*This book contains explicit sexual acts and murder.

Visit Colleen’s website HERE

Want all the juicy details of Verity? Check out the Spoiler Report HERE

Lowen Ashleigh us a struggling writer in the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime.  Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrived at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping ti find enough material to get her started, What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of the night their family was forever altered.

Lowen decided to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth as horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

Due to extremely mature content, this book is recommended for readers 18+, Sensitive topics that may be triggering to some readers including graphic death/murder, child abuse, and graphic sex.

Full disclosure, this is only the second Colleen Hoover novel I have read. The first being Ugly Love.

Read the review here.

So, I did go into this with a certain amount of expectations even knowing this was a psychological thriller.

I appreciated that it went straight into the story. From sentence one things take off. Also, from the beginning, I began not to like Lowen. There is something about her personality that is annoying. Mainly, she doesn’t have one. At least not a good one.

Understandably, her life has not been the easiest or most enjoyable recently – she has gone through some things. It’s the combination of Eeyore, skepticism, and self-doubt that makes me want to shake her by the middle of the book.

As a mostly unknown author that has only experienced mediocre success, I understand some of her emotional origins. At some point, it becomes redundant.

Verity, talk about a character that carries a story one-handed. As Lowen delves more into Verity’s mind, the more you love to hate her. While simultaneously wondering who, and what, the true Verity looks like.

Following along as Lowen attempts to piece together the truths of the family kept me hooked.

Something that didn’t beg for my attention was Lowen. That’s right, I could have done without the main character.

Lowen isn’t one of my favorite characters. In fact, I find her quite boring. There have been a few books where the MC is the object of someone’s romantic obsession and I just don’t quite get it. There is nothing about Lowen that justifies Jeremy’s attraction. Imagining Lowen from Jeremy’s POV, she’s creepy. Since moving into his home, she’s paranoid, awkward, and bland.

Especially compared to Jeremy. He is emotionally colorful, expressive while still being enigmatic.

Jeremy would be the equivalent of the mysterious popular guy in high school. While Lowen would be the quiet, moody girl most try to avoid.

Yes, I have only read two of Colleen Hoover’s books, but there is sex. Compared to Ugly Love, there wasn’t a ton. It was almost an after-thought, just another level to the story.

The ending.

Can’t say that I didn’t see it coming. Not that it made it any less captivating. There were many little stepping-stones planted along the way that led to the twist. Instead of being able to look back with omnipotence of hindsight, each clue was almost lit with a neon sign saying ‘pay attention to this. I’m a clue!’

I did really enjoy that Colleen left so many questions at the end. Did Lowen really discover the truth? Is she just burying her head in the sand so she can obliviously enjoy her new life? Was Verity the true villain?

All-in-all, I would definitely recommend this book. It is a quick, engaging read.