Draft:Verity (novel) 2

Verity

Author	Colleen Hoover
Audio read by	Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon
Language	English
Genre	Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Mystery, Crime
Set in	Somewhere in the 2010's
Published	United States
Publisher	Hachette Book Group
Publication date	December 7, 2018
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Award	The British Book Award Pageturner of the Year
ISBN	978-1-538-72473-6

Verity is a 2017 thriller romance novel by american author Colleen Hoover. Verity is Hoover's 18th book. The story follows, and is narrated by Lowen Ashleigh who is a troubled author, when one day she gets an offer to work on a book series written by a major author, Verity Crawford. When Lowen arrives at Crawford house, though, she is met with something way darker.

The novel is told through the perspective of Lowen Ashleigh, except for the manuscript featured in the book; those parts are fully narrated by Verity Crawford. Verity deals with themes of grief, child abuse and mental health.

Verity won the British Book Awards Page-turner of the year on may 15th 2023.

plot

The story begins with Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is facing financial ruin. She has recently lost her mother and is on the verge of eviction from her apartment. Her career as an author is not going well, with her books failing to sell. In this desperate situation, she receives an unexpected opportunity that could change her life. Lowen’s agent informs her that Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired her to complete the remaining books in Verity’s successful series. Verity has been injured in an accident and is unable to finish the series herself. This job offer comes at a critical time for Lowen, providing her with both financial relief and a chance to revive her writing career. Lowen travels to the Crawford home to sort through Verity’s notes and outlines. Upon arrival, she meets Jeremy and their young son, Crew. The atmosphere in the house is tense; Verity is alive but largely unresponsive due to her injuries. As Lowen begins her work, she discovers that Verity’s office is chaotic and disorganized. While searching for material to help guide her writing, Lowen stumbles upon an unfinished autobiography written by Verity. This manuscript reveals disturbing details about Verity’s life, including confessions regarding the deaths of her twin daughters. The revelations are chilling and deeply unsettling for Lowen as she reads about Verity’s dark thoughts and feelings toward motherhood. As Lowen becomes engrossed in Verity’s manuscript, she grapples with a moral dilemma: should she reveal its contents to Jeremy? She knows that doing so would devastate him further during his grieving process. At the same time, she finds herself developing feelings for Jeremy as they grow closer throughout their time together. The plot thickens as Lowen begins to suspect that Verity may be faking her condition. Strange occurrences lead Lowen to believe that there might be more beneath the surface than what appears. Tension builds between Lowen and Jeremy as their relationship deepens amidst these unsettling discoveries.Eventually, after witnessing what she believes is evidence of Verity’s deception, Lowen decides it’s time for Jeremy to confront his wife about the truth. When he does so, it leads to a violent confrontation where Jeremy attacks Verity after learning about her manipulations regarding their daughters’ deaths. In a shocking turn of events, Lowen advises Jeremy on how to make it look like an accident when he kills Verity in retaliation for all the pain she has caused him and their family. This act sets off a chain reaction that alters all their lives forever. The story jumps ahead several months after these traumatic events have unfolded. Now pregnant with Jeremy’s child, Lowen moves into a new house with him and Crew as they attempt to start anew. However, while cleaning out items from their old home one last time, Lowen discovers a letter written by Verity after her accident. In this letter, Verity claims that everything written in her autobiography was merely a writing exercise intended to explore the mind of an antagonist for her novels. She asserts that Jeremy knew about this manuscript and had orchestrated everything leading up to his wife’s accident out of fear of being exposed. Lowen faces yet another moral quandary: should she believe this letter or dismiss it as another manipulation? The story concludes ambiguously as readers are left questioning what was true and what was fabricated throughout the narrative. Overall, “Verity” weaves themes of morality, deception, trauma, and complex relationships into its gripping plotline while keeping readers engaged through unexpected twists until its final moments.

themes

The Writer as Creator and Destroyer: One of the most prominent themes in “Verity” is the duality of the writer’s role as both a creator and a destroyer. This theme is explored through the characters of Lowen Ashleigh and Verity Crawford, who mirror each other in various ways. Both women are writers whose words have the power to shape realities, but they also wield that power destructively. Verity’s success as an author has built her life, including her home and family, but she ultimately blames her writing career for the disintegration of her relationship with Jeremy, her husband. Through her autobiography, she presents herself as a figure capable of extreme actions—specifically, she portrays herself as a Medea-like character willing to harm her own children to maintain proximity to her husband. This complex portrayal raises questions about authorship and accountability; it suggests that what writers create can have profound implications on their lives and those around them.

Guilt and Trauma: The theme of guilt is intricately woven throughout “Verity,” particularly concerning parental loss and trauma. Lowen grapples with feelings of inadequacy stemming from her past experiences, including the recent death of her mother. Similarly, Verity’s narrative reveals deep-seated guilt over the deaths of her twin daughters, which haunts both her personal life and creative output. The exploration of trauma manifests not only through these characters’ backstories but also through their interactions with one another. The weight of their respective traumas influences their decisions and relationships, leading to morally ambiguous choices that complicate their identities.

Obsession and Desire: Obsession plays a critical role in shaping the dynamics between characters in “Verity.” Lowen becomes increasingly obsessed with Verity’s manuscript, which details disturbing truths about Verity’s life and actions. This obsession leads Lowen into a moral quandary: should she reveal these truths to Jeremy or keep them hidden? Additionally, there is an underlying sexual tension between Lowen and Jeremy that complicates matters further; as Lowen develops feelings for him while navigating the ethical implications of his wife’s revelations, it creates a web of desire intertwined with betrayal.

Reality vs. Fiction: The blurred lines between reality and fiction are central to understanding “Verity.” The novel presents multiple narratives—the fictional works created by Verity alongside her autobiography—and challenges readers to discern truth from fabrication. As Lowen reads Verity’s manuscript, she becomes increasingly aware that what she perceives may not reflect reality accurately; this uncertainty culminates in the revelation about whether Verity’s confessions are genuine or merely a literary exercise meant to manipulate perceptions. This theme invites readers to question how narratives shape our understanding of truth.

Identity Transformation: Throughout “Verity,” identity transformation is a recurring theme as characters navigate their roles within familial structures and societal expectations. Lowen begins as an insecure writer struggling for recognition but gradually evolves into someone who takes control over aspects of Verity’s life—becoming not just an author but also stepping into roles traditionally held by others (mothering Crew and becoming Jeremy’s partner). This transformation raises questions about authenticity: at what point does one lose oneself in another’s identity?

In conclusion, “Verity” intricately weaves together themes surrounding authorship, guilt, obsession, reality versus fiction, and identity transformation to create a complex narrative that challenges readers’ perceptions while exploring deep psychological issues.

Release

The initial release of “Verity” took place in 2018 when Colleen Hoover decided to self-publish the book. This decision allowed her to maintain creative control over the work and reach her audience directly. The novel’s unique premise—centering around a struggling writer who discovers disturbing truths about an incapacitated author—resonated with readers, leading to word-of-mouth recommendations that significantly boosted its visibility.

Following its self-publication, “Verity” garnered widespread acclaim and quickly climbed the ranks on various bestseller lists, including The New York Times Best Sellers list. Its compelling themes of love, obsession, and deception captivated audiences, making it a favorite among fans of psychological thrillers. The book’s intricate plot and shocking twists kept readers engaged and prompted discussions about its ambiguous ending.

In response to the overwhelming demand from readers for more clarity regarding the story’s conclusion, Colleen Hoover announced a re-release of “Verity.” This new edition included a hardcover format along with a bonus chapter that aimed to address lingering questions about the characters’ motivations and actions throughout the narrative. The re-release not only provided closure for some fans but also attracted new readers curious about the buzz surrounding the book.

The inclusion of the bonus chapter has been particularly significant in shaping reader interpretations of the story. Many fans debated whether to side with “Team Manuscript” or “Team Letter,” referring to differing perspectives on what constitutes truth within Verity’s narrative. The bonus chapter offered additional context that clarified certain events while still leaving room for interpretation, thus enhancing discussions among readers about manipulation and reality within storytelling.

The release of “Verity” has had a profound impact on both Colleen Hoover’s career as an author and on contemporary psychological thrillers as a genre. Its journey from self-publication to bestseller status exemplifies how powerful storytelling can resonate with audiences, leading to continued interest through subsequent editions and adaptations.

The story revolves around Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is given the opportunity to complete a series of novels for Verity Crawford, an incapacitated author. As Lowen delves into Verity’s unfinished manuscripts and personal journals, she uncovers dark secrets that challenge her perceptions of morality and truth. This intricate plot structure kept readers on the edge of their seats.

Hoover’s ability to create complex characters contributed significantly to the book’s success. Readers found themselves invested in Lowen’s journey as she navigated her emotions and moral dilemmas while interacting with Verity’s husband, Jeremy. The depth of character development allowed readers to form strong connections with the protagonists

“Verity” explores themes such as deception, trust, and the nature of truth itself. These themes resonated with readers who appreciated the psychological depth and moral ambiguity presented throughout the narrative.

The rise of BookTok (a community on TikTok dedicated to books) played a crucial role in amplifying “Verity’s” popularity. Readers shared their thoughts on plot twists and emotional impacts, creating a viral effect that drew even more attention to the book.

While many reviews praised “Verity,” some critics pointed out its darker themes and graphic content as potentially off-putting for certain audiences. However, this controversy often fueled discussions rather than detracted from its appeal.

adaptations

A film adaptation of author Colleen Hoover‘s bestselling romantic thriller “Verity” is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Hillary Seitz (“The Unforgivable,” “Insomnia”) is currently writing the script. Eat the Cat’s Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund will produce.