Verity
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I don't even really know where to start with this one. I will say this. Any author that can branch out from her normal genre of romance and write something like this and make it work, well not only make it work but make it one of her best written novels, says tremendous things about them. This book says so much about Hoover's talent and brilliance as a writer. Cue all the new readers!\n\nGuys, I won't lie. I got truly creeped out at times with this one. The way this book was written truly brought out a side of Hoover I never thought possible. I don't know how many times I asked myself if she was possessed while writing this one.\n\nThe POV of this book was interesting. I thought going in you would see things from Verity's POV but like most of this book my theory was thrown out the window as soon as I started. But it worked. It was beyond fascinating seeing Verity from the POV we did and written any other way I don't think this book would have been what it is and that would have been disappointing.\n\nThrow all your theories out the window right now. At times some things were predictable but the plot twists and that ending came out of nowhere and in such a delectable way. Just sit back and be prepared for your heart to race and your mind to run with possibilities.\n\nBravo Hoover. I only hope we get to see more of this side of you in the future."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': "I think I got a different copy of this book from the one the raving reviewers got. The plot was full of holes, there was no character development, and the twist was completely predictable. I saw it coming at chapter 2. It was obvious the author doesn't write thrillers/mysteries and that the story would go with a cliché twist. A twist that was used in the most basic way. I'm okay with some suspension of belief, but this book requires all logic and reason to be set on fire and thrown into a black hole. The most notable is that all doctors/nurses and police are 150% inept at their jobs. Seriously, they are complete trash based on what the reader is expected to believe happens in this book. The only positive is that I read it through a KU free trial."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I can't remember the last time I read a book this fast. I started Verity as soon as it arrived on my kindle, and now, at two in the morning, I feel more awake than I did when I started it.\n\nIn this moment, I can still feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. It's an uneasy yet empowering feeling that I'm not sure I have ever felt after reading a book. But Verity had this way of trapping every ounce of my brain as I was reading. I completely forgot about the world around me as I got lost in the mystery and suspense of this novel. I felt as if I had become these characters, but I could no longer trust even myself. Because everything I thought I knew about this story would always come back to prove me wrong.\n\nAs someone who absolutely loves the suspense/thriller genre, I can tell you that Colleen Hoover did an amazing job writing Verity. She may be a romance author, but she proved with this novel that she can write any genre and make it great. Because Verity still had that awesome CoHo style that we all know and love. It still had Colleen's amazing fluid writing style with her unique and enticing storyline. It's just that Verity happened to be a little more (or rather, a lot more) dark and twisted than her other novels.\n\nSo don't be afraid to give Verity a chance. It may not be your typical Colleen Hoover book, but it is just as amazing as her other novels. Just be prepared to spend your entire day (or night) reading this book, because if there is one thing I can promise you, it's that you will not want to put it down."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': "I don't know how to write a review for this book. I'm underwhelmed and feeling blank.\nI have never liked one of this author's books, sappy romance isn't my thing, so I haven't read anything by her in years. But when I saw Tarryn Fisher had promoted it and called it dark and twisty, I was exited. I enjoy a dark and twisty book, but I like smart books. Hitchcock is a favorite of mine.\nThis is not quite that. And leaving the ending open, felt rushed.\nSort of like she got down to the wire, and didn't have time to finish it. Or she wrote the book without knowing what the ending would be.\nI know she has a large fan club who always leave her glowing reviews, but if you are looking for a review from someone who loves this specific genre and doesn't leave fan reviews, read the Sugar and Spice review. It's a very honest three star review. I had seen it, I discounted it. I wish I hadn't. I'm finished the book and left with a meh taste in my mouth. Underwhelmed for the cost. I might have paid 0.99 for the book had I listened to the three star and less reviews. But I paid full price and it just wasn't worth it. I had to force myself to finish after the halfway mark.\nGreat idea for a novel, but maybe better written by someone who enjoys the genre more. I hate to say stay in your lane to anyone, but clearly she has a large crowd of adoring fans for a reason. Perhaps romance is better for her."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Here\'s one thing I\'ve learned definitively through the purchase and reading of this book: DO NOT RELY ON CUSTOMER REVIEWS WHEN DECIDING ON BOOK PURCHASES.\nI am FLOORED at the amount of positive reviews this book has received. An overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars....? HOW?\nI\'m not talking about story or content, as many of the few negative reviews there are focuses on the disturbing content. I\'m talking about the absolute mediocrity of the writing. For all the positive reviews, I was expecting some exceptional writing, character developments and plot twists and it just was not there. I disliked every character. There was just nothing for me to like about any of them. They all made questionable, illogical and very unrealistic decisions. I mean, I expect to suspend my belief of "reality" when reading books or watching movies, but this was excessive to the point where I totally checked out of the story and was just reading for the sake of finishing the book.\nAs for the "disturbing content", again, it was just not there for me. Honestly, I picked up this book with the intention of indulging in some sexy (okay, maybe smutty) thrills and chills. And there were sex scenes. A fair amount. Of nondescriptive, repetitive, vanilla sex. That became annoyingly obligatory and prudishly lacking. And yes, there is some violence against children and I can understand why some parents would be turned off by this. However, again, it was so vanilla to me, and due to the inferior writing, was not as horrific as it seems like it should have been. I am a parent. I sleep fine at night after reading this.\nI am not familiar with this author and I am not an avid reader of "romance" (ie, sex) novels, but I do appreciate a heavy sprinkling of adult content in my books. If you\'re looking for something well written, that will creep you out and turn you on, this one is not gonna float you boat. If you aren\'t picky with your prose (or particularly bold in the bedroom) and want a fast, easy read, go for it.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I might be alone in this review, but I really disliked this book. I found no redeeming quality to the characters. It generally pissed me off. Such a disappointment because I’m a big Colleen fan. I have read all of her books and enjoyed them greatly. There wasn’t one thing I enjoyed about this book. I found it depressing and maddening. Definitely a regret'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': "Well, well, well... Mrs. Hoover is taking a dive into the dark side. I cannot say I am disappointed. If you follow my reviews, you know I prefer the dark and twisted books. They are my happy place.\n\nI had no clue what this book was about when I started it. I rarely read a book's synopsis, but I never read them for Hoover's books. Judging by the cover, I assumed it was going to be a darker story, I just didn't have a clue of what I was getting into.\n\nThis haunting, disturbing tale left me feeling bereft. Of what, I am not sure. I just felt unsettled. A little unsure of my own sanity. And maybe a little unsettled over Hoover's sanity too.\n\nThis book is not a typical book for Colleen. The characters and their actions are nothing like she has written before. For her to have switched gears in such a dramatic way, and yet still get inside these characters heads in such a realistic way shows just how talented of a writer she is. Not that we didn't already know that. This book just further proves it.\n\nI always say not every book is for every person. Not all of Colleen's books have been for me. However, this one definitely was. And it may not be one for everyone who is a devoted fan of hers. Just know that there is not one bit of unicorns or rainbows in this book."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I’m not totally sure if I liked this book or not. It totally messes with your mind but the majority of it was so disturbing (ie -spoiler- child abuse) and cringeworthy I had to skim through it and set it down for awhile. The ending is infuriating and you’re left unsure what is true and what’s a lie. I’m still thinking about this book which I believe was the purpose but I hate not having definitive answers. Every character is utterly crazy and problematic on their own. Together they become volatile. It was suspenseful, sure. It makes you think. But I wasn’t prepared to read the things I did. Books and movies almost never affect me but this book cut through my cold black heart. It was painful and disgusting at parts to read. I don’t know if I recommend this book. If you like twists and don’t mind reading about child abuse, have at it. Otherwise steer clear.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'This book was recommended to me as twisted and suspenseful, which caught my interest. But it fell short on many levels.\n\nI was told that the author was a romance novelist who broke away from her normal writing style for this book, but she didn\'t go far. Just starting the story with a disturbing, grisley scene doesn\'t make it an edgy thriller.\n\nI was so disappointed at first that I almost put it down, but something happened that intrigued me, so I kept reading. It ended up having what could have been a shocking twist at the end, but unfortunately it was very poorly executed.\n\nThe first thing that I found offputting was all the porn. I found it repetitive and boring at best, and it did nothing for the plot.\n\nThe attraction between Lowen and Jeremy felt rushed and unbelievable. It needed way more development, rather than "We met on the street, we were thrown together for a weak reason, and now we are in love". There was absolutely no personal interaction between them that would have caused such feelings to develop.\n\nIf fact there was absolutely no character development anywhere in this story. We have no idea what any of the people in this story even look like, let alone what their feelings or morals are.\n\nI know this may be a petty reason, but all the soap opera type names really annoyed me. Lowen, Verity, Chastin, Harper, Crew... Have you ever met anyone with names like that? If you want your characters to be believable don\'t give them unbelievable names.\n\nThe ending was confusing, not for what happened, but how we were supposed to feel about it. Who was, or were, the real bad guys here? Who were we supposed to root for?\n\nWas the initially obvious villian Verity really innocent of any wrong doing all along? (If you don\'t consider pretending to have a traumatic brain injury as wrong doing.)\n\nWas Jeremy, who tried to kill Verity once before, then finally succeeded, (for a poorly played out "misunderstanding"), the bad guy, or just a victim of circumstance?\n\nWas Lowen the bad guy for wanting Verity out of the way so she could sleep with her husband without guilt? To the degree that she then helped Jeremy cover up her murder?\n\nAlso, was Lowen the bad guy, or the good guy, for hiding Verity\'s "innocence" from Jeremy when she discovered the truth? (IF the autobiography was really fake, which hasn\'t been proven.)\n\nDid she do that to spare Jeremy the pain of knowing he murdered his wife for a grave misunderstanding, or to spare herself? Because if Jeremy ever found out the truth, his grief could diminish any feelings he now has for her.\n\nSo, who was the real bad guy here? I say Colleen Hoover, for writing this mess.\n\nI would like to list some positives now, but unfortunately there aren\'t any.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'So many words to describe this book. Raw, gritty, disturbing, suspenseful, intense, and of course holy-crap-what-did-I-just-read.\n\nThis book is not like the usual Colleen Hoover book. If you’re looking for hearts and butterflies, you’ve come to the wrong place. While Verity may make your stomach twist with butterflies, it’s definitely not the sweet kind but more like the kind you have to choke down and hold inside.'}]