Verity

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

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There’s so much hype around this book and Collen Hoover. This is my first book by her and I know it’s a little different from her typical work, but I will say, she’s doing something right! I read this one in one day. 

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This spooky journey between the pages is the perfect fall read. Cloaked in mystery with a lot of dark themes and a truly villainous perspective, the book is set in a deliciously eerie house that takes on a role of its own.

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There were so many things that just worked in this book. The dual timeline was a great balance and stirred up all the suspicion and mystery that I love. The pace was effortless – like I said, I blew through this book – and I didn't find myself skimming at any point. An old house with plenty of space for mysterious happenings sets the scene so nicely. I love that the main character Lowen, became somewhat of an unreliable narrator as she began questioning herself and we learned more about her. Finally, I am a sucker for a good ambiguous ending and Hoover nailed it. I know that the extended chapters were recently released and I will definitely read them but I hope she left some things up for interpretation. 

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I learned in the acknowledgments that this book was not published through Hoover’s typical publishing house. She sort of broke away from her norm and tried something new, which I love, but I think that might be why a few things didn’t work for me. 

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What didn’t work for me? Lowen’s actions were a tad unbelievable at times. I know she had to stay in the house to move the plot along, but how many times did she say she was going to leave only to find a reason to stay? Also, her background story seemed a little untapped. Her relationship with her mother felt unexplored and the sleepwalking thing felt skimmed over. If this was developed more I think it could have explained Lowen’s actions and made her more believable. 

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MORE SPOILERS AHEAD!

I want to share a few of my theories about the ending, even though they might change once I read the extended chapters. These are my initial thoughts. I think Verity was absolutely certifiable! She was way too convincing in her manuscript. Her habit of writing from the villain’s perspective just rang too true, she didn’t put her kids in life jackets, Jeremy was at least questioning her role in Harper’s death, she was taunting Lowen, and who the hell can fake a condition like that?!? I think she was covering her tracks with that letter. It would not surprise me if Jeremy had already read that manuscript though! Something is definitely off with him. We’ll see if the extended chapters change my mind!