Book Summary: Writer Lowen Ashleigh is hired to write for Verity Crawford, a famous author who is injured and unable to complete her bestselling series. Only, after moving in with Verity’s husband, Lowen begins to discover that Verity’s life is much darker than it seems. The twist? Verity is paralyzed and practically brain dead, but Lowen can’t shake the feeling that Verity is always watching her…
Book Review: I LOVE this book. Verity is written well and is extremely creepy. Books don’t scare me often but this one definitely sent a chill down my spine. One thing that stood out to me specifically about this book was it’s ending. I’ve read many books that are excellent but have a terrible ending, and I love the epic twist and cliffhanger at the end. Additionally, though this book is a thriller I really like that it has a subplot of romance. That being said, I do believe that there are quite a few intimate scenes that are overly graphic and do not contribute to the story. Another thing- I find Lowen super annoying. She does many things that leave staring at the pages with my mouth agape thinking what is this woman thinking? There is also an epilogue in some copies that totally contradicts the entire book. I would recommend skipping that chapter. In all, however, I can easily say that this book is one of my favorites. It is a light and easy read that creeped me out and left me shocked in the end.
Quotes: “The world was her manuscript. No surface was safe.” “‘I stretch truths where I see fit. I’m a writer.'” “Caring for your body is no different from caring from a child. Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it sucks, sometimes you want to give in, but if you do, you’ll pay for the consequences eighteen years down the road.” “I was good at spewing bullshit. It’s why I became a writer.”
Spoilers: I’m just going to put it out there and say that I’m Team Letter. I believe that Verity was a good mother! And, as a writer, I could totally see an agent suggesting the manuscript as a writing exercise. But before you all come for me, I did reread the book and find evidence supporting both Team Letter and Team Manuscript, so I’ll list that below.
Team Manuscript: “The world was her manuscript” (page 55). I mean, if this isn’t a hint that the manuscript is the truth, I don’t know what is. I agree that Verity likely wouldn’t have compromised herself as a mother (as mentioned on page 111). Jeremy did notice that Verity liked Chastin more. If Verity was telling the truth in the letter, what prompted Jeremy to believe that Chastin was her favorite? Verity literally counted the number of intimate moments she had with Jeremy. Unless she made that number up, she was truthfully more focused on her relationship with him than her children. Jeremy mentions that he struggles to separate Verity and her writing (as mentioned on page 56).
Team Letter: It crosses Lowen’s mind several times that the manuscript was a writing strategy (as mentioned on pages 78 and 79). In all photos and physical evidence besides the manuscript, Verity seems happy with the kids (as mentioned on page 142). Jeremy read the manuscript in one setting, while it took Lowen weeks to comb through it. This means that Jeremy likely read it before (as mentioned on page 277). Verity is afraid of Jeremy (as mentioned on page 279). Jeremy never denied knowing that the manuscript existed (as mentioned on page 301).
