Verity

Whose truth is the lie? Stay up all night reading the sensational psychological thriller that has readers obsessed, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Too Late and It Ends With Us.

#1 New York Times Bestseller · USA Today Bestseller · Globe and Mail Bestseller · Publishers Weekly Bestseller

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night her family was forever altered.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents could devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her.

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

For more information and for a schedule of events, please visit colleenhoover.com.

To contact Colleen and her team (Her team's name is Stephanie), please email [email protected]

“Sublimely creepy with a true Hoover pulse. I’ve been waiting for a thriller like this for years.”—Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author

“Riveting and unexpected. Impossible to put down.”—Claire Contreras, New York Times bestselling author

"This isn't a book, it's a visceral experience."—B.B. Easton, bestselling author

“Verity delivers the grand slam of thriller twists—the holy grail of'what the…?!' moments . . . It lit up my brain."—Washington Post

"If you came here to find a mystery romance book that’ll have you on the edge of your seat (and keep you up at night), add Verity by Colleen Hoover to your cart."—Cosmopolitan

"Unravels a picture-perfect couple’s courtship and marriage in truly twisted—and jaw-dropping—fashion."—Elle magazine

“If you've yet to experience the delight that is reading one of Hoover's novels, we suggest starting with this . . . Prepare for your pulse to race and palms to sweat."—E! News

“The energy and pace in this book are like a fun house at a carnival. It's ever-changing, and just when you think you know what to expect next, Hoover hits you with another turn. Up until the very final page, readers are mining for clues. Just when you thought you figured out the who, what, when, where, and why, it completely changes, leaving you gobsmacked.”—BuzzFeed

"The perfect choice if you're after a gripping read but be warned, its twists and turns may very well keep you up at night."—Refinery29

"Colleen Hoover's romances and contemporary fiction novels . . . grip readers with emotionally charged storylines, unique plotlines, and twists that leave us reeling." —Business Insider

"Talk about a word-of-mouth of page-turner we’re still not over . . . Cue the seductive mystery that has one of our all-time fave twists. Run, don’t walk.”—The Skimm

"An explosive, sexy thriller full of chilling admissions, incredible twists and turns, and some seriously creepy plotlines. I can honestly say that I’ve never read another thriller quite like it."—BookReporter.com

"Seamlessly blends romance and horror."—New York Post

"Full of suspense with steamy scenes and creepy undertones."—Plymouth Magazine

"Hoover always tells her stories so beautifully . . . [An] ideal holiday gift.”—Houstonia magazine

"Emotionally charged, sinister, evocative, fascinating and very addictive. We read Verity with a knot in our stomachs from the first to last page! What a brilliant read!"—TotallyBooked Blog

"Wow I'm speechless, I don't know where to start with this one. Verity was a captivating, fast paced, twisted, and addictive story."—Read More Sleep Less Blog

"If you’ve read any of our recent book round-ups here on The Everygirl, you know how much our editors love this book. It created quite the chain reaction, and now, those who have not yet read it are in the minority. Obviously, this means it is a great book, but the real reason we can’t stop talking about it is because of the story—it is truly the most shocking book I have ever read. It also started a huge internet book debate about what really happened, so you’ll be wrapped up in this world even after you finish reading."—The EveryGirl

"I recommend this book to everyone I come across!"—Her Campus

"Solidified my love for romantic suspense."—She Reads

"There are genuinely spooky moments that had me squirming, and all sorts of twists and turns."—Business Insider

"If you’re a book lover drawn to dark thrillers, start with the stand-alone page-turner Verity."—Reader's Digest

"You'll stay up all night reading this . . . Hoover expertly combines thriller with romance to test the boundaries of who is telling the truth, and who is lying."—Woman's Day

"What makes Verity so good is that it is both a steamy romance novel as well as a deeply twisted and disturbing psychological thriller, flawlessly wrapped into one story . . . steamy, disturbing, and surprising."—The Mary Sue

"Twisted . . . a thrilling deviation from her typical romance books." —HelloGiggles

Verity by Colleen Hoover is a psychological thriller that moves far away from the author's better-known contemporary romance style and into a disturbing world of secrets, manipulation, obsession, grief, and moral uncertainty. First published in 2018, the novel follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer whose life changes when she is offered an unusual opportunity: to finish a bestselling author's unfinished book series. The author is Verity Crawford, a hugely successful novelist who has been left unable to write after a devastating accident. Lowen accepts the job because she needs the money, but when she arrives at the Crawford family home, she discovers something far more disturbing than writer's block. Hidden among Verity's papers is an unfinished autobiographical manuscript that appears to reveal horrifying secrets about the author's thoughts, marriage, children, and past.

The story begins with Lowen Ashleigh in New York, where she is already struggling financially and professionally. She is a relatively unsuccessful writer who has published books without achieving major recognition. Her circumstances change when Jeremy Crawford, the husband of the famous novelist Verity Crawford, approaches her with a job offer. Verity has written a bestselling series, but she can no longer complete the remaining books because she has suffered a catastrophic accident. Her publisher wants Lowen to take over the series and finish the novels in Verity's voice. The financial opportunity is enormous for someone in Lowen's position, so despite her discomfort, she agrees to visit the Crawford family home and review Verity's notes.

When Lowen enters the Crawford household, she immediately realizes that the situation is much more complicated than she expected. Verity is alive but severely incapacitated. She is unable to communicate normally, and Jeremy and their young son Crew are trying to cope with the consequences of the accident. Lowen initially feels sympathy for the family, particularly Jeremy, who is grieving the loss of the wife he once knew while simultaneously caring for their son. The atmosphere inside the house, however, is unsettling. Lowen begins noticing strange details, unexplained behavior, and an undercurrent of tension that makes her question whether the Crawford home is really the safe and loving place it appears to be.

While searching through Verity's office for material related to the unfinished novels, Lowen discovers a manuscript that changes everything. Instead of being a collection of ordinary notes, it is an autobiographical account written by Verity herself. Lowen starts reading it secretly, initially believing that it may help her understand Verity's writing style and characters. What she finds is deeply disturbing. The manuscript describes Verity's relationship with Jeremy in intensely personal detail and reveals thoughts that make Verity appear manipulative, jealous, and capable of shocking cruelty. Most disturbing are the sections concerning Verity's children.

Verity and Jeremy had three children, but their family has been devastated by tragedy. Their daughters, Chastin and Harper, are dead, and the circumstances surrounding their deaths are central to the mystery. Verity's manuscript portrays the children not simply as beloved daughters but as objects of complicated emotions. She describes jealousy toward her own daughters and resentment over the attention they receive from Jeremy. The manuscript becomes increasingly horrifying as Lowen reads about Verity's feelings during pregnancy and motherhood. Instead of presenting motherhood as naturally loving, Verity's writing exposes a deeply disturbing inner world in which jealousy and possessiveness appear to overwhelm maternal affection.

The manuscript's most shocking material concerns Harper's death. According to Verity's account, the little girl died after falling down the stairs. However, Verity suggests that her daughter may have been deliberately pushed. This revelation forces Lowen to reconsider everything she has seen in the Crawford home. If the manuscript is genuine, Verity may have played a role in her daughter's death. Yet Lowen has no way to determine whether what she is reading is a confession, a fictional exercise, or an elaborate attempt to manipulate anyone who might eventually discover the document.

That uncertainty becomes the central engine of the novel. Lowen knows that the manuscript could destroy Verity's reputation and potentially change Jeremy's entire understanding of his wife. But she also knows that accusing someone of murdering their own child is an extraordinary claim. The more she reads, the harder it becomes for her to separate truth from fiction. Verity is a novelist, after all, and Lowen understands better than most people how easily a writer can create a convincing fictional reality.

At the same time, Lowen's relationship with Jeremy grows increasingly intimate. Jeremy is vulnerable because of the losses his family has experienced, and Lowen finds herself attracted to him. Her feelings become complicated by guilt because Verity is still alive in the house. Although Verity cannot communicate, her physical presence creates an uncomfortable moral barrier between Lowen and Jeremy. Their attraction gradually becomes a relationship, and Lowen begins imagining a future with him. This makes the situation even more dangerous because her personal desires can influence how she interprets the evidence against Verity.

Jeremy eventually learns about the manuscript, and its revelations devastate him. The possibility that Verity could have harmed their children destroys whatever trust remained between them. Yet another layer of uncertainty emerges because Verity's behavior does not always match the person described in the manuscript. Lowen begins questioning whether Verity might actually be pretending to be incapacitated. If she is capable of understanding everything happening around her, then Lowen may be in far greater danger than she realizes.

The novel repeatedly places Lowen in situations where she feels watched or threatened. Verity's eyes, facial expressions, and physical presence become increasingly significant. Lowen cannot determine whether Verity is aware of what she has discovered, but she begins to suspect that the apparently helpless woman may not be as helpless as everyone believes. The tension comes from this uncertainty. The reader is encouraged to fear Verity while simultaneously questioning whether Lowen's interpretation is reliable.

The story also explores the psychological effects of grief. Jeremy's character is shaped by the deaths of his daughters, and much of his vulnerability comes from his desire to understand what happened to them. His relationship with Lowen becomes a source of comfort, but it also raises questions about whether either of them is making decisions clearly while surrounded by trauma. Lowen, meanwhile, is not merely an innocent outsider. She has entered the family because of a professional opportunity and gradually becomes emotionally involved with Jeremy. Her choices become increasingly difficult to defend, even as she believes she is protecting him.

One of the most important themes in Verity is the unreliability of written evidence. Normally, a confession is treated as proof, but in this story the confession comes from a professional fiction writer. Verity understands storytelling, suspense, emotional manipulation, and the power of a well-constructed narrative. That makes the manuscript both compelling and impossible to trust completely. Lowen is forced to ask whether she is reading a genuine confession or the greatest piece of fiction Verity has ever written.

The climax of Verity arrives when Lowen and Jeremy confront the terrifying possibility that Verity may have been responsible for the death of Harper. The situation becomes violent, and Jeremy ultimately kills Verity. He believes he is protecting himself, Lowen, and his surviving son from a woman capable of murder. For a short time, it appears that the mystery has finally been resolved. Verity is dead, and the family can begin moving forward.

But Colleen Hoover does not allow the reader a simple resolution. After Verity's death, Lowen discovers a letter written by Verity that completely changes the interpretation of the manuscript. The letter claims that the autobiographical document was never a confession at all. According to Verity, it was an exercise in writing from the perspective of a villainous character. She explains that she created the horrifying material as research for a future book and that none of the events described in it were true.

The letter creates the novel's famous final ambiguity. If Verity's explanation is genuine, then Lowen and Jeremy have killed an innocent woman based on a fictional manuscript. If the letter is another manipulation, then Verity was a dangerous killer who anticipated that her secrets might be discovered and created one final piece of evidence to protect herself. The novel deliberately refuses to provide absolute certainty.

Lowen makes a final decision: she hides the letter. Rather than tell Jeremy about Verity's explanation, she destroys the evidence and chooses the version of events that allows her to remain with him. This ending makes Lowen morally complicated. She may believe she is protecting Jeremy from further pain, but she is also protecting herself and preserving the relationship she has gained. The decision suggests that the line between victim and manipulator can become blurred when people are desperate enough.

Ultimately, Verity is a psychological thriller about the danger of believing a story simply because it is written convincingly. The novel asks whether truth can ever be separated from the person telling it, especially when that person is an expert storyteller. It also examines obsession, jealousy, motherhood, grief, romantic desire, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves and the people they love.

For readers searching for a Verity summary, Verity ending explained, Verity by Colleen Hoover plot, or an explanation of the book's controversial final twist, the novel's greatest strength is precisely its refusal to settle the central mystery. The reader is left with two competing possibilities: Verity was a monstrous woman whose manuscript exposed her true nature, or she was a writer who created an extraordinarily disturbing fictional exercise and was ultimately killed because Lowen believed it. The final uncertainty is what makes Verity linger after the last page. Rather than telling readers exactly what to believe, Colleen Hoover leaves them with a much more unsettling question: if two versions of the truth are equally convincing, which one would you choose to live with?