Verity - Colleen Hoover - Book Review

 I feel like you can’t move for Colleen Hoover at the moment, on social media. She’s everywhere and it makes me laugh to think of my friend who was trying to get me to read ‘It Ends With Us’ about 4/5 years ago, I think of her as the original CoHo stan. It should come as no surprise then that my next book is Verity, as again, it’s everywhere. For this reason, I’m not going to give a full synopsis. I’ll just say, Lowen Ashleigh goes to stay in the Crawford house to take over a popular book series from bestselling author Verity Crawford, who after an injury, is unable to fulfil her contract. Once there, she uncovers some pretty harrowing secrets.

 

As I've said before I try not to think too much about what to expect from a book or what it may be about before reading it, I like to be surprised and let it take my mind where it wants, without any pre-emptive judgements. Especially given how much information there is out there on it, book reviews, BookToks etc... I try to not let it affect my view of the book. 

 

I read it quite quickly and finished it at 2am one morning because I couldn’t put it down, once I was coming to the end. I enjoyed it and I can definitely see where the hype has come. It’s like nothing I've ever read before, or a story I’ve ever come across so for that reason I loved it. It was intense, traumatic and even a bit much at times, (this coming from someone that has watched every single episode of Law & Order SVU.) The back of the book promises "a twist that will leave you reeling", and while yes it left me reeling, I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I kept imagining other scenarios as I read, that Verity and Jeremy were in it together and had lured Lowen to their house, or that Verity is faking her injuries and biding her time to do something sinister. I felt like this particular twist explained everything away and I hate when a book does that. It almost makes it feel like getting there wasn't worth it. Plus, I was left with a lot of questions, a big fat WHY overall, first of all? IYKYK. Why sleepwalking was a back story for Lowen, I don’t particularly think it was needed and why she was ok with Jeremy lying to her?? Just a lot really. By the time I had finished, I thought the characters weren't particularly deserving of that ending either. Lowen was dry, Verity just... psychotic and I don't think you should ever trust a man called Jeremy. 

 

Since finishing it, I have read other reviews and also ended up on a thread on Reddit discussing whether you are #TeamManuscript or #TeamLetter, which is quite an interesting debate. The majority of people seem to be #TeamManuscript, including me, purely because I think it makes it a better story. #TeamLetter like I said is almost accepting that the whole story can be excused and explained away and I think both Verity and Colleen Hoover are too clever for that.  

I gave it 4* on Goodreads because I do think it is very well written, the way it weaves between the autobiographical manuscript 'So Be It' and the story Lowen tells of going to live in the Crawford house. Also, as far as thrillers go (which I believe is not Colleen Hoovers usual choice of genre) is pretty good. I have two different kinds of love for a book. One, I love it that much I’ll race through it not stopping to draw breath; and two, I have to stop reading every so often because it’s so overwhelming and I don’t want it to end. This one was definitely a race through kind of book, because I couldn't put it down. 

 

The Midnight Library - Matt Haig - Book Review

I'm back back back back back again. 

For real this time, I've promised myself I'm going to keep up with this blog and the book reviews. It should be a little easier now I have started a Book Instagram to try and hold myself accountable for my TBR list. @tacklingmytbr if you're interested. 

I read the Midnight Library by Matt Haig a while ago now, but it's a book I would still like to talk about and potentially have conversations about. Before reading it I didn't really think too much into what it would be about, or what to expect. I remember reading the back blurb and it being quite vague, but it was clearly enough to hook me. I'm sure by now the majority of people will know the synopsis of this book so I'll keep it short. Nora Seed is unhappy with her life, filled with regret about the choices she has made throughout her life, she ends up in the Midnight Library (wondering if that should be capitalised?) There, she is given the opportunity to explore other lives she may have had, if she had made different choices. 

I thought this book was short and sweet. Easy to read, and I actually really enjoyed the concept of it. As someone who has always felt like she made the wrong decisions and choices in life, I felt I could relate to Nora. I'm not saying I'm so unhappy with my life that I would consider ending it for a chance to go to the Midnight Library, but there are significant moments I would like to see, if I had made a different choice. So it became a book that warranted a lot of food for thought and I like books like that, that make you stop and think; as well as being beautifully written. I feel as though I read it holding my breath in parts, and again I am all for a book that can have that effect on you.  

"The only way to live is to learn." 

One of my favourite quotes in the book, I had a few. It reminds me of one of my favourite quotes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it." It's true and I believe the message of this book is important. Nora encounters many different lives she could have led, rich, famous, none of them ensured happiness. It's the typical, it's not always greener on the other side story. 

I've been confused when reading reviews since finishing this book and even coming across it on social media, it seems to evoke two opposite reactions. People either love it, or they hate it and I mean HATE it, I've seen some scathing words said about it. I guess I just can't understand why. What does Nora do that is so wrong? While I can understand a character like Noras can be frustrating, I am concerned that people read this book and think she is very 'woe is me'. That seems to discredit her feelings. I understand everyone has problems but to disregard someones experiences seems a little harsh to me. I've also seen the word selfish thrown around, which again I just find harsh. It's no secret that people struggle and deal with their problems in different ways. 

I also read a review saying something a long the lines of 'don't be fooled by the title 'The Midnight Library', it is not about a books', which I'm sorry I can't help but laugh at. In all fairness it is about books, only in a metaphorical way, each book opens the possibility to new worlds. Another reviewer said it became to "preachy" with its instagrammable quotes. Again, I didn't get that impression. I know books are not meant to please everyone and I think this is just one of those. 

Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and I like to think in one of my many other lives, I'm happy and things worked out slightly different for me.