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Mysteries and thrillers have never been of particular interest to me. It feels like every plot twist is the same. “The husband did it.” “It was the main character.” “She’s been dead the whole time.” At some point, they start feeling repetitive. *Enter Colleen Hoover*
Colleen Hoover is a New York Times Bestselling author with her top titles including It Ends with Us, November 9, and Verity. Most of her published backlist consists of romance. Over the 10 years since her first novel was published, Hoover’s success has come from her ability to craft a beautiful love story, then crush your heart and soul by the end. It’s truly an art. None of this is to say Hoover NEVER did dark, twisty stuff. She has, but it wasn’t wildly successful. *Enter Verity*
Verity basically introduced a new subgenre of mystery as a romantic mystery. While the main plot was of the “whodunnit” variety, romance is a relevant part of the plot. The novel is about a young, aspiring writer named Lowen. She’s overjoyed when she finally gets her big break with the opportunity to ghostwrite for one of the most successful mystery series authors, Verity. The story revolves around Lowen trying to write a sequel to one of the most successful books ever, Verity’s mysterious circumstances surrounding her worse-for-ware condition, and Verity’s husband’s close relationship with Lowen.
Seems like a lot, right? So, how was it?
I had the opportunity to listen to this novel as an audiobook and I positively loved the experience. The characters were well-developed and interesting, the plot was different and unpredictable, and the ending is absolutely aggravating. This book does more than just shock. It leaves you questioning reality, questioning the reliability of our two main narrators, and wanting to speak with Colleen Hoover about who she thinks she is! The story is gripping, twisty, and completely original.
Verity is available as a print book, ebook, and audiobook. These can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Audible, along with most booksellers.