Book Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover

Verity

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Verity 〰️

My friend read this book and highly recommended it to me. I hear so many mixed feelings about Hoover online. Some people love her, and others hate her. I'm sure there exist people out there who are indifferent, but I've yet to find them. So, after hearing so much about her and having my friend tell me if I was going to read any of Hoover's books, it should be this one, I picked it up.

Holy shit.

Thank you, friend, for the recommendation! This was one helluva read. I mean, that first chapter, heck, the opening scene was intense and had me hooked from the beginning! I could barely put it down.

I thought for a while Lowen may have been an unreliable narrator, and she is, but having Verity be confirmed to be faking her injuries made me question my own judgment. Turns out Lowen was right all along!

I will say, however, that I get why Verity did what she did; it's a little hard to believe. I mean, she should win an Oscar for her acting. She really sold the catatonic state. Does that make for an interesting story point? Absolutely. Do I buy that it can happen in real life? Not as much. No matter how good an actor you are, that type of injury is hard to fake. But did I suspend my disbelief for the sake of enjoyment? You sure bet I did.

That said, Hoover kept on coming with twists after twist that I didn't see coming. That final letter by Verity. Woah. Did she truly mean it? Or was it a safeguard for later? And will Lowen feel safe with Jeremy knowing he tried to kill Verity multiple times? (I mean, yes, since she watched him actually kill her and is still with him seven months later). But yeah, so much to unpack and though we want these questions answered, I'm glad for the ending Hoover provided.

I'm unsure if I'll end up reading another of Hoover's books. So far, the plots haven't spoken to me. But I will say that I don't think Hoover is a lousy writer. She certainly knows how to tell an engaging story.

Book review: Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Sometimes I Lie

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Sometimes I Lie 〰️

Holy mother of twists, Batman! This book hooked me right from the first page and held me right until the end. (Sequel, anyone? It was kind of left open for a sequel, and I wouldn't be mad if there were one. I need more. I feel like there is more to the story because of how it ended. But if not, it still has such a great ending).

We always wonder if those we love who are in a coma can hear us. In this case, Amber, who is in a coma, can do just that. She can feel and hear everything but is unable to react physically. No one knows she is aware of everything as she tries to piece together the mystery of what happened to her leading up to her accident that got her in this situation. But Amber is an unreliable narrator (love that), and because of that, we are on the edge of our seats the entire novel.

I'm not one for guessing twists or picking up clues that are usually obvious to most readers, but if there were hints as to what happened to Amber and her relationship with Claire and her ex, I didn't see them. The whole book was a wild guessing game as to who did what and why. And when you think you have it all figured out, Feeney pulls a fast one and hits you with twist after twist. I personally didn't see them coming.

When Amber was in the "now" chapters, you first took everything she heard at face value. But then, as time goes on, when you realize she often hallucinates (which I don't blame her; coma brain and all), you wonder what is real and what isn't, and it all adds to the mystery.

I love how the "now," "then," and "before" chapters all tell separate stories but blend into one in the end. Feeney is truly an expert storyteller. She can keep you guessing and wondering what we would have done in Amber's situation.

Loved this book from beginning to end and can't recommend it enough.