Popular author Colleen Hoover is topping the charts with her books recently, and Verity is no exception. This thriller is a deviation from her usual romance books, however she still is incredibly successful in this unique genre. Verity is a #1 New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, The Globe and Mail Bestseller and Publishers Weekly Bestseller and is rated 4.4 out of five stars on GoodReads.

     Mystery lovers will certainly have trouble setting this book down. Suspense follows every chapter, making it an exciting, jaw-dropping masterpiece. The novel follows Lowen Ashleigh, a depressed New York City writer who struggles with confidence despite her popularity amongst readers of her acclaimed novels. In contrast to Lowen’s shyness, Verity Crawford is a top-selling author whose status seems to be on the rise constantly between her book tours and television interviews. Verity’s world comes crashing down when she falls victim to an accident that inhibits her ability to write, and in fact, function on her own. Lowen is called in by Verity’s publishers to conclude her unfinished series because her writing style draws parallels to the famous author. Reluctantly, Lowen agrees to finish the series but must spend time digging through Verity’s notes to determine what the rest of the series should look like. During her stay in Verity’s home to complete the task, Lowen spends time with her predecessor’s husband and son all while uncovering scary pieces of the strange family’s past: filled with murder, obsession, and lust, all told from the perspective of Verity in her hidden autobiography. 

     I was reluctant to read this novel at first simply because I assumed that Hoover’s books leaned towards the cliche, and I would find myself struggling to read. I was certainly wrong. This novel is the fastest book I have ever read simply because it was impossible to stop. At the conclusion of every chapter, I found myself wanting to know more about Verity and her strange, sociopathic mindset towards her husband and children. This book shares perspectives between the protagonist and antagonist, giving readers dual outlooks on the mysterious author and family. I really enjoyed how each chapter shifted from one point of view to another. Verity is by far the most intriguing book I have read and I recommend it to any high school student interested in mystery or thriller genres, or for those who are just looking for an interesting book. 

     Senior Lauren Atkins also shared my enjoyment of this literary work. “It was overall very enticing and kept me on my toes. I couldn’t predict the things that happened and I would definitely recommend it to anyone,” says Atkins. She too noted that this novel was quite different from Hoover’s other books and series, but was surprisingly intrigued by its storyline. “It was a thriller that is different from the rest of Hoover’s books and was overall incredibly shocking and really great.”

     Verity is available online, in select stores, and as an audiobook at audible.com.