Verity isn’t your typical Colleen Hoover novel—and that’s exactly why it works so well. Here’s a no spoiler review by your own – Andrew.
Best known for her emotional romance dramas, Hoover veers into psychological thriller territory with this standalone novel, and the result is dark, disturbing, and absolutely magnetic. From the very first sentence—”I hear the crack of his skull before the splattering of blood reaches me”—you’re thrown into a story that refuses to let go.
The Premise
Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer, is hired to complete a bestselling series by the now-incapacitated author Verity Crawford. She moves into Verity’s home to access her notes and finish the series under a co-author agreement. But inside Verity’s office, Lowen uncovers a hidden manuscript—a chilling autobiography revealing horrific secrets.
What follows is a psychological web of lust, lies, and danger. As Lowen becomes closer to Verity’s husband, Jeremy, she begins to question not just the manuscript but everything around her. Is Verity really as helpless as she seems? Is the manuscript fact or fiction?
Why It Works
- Fast-paced and addictive: The novel flies, with twist after twist that make it a perfect cure for reading slumps.
- Emotionally unhinged and thrilling: It’s part romance, part horror, part psychological suspense—making it incredibly unique.
- Masterful tone and tension: Hoover builds dread like a seasoned thriller writer, keeping you paranoid and guessing until the very end.
There are scenes so disturbing they made me physically sick (in the best literary way). And just when you think you’ve figured it out, Hoover flips everything on its head. Verity is not just a book—it’s a wild ride into the shadowy parts of storytelling, identity, and obsession.
If you’re looking for a chilling, spicy, and unforgettable read, Verity is it.
5 Books Like Verity You’ll Love
If Verity left you shaken, stirred, and hungry for more twisted reads, these five novels are perfect companions. Don’t keep wandering “if I liked verity what should I read next?” Just give these a try.
Whether you’re after another explosive domestic thriller or a chilling psychological spiral, this list has you covered.
1. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
What happens when the top criminal defense attorney in Washington D.C. is forced to defend her husband in a murder trial—where the victim is his mistress?
This book wastes no time throwing you into scandal, secrets, and sharp betrayals. Like Verity, it’s dark and twisty with a marriage at its core that hides more than it reveals. The writing is fast and addictive, and while the ending may be polarizing, the ride to get there is worth every page.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.9/5)
2. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Millie just wants a fresh start. When she takes a live-in job with the wealthy Winchesters, she soon realizes their seemingly perfect lives mask chilling truths.
With locked doors, whispered threats, and hidden pasts, this domestic thriller mirrors Verity’s creeping paranoia and escalating dread. It’s less steamy but equally engrossing, perfect for fans of unsettling slow-burn suspense.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3/5)
3. The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
Sophisticated suburban drama meets reckless temptation in this southern-fried thriller.
Sophie, a restless new mom, falls in with a clique of glamorous women who spend their weekends partying and shooting guns. But beneath the fun lies something far more dangerous. This novel is sultry, scandalous, and full of poor decisions and delicious tension.
Like Verity, it explores the dangers of getting too close to beautiful people with dark secrets.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.8/5)
4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
No list in this genre is complete without this modern classic. When Amy Dunne disappears, her husband Nick becomes the prime suspect—but the truth is far more twisted than anyone imagines.
Gone Girl offers razor-sharp writing, wicked mind games, and a deep dive into the masks we wear. If you loved the psychological layers and “nothing is what it seems” energy in Verity, Flynn’s masterpiece will completely captivate you.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1/5)
5. The Push by Ashley Audrain
This haunting novel examines the raw edges of motherhood and inherited trauma. Blythe struggles to connect with her daughter, but the question lingers: is something truly wrong with the child, or is it all in her head?
The psychological tension builds page by page, with unreliable narration and deeply emotional undercurrents. While it lacks the romantic element of Verity, it more than makes up for it in sheer psychological depth and haunting atmosphere.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1/5)
Final Thoughts on Books like Verity
Verity is more than just a thriller—it’s a gateway drug back into reading for many. It’s emotional, twisted, and endlessly re-readable. And if you’re ready for more books that blend suspense with psychological depth, the five listed above are excellent next reads.
If you like these books similar to Colleen hover’s Verity, we also have suggestion on books like 1984, books like ACOTOR, and books like Ready Player One.