I compared Gone girl and Verity internally too. Unlike Verity, Flynn knows how to make the protagonist or antagonist sympathize with the reader. I disliked Lowen's attitude too. Hoover did a great buildup but at the end it was like a house of cards. I saw the potential for a good match for Gone Girl. But I left Verity with confusion and disappointment. It didn't give such a clear cut ending explanation like Gone Girl. Truly a trash. 3/5 for just the buildup.
If I hear a Booktok girl descibe Jeremy's and Lowens relationship as "romance" just one more time... The reason why so many young people equal sex with love is books like this.
EXACTLY! I just finished it and I was so disappointed! It was so bad. Throughout the book it wasn’t too bad but the ending ruined the entire thing completely.
i never hear people talk about how bad the ending of this book is, so this was refreshing omg. just from a writing perspective the last lines made me roll my eyes; colleen literally spells out the conflict like she doesn't trust her readers to be smart enough to figure it out. it just felt so lazy and condescending.
Honestly, Collenn Hoover in general has been very underwhelming for me. They are definitely easy reads, but they don't muster up much emotion for me. I'm beyond shocked that so many people feel her books so deeply.
There's so much Incest, abuse, immature writing styles, and flaws in general in her books. I never liked them and never will but I definitely will not judge anyone who does like them
Okay, hear me out… I really thought that Jeremy was the one who wrote the manuscript. He didn’t feel like a perfect Angel of a man to me. Something is immensely creepy about letting your wife be in that state and thinking it’s fine that another woman write her books for her, while living in your house. Saying that Verity read Low’s books, but really it was him? And he allegedly he didn’t read Verity’s, so how could he know if it was similar? And why would he like Low’s if they were? And just like Corey falling in love with her character but not her, I felt like that was going to play a role. It fell so flat for me. The sex seemed writer by a man, and I was really hoping for an off the wall flip, but I got nothing but a damn letter.
This was my theory as well. Thought he was the one who wrote it especially since it was so convenient how Lowen found the manuscript. lol Almost like he had placed it there on purpose for her to read and be manipulated.
I will have to admit that part of me wanted Lowen to be the villain of the story. Something about how quickly she jumped to calling the master bedroom HER room and Verity’s office HER office. It made me suspicious. But is that what Colleen was trying to do?
I honestly believe that the letter was totally untrue. Verity comes out as very manipulative, especially as she is known as a thriller writer as her series are all from a villains perspective . The letter was definitely something she wrote towards Jeremy in order to cover her tracks. Definitely a poor ending to read as I was waiting for a something way more intriguing.
I agree!! She admits she’s a good writer because she is a liar and manipulative. It was 100% to cover her tracks. Why lowen didn’t leave or call the police right away....
Still it doesn’t justify the way Jeremy responds when he reads part of it. Most people would have a serious conversation with their spouse or go to the cops. Not what he did, which was mental!
The letter was an utter disappointment. It felt like watching a commercial movie. The last pages of the book ruined the experienced i had from the beginning.
Honestly many times when a book on Goodreads is rated above 4.3, it's a big red flag for me. In most cases it's a book with a very specific audience and not much people reading it outside of that audience.
I don’t read, I gave in with all the hype of verity. I finished it today… it was over the top 😅 I’m so glad I found other saying the same thing. It just got ridiculous and now I see who her audience is…. It’s like soap opera fanatics 🤣
Just read it and I had the same experience. For a moment I thought that Laura actually had written the manuscript so that Jeremy would make a life with her without feeling guilt. Another, better ending (in my opinion) would have been if Jeremy was the one that wrote it to blame his wife for the murder of her kid when in fact it was him. Anyways, the ending sucked but it could have been so good.
I think Laura cannot write the manuscript because when she came to thier house , jeremy have already read the manuscript ; and about the last letter Verity had Wiritten ,i think it's not true , because if the manuscript isn't true , jeremy would know that some details aren't in thier places especially when she talked about thier sex life , if there were a fiction he would know they didn't do that ! So finaly : maybe verity is really guilty and maybe jeremy is the one who wrote that manuscript because i can't find out why did him bring Laura to finish the work if he knew what she did to thier children . Hopefully colleen will write a part 2
Great review. Just finished the book, and was dying to hear some like-minded opinions! This book had a lot of potential, could have been much better, but I felt it just imploded about 2/3 through. Then the ending was a straight-up mess. I had heard about the "twist" so I read it carefully and even highlighted things that seemed like foreshadowing. And then... POOF- threads were just DROPPED. The creepier aspects of the book made it compelling, and I wanted to find out what was really going on, so when I read "The End" I felt really cheated. Yet glad it was over; it was downright silly at times. I think about 2.5 of 5. Very fair and reasoned review- thanks!
I just finished this book and I feel like a little disappointed. I totally agree with you. The part, "It was all for fun!" on the manuscript letter fucked my head up. It was literally going so good and awesome but then it went downhill from there, when they both killed her it made me so disappointed I knew there was no reasonable happy ending to this. I really wanted them to contact the police and happy ending. Because that's how books are supposed to be- lol jk but seriously kind of made me weird and okay about it? Now I'm as confused as Jeremy however the only enjoyable and awesome person in this book was definitely Crew. He is absolutely adorable but also, don't let your kids handle a knife, even if it's a butter knife Lowen.
I really wanted Jeremy to be in on it. That verity was faking it to see how life would play out so she could write the next book with lowen as the villain. Like woman takes Ill woman’s husband. I would have LOVED that ending.
I think the letter was verity's way of covering her own tracks because it was written after she knew that lowen has been reading her autobiography manuscript. She could have written the letter beforehand or else. Also why would you tell your one child only to hold the breath. She could have told them collectively. And what was crew doing with a knife in verity's room. Ps I kinda enjoyed the book :)
Totally agree with all of your points! I also found Lowen to be super unlikeable. I didn’t feel like there was enough description of Jeremy or Lowen given to understand why they were so infatuated with each other. It’s like the author assumed it was such a given that they were going to hook up, so readers didn’t need an explanation of why they were so drawn to each other. And then for them to be in love and have a child together…wut? What connected them? Especially him to her. In general there was very little character development. Definitely could have taken out of some of the repetitive sex scenes to make more room for that. Also, there was so much potential for better twists! I thought all along that Jeremy had planted the manuscript for Lowen to find, especially when he revealed that he was the one who chose Lowen to finish her books. Thought Verity was acting comatose out of fear of Jeremy and was trying to get Lowen’s attention to warn/protect her. There was also opportunity to give some type of sympathy for Verity if she frames her issues as postpartum depression and went on a journey with that. It would’ve helped build the case for the letter. Also, it’s too much in one book. Random trauma with the pedestrian at the beginning just for a hook, mom recently dying of cancer, creepy sleep walking, child abuse/neglect/murder, actual murder, etc. Too much to the point that it just felt completely unbelievable Finally, I find it super unlikely that Crew would’ve never revealed the truth about Verity, especially when he was so willing to do so/slipped so easily in his very few interactions with Lowen
Just finished the book. Def. it was more intriguing than other books that I've read recently. BUT: the narrative was disgusting. My pov: I think that verity was indeed a villain, like why would she write so horrible things on her own family? I also believe that the husband was kinda weird. Tho, I understand his second reaction: another person knew about it so it made no longer sense to pretend he's not angry + he faked her illness! That's insane and so creepy. About lowen: I think she is also a psycho for suggesting how to kill verity!
Then Patricia!? That lady was nosey but she was an innocent woman. I knew it was her before she said it so I just rolled my eyes. It was all just ridiculous n too many coincidences… book was too cheesy.
I 100% agree with this review - I kept reading because I thought it HAD to get better but it never did. The “romance” was gratuitous at best and poorly written. The “twist” was absolutely lazy and I didn’t find anything creepy. Jeremy was the least interesting character and to believe anyone would be infatuated with him was a total stretch. I should have stuck to my better judgement and never opened the book. 0/5
When I finished reading it, I remember thinking, "So... this woman just pretended to be a vegetable while people cleaned, touched and fed her? what else? Harry potter comes in the middle of the night to give her a helpful spell? That was one of the things that just rubbed me off. Then there's the whole thing about the letter. I saw it coming from a mile away and thought there must be something extra, but it was generic to say the least. Also I didn't find anything that creepy about it. And lastly who else thinks the whole sleepwalking subplot was all for nothing. You can remove that whole subplot and it won't change a thing. overall a mediocre thriller. 2/5.
I think the point of the sleep walking subplot was to add suspense and briefly creep the reader out when Lowen woke up in Verity’s bed. It added reasoning for the outer lock on Lowen’s door that later was locked from the outside, adding proof that Verity was likely not comatose.
@@3333lizzy That's a nice point but then it'll mean she purposely risked getting exposed since no one else could be blamed for it. and its not like the lock on the door meant all that. they managed to open it and it barely mattered.
I was under the assumption that he kept her and cared for her because he didn't see any other option. If he put her in a home and she managed to make a recovery one day, she could tell everyone he tried to murder her which would land him in jail. As far as he knew, there was only the digital copy of her autobiography, which he deleted (out of fear/guilt after she survived). He didn't know there was also a physical copy that could prove that she killed harper. In the end, he would be in jail sounding crazy and a psychopath would be raising his son. If the police happened to discover the manuscript, it doesn't cancel out what he did to her out of anger, he would still serve jail time regardless. Verity would as well, which would land Crew in the Foster system. Crew would carry the burden of his murderous mother AND father while also navigating new families and possible abuse? I think he did a lot of what he did to protect the future of his only surviving child. It's easy to say what you think you would do in a situation, but much more confusing and difficult in real time. I, myself, cant say for certain that if someone hurt my son and then bragged about it in writing that my first instinct would be to call police. I'm scared to say it would probably be blind black out rage, the kind that happens when people hurt other people. No, the parts about this book that bothered me were the parts where Lowen's storyline started running hand in hand with Verity's. Verity intentionally cooked dinner late to avoid the kids, lowen intentionally cooked dinner late to avoid Verity, her nurse and Crew. The slipping in of the enjoying the same sexual positions the exact way Verity did. The same obsessive behavior over jeremy.. im going to stop Verity from ruining this for me, just as Verity supposedly did to harper. Killing Verity the same way Verity attempted to kill harper. It all started lining up like Lowen was secretly a psychopath as well.. especially when she decided she wanted to keep his juices inside her to possibly become pregnant. That's a little sick and twisted even for me, to want to become pregnant in the middle of a crazy ass situation like that? Yeeeah that's vomit inducing. I was convinced lowen was trekking down the same path as Verity, slowly losing her mind. But ive been thinking about it.. and maybe she really did? I didnt see the letter situation coming, and it left me still feeling that lowen was just as obsessive and icky and murderous as Verity. It kind of made me appreciate the story more. I think Colleen was possibly trying to convey a bigger picture here and not a lot of people aren't grasping it. IF she was, she needed to make it more apparent. It's flawed for sure, but in the end it was thought provoking.
Also, he didn't tell Lowen he knew about the manuscript because he was trying to hide from her that he attempted to murder Verity.. lol which you would think if you're that far into a hell hole of a situation like this, and you've managed to fall in love and get someone pregnant.. and you want things to be different.. and this other person also helped you murder the OTHER person.. that complete honesty and trust from here on out would be a main priority.. idk makes Jeremy seem sus. Or traumatized! Who knows! Lol
Yess!!! I completely agree with the part about Low becoming another version of verity. I think all 3 of these characters were psychopaths but Jeremy is the only one who did it to protect his son (not justifying). The other 2 were just obsessed with him.
7:28 Jeremy kept Verity and took care of her for the sake of their son. When he tried to kill her (almost twice), he realized that they still have a son who needs his mom. That’s why he reacted negatively when Lowen was trying to expose Verity -when he was trying to kick her out of their house.
That only makes sense if the letter is true, right? If the manuscript is true, it doesn't make sense he would want his sons mom around considering she murdered one of the other kids and as straight up crazy
Pretty sure Jeremy took care of Verity because of guilt and shame. Once he found out she was faking her illness he went crazy and killed her over it. I 100% believe the manuscript is real, the letter was absolutely pathetic excuse to save herself from becoming the villain. Nobody writes a manuscript like that as a “writing exercise” after both of her children passed away… the scars. The knife. The scans. The “hold your breath Crew”. And the fact she faked her being brain dead just proves she clearly had something loose in her head. There’s even a interview online with Colleen Hoover about the manuscript Vs letter and she says “I believe Verity is evil”.
And also how could she have been a mom if she is not able to interact with her son? I understand that people with disabilities can still be wonderful parents but it wouldn’t make sense for here to be a parental figure in her sons life if she can’t do anything besides breathe. Colleen just writes without thinking her characters through the book should have been much longer
I finished the book few days ago so here is my take on what you mentioned in the video. A: Jeremy wanted to kill her out of rage because he read the manucript and thought it was true. But when he accidentally impaired her, there must have been a surge of guilt for him. So now he had to forever trap himself to this vegetable-like woman and take care of her, although still angry at her. he just can't kill her like this. B. Verity had to pretend that she is still in comatose because if she woke up and be a normal person, her husband would kill her again!!! That's the whole point. So she was scared and by pretending like she's still unconscious, she could buy time and plan her escape from him! What I find most confusing to me is about Jeremy. So he read the manuscript and caused Verity accident. But when Lowen showed him the manuscript he pretended like he never knew about it?! It's as if he only waited to have a compliance to finish the murder of his wife with him. Someone like Lowen who is guillable and so now he can actually have another person who agrees with this murder and he's got this support and can go ahead with the murder, something that he had been trying to do all along?! When I read the part where he suddenly wanted to kill off Verity I was so shocked! It totally destroyed the earlier image about Jeremy I had. he was is mournful, sorrowful yet full of compassion and just an overall good guy. But in fact, he was just waiting for his chance to kill his wife one more time!!?? that's the part that icks me the most.
I think he killed Verity in rage after he found out she was faking her injuries. Maybe he felt that he should've killed her in the first place because shes still a threat to him and Crew. So that might have changed his mind and removed remorse and guilt that followed after he tried to kill her the first time he had read the manuscript. And as for pretending to not know about the script, I think it was Jeremy s plan to hide the fact that he did know that Verity was the one to kill his girls because if he didn't, then lowen would question this entire situation where he still tended to Verity instead of reporting her to the police or killing her.
The way that you just cured my frustration from reading this book and audibly laughed in agreement with all of your takes. Thank you for this healing perspective
I am 200 pages in and will not finish this book. I am actually disgusted by what I am reading. Like I physically can’t finish this book. I want to know what happens but I’ll just find spoilers cause I cannot stomach any more of this book!!
I do not read at all, I read this book in 2 days! I was so hooked even tho it was cheesy with the “romance” but when I got to the last third of it I forced myself to finish it because I really wanted to get into reading nah I was almost done! I was so disappointed in this book. It’s over the top 😅 everyone has their interest but this book was not it for me. I was cracking up while others say they were scared. Only thing disturbing was details about abuse…
this book is so bad and i genuinely can't believe it has such a good rating on goodreads... the writing was mediocre, the characters were boring af, one dimensional, flat and unlikeable, the mcs had no chemistry, the ending was disappointing, i saw all plot twists coming from a mile away and i'm mad i wasted my time with this book. okay rant over. i'm glad i'm not the only one who disliked verity since pretty much everyone else seems to love it lol
Thank you I hated it sm I was so mad at the characters kept rolling my eyes the whole time verity's part was the only part detailed written and captivating and I expected the plot twist to be Jeremy being the bad guy but oh well
I've just finished this book - literally within the last hour or two - and although I read it quickly, and it had a certain addictive quality, I can't say I liked it. In fact, I didn't really like it at all, and I found certain aspects of it to be almost comically bad. I searched for some reviews, found your video, and I agree with pretty much everything you have to say about it. So thank you for this review, because I needed to hear someone echoing what I thought about this book. I look forward to checking out more of your videos, your channel looks really interesting, thanks!
I remember being so for the creepy first half of the book. The feeling your this outsider sitting there reading through this secret journal of a woman who should have this perfect life, in that woman's home, around this woman's family. But then immediately being super pissed when the 'big reveal' happened. It just kinda fell apart
I went into this book not knowing anything never read her books before but it sounded the best on the shelf. It’s not at all what I expected. I thought it was good but confusing and the end shocked me and left me confused on who’s story to believe. I liked it but I see why there’s things that people wouldn’t like. I went in with no expectations however and I was able to read it fast and it kept my interest that’s all I really look for
I did the exact same. I thought it was good but had some plotholes and not too many questions answered. I wish it was longer tbh it would probably be even better. Hoping for a sequel or prequel possibly just to get answers
Thank you for this review, I hate when booktubers review the book pretty much based on the hype and not their actual critical opinion of it. I was too dissapointed by the end, and didnt know how to feel about it. The book was captivating enough to read in one day ill give it that, but it was captivating because i needed it to make sense in the end, the entire time i kept thinking: ok, this will play out some how at the end where it would all make sense. Lowen, Jeremy and Crew are the most suspecious charachters in this book, id go as far as saying more so than Verity, because in the end we didnt really hear from Verity we only read a manuscript that was supposedly written by her, which there is no proof of. It could be written by Jeremy which is what i was thinking this whole time that he is involved in these murders somehow but is framing his wife, and then somehow Low would figure it out and realizes Verity was innocent and attempts to save her or herself from Jeremy. I also was not convinced that the manuscript was found by Low so conveniently. if Jer has indeed read it before, he would at least make sure to hide it from the author who will be living in his wife's office! so I thought the twist would be waiting for Low to reveil that Jeremy was involved somehow in the murder of his children or his wife's accident and then she tries to save verity or escape herself to save her life. But instead what I felt the manuscript has provided through out the whole book was a lousy justification for us as readers to Jeremy's actions with Varity once he read the manuscript and Low's actions by the end. It didnt convince me to hate Verity, because it wasnt believable. There are for sure mothers who actually do hate their children or hurt their children regardless if it came from a place of deep hatred or due to mental health issues like PostPartum depression, but in those real cases it has little to do with the husband's unconditional love for the kids or the wife's obsession with sex with her husband! That seemed so ridiculous, no dick is that good, but rather deep seated issues (like Family abuse, abandonment, which could have been expanded on since there was a mention of Verity's crazy fam) It was not too convincing. But assuming it was all believable and true, before you decide to murder the wife/partner who you think murdered your kids you would at least ask "Why" even if you've "read why" you'd wanna hear it. I also thought Crow is creepy and maybe he has somthing to do with the sister's murder and Verity or Jeremy were covering it up, idk. But regardless if Verity is innocent or not, in both cases Jeremy and Low are creepier, the former is essentially a murderer who failed at attempted murder and Lowen who basically so easily suggested how Jer should kill his wife. I mean, i couldnt bare killing another human even if that human was that awful. And in the end, Verity wasnt hurtful to Low, it didnt make sense how easily Low wanted her dead! Her love or obssession with Jer isnta good enough reason. And yes their romance was cheesy rather than convincing. The letter at the end was just a dissapointment on behalf of the author. Like I didnt know how to fit it in the entire plot. It read in such a fake tone. It was too convinient to be placed where it was placed and found when it was found. Just like the manuscript. It didnt fit in the plot and it didnt justify or explain why Verity chose an agonizing decision to fake a coma, rather than escape with her child and leave this letter anyway. It felt like Hoover ran out of ideas and put a cheesy plot twist in? Idk.
I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t really like it , but I personally loved it because it is the first ever novel I read completely and it’s really special to me . It kept me hooked from the beginning , the mystery , the creepy reality of verity and the romance kept me invested ❤️ Also I’ve finished her “ it ends with us “ ( loved it so much ) and I’ll almost finish “ ugly love “ ( its good by now ) within 2 days . I’ll read November 9 too it’s in my list .
That's awesome it sparked your love of reading! Even if I didn't like the book, I'm glad there are people out there enjoying it! I know that feeling of devouring a great book and then seeking out all the other books that author has written 😊
My book club read this past November and I'm the only one of the seven of us that did not like it. I absolutely hated it and thought it was a waste of my time. Some of them didn't love it but they definitely found it interesting and I'm like no.
Oh my gosh...THANK YOU! Same, same, same. I read this when it was first published and then it blew up and I was thinking WHAT, WHY? Same about reading it quickly and still not liking it. I also gave it two stars!
i just finished Verity, and i would give it 2.5 stars- mostly for just being a page turner. i pretty much only read thrillers and mystery books, and this one definitely isn’t one of my top 5 (or even top 10 for that matter) because of the predictability, lack of a “full” feeling to the story, and WAY too much of the story was taken up with the telling of basically the same sexual acts- it felt lazy to me. it was written almost like it was an authors first time writing a book (if that makes sense.) the story itself was interesting enough to keep reading, but could have been SO much better if it was written differently.
I dont get what the relevance of Lowens aleep walking was?? I thought the way she stood on the roof or an hour while sleepwalking would have a massive meaning at the end but it was never mentioned again
Also what even is the twist?? Is it the fact that she could talk/move? Because i wasnt shocked by that because Lowen had seen her do it quite a few times
I read Verity and I loved it! I gave it 5 stars! I did believe the romance, loved the manuscript and the plottwist at the end I thought was amazing and loved how you get to choose what you believe in the end. The manuscript or the letter. LOVED IT! It was my first book by Colleen Hoover as well, but definitly will read more by her!
that's true, it is cool she leaves it up to you to decide what the truth is. That also makes it a great book to discuss because you can debate which you believe. It's still not one I love, but I kind of feel bad about this video, like maybe I was too harsh lol.
I didn’t like it either. Did read in one day. I felt like the author was just trying to be shocking, with the sex descriptions and Verity’s manuscript. Plus I didn’t think Lowen and Jeremy could have “fallen in love” when they didn’t really have many conversations but just had sex all the time. Lust yes, love no.
I just finished reading it and felt pretty much exactly the same as you (also with A Man Called Ove! But I do love Backman's other books, especially Beartown) Definitely agree with pretty much everything you said. I read a lot of thrillers and this was subpar compared to others I've read, especially the "twist." Thought I'd give it a try since Colleen Hoover is so hyped and I'm not a big fan of romance so it seemed like the perfect starting place. I was disappointed and not super interested in reading anything else by her 🤷 Also, I absolutely love your background!
My theory at first was that Jeremy was an obsessed fan with Lowen and that the whole plan was to keep Lowen as a hostage, hence why he mentioned locking her inside the room, make her write stories for him. I thought maybe it wasn’t his first time either holding women hostage and that maybe he had done the same to Verity and keeping her house bound by poisoning her. Also when Jeremy admitted that he had sexual relations with many women before I figured that maybe he had done it to several women before in the past and it was just a cycle of finding young authors, getting them to fall head over heels with him, getting rich off of them and making them his writer slaves or something.
For me it was just cheesy and got ridiculous at the end, I was embarrassed to explain it to my fiancé because it just cracked me up how things went down. It was all good until the her birthday and I just felt annoyed by them. Everything after that ruined the book for me. I wish verity just ended up attacking Lowen 😅 would’ve been SO MUCH BETTER.
I really disliked this book! I kept reading because I thought it couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong. To go from one chapter about intense child abuse to the next with a gratuitous sex scene wasn’t for me. It seemed more like it was all written for the shock factor instead of focusing on actually writing a really good story. I don’t understand all the love for this book either.
In the top 5 books on Amazon, over 160,000 reviews, best-selling author of several books, and categorized as a suspense-thriller. Despite all of that, this was the most asinine book I have ever read. I want the hours back that I wasted reading this awful book. Unbelievable story, vapid writing style, one dimensional characters, practically no plot. I read many reviews that said the ending was shocking, and I kept expecting and waiting for some twist and nothing. I learned my lesson...
The book was not original and VERY predictable. I was excited to read it because of it being so highly rated, but I feel like I myself could have written something better 😂
I also read it out in a day. And I also hated it. I think what I can conclude after reading four of Colleen hoover's books is that she's just a bad writer. Her characters are bland, her plots are underdeveloped and even though her books contains some seriously graphic porn sex she writes like her readers are all 16 years and under. The first book I read from her was Ugly Love and I had to Google whether she's friends with fifty shades of grey writer because the similarities were too much. Shocking enough it seems like they're friends! Fifty shades of grey a ton of repeats of "I'm a goddess". Ugly love: "I'm liquid"
can agree with a lot of aspects of this review, but I would still recommend it to people as it can be a quick read and still enjoyable. I feel it kept me on my toes and always thinking.
Thank you, thank you for this review in a sea of raves; I finally found one I agree with. This might be the last "booktok sensation" I will waste my time with, or not, I'll probably get over this LOL. Just finished Verity in under 24hrs but it wasn't due to it being a gripping page-turner or anything. I just kept thinking, "okay.....AND?" but not in a good way lol. I described it to my husband as a poorly cast and directed Lifetime Movie Channel thriller - because, fair enough, those have a niche of fans, as does this book. (*side note, I did read Song of Achilles and LOVED it. Beautifully written, vibrant imaginative perspective. Two thumbs up from me!)
Just finished the book though it had an underwhelming ending I liked the way the story was driven. The thing is Verity mentioned in her manuscript in Author's note that "What you read will taste so bad at times, you'll want to spoke it out, but you'll swallow these words and they will become part of you, part of your gut, and you will hurt because of them." and in the extra chapters (limited edition) it shows how much Lowen was into it and how she is competing with Verity. This was a cool connection.
I finished a while ago. What a waste of my time. Yes it is adictive but there is where all the good end for me. I also hated Lowen.... What an uptight girl to be advicing how to kill people.
I would honestly give the book a 4. Reason being because it kept me intrigued, it had me asking questions all the time and Verity’s manuscript was raw. Of all the characters she was my favorite. Her evil authenticity and manipulative self, to even go through with writing a letter saying otherwise where she knew it would probably plant a seed of doubt in someone’s else mind for the rest of their live is genius! I don’t think the ending was a twist and I wish it would’ve had a big nice plot twist at the end, it didn’t, but the woman knew how to keep her name and herself engraved in someone’s mind. Though I didn’t not like the end and have mixed feelings on the book I would recommend because unfortunately there are humans out there who have the same thought process are Verity, it was raw and scary and sad. Too many questions left unanswered but a good read for me.
I have not read in years. I decided that this book was the book to start my reading journey. I’m still proud that I finished it but UGH! Super cringe! The the end was just lazy to me.
I read ‘It Ends With Us’ by CH and was obsessed, I loved that book. Saw ‘Verity’ being hyped online so bought it and was so disappointed, I agree that it fell flat. All of my guesses in how it was going to end and what twists were going to be at the end were so much more exciting than the actual ending 😂 I also thought Lowen as a protagonist was so unlikeable. I truly could not get behind the romance and the movement of their story. However I also did finish the book very quickly and was wanting to get to the end! Totally agree with your review.
I think the manuscript is real, and the letter is fake. That being said, I have no idea why Verity would fake being comatose in that case. Perhaps to get attention and care from Jeremy? The twist was very underwhelming.
Hearing the plot details, I think there were several opportunities where Hoover could have made this into a thriller that actually reads and feels like a thriller, but she just isn't clever enough. Or she's lazy. Or both.
I appreciate your review! I found a lot of the reviews online to be really demeaning and poking fun but found yours mature. I actually loved the book, I found it awesome to be completely captivated and addicted to a book with a huge twist that left me thinking about it afterwords. However, I do agree with you on lack of character development. And the romance being somewhat annoying/wanting to read over it. I think Colleen had set up the story to go in so many directions so it is interesting that her choice was Verity being the “villain” when it just as easily could have been Jeremy or Lowen. Thank you!
I didn't think it was that bad. Its like a soap opera, drama, lust, passion, betrayal, plot twist, I was kinda waiting for a "she's your sister" moment. I read it in a day, so its not bad... but could of been better for sure.
When I looked back on the book, I just feel like I didn’t know any of the characters AT ALL. Maybe it was intentional to have the reader fill in the blanks? But there was a ton of blanks with little to no context. I agree, this was my first and only Colleen Hoover I’ll read.
I just finished this book last night! I have to say, I do agree with majority of what you said! It wasn’t my favorite and had so much potential to be better but it overall it was okay! You should read her book “It Ends With Us”! I read that book before Verity so I think I had high expectations for Verity… but even though this one didn’t meet our expectations, I do recommend her other book! Its an easy read and really puts you in the shoes of someone else making you empathize with the character and pushes you to question your own limits of what you would put up with etc. I would love to hear your review about it bc I personally loved it, and I’m sure a lot of people would love to hear your thoughts about it too!
Omg I did the same thing I read it ends with us first because I wa slike this book has more pages than verity so I was like I'll read verity second as it seemed like an easy read lol. You're right my expectations were too high I think. I liked the concept of verity but omg way too sexually explicit all the time and the last chapter was a poor ending in my opinion
My grandma got me the book for christmas two years ago and ever since I just kinda... have been very not motivated to read it. I already hate romance, but badly written romance? Aw man 😭
I read this book because a lot of people raved about how good the plot twist was. I was totally underwhelmed with the “plot twist”. Also, I do believe she wrote the letter with the intention of Lowen finding it. She had been very careful about not moving specially knowing there was a baby monitor. I believe that was Verity’s indirect way of clueing Lowen where to look. Also, why didn’t Verity mention anything in the letter about Crew “hurting himself” with the knife that she hid with the letter.
i didn't like the book at all. All I read for I just cant leave the things in the middle. It wasn't exciting, suspence, crime thriller. too many intimate details discomforts me so many time. it feels like writer had very little to say, the writer just dragged the story by giving unnecessary intimate detail. it's awful.... not at all worht reading
I just finished this book and came to TH-cam to see what others thought because I was feeling the same ! - your review hit on all the things I was thinking - based on the positive reviews before I read it I was expecting a masterpiece of plot twists - and this story was not it could have gone in so many different directions and I was hoping as reading that it would and was excited for what might come so I’ll give it credit for making me feel like it might get really good but then it just didn’t 😆and so many dead ends to things as in stuff that happened that then wasn’t worked into the story in any meaningful or interesting way so by the end you were thinking so what was the point of that happening??
Good review.I felt the exact same way. The book has way more sex than actual story and the twist is kinda meh to me. Not sure why all the hype for this mess.
7:35 i think Jeremy was taking care of her when she survived first, because he didn't want to be suspected by the police. And because he wanted to show everyone how good a husband he was. And second, if he divorced her, and not hijack Verity's entire life's work and earnings, and future potential earningds, he would lose the lavish lifestyle too.
I saw a review by Alizee and she did such an incredible job describing everything wrong with this book. To just use one of her arguments, Coho basically villainizes women with post-pregnany psychosis through the MCs perspective. And what is it with cohos obsession with pregant women in general? 😩
I actually really enjoyed Verity, but it's the first book I've read in a very long time. I haven't been much of a reader, but I'd like to read more. If you have any recommendations for similar, but better novels, I'm all ears! I like hearing all perspectives.
I had to read this book for my book club. It was the very first meeting and I didn't want to come over as to negative or aggressive so I was very restrained and polite at the book club, but I hated the book. Everything about it. The ending.... And I just learned about the terrible "extra chapter" And the cheap lazy plot twists the writer inflicted on the reader. I hate everything about it and it's so cathartic to hear you giving this book a proper review.
Anyone else is reminded of the book Push? That’s what made me feel this wasn’t as original because I couldn’t get Push out of my mind and it was so much better.
I believe that it would be better if when they killed Verity they just leave and we never know about the letter. I would like it more if Verity was really the bad person of the story. Booktok just lied about this book it wasnt how i thoung it will be. So underwhelming.. I would be more satisfied if they end was that they died all at the end, like why everyone goes crazy with this book it doesn't worth the hype..
The letter was true and I noticed from a few points SPOILERS!! Keep in mind The letter was written before Lowen gave Jeremy the manuscript. So he had to have read it before for it to be mention in the letter. 1- he pinned her down the first time he tried to kill her the same we he did the final altercation. Knees on her arms. The detail was in Lowens POV as in the manuscript. The manuscript was written before she died! -in the letter she said Jeremy found the manuscript and that why he tried killing her. But he Lowen pic he acts like it’s the first time he found it. -If she is the Verity from the Manuscript not the letter Crew would’ve never know she was faking. In the script she didn’t care for the kids do she’d never reveal that to Crew. In the letter she loves him. She would’ve obviously let him know but keep it a secret. -last I j believe the antagonistic writing part because of these other ideas which explains why she would rewrite the most disturbing book on. The opposite of hate is love and grief is love with now place to go so it was her therapy. It was the most equal opposite to the grief she was feeling. She was a 5 star for me. Cause of how many mixed emotions I have
I thought that she jumped between child abuse and sexual desire sooo much, and so much of it seemed like it was written for shock factor. It didnt add to the story in a meaningful way. And also, that was supposed to be her autobiography?!? It doesnt make any sense.
i just finished this book and it was my first time picking bc up a book and finishing it that wasn't for school, as someone who doesn't really read i think it was a really good book, like i would recommend it for people who are just getting into reading or getting into reading thrillers for the first time,, i also agree with a lot of ur points but i still enjoyed it,, im positive that if i keep reading thrillers i'll enjoy them more and see the flaws of this one a little more! loved hearing your opinion!!
The Jeremy thing that you talked about at 8: 45- 8: 40 , I don't think that showing him this way was unintentionally, I guess that was the whole point , the whole twist of the book , TO WHOM to consider the villain ?? And this thing about Jeremy, his acting as if he's seen it for the first time and fooling lowen , trying to murder her wife twice and then taking take of her in front of the whole worl , fucking another women when your own wife with whom you spent 15 years is in the same house AND THE BIGGEST ONE that telling lowen that he never got connect to verity , to the girl with whom he had 3 fucking childer .this Is the thing that made me think the there is a chance that HE was the actually villan of the story and verity was just a viticm and so will be lowen .....I loved that the made made me think so hard in the end that it blowed my mind personally I would give it 5 stars and also I'm team letter and team verity
I wish I could explain how helpful this review was for me as I write my second novel, 🙏 thank you. I will follow your channel, because you are really good at questioning everything.👏👏👏
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For those interested, I read It Ends With Us and made a video about it. Link for that video is in the description!
I compared Gone girl and Verity internally too. Unlike Verity, Flynn knows how to make the protagonist or antagonist sympathize with the reader. I disliked Lowen's attitude too. Hoover did a great buildup but at the end it was like a house of cards. I saw the potential for a good match for Gone Girl. But I left Verity with confusion and disappointment. It didn't give such a clear cut ending explanation like Gone Girl. Truly a trash. 3/5 for just the buildup.
If I hear a Booktok girl descibe Jeremy's and Lowens relationship as "romance" just one more time... The reason why so many young people equal sex with love is books like this.
The ending is so bad it’s the equivalent of “it’s all a dream “ type of ending
i was initially shocked but on reflecting i felt the same way
💯
EXACTLY! I just finished it and I was so disappointed! It was so bad. Throughout the book it wasn’t too bad but the ending ruined the entire thing completely.
Omg yes! That’s exactly what I’ve said. Just seems lazy??
My thoughts exactly
i never hear people talk about how bad the ending of this book is, so this was refreshing omg. just from a writing perspective the last lines made me roll my eyes; colleen literally spells out the conflict like she doesn't trust her readers to be smart enough to figure it out. it just felt so lazy and condescending.
This is what annoyed me the most!
Honestly, Collenn Hoover in general has been very underwhelming for me. They are definitely easy reads, but they don't muster up much emotion for me. I'm beyond shocked that so many people feel her books so deeply.
There's so much Incest, abuse, immature writing styles, and flaws in general in her books. I never liked them and never will but I definitely will not judge anyone who does like them
Okay, hear me out… I really thought that Jeremy was the one who wrote the manuscript. He didn’t feel like a perfect Angel of a man to me. Something is immensely creepy about letting your wife be in that state and thinking it’s fine that another woman write her books for her, while living in your house. Saying that Verity read Low’s books, but really it was him? And he allegedly he didn’t read Verity’s, so how could he know if it was similar? And why would he like Low’s if they were? And just like Corey falling in love with her character but not her, I felt like that was going to play a role. It fell so flat for me. The sex seemed writer by a man, and I was really hoping for an off the wall flip, but I got nothing but a damn letter.
I just finished reading the book and I had en eerie feeling about Jeremy as I was reading too!
This was my theory as well. Thought he was the one who wrote it especially since it was so convenient how Lowen found the manuscript. lol Almost like he had placed it there on purpose for her to read and be manipulated.
@@cherrybun_chu Exactly, Im so surprise how many people love simps for him.
I agree with you Heather 100%
Read the bonus chapter love 😭
I will have to admit that part of me wanted Lowen to be the villain of the story. Something about how quickly she jumped to calling the master bedroom HER room and Verity’s office HER office. It made me suspicious.
But is that what Colleen was trying to do?
The twist is obvious from the beginning but the real mind freak is the secondary reveal that nobody acts like a real person.
😂😂 exactly
I honestly believe that the letter was totally untrue. Verity comes out as very manipulative, especially as she is known as a thriller writer as her series are all from a villains perspective . The letter was definitely something she wrote towards Jeremy in order to cover her tracks. Definitely a poor ending to read as I was waiting for a something way more intriguing.
Yeah, very disappointing!
I agree!! She admits she’s a good writer because she is a liar and manipulative. It was 100% to cover her tracks. Why lowen didn’t leave or call the police right away....
Still it doesn’t justify the way Jeremy responds when he reads part of it. Most people would have a serious conversation with their spouse or go to the cops. Not what he did, which was mental!
Couldn’t agree more!
The letter was an utter disappointment. It felt like watching a commercial movie. The last pages of the book ruined the experienced i had from the beginning.
Honestly many times when a book on Goodreads is rated above 4.3, it's a big red flag for me. In most cases it's a book with a very specific audience and not much people reading it outside of that audience.
1.4 million voters... (On Goodreads)
I don’t read, I gave in with all the hype of verity. I finished it today… it was over the top 😅 I’m so glad I found other saying the same thing. It just got ridiculous and now I see who her audience is…. It’s like soap opera fanatics 🤣
Just read it and I had the same experience. For a moment I thought that Laura actually had written the manuscript so that Jeremy would make a life with her without feeling guilt. Another, better ending (in my opinion) would have been if Jeremy was the one that wrote it to blame his wife for the murder of her kid when in fact it was him. Anyways, the ending sucked but it could have been so good.
I think Laura cannot write the manuscript because when she came to thier house , jeremy have already read the manuscript ; and about the last letter Verity had Wiritten ,i think it's not true , because if the manuscript isn't true , jeremy would know that some details aren't in thier places especially when she talked about thier sex life , if there were a fiction he would know they didn't do that ! So finaly : maybe verity is really guilty and maybe jeremy is the one who wrote that manuscript because i can't find out why did him bring Laura to finish the work if he knew what she did to thier children . Hopefully colleen will write a part 2
Great review. Just finished the book, and was dying to hear some like-minded opinions!
This book had a lot of potential, could have been much better, but I felt it just imploded about 2/3 through. Then the ending was a straight-up mess. I had heard about the "twist" so I read it carefully and even highlighted things that seemed like foreshadowing. And then... POOF- threads were just DROPPED. The creepier aspects of the book made it compelling, and I wanted to find out what was really going on, so when I read "The End" I felt really cheated. Yet glad it was over; it was downright silly at times. I think about 2.5 of 5.
Very fair and reasoned review- thanks!
Agree this had potential! But yeah, it went downhill lol.
I agree
The fact that she is called Varity and that it literally means “truth” makes it soo hard for me to decide whose side I’m on
I just finished this book and I feel like a little disappointed. I totally agree with you. The part, "It was all for fun!" on the manuscript letter fucked my head up. It was literally going so good and awesome but then it went downhill from there, when they both killed her it made me so disappointed I knew there was no reasonable happy ending to this. I really wanted them to contact the police and happy ending. Because that's how books are supposed to be- lol jk but seriously kind of made me weird and okay about it? Now I'm as confused as Jeremy however the only enjoyable and awesome person in this book was definitely Crew. He is absolutely adorable but also, don't let your kids handle a knife, even if it's a butter knife Lowen.
I really wanted Jeremy to be in on it. That verity was faking it to see how life would play out so she could write the next book with lowen as the villain. Like woman takes Ill woman’s husband. I would have LOVED that ending.
I think the letter was verity's way of covering her own tracks because it was written after she knew that lowen has been reading her autobiography manuscript. She could have written the letter beforehand or else.
Also why would you tell your one child only to hold the breath. She could have told them collectively.
And what was crew doing with a knife in verity's room.
Ps I kinda enjoyed the book :)
Totally agree with all of your points! I also found Lowen to be super unlikeable. I didn’t feel like there was enough description of Jeremy or Lowen given to understand why they were so infatuated with each other. It’s like the author assumed it was such a given that they were going to hook up, so readers didn’t need an explanation of why they were so drawn to each other. And then for them to be in love and have a child together…wut? What connected them? Especially him to her. In general there was very little character development. Definitely could have taken out of some of the repetitive sex scenes to make more room for that.
Also, there was so much potential for better twists! I thought all along that Jeremy had planted the manuscript for Lowen to find, especially when he revealed that he was the one who chose Lowen to finish her books. Thought Verity was acting comatose out of fear of Jeremy and was trying to get Lowen’s attention to warn/protect her.
There was also opportunity to give some type of sympathy for Verity if she frames her issues as postpartum depression and went on a journey with that. It would’ve helped build the case for the letter.
Also, it’s too much in one book. Random trauma with the pedestrian at the beginning just for a hook, mom recently dying of cancer, creepy sleep walking, child abuse/neglect/murder, actual murder, etc. Too much to the point that it just felt completely unbelievable
Finally, I find it super unlikely that Crew would’ve never revealed the truth about Verity, especially when he was so willing to do so/slipped so easily in his very few interactions with Lowen
Just finished the book. Def. it was more intriguing than other books that I've read recently. BUT: the narrative was disgusting.
My pov: I think that verity was indeed a villain, like why would she write so horrible things on her own family?
I also believe that the husband was kinda weird. Tho, I understand his second reaction: another person knew about it so it made no longer sense to pretend he's not angry + he faked her illness! That's insane and so creepy.
About lowen: I think she is also a psycho for suggesting how to kill verity!
Then Patricia!? That lady was nosey but she was an innocent woman. I knew it was her before she said it so I just rolled my eyes. It was all just ridiculous n too many coincidences… book was too cheesy.
I 100% agree with this review - I kept reading because I thought it HAD to get better but it never did. The “romance” was gratuitous at best and poorly written. The “twist” was absolutely lazy and I didn’t find anything creepy. Jeremy was the least interesting character and to believe anyone would be infatuated with him was a total stretch. I should have stuck to my better judgement and never opened the book. 0/5
When I finished reading it, I remember thinking, "So... this woman just pretended to be a vegetable while people cleaned, touched and fed her? what else? Harry potter comes in the middle of the night to give her a helpful spell? That was one of the things that just rubbed me off. Then there's the whole thing about the letter. I saw it coming from a mile away and thought there must be something extra, but it was generic to say the least. Also I didn't find anything that creepy about it. And lastly who else thinks the whole sleepwalking subplot was all for nothing. You can remove that whole subplot and it won't change a thing. overall a mediocre thriller. 2/5.
I think the point of the sleep walking subplot was to add suspense and briefly creep the reader out when Lowen woke up in Verity’s bed. It added reasoning for the outer lock on Lowen’s door that later was locked from the outside, adding proof that Verity was likely not comatose.
@@3333lizzy That's a nice point but then it'll mean she purposely risked getting exposed since no one else could be blamed for it. and its not like the lock on the door meant all that. they managed to open it and it barely mattered.
It was basically Gone Girl but you know Amy is a psycho from the first like 2 pages....
The one positive thing about reading Verity was that it reminded me to re-read Gone Girl
If the manuscript was false then how did the twin get such a deep scar??? Even the doctor did not believe his own explanations of the scar.
I was under the assumption that he kept her and cared for her because he didn't see any other option. If he put her in a home and she managed to make a recovery one day, she could tell everyone he tried to murder her which would land him in jail. As far as he knew, there was only the digital copy of her autobiography, which he deleted (out of fear/guilt after she survived). He didn't know there was also a physical copy that could prove that she killed harper. In the end, he would be in jail sounding crazy and a psychopath would be raising his son. If the police happened to discover the manuscript, it doesn't cancel out what he did to her out of anger, he would still serve jail time regardless. Verity would as well, which would land Crew in the Foster system. Crew would carry the burden of his murderous mother AND father while also navigating new families and possible abuse?
I think he did a lot of what he did to protect the future of his only surviving child. It's easy to say what you think you would do in a situation, but much more confusing and difficult in real time. I, myself, cant say for certain that if someone hurt my son and then bragged about it in writing that my first instinct would be to call police. I'm scared to say it would probably be blind black out rage, the kind that happens when people hurt other people.
No, the parts about this book that bothered me were the parts where Lowen's storyline started running hand in hand with Verity's. Verity intentionally cooked dinner late to avoid the kids, lowen intentionally cooked dinner late to avoid Verity, her nurse and Crew. The slipping in of the enjoying the same sexual positions the exact way Verity did. The same obsessive behavior over jeremy.. im going to stop Verity from ruining this for me, just as Verity supposedly did to harper. Killing Verity the same way Verity attempted to kill harper. It all started lining up like Lowen was secretly a psychopath as well.. especially when she decided she wanted to keep his juices inside her to possibly become pregnant. That's a little sick and twisted even for me, to want to become pregnant in the middle of a crazy ass situation like that? Yeeeah that's vomit inducing. I was convinced lowen was trekking down the same path as Verity, slowly losing her mind.
But ive been thinking about it.. and maybe she really did? I didnt see the letter situation coming, and it left me still feeling that lowen was just as obsessive and icky and murderous as Verity. It kind of made me appreciate the story more. I think Colleen was possibly trying to convey a bigger picture here and not a lot of people aren't grasping it. IF she was, she needed to make it more apparent. It's flawed for sure, but in the end it was thought provoking.
Also, he didn't tell Lowen he knew about the manuscript because he was trying to hide from her that he attempted to murder Verity.. lol which you would think if you're that far into a hell hole of a situation like this, and you've managed to fall in love and get someone pregnant.. and you want things to be different.. and this other person also helped you murder the OTHER person.. that complete honesty and trust from here on out would be a main priority.. idk makes Jeremy seem sus. Or traumatized! Who knows! Lol
Yess!!! I completely agree with the part about Low becoming another version of verity. I think all 3 of these characters were psychopaths but Jeremy is the only one who did it to protect his son (not justifying). The other 2 were just obsessed with him.
7:28 Jeremy kept Verity and took care of her for the sake of their son. When he tried to kill her (almost twice), he realized that they still have a son who needs his mom. That’s why he reacted negatively when Lowen was trying to expose Verity -when he was trying to kick her out of their house.
That only makes sense if the letter is true, right? If the manuscript is true, it doesn't make sense he would want his sons mom around considering she murdered one of the other kids and as straight up crazy
Pretty sure Jeremy took care of Verity because of guilt and shame. Once he found out she was faking her illness he went crazy and killed her over it. I 100% believe the manuscript is real, the letter was absolutely pathetic excuse to save herself from becoming the villain. Nobody writes a manuscript like that as a “writing exercise” after both of her children passed away… the scars. The knife. The scans. The “hold your breath Crew”. And the fact she faked her being brain dead just proves she clearly had something loose in her head. There’s even a interview online with Colleen Hoover about the manuscript Vs letter and she says “I believe Verity is evil”.
And also how could she have been a mom if she is not able to interact with her son? I understand that people with disabilities can still be wonderful parents but it wouldn’t make sense for here to be a parental figure in her sons life if she can’t do anything besides breathe. Colleen just writes without thinking her characters through the book should have been much longer
"If I have to hear about this man's penis one more damn time I'm throwing this book out the fucking window." -me 3/4 of the way through the book.
I LITERALLY just finished it and have been trying to find why people liked it. I genuinely feel like I read a different book.
Agreed! I really don't get the hype at all lol
Lol - I LOVED it. Couldn’t put it down!
Same, i wanted to love it but it kinda sucked lol :(
I finished the book few days ago so here is my take on what you mentioned in the video. A: Jeremy wanted to kill her out of rage because he read the manucript and thought it was true. But when he accidentally impaired her, there must have been a surge of guilt for him. So now he had to forever trap himself to this vegetable-like woman and take care of her, although still angry at her. he just can't kill her like this. B. Verity had to pretend that she is still in comatose because if she woke up and be a normal person, her husband would kill her again!!! That's the whole point. So she was scared and by pretending like she's still unconscious, she could buy time and plan her escape from him! What I find most confusing to me is about Jeremy. So he read the manuscript and caused Verity accident. But when Lowen showed him the manuscript he pretended like he never knew about it?! It's as if he only waited to have a compliance to finish the murder of his wife with him. Someone like Lowen who is guillable and so now he can actually have another person who agrees with this murder and he's got this support and can go ahead with the murder, something that he had been trying to do all along?! When I read the part where he suddenly wanted to kill off Verity I was so shocked! It totally destroyed the earlier image about Jeremy I had. he was is mournful, sorrowful yet full of compassion and just an overall good guy. But in fact, he was just waiting for his chance to kill his wife one more time!!?? that's the part that icks me the most.
I think he killed Verity in rage after he found out she was faking her injuries. Maybe he felt that he should've killed her in the first place because shes still a threat to him and Crew. So that might have changed his mind and removed remorse and guilt that followed after he tried to kill her the first time he had read the manuscript.
And as for pretending to not know about the script, I think it was Jeremy s plan to hide the fact that he did know that Verity was the one to kill his girls because if he didn't, then lowen would question this entire situation where he still tended to Verity instead of reporting her to the police or killing her.
EXACTLY THIS BOOK IS A HYPE! I was not feeling this book but I had to know what was going on ! I agree with this review 100%
Glad to find people who agree!
In my opinion, the book was just bad and cringe. If it wasn't written by Colleen Hoover, it won't be so hyped
The way that you just cured my frustration from reading this book and audibly laughed in agreement with all of your takes. Thank you for this healing perspective
I am 200 pages in and will not finish this book. I am actually disgusted by what I am reading. Like I physically can’t finish this book. I want to know what happens but I’ll just find spoilers cause I cannot stomach any more of this book!!
Yeah not worth the time imo
Just can't believe how people finish a book within a day?? like wtf it took me a month to finish a book like this
I do not read at all, I read this book in 2 days! I was so hooked even tho it was cheesy with the “romance” but when I got to the last third of it I forced myself to finish it because I really wanted to get into reading nah I was almost done! I was so disappointed in this book. It’s over the top 😅 everyone has their interest but this book was not it for me. I was cracking up while others say they were scared. Only thing disturbing was details about abuse…
It sounds like this woman was trying to write Rebecca.
this book is so bad and i genuinely can't believe it has such a good rating on goodreads... the writing was mediocre, the characters were boring af, one dimensional, flat and unlikeable, the mcs had no chemistry, the ending was disappointing, i saw all plot twists coming from a mile away and i'm mad i wasted my time with this book.
okay rant over.
i'm glad i'm not the only one who disliked verity since pretty much everyone else seems to love it lol
Thank you I hated it sm I was so mad at the characters kept rolling my eyes the whole time verity's part was the only part detailed written and captivating and I expected the plot twist to be Jeremy being the bad guy but oh well
I agree- the side story with Lowen was so much build up for absolutely nothing. Some huge trauma and her mom was terrified? It fell farther than flat.
I've just finished this book - literally within the last hour or two - and although I read it quickly, and it had a certain addictive quality, I can't say I liked it. In fact, I didn't really like it at all, and I found certain aspects of it to be almost comically bad. I searched for some reviews, found your video, and I agree with pretty much everything you have to say about it. So thank you for this review, because I needed to hear someone echoing what I thought about this book. I look forward to checking out more of your videos, your channel looks really interesting, thanks!
I remember being so for the creepy first half of the book. The feeling your this outsider sitting there reading through this secret journal of a woman who should have this perfect life, in that woman's home, around this woman's family.
But then immediately being super pissed when the 'big reveal' happened. It just kinda fell apart
I went into this book not knowing anything never read her books before but it sounded the best on the shelf. It’s not at all what I expected. I thought it was good but confusing and the end shocked me and left me confused on who’s story to believe. I liked it but I see why there’s things that people wouldn’t like. I went in with no expectations however and I was able to read it fast and it kept my interest that’s all I really look for
I did the exact same. I thought it was good but had some plotholes and not too many questions answered. I wish it was longer tbh it would probably be even better. Hoping for a sequel or prequel possibly just to get answers
Thank you for this review, I hate when booktubers review the book pretty much based on the hype and not their actual critical opinion of it. I was too dissapointed by the end, and didnt know how to feel about it. The book was captivating enough to read in one day ill give it that, but it was captivating because i needed it to make sense in the end, the entire time i kept thinking: ok, this will play out some how at the end where it would all make sense. Lowen, Jeremy and Crew are the most suspecious charachters in this book, id go as far as saying more so than Verity, because in the end we didnt really hear from Verity we only read a manuscript that was supposedly written by her, which there is no proof of. It could be written by Jeremy which is what i was thinking this whole time that he is involved in these murders somehow but is framing his wife, and then somehow Low would figure it out and realizes Verity was innocent and attempts to save her or herself from Jeremy. I also was not convinced that the manuscript was found by Low so conveniently. if Jer has indeed read it before, he would at least make sure to hide it from the author who will be living in his wife's office! so I thought the twist would be waiting for Low to reveil that Jeremy was involved somehow in the murder of his children or his wife's accident and then she tries to save verity or escape herself to save her life. But instead what I felt the manuscript has provided through out the whole book was a lousy justification for us as readers to Jeremy's actions with Varity once he read the manuscript and Low's actions by the end. It didnt convince me to hate Verity, because it wasnt believable. There are for sure mothers who actually do hate their children or hurt their children regardless if it came from a place of deep hatred or due to mental health issues like PostPartum depression, but in those real cases it has little to do with the husband's unconditional love for the kids or the wife's obsession with sex with her husband! That seemed so ridiculous, no dick is that good, but rather deep seated issues (like Family abuse, abandonment, which could have been expanded on since there was a mention of Verity's crazy fam) It was not too convincing. But assuming it was all believable and true, before you decide to murder the wife/partner who you think murdered your kids you would at least ask "Why" even if you've "read why" you'd wanna hear it. I also thought Crow is creepy and maybe he has somthing to do with the sister's murder and Verity or Jeremy were covering it up, idk. But regardless if Verity is innocent or not, in both cases Jeremy and Low are creepier, the former is essentially a murderer who failed at attempted murder and Lowen who basically so easily suggested how Jer should kill his wife. I mean, i couldnt bare killing another human even if that human was that awful. And in the end, Verity wasnt hurtful to Low, it didnt make sense how easily Low wanted her dead! Her love or obssession with Jer isnta good enough reason. And yes their romance was cheesy rather than convincing.
The letter at the end was just a dissapointment on behalf of the author. Like I didnt know how to fit it in the entire plot. It read in such a fake tone. It was too convinient to be placed where it was placed and found when it was found. Just like the manuscript. It didnt fit in the plot and it didnt justify or explain why Verity chose an agonizing decision to fake a coma, rather than escape with her child and leave this letter anyway.
It felt like Hoover ran out of ideas and put a cheesy plot twist in? Idk.
I honestly tried to like it but couldn’t. I feel like there are movies like this. I actually liked silent patient than this.
I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t really like it , but I personally loved it because it is the first ever novel I read completely and it’s really special to me .
It kept me hooked from the beginning , the mystery , the creepy reality of verity and the romance kept me invested ❤️
Also I’ve finished her “ it ends with us “ ( loved it so much ) and I’ll almost finish “ ugly love “ ( its good by now ) within 2 days . I’ll read November 9 too it’s in my list .
That's awesome it sparked your love of reading! Even if I didn't like the book, I'm glad there are people out there enjoying it! I know that feeling of devouring a great book and then seeking out all the other books that author has written 😊
@@WhytheBookWins that book made me a book worm ❤️ thanks for your kind words
It did the same for me!! It was the first book I read cover to cover in one sitting. 😮
My book club read this past November and I'm the only one of the seven of us that did not like it. I absolutely hated it and thought it was a waste of my time. Some of them didn't love it but they definitely found it interesting and I'm like no.
Oh my gosh...THANK YOU! Same, same, same. I read this when it was first published and then it blew up and I was thinking WHAT, WHY? Same about reading it quickly and still not liking it. I also gave it two stars!
Yes! Haha so glad to hear someone agrees!
i just finished Verity, and i would give it 2.5 stars- mostly for just being a page turner. i pretty much only read thrillers and mystery books, and this one definitely isn’t one of my top 5 (or even top 10 for that matter) because of the predictability, lack of a “full” feeling to the story, and WAY too much of the story was taken up with the telling of basically the same sexual acts- it felt lazy to me. it was written almost like it was an authors first time writing a book (if that makes sense.) the story itself was interesting enough to keep reading, but could have been SO much better if it was written differently.
I couldn’t agree more with this review. I spent the whole video saying “exactly!” 😂
This is how I felt. It was addicting but I didn’t really like. I almost stopped reading it multiple times, but lots of people raved about it.
I dont get what the relevance of Lowens aleep walking was?? I thought the way she stood on the roof or an hour while sleepwalking would have a massive meaning at the end but it was never mentioned again
Also what even is the twist?? Is it the fact that she could talk/move? Because i wasnt shocked by that because Lowen had seen her do it quite a few times
I really liked the book! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! The twists and turns kept me intrigued!
I read Verity and I loved it! I gave it 5 stars! I did believe the romance, loved the manuscript and the plottwist at the end I thought was amazing and loved how you get to choose what you believe in the end. The manuscript or the letter. LOVED IT! It was my first book by Colleen Hoover as well, but definitly will read more by her!
that's true, it is cool she leaves it up to you to decide what the truth is. That also makes it a great book to discuss because you can debate which you believe. It's still not one I love, but I kind of feel bad about this video, like maybe I was too harsh lol.
I didn’t like it either. Did read in one day. I felt like the author was just trying to be shocking, with the sex descriptions and Verity’s manuscript. Plus I didn’t think Lowen and Jeremy could have “fallen in love” when they didn’t really have many conversations but just had sex all the time. Lust yes, love no.
I just finished reading it and felt pretty much exactly the same as you (also with A Man Called Ove! But I do love Backman's other books, especially Beartown) Definitely agree with pretty much everything you said. I read a lot of thrillers and this was subpar compared to others I've read, especially the "twist." Thought I'd give it a try since Colleen Hoover is so hyped and I'm not a big fan of romance so it seemed like the perfect starting place. I was disappointed and not super interested in reading anything else by her 🤷
Also, I absolutely love your background!
I keep meaning to read other Backman books! But just haven't gotten around to it.
My theory at first was that Jeremy was an obsessed fan with Lowen and that the whole plan was to keep Lowen as a hostage, hence why he mentioned locking her inside the room, make her write stories for him. I thought maybe it wasn’t his first time either holding women hostage and that maybe he had done the same to Verity and keeping her house bound by poisoning her. Also when Jeremy admitted that he had sexual relations with many women before I figured that maybe he had done it to several women before in the past and it was just a cycle of finding young authors, getting them to fall head over heels with him, getting rich off of them and making them his writer slaves or something.
An obsessed fan locking up their idol? Sounds like Misery by Stephen King.
For me it was just cheesy and got ridiculous at the end, I was embarrassed to explain it to my fiancé because it just cracked me up how things went down. It was all good until the her birthday and I just felt annoyed by them. Everything after that ruined the book for me. I wish verity just ended up attacking Lowen 😅 would’ve been SO MUCH BETTER.
I really disliked this book! I kept reading because I thought it couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong. To go from one chapter about intense child abuse to the next with a gratuitous sex scene wasn’t for me. It seemed more like it was all written for the shock factor instead of focusing on actually writing a really good story. I don’t understand all the love for this book either.
In the top 5 books on Amazon, over 160,000 reviews, best-selling author of several books, and categorized as a suspense-thriller. Despite all of that, this was the most asinine book I have ever read. I want the hours back that I wasted reading this awful book. Unbelievable story, vapid writing style, one dimensional characters, practically no plot. I read many reviews that said the ending was shocking, and I kept expecting and waiting for some twist and nothing. I learned my lesson...
Yeah so disappointing! The amount of positive reviews is baffling tbh
The book was not original and VERY predictable. I was excited to read it because of it being so highly rated, but I feel like I myself could have written something better 😂
Also half the time I felt like I was reading some Wattpad smut
I'm with you. I absolutely hated this book. It felt like a bad smut read with a sub-par story thrown in to not classify it as erotica.
I also read it out in a day. And I also hated it. I think what I can conclude after reading four of Colleen hoover's books is that she's just a bad writer. Her characters are bland, her plots are underdeveloped and even though her books contains some seriously graphic porn sex she writes like her readers are all 16 years and under.
The first book I read from her was Ugly Love and I had to Google whether she's friends with fifty shades of grey writer because the similarities were too much. Shocking enough it seems like they're friends!
Fifty shades of grey a ton of repeats of "I'm a goddess". Ugly love: "I'm liquid"
can agree with a lot of aspects of this review, but I would still recommend it to people as it can be a quick read and still enjoyable. I feel it kept me on my toes and always thinking.
Thanks for saving me. I was going to buy this book on Audible!😅
also, what's the deal with April? was she in on all of this?
Thank you, thank you for this review in a sea of raves; I finally found one I agree with. This might be the last "booktok sensation" I will waste my time with, or not, I'll probably get over this LOL. Just finished Verity in under 24hrs but it wasn't due to it being a gripping page-turner or anything. I just kept thinking, "okay.....AND?" but not in a good way lol. I described it to my husband as a poorly cast and directed Lifetime Movie Channel thriller - because, fair enough, those have a niche of fans, as does this book. (*side note, I did read Song of Achilles and LOVED it. Beautifully written, vibrant imaginative perspective. Two thumbs up from me!)
my thoughts exactly
Just finished the book though it had an underwhelming ending I liked the way the story was driven. The thing is Verity mentioned in her manuscript in Author's note that "What you read will taste so bad at times, you'll want to spoke it out, but you'll swallow these words and they will become part of you, part of your gut, and you will hurt because of them." and in the extra chapters (limited edition) it shows how much Lowen was into it and how she is competing with Verity. This was a cool connection.
I finished a while ago. What a waste of my time. Yes it is adictive but there is where all the good end for me. I also hated Lowen.... What an uptight girl to be advicing how to kill people.
I would honestly give the book a 4. Reason being because it kept me intrigued, it had me asking questions all the time and Verity’s manuscript was raw. Of all the characters she was my favorite. Her evil authenticity and manipulative self, to even go through with writing a letter saying otherwise where she knew it would probably plant a seed of doubt in someone’s else mind for the rest of their live is genius! I don’t think the ending was a twist and I wish it would’ve had a big nice plot twist at the end, it didn’t, but the woman knew how to keep her name and herself engraved in someone’s mind. Though I didn’t not like the end and have mixed feelings on the book I would recommend because unfortunately there are humans out there who have the same thought process are Verity, it was raw and scary and sad. Too many questions left unanswered but a good read for me.
The bonus chapter just made it so much worse than it already was.
I have not read in years. I decided that this book was the book to start my reading journey. I’m still proud that I finished it but UGH! Super cringe! The the end was just lazy to me.
I couldn’t agree more. I finished it in two days … but I am so disappointed. Colleen Hoover had something but she lost it towards the end lol.
I read ‘It Ends With Us’ by CH and was obsessed, I loved that book. Saw ‘Verity’ being hyped online so bought it and was so disappointed, I agree that it fell flat. All of my guesses in how it was going to end and what twists were going to be at the end were so much more exciting than the actual ending 😂
I also thought Lowen as a protagonist was so unlikeable. I truly could not get behind the romance and the movement of their story.
However I also did finish the book very quickly and was wanting to get to the end! Totally agree with your review.
I think the manuscript is real, and the letter is fake. That being said, I have no idea why Verity would fake being comatose in that case. Perhaps to get attention and care from Jeremy?
The twist was very underwhelming.
I think she was pretending to be comatose because she was scared that he would try to kill her…since he had just tried to kill her lol
Hearing the plot details, I think there were several opportunities where Hoover could have made this into a thriller that actually reads and feels like a thriller, but she just isn't clever enough. Or she's lazy. Or both.
I wish I would have seen this video before I read the book… I didn’t and now I’m traumatized. The whole thing is just sincerely messed up!
it’s so bad im getting mad at everyone who recommended it
I appreciate your review! I found a lot of the reviews online to be really demeaning and poking fun but found yours mature. I actually loved the book, I found it awesome to be completely captivated and addicted to a book with a huge twist that left me thinking about it afterwords. However, I do agree with you on lack of character development. And the romance being somewhat annoying/wanting to read over it. I think Colleen had set up the story to go in so many directions so it is interesting that her choice was Verity being the “villain” when it just as easily could have been Jeremy or Lowen. Thank you!
bro the last letter verity wrote was just another manipulation of hers, don’t you get it
I didn't think it was that bad. Its like a soap opera, drama, lust, passion, betrayal, plot twist, I was kinda waiting for a "she's your sister" moment. I read it in a day, so its not bad... but could of been better for sure.
When I looked back on the book, I just feel like I didn’t know any of the characters AT ALL. Maybe it was intentional to have the reader fill in the blanks? But there was a ton of blanks with little to no context. I agree, this was my first and only Colleen Hoover I’ll read.
I actually liked the book but one of the things that bothered me is that she used the word “stiffened” in what seemed like every chapter.
I just finished this book last night! I have to say, I do agree with majority of what you said! It wasn’t my favorite and had so much potential to be better but it overall it was okay! You should read her book “It Ends With Us”! I read that book before Verity so I think I had high expectations for Verity… but even though this one didn’t meet our expectations, I do recommend her other book! Its an easy read and really puts you in the shoes of someone else making you empathize with the character and pushes you to question your own limits of what you would put up with etc. I would love to hear your review about it bc I personally loved it, and I’m sure a lot of people would love to hear your thoughts about it too!
Yeah I've heard good things about it ends with us! I'll read it this month and will talk about it in my March reading wrap up!
Thanks for the comment!
Omg I did the same thing I read it ends with us first because I wa slike this book has more pages than verity so I was like I'll read verity second as it seemed like an easy read lol. You're right my expectations were too high I think. I liked the concept of verity but omg way too sexually explicit all the time and the last chapter was a poor ending in my opinion
My grandma got me the book for christmas two years ago and ever since I just kinda... have been very not motivated to read it. I already hate romance, but badly written romance? Aw man 😭
It was very cheesy, predictable and too many “coincidences” I want to love this book so bad but it seemed like it was too forced in the end.
I read this book because a lot of people raved about how good the plot twist was. I was totally underwhelmed with the “plot twist”.
Also, I do believe she wrote the letter with the intention of Lowen finding it. She had been very careful about not moving specially knowing there was a baby monitor. I believe that was Verity’s indirect way of clueing Lowen where to look. Also, why didn’t Verity mention anything in the letter about Crew “hurting himself” with the knife that she hid with the letter.
i didn't like the book at all. All I read for I just cant leave the things in the middle. It wasn't exciting, suspence, crime thriller. too many intimate details discomforts me so many time. it feels like writer had very little to say, the writer just dragged the story by giving unnecessary intimate detail. it's awful.... not at all worht reading
I just finished this book and came to TH-cam to see what others thought because I was feeling the same ! - your review hit on all the things I was thinking - based on the positive reviews before I read it I was expecting a masterpiece of plot twists - and this story was not it could have gone in so many different directions and I was hoping as reading that it would and was excited for what might come so I’ll give it credit for making me feel like it might get really good but then it just didn’t 😆and so many dead ends to things as in stuff that happened that then wasn’t worked into the story in any meaningful or interesting way so by the end you were thinking so what was the point of that happening??
Good review.I felt the exact same way. The book has way more sex than actual story and the twist is kinda meh to me. Not sure why all the hype for this mess.
Yes this book is hot garbage
7:35 i think Jeremy was taking care of her when she survived first, because he didn't want to be suspected by the police. And because he wanted to show everyone how good a husband he was.
And second, if he divorced her, and not hijack Verity's entire life's work and earnings, and future potential earningds, he would lose the lavish lifestyle too.
I saw a review by Alizee and she did such an incredible job describing everything wrong with this book. To just use one of her arguments, Coho basically villainizes women with post-pregnany psychosis through the MCs perspective. And what is it with cohos obsession with pregant women in general? 😩
I actually really enjoyed Verity, but it's the first book I've read in a very long time. I haven't been much of a reader, but I'd like to read more. If you have any recommendations for similar, but better novels, I'm all ears! I like hearing all perspectives.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier is a similar but much better story.
I had to read this book for my book club. It was the very first meeting and I didn't want to come over as to negative or aggressive so I was very restrained and polite at the book club, but I hated the book. Everything about it. The ending.... And I just learned about the terrible "extra chapter"
And the cheap lazy plot twists the writer inflicted on the reader. I hate everything about it and it's so cathartic to hear you giving this book a proper review.
Anyone else is reminded of the book Push? That’s what made me feel this wasn’t as original because I couldn’t get Push out of my mind and it was so much better.
I read Push a few months after Verity and I can see the similarities. I loved Push though, much much better than this one.
I believe that it would be better if when they killed Verity they just leave and we never know about the letter. I would like it more if Verity was really the bad person of the story. Booktok just lied about this book it wasnt how i thoung it will be. So underwhelming.. I would be more satisfied if they end was that they died all at the end, like why everyone goes crazy with this book it doesn't worth the hype..
The letter was true and I noticed from a few points SPOILERS!!
Keep in mind The letter was written before Lowen gave Jeremy the manuscript. So he had to have read it before for it to be mention in the letter.
1- he pinned her down the first time he tried to kill her the same we he did the final altercation. Knees on her arms. The detail was in Lowens POV as in the manuscript. The manuscript was written before she died!
-in the letter she said Jeremy found the manuscript and that why he tried killing her. But he Lowen pic he acts like it’s the first time he found it.
-If she is the Verity from the Manuscript not the letter Crew would’ve never know she was faking. In the script she didn’t care for the kids do she’d never reveal that to Crew. In the letter she loves him. She would’ve obviously let him know but keep it a secret.
-last I j believe the antagonistic writing part because of these other ideas which explains why she would rewrite the most disturbing book on. The opposite of hate is love and grief is love with now place to go so it was her therapy. It was the most equal opposite to the grief she was feeling.
She was a 5 star for me. Cause of how many mixed emotions I have
thank you
Omg this is the first comment I've read which supports the letter. I mean I also feel like Jeremy is the hidden villain
Colleen Hoover has confirmed recently that Verity is being made into a film. But no casting for the film has been announced yet.
Oh wow. Well I'll definitely be doing a book vs movie on it. It'll be interesting to re-read it and see if I hate it just as much the second time lol.
Oh my goodness I agreed with everything you said! I’m uploading my review later today.
I'll be sure to check it out!
I get you. The smell of other people's houses was a fast and good read. I have numerous others. Like you, I don't always love books in the top books.
Thank you!!!! Dearrrrrr godd. I hated this book so much and feel so alone in that. Everyone I know is obsessed with her and its making me hate people😭
I thought that she jumped between child abuse and sexual desire sooo much, and so much of it seemed like it was written for shock factor. It didnt add to the story in a meaningful way. And also, that was supposed to be her autobiography?!? It doesnt make any sense.
i just finished this book and it was my first time picking bc up a book and finishing it that wasn't for school, as someone who doesn't really read i think it was a really good book, like i would recommend it for people who are just getting into reading or getting into reading thrillers for the first time,, i also agree with a lot of ur points but i still enjoyed it,, im positive that if i keep reading thrillers i'll enjoy them more and see the flaws of this one a little more! loved hearing your opinion!!
great review! i'll definitely be checking out your channel for my next read.
Thanks!
The Jeremy thing that you talked about at 8: 45- 8: 40 , I don't think that showing him this way was unintentionally, I guess that was the whole point , the whole twist of the book , TO WHOM to consider the villain ?? And this thing about Jeremy, his acting as if he's seen it for the first time and fooling lowen , trying to murder her wife twice and then taking take of her in front of the whole worl , fucking another women when your own wife with whom you spent 15 years is in the same house AND THE BIGGEST ONE that telling lowen that he never got connect to verity , to the girl with whom he had 3 fucking childer .this Is the thing that made me think the there is a chance that HE was the actually villan of the story and verity was just a viticm and so will be lowen .....I loved that the made made me think so hard in the end that it blowed my mind personally I would give it 5 stars and also I'm team letter and team verity
I wish I could explain how helpful this review was for me as I write my second novel, 🙏 thank you.
I will follow your channel, because you are really good at questioning everything.👏👏👏
I work at Barnes and Noble. I read this. I am heated just like you 🤣