*This book contains sexual scenes, murder, blood, and psychological games that include minors.

Visit Colleen Hoover’s Website HERE

Disclaimer: I have read this book of my own volition.  Any and all opinions and interpretations contained herein are my own.

The Spoiler Report is a recounting of the major events of the novel mixed with my own interpretation of the meaning and symbolism of events, emotions, and actions. Reading this report is NOT a substitute for reading the actual novel and should not be taken as such. Not every single detail, feeling, and event is divulged within. It is essentially a lengthy outline of the story. Many details and all dialogue have not been included. This report is for those who appreciate knowing what happens or feels they may miss things when reading, or just want to have a detailed overview of a book before, or during, reading.

One last warning – SPOILERS AHEAD!

This is not a book review. For the full review of this book please visit HERE

A man’s head is crushed under a truck tire at a crosswalk in Manhattan. Most didn’t even look up. That irreverence is exactly why she moved to New York from Virginia.

With the dead man’s blood on her, following a stranger to a nearby bathroom to get cleaned up. After quick introductions, Jeremy and Lowen share a glance of the most recent pain they both experienced individually. Jeremy excuses himself after giving Lowen his button down. He has a meeting to attend.

Of course it is the same meeting he is headed into. A meeting lead by Corey, Lowen’s ex and her literary agent.

An editor, Amanda Thomas, has Jeremy Crawford as a client. Rather, his wife, Verity Crawford is her client. Due to medical reasons, Verity is unable to finish her most prominent series. They believe Lowen is the author for the job.

Lowen, on the other hand, is not so sure, as she will be blighted to do the press tours a such. Lowen is ready to decline the offer until Jeremy requests to speak with her alone.

Taking the time to open up to her briefly about Verity’s medical status and all the tragedies that their family has gone through. Lowen accepts the offer.

Corey is not convinced it is a good idea for Lowen to stay at the Crawford residence while she sorts through Verity’s notes. Lowen suspects that Corey’s trepidation is fueled by the bitter jealousy of a rejected ex.

The car ride to the Crawford’s is just long enough to fill Lowen with self-doubt and commiseration after listening to one of Verity’s novels.

Upon arriving at the house, Lowen meets Crew, Jeremy’s and Verity’s 5-year-old son, and April, Verity’s nurse.  Of course Verity, who is laying in bed, unresponsive to anyone’s presence.

Going through Verity’s office, Lowen finds what appears to be an autobiography. The first chapter recounts the night Verity meets Jeremy. Causing Lowen to become more intrigued by him than she already is.

The next chapter covers two years of their relationship until the two become engaged and pregnant. Also the beginning of the darkness for Verity.

Working in Verity’ office, Lowen continues to search. Verity is in a wheelchair, spending some time outside with her nurse. Lowen can see them from the floor to ceiling window in the office. After the nurse leaves Verity for a moment, her head has somehow turned toward the window and Lowen. She is staring at the woman invading her office.

As the nurse returns, rights Verity’s head, Lowen’s phone rings. It is a call informing her that the apartment she had been approved for didn’t go through. Overhearing, Jeremy offers to allow Lowen to stay until she receives the advance from this project. Almost reluctantly, she agrees.

Sitting outside, reading, while Jeremy and Crew work on their personal dock at the lake, Crew turns toward the house and waves. But not at Lowen. Turning around to look at the house, the curtains in Verity’s room fall back into place. Trying to rationalize the possibility that a comatose patient is moving around, Lowen turns to Vertiy’s autobiography.

The next chapter, Verity chronicles the beginning of her pregnancy as she slowly loses control over her changing body, learning she is having twins, a losing Jeremy in the process. She doesn’t want anything or anyone other than Jeremy. Verity thought Jeremy only wants her because of the twins. That the twins are taking too much of Jeremy and they aren’t even born yet.

Verity does what she can do to induce a miscarriage in order to bring Jeremy’s focus and devotion back to her.

Shaken, Lowen wonders what this confession could mean. What exactly was Verity capable of?

Each day, Lowen watches Jeremy, interacting with him. Between living in his house and reading Verity’s manuscript, she can’t help but develop feeling for him.

Crew gets injured while spending time in Verity’s room. Given the circumstances, Lowen’s suspicions that Verity is not as comatose as everyone believes grow. There has already been too many questionable instances.

Chapter four of the manuscript. Verity resents the twins the moment they are born. The way they seem to monopolize al of Jeremy’s love and attention. While Jeremy is obsessed, she wants little to do with them but still wants to please her husband. To appear happy to him.

While looking through a box of pictures, Jeremy confesses the root of his anger to Lowen. They share an embrace that is interrupted by Crew. His reaction to seeing pictures of his deceased sisters is extreme.

The first month of the twin’s life, Verity does whatever she needs to get back to where she was in time pre-pregnancy. Doing just enough to convince Jeremy that she is the optimal mother and partner.

Exhausted, Lowen falls asleep without locking her door. She wakes in Verity’s bed with Verity, in her bed, having sleep-walked there in the night. Jeremy catches her as she flees Verity’s room. He soothes Lowen as she opens up to him.

After a particularly vivid dream, Verity finally feels a mother’s love. But only for one twin – Chastin, not Harper.

As her story progresses through the first year, it is no longer ‘the twins.’ It is now only ‘Chastn’.

Lowen and Jeremy share an almost-intimate moment where he admits that it was his idea to hire Lowen. Verity has never heard of her.

When the twins turned three, Jeremy gets fed up with the amount of attention Verity gives Chastin and not Harper. To soothe things over, Verity lies through her teeth explaining her behavior. She also tells Jeremy that she is pregnant – another lie. But it ultimately gets her what she wants – all of Jeremy’s love and devotion. Fully prepared to fake a miscarriage if she doesn’t conceive.

Verity did get pregnant within a few weeks and gives birth to their son, Crew.

While Jeremy bakes Lowen a birthday cake, they finally get to know each other without the stress of their personal circumstances clouding the conversation. Leading them to finally giving into each other. The moment comes to an abrupt stop when Lowen sees Verity watching them.

Jeremy passes it off as exhaustion on Lowen’s part. Insisting Verity is incapable of walking and would never be able to fake injuries as extensive as hers.

After leaning what she has reading Verity’s manuscript, Lowen feels she knows better.

At eight-years-old Chastin dies of anaphylaxis. Verity suspects that Harper is to blame. Becoming frustrated when Jeremy doesn’t recover from Chastin’s death after three months.

Lowen attempts to convince Jeremy that this isn’t how his life has to be. Living in a house full of painful memories, taking care of Verity instead if giving Crew the life he and Jeremy deserve. Emotions heightened, Jeremy admits to his desire for Lowen. He has wanted her for some time.

They give into each other once again.       

Reveling in their time together, Lowen discovers that Jeremy was never as obsessed with his wife as she was with him. He never found that deeper connection he craved. Not until he helped a strange woman clean herself after witnessing an accident.

As Jeremy tries to leave Lowen’s room before Crew wakes, he finds the door is locked from the outside.

Verity is getting fed up with everything about her life. Jeremy is consumed with loving and taking care of Harper and Crew – not his wife.

Verity has built a fortress of resentment against Harper. Still fully convinced she is responsible for Chastin’s death. Going as far as patronizing Harper’s grieving process to her face.

Jeremy insists Verity take the kids down to the lake while he goes out. Convinced it will be good good for the depression he assumes Verity is experiencing.

While the kids play on the dock, Verity fantasizes how life would be if it was just the three of them; her, Jeremy, and Crew. She actually likes Crew somewhat.

Verity sees on opportunity and suggests that the three of them take a ride in their canoe. As they land in the middle of the lake, Verity purposely capsizes the canoe. Warning and saving Crew.

As soon as Jeremy arrives to help search for Harper who is still somewhere under the water. Verity realizes that she messed up. Killing Harper wasn’t going to bring Jeremy back to her as she had originally hoped. From the look on his face, Verity can instantly tell that Harper’s death will be harder on Jeremy than Chastin’s.

After reading about Harper’s murder, Lowen self-medicates. Waking to Jeremy’s presence. As they cuddle, Jeremy tells her that he was decided to place Verity in a facility. The decision a physical and mental relief.

It is then that Lowen makes a decision of her own. Nothing good can come from Jeremy reading his wife’s manuscript.

Lowen agrees to stay another week.

While Jeremy takes Crew to the hospital after he injures himself, Lowen finds herself in the house, alone, with Verity. Full of paranoia, Lowen finishes the autobiography.

Jeremy questions Verity about Harper’s death, Finding one very big hole Verity doesn’t think she can lie her way out. Driving her car into a tree might be the only option at this point.

After seeing Verity move on a baby monitor Lowen setup and Jeremy still not believing her suspicions, Lowen hits her limit. She gives Jeremy the manuscript.

Lowen watches as Jeremy confront Verity after reading Verity’s work. Finally, Verity reveals that she has been faking the severity of her condition. Together, Jeremy and Lowen kill Verity.

7 Months Later

Lowen is pregnant as a result of one of their nights together. The three of them, soon to be four, start over by moving to a new state.

Going back to the old house one last time to clear out last minute items, Crew grabs his drawings Verity liked to hide ‘in the floor’.

Lowen checks Verity’s room and finds more items stored in a hidden hole under some floorboards. Including a handwritten letter to Jeremy.

In Verity’s letter, she explains a writing technique she was given to help her write from the antagonistic point-of-view in her novels. The reason her manuscript exists. As she gives an example of this writing exercise, it vastly differs from the writing in her manuscript.

One day Jeremy read the manuscript Verity tried to explain its existence. Jeremy was too rage-filled to listen. Taking cue from her manuscript, he stages the accident that puts Verity in her coma.

Continuing to draw out the server it’s of her injures as an act out of self-preservation. Even though he caught Verity’s rouse early on, Verity had made plans to hide money and eventually leaving in the middle of the night with Crew. Ultimately forgiving Jeremy for everything he has done to her.

Lowen doesn’t want to believe a word of it. But it also sows doubt into her mind. Desperate, Lowen destroys the letter. Determined to hide its existence from Jeremy.

Leaving Lowen to wonder which truth Verity was really manipulating.