing a deep and poignant exploration of human experiences.
Quotes from Verity
“You don’t get to decide what your truth is.”
“I think guilt is just one side of a two-sided coin. The other side is thankfulness.”
“Some people feel safest in the light, and yet others find refuge in the dark.”
“It’s funny how we give such credence to the beliefs we had as children.”
“The problem with lying about relationships is that humans are equipped with the desire to confess.”
“Words are choices.”
“But any writer worth their salt knows that characters are the absolute worst kind of people.”
“The dictionary defines the word free as having the power to act without hindrance or restraint. I am not free.”
What the Critics Said
“Verity” by Colleen Hoover has generally received positive reviews from critics and readers, who praise its suspenseful narrative and unexpected plot twists. However, responses to the novel have varied, and the reception has been diverse.
Riveting Plot: Critics appreciate the gripping nature of the story, stating that it is an intense, haunting page-turner that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is often described as unpredictable and shocking.
Character Development: The complex characters and their development throughout the novel have been lauded. The depth and nuances of characters like Lowen Ashleigh and Verity Crawford have been appreciated.
Genre-Blending: The blend of romance, suspense, and psychological thriller genres has been positively acknowledged. However, this also means that the book might not suit everyone’s taste, particularly those who prefer a distinct genre.
Writing Style: Colleen Hoover’s writing style has been praised for its engaging and compelling nature. The fluid prose and the first-person narrative provide an intimate and personal touch to the story.
Disturbing Themes: Some critics and readers find the book disturbing due to its dark themes and graphic details. There are elements in the story that could potentially be triggering for certain readers.
Love Story: The love story woven into the plot receives mixed reviews. Some readers enjoy the unexpected romance while others feel it distracts from the primary suspense narrative.
Summary of Verity
Characters
Lowen Ashleigh: The protagonist of the story, Lowen is a struggling writer who gets an opportunity to finish a popular book series by the famous, but incapacitated, author Verity Crawford.
Jeremy Crawford: Husband of Verity Crawford. He hires Lowen to complete his wife’s book series. He’s a loving father and devoted husband, who appears to be unaware of the dark secrets his wife has been hiding.
Verity Crawford: A successful and famous author who becomes incapacitated after an accident. Verity is a complex character, as revealed through her secret manuscript which contains disturbing confessions.
Crew and Chastin Crawford: Verity and Jeremy’s children. Their characters add another layer to the story, with Crew’s untimely death and Chastin’s disability playing important roles.
Storyline
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling author who’s dealing with her own share of tragedies, including the loss of her mother and the mounting debts that she has been left with. Her situation seems hopeless until she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: Jeremy Crawford, husband of the successful but incapacitated author Verity Crawford, offers her a job to complete the remaining books in a series his wife was writing.
Lowen hesitates initially, but the allure of financial stability leads her to accept the offer. Jeremy invites her to his home to sort through Verity’s home office for any notes or outlines that might help Lowen get a sense of where the series was heading.
As Lowen sifts through Verity’s office, she stumbles upon a hidden manuscript—an autobiography revealing Verity’s darker side and horrifying secrets involving her family. The manuscript paints a picture of a woman who is far from the celebrated author image she presents to the public. As Lowen reads, she learns of unspeakable acts, twisting her perception of Verity and making her question the motives of this woman.
While staying at the Crawford house, Lowen finds herself increasingly attracted to Jeremy. He’s a grieving widower, as he’s lost his son Crew and his wife Verity is in a vegetative state following a car accident. Jeremy and Lowen grow closer, and a romantic relationship begins to develop between them, further complicating Lowen’s dilemma about whether to share the contents of the manuscript with Jeremy.
The narrative continues to unfold, fraught with sexual tension and layered with secrets and suspense. Lowen struggles with her growing feelings for Jeremy and her obligation to reveal the truth she has uncovered about Verity. The novel ends on a shocking note, leaving readers to question the truth about Verity and the choices Lowen makes.
“Verity” is a complex and chilling story that explores the themes of morality, love, and the blurred lines between truth and fiction. It is a psychologically intense novel that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.
Verity’s Secrets
Verity Crawford’s manuscript in Colleen Hoover’s “Verity” reveals several shocking secrets that profoundly shift Lowen’s perception of her. Please note that these revelations include potentially distressing topics and major spoilers for the novel:
Disturbing Feelings: Verity admits in her manuscript that she has harbored resentment and ill feelings toward her children. She expresses a sense of relief when her son, Crew, dies and has harsh sentiments towards her disabled daughter.
Deliberate Harm: The manuscript suggests that Verity might have deliberately harmed her own child. This revelation, coupled with her lack of empathy towards her children, paints a very dark picture of Verity.
Adulterous Intentions: The manuscript also uncovers Verity’s feelings for her husband, Jeremy, hinting that she may not have been as faithful or devoted as she appeared to be.
Possible Deception: In a shocking twist towards the end of the novel, it’s revealed that Verity has been conscious and aware for quite some time, casting doubt on her motives and the validity of the confessions found in her manuscript.
These secrets bring up questions about Verity’s character and morality, and provide a chilling perspective on her life. They heavily influence the course of the novel and the decisions made by the other characters.