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Available
Genres
Description
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get started. Lowen uncovers an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended anyone to read, with pages of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night their family was forever altered. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate him. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit, if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bookappeal
I'm filing this under "trauma porn" and I am not a fan. I wish I had a nickel for every time the author used the F word and italics - often for no good reason. I also hate everything this book says about women. Reviewers often warn that Hoover's books have a lot of potential triggers for sensitive
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readers. The only emotion it triggered in me was anger that I spent time reading it. I probably would have finished if, even if I wasn't reading it for book club, but only because I wanted to see how ridiculous it became. In that, I was not disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member KimD66
Lots of hype, but very little substance.
LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
This was a crazy and creepy psychological thriller. It's a quick and easy read and a great escape.
LibraryThing member sidiki
Blah. What an utter waste of time. Perfect world, perfect people, perfect protagonist, perfect women, perfect children, perfect nannies, perfect house, perfect weather, perfect careers , perfect exlover, perfect authors. Meh *yawn*
LibraryThing member Pepperwings
Well...that was a wild ride.
Not quite as twisted as I expected from some of the reviews I read before.
I've heard this described as a thriller, and also as a dark romance. There are two stories, one of an established thriller/horror writer, and one of a meagerly accomplished thriller writer. Why are
I don't think I want to explain much more, it's really interesting seeing where the story goes, and it's quite a fast read, it's engaging and horrifying, but also dark and sexy. This story definitely won't be for everyone, but if you're not easily offended, and you like twists and turns, this will be a fun read.
Not quite as twisted as I expected from some of the reviews I read before.
I've heard this described as a thriller, and also as a dark romance. There are two stories, one of an established thriller/horror writer, and one of a meagerly accomplished thriller writer. Why are
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they together? One was involved in some sort of accident, and needs a co-author.I don't think I want to explain much more, it's really interesting seeing where the story goes, and it's quite a fast read, it's engaging and horrifying, but also dark and sexy. This story definitely won't be for everyone, but if you're not easily offended, and you like twists and turns, this will be a fun read.
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LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Verity, Colleen Hoover, author
Thirty-one year old Lowen Ashleigh, a writer of mysteries, is at her wit’s end. Her mom just died, she and her recent boyfriend split, her finances are in a shambles because she extended herself in order to care for her dying mother and she has no optimistic
Then her agent, her ex-boyfriend, calls her for a meeting. She has no idea what it is about, but she ventures out for the first time since her mother’s death. On the way to her meeting she witnesses a horrific accident and is covered in the victim’s blood. A kindly stranger aids her, even giving her his shirt to wear. He has a spare.
Lowen arrives at the meeting and Corey, her agent, tells her he had lied and told her an even earlier time to make sure she would not be late. Now she had time to spare. Suddenly, the kindly stranger and she are together again. He is at her meeting. His wife, the very popular and well known author, Verity Campbell, is unable to fulfill her obligation to complete her series of books. Would she be willing to write them for her? Both of their names would be given the credit for the book.
Lowen does not want the publicity or the book tours. She refuses, but Jeremy Crawford, who is both the kindly stranger and the author’s husband, meets with her privately and convinces her to take the job and to ask for much more money. She will not have to tour or sign books. She agrees and moves into his house to immerse herself in Verity’s life.
She learns about the misfortunes that have befallen the Campbell’s and the health problems that have prevented his wife from writing the rest of her novels. She is basically an invalid, unable to speak or move on her own. Unspeakable secrets are revealed as Lowen reads a secret journal she discovers. There are times when Lowen wants to escape from this house of horrors, but then she relents because she begins to have feelings for Jeremy and his surviving son, 5 year old Crew, (his twin daughters had recently died), even though she realizes how hateful she is since Jeremy is married.
I found many issues with the book. The characters behaved very unethically, at times. The sex bordered on the pornographic and was way overdone and appeared too often. It added nothing to the narrative except for the titillation of a reader desiring erotic language. Even the character reading about it, Lowen, agreed that it was presented too many times with descriptions that were so explicit they aroused her.
The psychological mystery was engaging, but if someone hadn’t asked me to read it, I would not have known because I would have discarded it before finishing. I found it contained too much foul language for my taste. The book could have been as interesting, or perhaps more interesting, without the profanity and excessive eroticism.
Thirty-one year old Lowen Ashleigh, a writer of mysteries, is at her wit’s end. Her mom just died, she and her recent boyfriend split, her finances are in a shambles because she extended herself in order to care for her dying mother and she has no optimistic
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prospects in sight.Then her agent, her ex-boyfriend, calls her for a meeting. She has no idea what it is about, but she ventures out for the first time since her mother’s death. On the way to her meeting she witnesses a horrific accident and is covered in the victim’s blood. A kindly stranger aids her, even giving her his shirt to wear. He has a spare.
Lowen arrives at the meeting and Corey, her agent, tells her he had lied and told her an even earlier time to make sure she would not be late. Now she had time to spare. Suddenly, the kindly stranger and she are together again. He is at her meeting. His wife, the very popular and well known author, Verity Campbell, is unable to fulfill her obligation to complete her series of books. Would she be willing to write them for her? Both of their names would be given the credit for the book.
Lowen does not want the publicity or the book tours. She refuses, but Jeremy Crawford, who is both the kindly stranger and the author’s husband, meets with her privately and convinces her to take the job and to ask for much more money. She will not have to tour or sign books. She agrees and moves into his house to immerse herself in Verity’s life.
She learns about the misfortunes that have befallen the Campbell’s and the health problems that have prevented his wife from writing the rest of her novels. She is basically an invalid, unable to speak or move on her own. Unspeakable secrets are revealed as Lowen reads a secret journal she discovers. There are times when Lowen wants to escape from this house of horrors, but then she relents because she begins to have feelings for Jeremy and his surviving son, 5 year old Crew, (his twin daughters had recently died), even though she realizes how hateful she is since Jeremy is married.
I found many issues with the book. The characters behaved very unethically, at times. The sex bordered on the pornographic and was way overdone and appeared too often. It added nothing to the narrative except for the titillation of a reader desiring erotic language. Even the character reading about it, Lowen, agreed that it was presented too many times with descriptions that were so explicit they aroused her.
The psychological mystery was engaging, but if someone hadn’t asked me to read it, I would not have known because I would have discarded it before finishing. I found it contained too much foul language for my taste. The book could have been as interesting, or perhaps more interesting, without the profanity and excessive eroticism.
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LibraryThing member rrkreads
One of the few books i picked up solely because of the reviews. Especially the ending & the talks around it piqued my interest. So what do i really think of the book?
Likes:
1. Fast paced, never a dull moment in the book. I would have stayed up all night to complete it if it wasn't a weekday.
2.
3. Characters, flawed but redeemable i guess? I am yet to make up my mind about the characters in this book, are they likable? Maybe not. Are they relatable? Not, if you can help it. But, they definitely are interesting!
Dislikes:
1. Sex scenes, I skipped quite a few pages due to this. Too many sex scenes are just not to my taste. After a while it just got irritating.
2. Evil for evil's sake. Looked like the author tried a little too hard to turn the character into a diabolical one. Many instances were unbelievable, the house, the deaths & nobody on earth suspects a thing?
3. What's with the heroine?? I mean is she dumb? Doesn't she have a single self protecting bone in her? Till the end, she reminded me of a dog & it's pointless & senseless exercise of trying to catch it's tail.
4. Story, not much of it. Not much of suspense either.
If you want some insight into a messed up brain & damaged, messy relationships, this is a book for you.
If you want thriller, suspense, story or relatable characters maybe this is not for you.
I don't regret reading this book as I realised there's a huge audience for books with such twisted themes & it's a welcome change from my usual type. Plus it was a fast read, so 3 it is from me.
Likes:
1. Fast paced, never a dull moment in the book. I would have stayed up all night to complete it if it wasn't a weekday.
2.
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Writing style, I love the writing style, clear, tight & smooth. 3. Characters, flawed but redeemable i guess? I am yet to make up my mind about the characters in this book, are they likable? Maybe not. Are they relatable? Not, if you can help it. But, they definitely are interesting!
Dislikes:
1. Sex scenes, I skipped quite a few pages due to this. Too many sex scenes are just not to my taste. After a while it just got irritating.
2. Evil for evil's sake. Looked like the author tried a little too hard to turn the character into a diabolical one. Many instances were unbelievable, the house, the deaths & nobody on earth suspects a thing?
3. What's with the heroine?? I mean is she dumb? Doesn't she have a single self protecting bone in her? Till the end, she reminded me of a dog & it's pointless & senseless exercise of trying to catch it's tail.
4. Story, not much of it. Not much of suspense either.
If you want some insight into a messed up brain & damaged, messy relationships, this is a book for you.
If you want thriller, suspense, story or relatable characters maybe this is not for you.
I don't regret reading this book as I realised there's a huge audience for books with such twisted themes & it's a welcome change from my usual type. Plus it was a fast read, so 3 it is from me.
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LibraryThing member AngelaJMaher
I'm going to have to give this 5 stars because I never wanted to put it down. A twisting, dark mystery that is sometimes an uncomfortable read, but always compelling.
LibraryThing member dawnlovesbooks
Probably the most sexually explicit of all the Colleen Hoover books, but also the most suspenseful. If you don't like the f--- word, you won't like the book. As with all of Colleen Hoover's books, she hooks you in from the first page and you won't be able to turn the pages fast enough to find out
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what happens!! Lots of shocking twists and of course some romance!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member Penny_L
What did I just read?!
I am at a loss for words to review this novel.
I could not put it down, even though I wanted to at some points. I just couldn't tear myself away from it, or sleep after I read it.
I'm stunned. It lived up to all the hype, and then some.
Wow.
I am at a loss for words to review this novel.
I could not put it down, even though I wanted to at some points. I just couldn't tear myself away from it, or sleep after I read it.
I'm stunned. It lived up to all the hype, and then some.
Wow.
LibraryThing member MM_Jones
Romance novels are not my thing as they seem to depend on contrivances instead of style and good writing. The reviews I saw described it as a suspense novel and it was surely that. But still lazy. If one eliminated all the repetitive sex scenes, the remainder would be mighty short. I wish the
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author had stuck with her instincts to depart from the typical emotional love stories and gone wholeheartedly suspense. She certainly has the ability. Show Less
LibraryThing member Smcgovern
Enjoyed this book. Thriller, how could a mother be so cruel and fake her injury. Will read more of her books,
LibraryThing member anxovert
“It’s an okay book. There are words in it. Read it if you want.”
Note: My headline is a quote from the book that I thought would make a neat headline :)
A great read. Potentially (very) disturbing in places and absolutely worth going into blind (as I did).
"What you read will taste so bad at
Note: My headline is a quote from the book that I thought would make a neat headline :)
A great read. Potentially (very) disturbing in places and absolutely worth going into blind (as I did).
"What you read will taste so bad at
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times, you’ll want to spit it out, but you’ll swallow these words and they will become part of you, part of your gut, and you will hurt because of them." Show Less
LibraryThing member Sharn
I was leaning towards 4 stars until I got to end of this book. The fact that it left me not knowing what to actually believe boosts it to 4.5.
It's a thriller regarding a famous author that was in a car wreck leaving her incapcitated and unable to finish the last 3 books in her series so they hire
Don't pass this one up.
It's a thriller regarding a famous author that was in a car wreck leaving her incapcitated and unable to finish the last 3 books in her series so they hire
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another author to fill in but that's only the beginning.Don't pass this one up.
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LibraryThing member geza.tatrallyay
A well-written, gripping, sexy psycho-thriller. Well-worth the read.
LibraryThing member sbenne3
This is a great spring break/beach/airplane read (easy and fast!). I did find it hard to put down because I wanted to find out the twist that was building for the whole book so it was good in that respect. However, it wasn't especially well written and had several plot holes. It also had a lot of
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"sex scenes" which I didn't really think did anything to advance the plot beyond the first 2-3 (I mean, come on, we get it). Show Less
LibraryThing member ToniFGMAMTC
I have been a daily reader for a lot of my life, but the last few years, I've just been unable to focus when I try to read. I decided the give this book a try, and it was like magic. I was so into it that I couldn't wait for chances to read. It kept my attention the entire time, and it occupied my
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thoughts when I wasn't reading. I have children so some of the scene descriptions that involved children made me have to stop and take a moment. It was so well-written in that way. It made me have a reaction. It kept me on edge. I didn't know what was going to happen. This book was an amazing read for me. My only issue was with the letter at the end. The way the letter was written just felt off. Besides that, I loved it. Hopefully it also gave me my reading mojo back. :-) Show Less
LibraryThing member azmtns
I loved this book! It was so intriguing from the beginning! Lowen, a bit of a recluse and upcoming writer, is hired to finish a novel series that is written by a current, popular author, Verity. When Lowen accepts the job, she stays at the house with Verity, her husband Jeremy, and their 5 year old
Wow! This book is mind blowing. It was messed up in so many ways. It had me ranting and raving to my husband about the characters. It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop reading. I will be looking into more books by Colleen Hoover.
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son Crew so she can go through Verity's old notes and current papers to help her with the next book. But as she is going through her things, she comes across an autobiography of Verity that seems to never have been seen by anyone but her. The manuscript tells of terrible, horrible things; things she's not sure if she should show to Jeremy or hide away forever. Meanwhile, she finds herself falling harder and harder for Jeremy and she thinks he is feeling the same way. Lowen is questioning every thing in the house and wonders has Verity ever been honest, even now? Wow! This book is mind blowing. It was messed up in so many ways. It had me ranting and raving to my husband about the characters. It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop reading. I will be looking into more books by Colleen Hoover.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
Not a fan, too bad because Hoover can write and devise complex plots but this one was a complete miss for me.
LibraryThing member TheYodamom
OMg I just finished. OMg ! Holy Shiitake ! Twisted, twisted twisted. It freaked me out at one point I was jumping at every shadow in the house. Holy Shiitake !!! I never saw that ending. I'm emotionally battered now. LOL
LibraryThing member Caseynicole44
Holy crap! That's all I can say about this book. Didn't expect the turn it took at the end. By far the best CoHo book I've read yet.
LibraryThing member janismack
Story of an author that is hired to finish a series written by another author that is now in a coma. Things are not as they seem and the situation gets out of hand quickly
LibraryThing member Jynell
I don't even know where to begin with this review. I felt an entire catalog of emotions while listening to this audiobook. It's the first time I've ever felt I might genuinely vomit while listening to an audiobook, which is saying a lot since I've listened to true crime... But I was sucked into
Of course, any book that can take a reader/listener on such an emotional journey is going to be highly recommended... even if the content at times was sick and twisted. I was never bored...it was a constant flow of activity... A
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this world and couldn't make my way out of it. I HAD to know what happened at the end... and then the ending came and I hadn't expected it... another blow to my gut...Of course, any book that can take a reader/listener on such an emotional journey is going to be highly recommended... even if the content at times was sick and twisted. I was never bored...it was a constant flow of activity... A
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LibraryThing member dwcofer
The book started off strong, it had me engaged and highly interested. But the middle third of the book dragged. I even hated picking it up at times. Every time Lowan and Jeremy got close to kissing or making out, something happened. This occurred repeatedly. I was at the point of saying, just do it
The characters were decently drawn. I felt like I knew Lowan and Jeremy well, but Verity less so, for obvious reasons. Overall, this was a decent book, worthy of 3 stars, but could have been improved a lot if about a hundred pages were cut.
One warning. There is a lot of extremely detailed and explicit sexual scenes and descriptions throughout the story. If this is offensive to you, this may not be the book for you.
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and get it over with. The author dragged this out too long. The ending was not a surprise as it was telegraphed throughout the book.The characters were decently drawn. I felt like I knew Lowan and Jeremy well, but Verity less so, for obvious reasons. Overall, this was a decent book, worthy of 3 stars, but could have been improved a lot if about a hundred pages were cut.
One warning. There is a lot of extremely detailed and explicit sexual scenes and descriptions throughout the story. If this is offensive to you, this may not be the book for you.
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
A seriously twisted psychological thriller with notes of Jane Eyre and Rebecca. Despite those being two of my favorite books, this one proved a little too dark for me. A young novelist is hired to finish a series by famous author who is injured in a car crash. When she arrives at the author’s
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home things get complicated. I read it in a day and was definitely sucked in, but didn’t love it. Show Less