Fiction, romance, contemporary, suspense · New York Times bestseller · Family secrets in fiction
Verity by Colleen Hoover — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2018343 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.9 (125)
Rate it
What is Verity about?
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.
A glimpse inside
The Unreliable Narrator
Central to Verity is the concept of the unreliable narrator—not just one, but potentially several. Lowen, the protagonist, discovers an autobiography by Verity that may or may not be true, forcing readers to question whose version of events can be trusted. This ambiguity is the engine of the novel’s suspense, as every revelation could be a manipulation, a confession, or a lie. The book challenges readers to interrogate their own assumptions about truth and bias in storytelling.
Obsession and Identity
Lowen’s growing obsession with Verity’s life and marriage blurs the boundaries between her own identity and the woman she’s replacing. As Lowen immerses herself in Verity’s writing and home, she begins to mirror her subject, raising questions about how proximity and desire can distort self-perception. The novel explores how easily obsession can tip into dangerous territory, especially when fueled by insecurity and longing.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.9 / 5
125 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Unreliable Narrator
- 2Obsession and Identity
- 3The Power of Secrets
- 4Manipulation and Control
- 5The Nature of Evil
Popular quotes from Verity
“Find what you love and let it kill you.”
“People say write what you know, but what if what you know is too painful to write?”
More by Colleen Hoover
Frequently asked
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 fin