October Book Club - Verity

We all know Colleen Hoover for her heart breaking and chick lit romances but Verity is a whole different spin of your average steamy romance. With a thriller that gives goosebumps and a hint of spice you need, Hoover does this to a T. 

This horror romance revolves around the main character, Lowen Ashleigh, an aspiring writer on her knees after losing her mother who has left her a financial burden. Out of the blue Lowen is offered a job to finish writing for best-selling author, Verity Crawford after a tragic accident. Verity's husband, Jeremy, has only hope for Lowen to take over. After accepting Lowen moves into their home to look through old notes and passages for inspiration to uncover a secret autobiography where secrets start to unfold and romances occur as her story now starts. 

What I enjoyed about this book is that you never felt truly settled even at the end. I think I underestimated Hoover after only reading her romance novels. As an avid lover of thrillers too, I particularly like to predict what is going to happen almost like a competition. This book does not let you with its constant twists and turns with budding storylines that link to different angles of the story we think we know, which I think is brilliant. The story is set in a broody old money setting, like a haunted house looming over their new guest. From this the atmosphere gave a spooky vibe which is what we want for the October book club read. Today I still cannot decide what the ending meant to me which I like as Hoover lets you make your own mind up to who the antagonist is.

Personally I had a love hate relationship with the character, Jeremy. Verity’s husband was distrusting and acted out of place which could become confusing within the storyline. I could see why he was portrayed this way to follow the thriller genre but I could not figure out what he stood for and his part within the story. I thought as well Lowen was a complicated character to get to know and understand. This could be a reason why the book wasn’t always predictable but also didn’t mean it paid off. With these two characters in particular having a huge part throughout and not finding myself connected or particularly liking them it made some chapters repetitive within romantic scenes. 

From a romance lover myself there were plenty of steamy scenes throughout which added 'some spice' to the story which created an intense connection between character relationship developments, the deeper the story unfolded. As it is written from Verity's perspective too  and Lowen’s journey it gave a nice balance of learning about the past and the present. I didn’t feel that it became confusing to understand where you were within the story. 

The backstory is told through Verity’s autobiography and lures you into being Verity going into her past. Which was clever because Verity's character is portrayed as nonexistent with her physical presence at a minimum. Even though the story revolves around her. It almost felt like you had become Verity’s alter ego as all we learn is Verity bound to her bed and nothing more. 

Overall as a newbie to thrillers and not sure where to start, Verity is an easy read to figure out if this genre is for you. With romance intertwined it makes it exciting along with some goosebumps along the way. There are so many questions I still have and hoped there would be a sequel. But this story is a standalone book. Lucky for us a movie is in the making currently starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway. (PS you can find an extra secret chapter online too!

See rating below!