‘WTF Colleen?!’ Goodreads Readers and Movie Viewers React to the ‘Verity’ Film and Book
Just like the book, the film has people feeling divided, confused and obsessed
Key Takeaways
- The ‘Verity’ movie has sparked mixed reactions from critics ahead of its October 2 release.
- Goodreads readers have long been divided over Colleen Hoover’s twisty psychological thriller.
- Fans are debating whether the movie captures the book’s twists, romance and shocking ending.
After months of anticipation, Verity has finally hit the big screen—and critics and early viewers are divided. Some love it, some hate it, and plenty are left downright confused. Sound familiar? That’s exactly how Goodreads readers reacted when Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name was released. To see how readers responded to the book and the movie, keep scrolling!
First, what is ‘Verity’ about?
Verity is a psychological romantic thriller published in 2018. The plot follows Lowen, a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford to finish his wife Verity’s bestselling book series after a devastating car accident left Verity unable to do so. While researching, Lowen discovers Verity’s unpublished memoir detailing how every tragic event in her life—from the death of two of her kids to her car accident—was actually Verity’s fault. Now Lowen must figure out if the memoir is real or if it’s more of Verity’s captivating fiction.
“When people read Verity, they were all like, ‘There you are. We don’t know where the romance comes from—that doesn’t seem like you—but, the psychotic part of your writing, seems more like you.’ I don’t know what that says about me,’ Hoover said on Betty’s Booklist in 2022. “I wrote Verity from Lowen’s perspective. I was never in Jeremy’s perspective, and the only perspective I was in with Verity was her manuscript. And so at the end when Lowen was confused, I was confused. And I know people don’t believe that, but I really was. When I was writing, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what is real? What is not?’ Because that book is just from that one character’s perspective. But if I had to pick, I think Verity is evil. I really do.”
How Goodreads users responded to the ‘Verity’ book
After Verity was published, readers were also confused. Did they like the book? Did they hate it? Was Verity awful or was she just writing a story? The debate is still going strong in the bookish community.
But many readers rave about the book. One Goodreads reader wrote, “I’ve pulled up this review and tried to make the words come for a couple of days now, but every time I try to write the words all that comes to mind is WTF Colleen?!”
“Obviously we were warned going in that this one would be much different than her other novels, but she didn’t tell us that it would be so compulsive and I wouldn’t be able to live my life while reading it. How dare she?? But seriously, this book was so delicious in a seriously twisted way, and I feel slightly guilty admitting that I loved Verity so much due to its dark and disturbing nature,” the reader added. “I highly recommend it if you can stomach the content, but beware reader—once you pick it up, you certainly won’t want to set it down until you turn the final page.”
Another raved that Verity “blows away every other suspense story I’ve ever read.”
“I cannot believe this is Colleen Hoover’s first thriller. Reading this feels like watching a master at their craft, setting the bar higher than I ever thought possible,” the reviewer added. “This story is so astonishing and unsettling and completely original. It will stay with me for a long time.”
On the other hand, some readers said they wished they could “go back and unread” the book.
“I can’t believe the high average rating of this book. I felt physically sick multiple times throughout, and can’t seem to figure out what the point was,” the reader continued. “Maybe I’m not suited to this genre, whatever it is, but I am completely disgusted.”
Other readers pointed out that the ending of the novel felt rushed.
“The last 20 pages felt as if Colleen Hoover eventually realized that she didn’t have a twist in her thriller, so she quickly decided to throw something in there,” a Goodreads user wrote. “Had it not been for such a ridiculously stupid ending, I would have given it a generous three stars. But, alas, since I spent an evening of my life on this nonsense, I shall rate it accordingly.”
How readers are responding to the ‘Verity’ movie
Even though Verity came out today, some readers got to see the film early and posted their reactions online.
One early viewer said her “head is SPINNING” after seeing the film.
Another wrote, said, “Verity is the kind of psychological thriller you’re gonna need to see with friends just so you can immediately yap about it after.”
Others had stronger, negative opinions, with one viewer writing, “i was not a fan of Colleen Hoover’s book, but she was, at least, able to build up tense moments throughout the narrative.
The movie adaptation was not capable to replicate that atmosphere, mainly in Lowen’s pov/timeline, prioritizing cheap and forgettable thriller wannabe scenes over effective suspense.”
Another pointed out how the movie “made Colleen Hoover seem like Shakespeare in comparison to this script, bravo.”
In summary, according to readers, “the book was so much better.”
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