Verity

Good shit, Colleen Hoover. Good shit. I LOVED the ending. This whole story was masterfully woven, and the ending just put the bow on top for me.
...............................

(more in depth thoughts)

Several friends have recommended this book to me, and I put off reading it for a long time... basically because I have a chip on my shoulder about domestic psychological thrillers (is that what we call these?). They just got very popular for a while, and it felt like EVERYONE was writing one. So naturally, I didn't read Verity or any of them (hi.. super Aquarius over here).

I have now been humbled and would like to step off my high horse.. because holy everything, I loved this book. The writing is superb. None of the characters are either likable or unlikable. How? CHARACTER DEPTH. THAT IS HOW... and that is what makes this book great!! THANK YOU!! ALL HAIL COLLEEN HOOVER!

The main character (Ashleigh) seems like the hero at first, but as the story goes on I liked her less and less. But not in a I-want-to-stop-reading-this-way. More in a wow-she's-pretty-fucked-up-and-what is-she-actually-thinking-kind-of-way. Same for Jeremy - he seems like the perfect husband, and we start seeing his cracks little by little and start going back and forth wondering what he is capable of. And Verity. What a psycho crazy bitch (maybe?).. because we're even questioning our conviction of that by the end. This story is a slowly unraveling wild ride.

The chapters switching between Ashleigh and Verity's story are so masterfully woven. It's a brilliant choice because it keeps the story moving so well. Usually, when there are two points of view, there is one I prefer over the other. But I looked forward to hearing from the other person every time. And it was also never confusing. I never had to look back to remember what was going on with the character before the last switch. This is no easy feat, but Colleen Hoover made it look easy.

THE ENDING. There is only one other book with an ending I loved as much as this one - and that is 11/22/63. One of those where all the pieces add up and makes so much sense. And just when you thought you knew exactly how it was going to end, the author adds a little sprinkle of detail to blow your mind. I don't care if I like it plot-wise or not - I am not a plot-motivated reader. So that's not the point. The point was that you go through this whole mind fuck (involving the build up and deterioration of each character's motivations) and then a little extra sprinkle of mind fuck to put the cherry on top. I laughed. Out loud. Because it was so amazing. I don't know if it's because I was so engaged in the story that I didn't try to figure out the ending, or if I just didn't see it coming. Either way.. such an excellent choice.

And now I shall proceed to go read more Colleen Hoover books like all of booktok. Aquarius tendencies be damned!!