Well, geez. I guess I feel kind of honored that I finally got off the hold list for this wildly popular novel. To my surprise, Colleen Hoover usually writes romance novels, but tried her hand at suspense with Verity. Good for her!
Lowen is a painfully shy and hardly well-known author that one day gets selected to co-write the final two books in a series by the infamous Verity Crawford. The opportunity comes after a series of personal tragedies in her life, but she reluctantly accepts the offer. In fact, that’s one major thing Lowen has in common with Verity: tragedy. Verity can’t complete the book series herself as she’s currently in a catatonic state following an almost fatal car accident. Lowen learns this, along with the death of Verity’s twin girls, from Verity’s husband, Jeremy. He invites Lowen to their home so she can look through Verity’s office and get in the headspace of her writings more.
Once in the house, Lowen is naturally uncomfortable with Verity’s presence, but also with the fact that she’s falling for Jeremy. Early in her search of Verity’s office, she comes across an autobiography that reveals some horrific truths about Verity and her relationship with her family. It’s hard to believe someone could be so vile, and that’s perhaps what sets Lowen’s paranoia soaring. It’s easy to assume what’s going to happen in this novel, but I promise the twist at the end will be truly shocking and divisive. I know I had my own opinion on it, but either conclusion you’d come to would be a juicy one.
With the promise of that epic twist ending, I’d be remise to not tell you that ultimately, I didn’t really care for the novel. I liked the suspense elements of the book, but the protagonist, Lowen, was highly unlikeable. I’ve seen a few other reviews of this novel state the same thing, and having a likeable protagonist is like the whole point! Especially given how the novel ends. Who knows. I’m probably just being over-critical. But even that frankly excellent twist wouldn’t have me recommending this book to anyone. Sorry. I do think Hoover should keep trying her hand at suspense though! I’d love to read something else like this, but with just a more likeable lead.