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Verity by Colleen Hoover Review and Interview

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Psychological Thriller with Romance. Standalone.

Wow. I don’t even know how to review Verity by Colleen Hoover. I don’t read thrillers. I don’t watch thrillers. But I also avoid ugly cry books but Colleen has made me love hers. So I trusted her and went in blind, only knowing that it was very different than her past works.

“Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that seem to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse.”

Verity is not an easy read. I am not really even sure if I can say it was an enjoyable read. But it was brilliant. Amazingly well written and unputdownable, Colleen will leave you questioning everything.

Verity Crawford is a hugely popular suspense author. Her bestselling series had three more books to go when tragedy happened. And then more tragedy. And then one more tragedy that made Verity unable to finish the series. So her husband and publisher hired a co-writer to help complete the rest of the books.

“My mother used to say that houses have a soul, and if that is true, the soul of Verity Crawford’s house is as dark as they come.”

Lowen was a struggling author on the brink of being homeless when the opportunity arose to finish writing the series. She stayed at Verity’s home with her husband and son to go through Verity’s office and notes to begin to write the next three books. While going through everything, she also came across a manuscript of Verity’s autobiography.

 “There is no light where we’re going. This is your final warning. Darkness ahead.”

Listen folks, Verity is disturbing. It’s creepy. It will have you questioning things. But you won’t be able to put it down.

That quote perfectly describes how it felt to read Verity. Now the thing is, for the most part, I need to love the characters, or at least one of the characters in a book I am reading. I didn’t in Verity. I didn’t particularly like any of them. But I don’t think this book is really supposed to be likable. Still, it was good. It was unputdownable and made me doubt every thought I had.

Likes:

  • Amazingly well-written.
  • Unputdownable.
  • Creepy as hell, but I could handle it.
  • This is not a “safe” read by any means, and Colleen never took the safe way out.
  • The end was a mindfuck.

Dislikes:

  • I didn’t really like any of the characters.

The Down & Dirty:

Verity is the total opposite of what I like to read. I read a Stephen King book in High School and I had nightmares for a year. I don’t watch scary movies either. But I do love suspense and mysteries. Verity was all of that. It was not an easy read by any means. Verity was disturbing and creepy, but it was brilliant. I really enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone for something so different, but this is not a book I’d really want to read again…but yet, after that end, maybe I kind of do? I wholeheartedly recommend Verity for a change of pace from any book you have recently read.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (The writing is 5 stars but I’m still not sure if I loved it). Heat 3.5

Purchase Verity by Colleen Hoover


Hi Colleen! I just finished reading Verity and holy shit, that was crazy! I am not a scary book or movie person. This is never a book I would have read, but it’s Colleen Hoover, so I had to. I’m so glad I did!

First of all, where are you as you answer these questions?
I’m sitting at my desk in my makeshift office. We sold our office building and are waiting to move into our new office, but in the meantime, mine and Erica and Stephanie’s desks are cramped together and they’re making Christmas boxes to mail out to some of the CoHorts while I catch up online.

What inspired you to write Verity?
I can narrow it down to a couple of things. For one, Jeremy’s character was inspired by my husband and how he doesn’t read my books because he has a hard time separating my characters’ thoughts and actions from my own morals. Heath (my husband) is very concrete in his thoughts and I wanted to use that piece of him to inspire a character in this book.
But the idea for Verity came to me as my mother and I left the theater earlier this year. We had seen a scary movie and I left disappointed because I hated the ending. I thought the first half of the movie was brilliant, but then when the paranormal aspect was introduced, I was let down. Paranormal things don’t scare me. Real life situations—things that can actually happen to you—is what scares me. I was complaining to my mother about how I was hoping the movie would end with it being something that could possibly happen to me in real life. When I got home, I started writing an outline. Several hours later, I had completed the outline for Verity.

Has your mind always been so twisted and you were just hiding it? Haha
You know, I don’t want to answer this with a yes, but it’s a resounding yes. My mother and sister have been waiting for me to step outside of romance for a while. They’re confused how a romance novel even came out of me, much less 16 of them. But yes, I’m a little odd and have a very sinister sense of humor. I’m not romantic or emotional, so if I had to match a book with my personality, I’d say Verity comes much closer than anything I’ve written before it.
I do strange things, like watch car crashes on youtube to relax before falling asleep every night. It was only a matter of time before my actual personality was reflected in a book.

Were you worried about how a different genre would be received by your readers?
Absolutely. I’m known for writing love stories, and while this book does touch on romance, it is nothing like what I’ve written in the past. I was hoping at least some of my readers would support me and read the book, but I have been blown away by response to Verity. Absolutely stunned.

Do you have any special ways you celebrate the holidays?
Not really. I just like to relax and spend time with my family. I don’t like receiving gifts so Christmas is always a little awkward for me. I’d rather just buy everyone else something and not have to open anything.

What are some of your most special and memorable holiday gifts and memories?
As I said above, I prefer not to receive gifts. I think what I dislike about it is the attention and people watching me as I unwrap. I don’t like attention at all. Which is probably the reason my favorite Christmas memory is my favorite. I was eight and my mother woke us up and told us Santa ran out of wrapping paper and couldn’t wrap our gifts. There were two sheets under the tree and she pulled away the sheets and our gifts were all laid out, unwrapped. I loved it! I didn’t have to open anything and it was so much fun looking at all the toys and not feeling like I had to have a reaction to each one.

Have you done any reading lately? What are some recent recommendations?
I just finished Flowers In The Attic last night by VC Andrews. I’ve never read anything by her and was consumed by that book. I started it at 9 pm last night and read until 2 am.

Have you been binge watching anything great?
I haven’t watched television in over three months. But I do want to see the new Dumplin’ move that just released on Netflix so I’ll probably watch that tonight. As far as binge watching, though…I have a short attention span. I don’t think I’ve ever finished an entire series of any TV show if it has more than six or seven episodes. Ever. If I start something with more than one season, I feel overwhelmed and look up spoilers online and then never finish. I think this is why I mostly write standalones. I move on extremely fast from stories.

What music are you currently into? (Psst: my son released a new single this week, “Scared of the Dark” #shamelessmomplug )
Congrats to him! I’ll check it out. As always, I’m into The Avett Brothers. But I recently started listening to Hobo Johnson. His songs are so unique, like a mixture of a band with slam poetry. He’s one of a kind and me and my boys love his stuff.

Can I have a Chrismukkah Confession? Tell me something you don’t share often.
I never believed in Santa. I thought it was such a silly concept.

Thanks so much and have a very happy holiday!

To enter, leave a comment below. If you share on socials, comment with the user name you posted under and you will be counted for another entry.

NOTE: I also have a signed Without Merit by Colleen Hoover going on in my Chrismukkah Giveaways!

 

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Comments

  1. Barbara Morin says

    Colleen Hoover is a brilliant writer! I’ve not yet had a chance to read Verity, but I am definitely excited to do so!

    Reply

  2. Natasha Haynes says

    As the majority of the world, I’m a huge Hoover fan! I love dark and twisted books so I’m super pumped about Verity! This is going to sound so weird but I’m only at 10%- the anticipation of waiting this whole week, reading reviews, is Going to make it that much better Friday when I have a few hours to binge the entire book! I love when authors stray from the norm! Thanks Ana for your good review!

    Reply

  9. Jamie says

    I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it in a few hours. I’m all for Colleen Hoover going the romantic psychological thriller route. Great review and interview.

    Reply

  11. Carissa says

    Great review/interview. Im going to get to this one soon!

    shared on twitter @carissaraddatz

    Reply

  13. Karen K says

    I would love to get my hands on this! Started reading, then had to stop for ARCs but dying to get back to it!

    Reply

  16. Tarah Rosander says

    I love Colleen’s books and I’m excited to see her branching out and tackling a different genre. I cant wait to read this one!

    Reply

  17. Heather Strand says

    Great interview and review! Sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    Reply

  18. Jami Birnbaum says

    Colleen Hoover is an amazing writer and I always look forward to her books. This one’s on my wish list.

    Reply

  20. Yunnuen Glez says

    Amazin writer… and woman as well. This book intrigues me a lot.
    I shared your interview here.

    Reply

  21. Keriann Hoover says

    I’m scared to read this book sitting in my kindle, but you made me want to start it. I scare so easily, seriously I’m ridiculous so I was on the fence until this review.

    Reply

  22. Hannah says

    I love everything Colleen and Verify is no exception. I was reading at work and would find myself gasping at every twist. I hope she continues to explore this genre. She has a knack for it. Too Late was pretty dark as well.

    Reply

  31. Joanne Adkins says

    Verity was so so so good. I love that Colleen tapped into her inner Tarryn and gave us this twisted book. It was so refreshing to read something so different.

    I loved your review and interview too!

    Reply

  32. Tiffany Johnson says

    I loved it. A different voice for her but I hope she writes more in this genre!

    Reply

  33. Kathy says

    Thanks for the review – her writing is so good and now I want to try Verity – I hesitated due to the thriller factor.

    Reply

  35. Debbie Terrell says

    Thanks for the chance – this one is on my TBR for after the holidays when I can afford to buy it.

    Reply

  36. Samantha Lee says

    I Absolutely Love Colleen Hoover, her and all her works. I haven’t yet had the chance to read Verity, but I am quite excited/scared. I have read the reviews and they make me all the more excited slash terrified. Enjoyed your review/ interview Thank you!

    Reply

  37. Amy Pollard Woolard says

    I would ABSOLUTLY LOVE to win this!! I already have the kindle version & I plan to start it this weekend! I also shared on Facebook: Amy Pollard Woolard! Thank you!!

    Reply

  38. Brianne C says

    I love this interview! I also absolutely loved reading Verity!! I read many genres, though one of my most read is suspense/thriller. Colleen nailed this one! There were times when I was reading it that I felt almost uncomfortable in my own skin! One of my absolute favorite reads of the year.

    Reply

  40. Sue LeBlanc says

    I am in the middle of an extremely dark read right now and as soon as I finish it I’m on to Verity! Dark Romance is my favorite genre and Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors, Your review makes me want excited to get started on this book, can’t wait!!!!

    Reply

  41. Brandi Swendt says

    Great interview… This was definitely the most brilliant book I’ve read in a long time, if not ever! I had no freaking clue that ending was coming. None! Threw me for a loop!!!

    Reply

  45. Jennifer Shiflett says

    I love this interview! I am just like Colleen about the gifts. I always feel awkward when someone gives me something and watches me open it.

    Reply

  46. Kristy Petree says

    Great interview! I loved Verity! I love thrillers but I’m also pretty picky about them. Usually they’re way too predictable, which is so disappointing. Often an author’s big reveal doesn’t even make sense, like they just couldn’t quite pull it off (or they use the whole paranormal thing which I am not a fan of either). But Colleen wrote great ending for Verity. I would love to win a signed copy. Thanks for the chance! I shared on Facebook under Kristy Petree.

    Reply

  47. Renee Henson says

    I want to read this book so bad Thank ypu for the great review and interview with Colleen

    Reply

  48. Linda Herold says

    We were just discussing believing in Santa tonight. My son says if he becomes a parent, his kid won’t do that silly Santa thing! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

  49. Sarah Scholz says

    Great review and interview ? I just finished this the other day ? Wow! What an intriguing story! Thank you so much for the chance ?

    Reply

  50. Bethany says

    I really enjoyed Verity. I love it when Colleen writes darker books. Thanks for the chance. Shared on twitter: @bethanyneeper

    Reply

  51. Cassie says

    I love your reviews especially the likes and dislikes. The interview was so good, questions were perfect. Thanks for all you do!

    Reply

  54. Kim Perry says

    Thanks for your review! I love Colleen Hoover’s books and I’ve been wanting to read this.

    Reply

  56. Krystal Marin says

    This was great to read. I’m so happy she came out with a book so different from the rest of her work.

    Reply

  57. Irene Rosa says

    I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about this book! I don’t think I’ve been disappointed reading any CoHo books. I am totally excited to read this book.
    I shared on Facebook user name Irene Rosa

    Reply

  58. Beth Smith says

    Can’t wait to read it! Christmas break has officially started. Can’t wait to read all day!

    Reply

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