I have never read A book that so completely pulled me in. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Read in record time.I would recommend to anyone who likes romance, suspense, twist and turns with unexpected endings.Great job!

Incredibly disturbing and a book that totally sucks you in. It was hard to put down. Such a great read!

Verity opens with author Lowen Ashleigh having a very bad morning. Her mother died the previous week after a year-long battle with colon cancer. Lowen had a difficult relationship with her mother — “a direct result of my own mother being terrified of me,” she relates — but still brought her to Lowen’s apartment and cared for her during the last nine months of her life. Lowen is a sleepwalker and her mother kept her fairly secluded as a child, afraid of what Lowen might be capable of doing during one of many sleepwalking episodes. Now she has left her apartment in New York City for the first time in weeks, summoned to a meeting at her publisher’s office by her literary agent, Corey, with whom she was previously in an intimate relationship. Just as Lowen is waiting for a crosswalk light to change, a man steps into the street and is struck by a truck. Lowen is understandably shaken, and the man’s blood is splattered on her face and white shirt.A handsome stranger escorts her into a coffee shop bathroom and literally gives her the shirt off his back. They chat briefly, and Loewn concludes that he “wants to be invisible in this city. Just like me.” After all, she moved to New York to become part of the city’s invisible millions of invisible residents. Her books have not sold well enough for her publisher to offer her another contract unless she agrees to promote them, something she has refused to do in the past. “I’m so awkward I’m afraid once my readers meet me in person, they’ll swear off my books forever,” Lowen laments. “That’s why I stay home and write. I think the idea of me is better than the reality of me.” But another contract was her last hope. She took time off from her writing career believing that her mother would leave her some money. Now, having lived off the advance she received after signing her prior contract, she has learned that she will receive nothing from her mother’s estate. And be homeless soon, unless she receives a job offer.When Lowen arrives at her publisher’s office, she is shocked to find the man whose shirt she is wearing is attending the same meeting. He is Jeremy Crawford, husband of Verity, a very successful author who is unable to complete the series of books she was writing. Lowen is being offered a flat fee of seventy-five thousand dollars per book to write the last three volumes in the series, with the first installment due in six months. Lowen is determined to turn down the offer until Jeremy informs her that he selected her because Verity read one of Lowen’s books and it was among her favorites. She purportedly told Jeremy that they shared a similar writing style and Lowen was destined to be “the next big thing.” Verity has been catastrophically injured in a motor vehicle accident, following the deaths of both of her daughters, Chastin and Harper, leaving Jeremy to raise their young son, Crew, alone. Lowen ultimately agrees to take on the project.Lowen makes the six-hour drive to the Crawford home in Vermont, listening to the audio version of the first book in the series en route. She is to spend time in Verity’s office, reviewing the research and notes she left there in order to assess how best to approach writing the next book. Lowen meets Crew and learns that Verity’s condition is extremely serious. She is in a virtually catatonic state — uncommunicative and unable to care for herself. Caregivers spend the day in the home, with Jeremy managing at night. Lowen soon discovers that Verity’s office lacks organization — her expansive desk is strewn with stacks from end to end with papers and files, and boxes containing more documents line the walls. Clearly, the process of sorting through it all will take much longer than Lowen originally anticipated. As she begins reading Verity’s second book, she realizes the “books are from the villain’s point of view” and she will need “time to work myself into that mindset while writing.” Jeremy claims that he has never read Verity’s books because he “didn’t like being inside her head.”Author Colleen Hoover recounts Lowen’s story via a first-person narrative, with the story really taking off as Lowen attempts to settles into the Crawford home. She is keenly observant and inquisitive about Verity’s writing, as well as her family, and quickly finds herself attracted to Jeremy, who is still married to the incapacitated woman being cared for in an upstairs bedroom. Searching through Verity’s office, Lowen stumbles upon a manuscript entitled “So Be It.” Verity hopes it is an outline for the next book, but it is instead an autobiography drafted by Verity. Reading it is not what she has been hired to do, but she justifies her insatiable curiosity by construing her review of the manuscript as research. “I need to see how Verity’s mind works to understand her as a writer.” Soon she is absorbed in Verity’s descriptions of meeting Jeremy, the development of their relationship and the early days of their marriage, as well as her pregnancies and motherhood. The more she reads, the more frightened of Verity Lowen becomes, especially when events she observes appear to be inconsistent with what she has been told about Verity’s condition. Nonetheless, Lowen continues returning to the manuscript to better understand the Crawford family’s history, and gain insight into Jeremy and Verity’s marriage. But Lowen is playing a dangerous game. Verity’s purported autobiography is a dark and disturbing confession of Verity’s feelings, motivations, and unspeakably vile acts. Lowen believes the manuscript to be an accurate depiction of Verity’s life, and concludes that it “was written by a very disturbed woman — a woman whose house I currently inhabit.”Hoover ramps up the tension as Lowen becomes entangled in a budding relationship with Jeremy, influenced heavily by what she is reading in the manuscript. Verity’s revelations are horrifying, and as Lowen and Jeremy grow closer, he increasingly opens up to her, sharing details of his life with Verity about which Lowen feigns ignorance. Lowen’s suspicions about the accident in which Verity was injured grow. Is Jeremy being completely honest with Lowen? Why is he willing to embark on a new relationship with Lowen when his wife, although injured, is still alive? He claims that he cannot move Verity to a care facility because Crew cannot sustain another loss. While Verity is cared for in their home, Crew can spend unlimited amounts of time at her bedside. Lowen now possesses detailed information about the deaths of Jeremy’s daughters. Were their deaths really tragic accidents? Is Crew safe?Hoover’s characters are both fascinating and infuriating. The story is related solely from Lowen’s perspective. Her childhood was difficult because of her sleepwalking and the way it detrimentally impacted her relationship with her mother. She has achieved modest success as a writer, but because of her discomfort in social situations, her career growth has been stymied. She accepts the offer to write Verity’s next three books because she desperately needs the money, but also because it is an opportunity too good to pass up. But she is confused not only by her burgeoning attraction to Jeremy, but the incongruity between what she has been told about Verity’s accident and what transpires in the house. Of course, Lowen’s feelings and experiences are colored by the information set forth in the manuscript. Interestingly, Hoover has said that even when she depicts Lowen reading Verity’s manuscript, readers are “still not fully in Verity’s head because we’re always in Lowen’s perspective, reading something she found. When I write a book from one character’s point of view, I rarely think about the story from the other character’s perspectives. Sometimes it’s necessary for certain scenes, but with this book, it was important for me to feel the confusion and fear Lowen felt. So as the author, I had to be completely blind to what was happening from everyone else’s perspectives.” Still, as the story progresses, Hoover keeps readers guessing as to how gullible and vulnerable Lowen really is. She believes the manuscript is truthful and accurate, and that Jeremy is not the villain — if, in fact there is a villain in the Crawfords’ story. But could Lowen possibly be opportunistic, calculating, and willing to do anything to be with Jeremy?Jeremy is equally captivating. He is handsome, charming, successful, and by all outward appearances, a family man who has sustained unimaginable losses who has been able to soldier on only because he has a young son to raise. To be fair, although Verity’s prognosis is never affirmatively established, his desire to move on with his life is understandable — Verity sustained a serious head injury which will, in all likelihood, preclude her from resuming a fully normal life. But was his meeting with Lowen on the street just before the meeting at her publisher’s office really just coincidental? Did he intend for her to find the manuscript in Verity’s office? Has he been fully aware of its contents all along? About that, Hoover says, “I’m not sure because I was never in Jeremy’s head.” In other words, readers can draw their own conclusions, based on the evidence Hoover does present.And what about Verity? Is she selfishly conniving and evil, as the manuscript suggests? Or is she a blameless grieving mother who was tragically injured in a horrific car accident?The manuscript provides myriad complications. Lowen debates whether she should discuss it with Jeremy. She doesn’t believe he is aware of its existence or content. He claimed he never read Verity’s books, after all. Lowen learns that Verity was injured when her vehicle hit a tree, but there were no skidmarks on the pavement. She concludes Verity “either fell asleep or she did it on purpose.” Does it matter to Lowen which scenario is accurate? What conclusion has Jeremy drawn about the cause of the accident?Putting aside the perspective from which the story is told, no aspect of the story or the characters can be accepted at face value. Hoover includes plot twists so shocking and unnerving that Verity, originally published in 2018, continues to be one of the most-discussed psychological thrillers ever written. (There is even a Facebook discussion group devoted to the book, boasting nearly twenty-five thousand members!) The book is fast-paced, engrossing, and extremely entertaining. The story’s pace gradually accelerates with each surprising development and breath-taking revelations of the truth or, perhaps, a manipulated version of the truth. The tale careens to a jaw-dropping conclusion that will keep readers thinking, discussing, and debating Hoover’s extremely clever and nuanced tale, as well as her deliciously intriguing and morally ambiguous characters (who may prove themselves to be not as ambiguous as originally thought) for a very, very long time. Hoover says she “chose the ending because it’s frightening to me. It’s my biggest nightmare For the darkness in the worlds I create as a writer to somehow” intrude into her real life.Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book.

A very quick read. Captivating and well written. Some parts are so suspenseful and almost scary. I enjoyed the fact I couldn’t put it down.

Colleen Hoover takes a thrilling departure from her usual genre with “Verity,” a dark and gripping novel that will leave you breathless. As an author known for her emotionally charged romances, Hoover proves her versatility and mastery of storytelling by delivering a suspenseful and haunting narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”Verity” introduces us to Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is given the opportunity of a lifetime when she is asked to complete the bestselling series of Verity Crawford, a renowned author who is unable to finish her own work. As Lowen delves into Verity’s unfinished manuscript, she uncovers a chilling and disturbing truth that threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew.The characters in “Verity” are flawlessly crafted, with each one harboring secrets and hidden depths. Lowen is a relatable and complex protagonist, driven by her own demons and a desire to uncover the truth. Verity, on the other hand, is enigmatic and mysterious, leaving readers guessing about her true intentions until the very end. Their interactions are intense and filled with tension, adding an extra layer of suspense to the story.Hoover’s writing in “Verity” is utterly captivating. Her prose is sharp and evocative, creating a haunting atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark and twisted tale. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger, urging you to keep turning the pages. The plot is intricately woven, with unexpected twists and shocking revelations that will leave you gasping in disbelief.What sets “Verity” apart is Hoover’s ability to delve into the depths of human nature and explore the darkest corners of the human psyche. The novel explores themes of obsession, manipulation, and the blurred lines between truth and fiction. It’s a psychological thriller that will challenge your perceptions and make you question the characters’ motives at every turn.The tension and suspense in “Verity” are palpable, creating an atmosphere that is both chilling and addictive. Hoover expertly builds the suspense, keeping you guessing until the very end. The twists and turns are executed flawlessly, leaving no loose ends and providing a satisfying conclusion that will leave you reeling.”Verity” is a departure from Colleen Hoover’s usual writing style, but it showcases her immense talent and versatility as an author. It’s a thrilling rollercoaster ride that will leave you breathless and craving for more. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that delve into the depths of human nature, “Verity” is an absolute must-read.In conclusion, “Verity” is an unforgettable and gripping thriller that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. Colleen Hoover’s seamless transition into the suspense genre is a testament to her exceptional storytelling skills. Brace yourself for a dark and twisted journey that will leave you questioning the boundaries of truth and fiction. “Verity” is a masterpiece that deserves a place on every thriller lover’s bookshelf.

Dark and twisty. Then sexy. Then stomach wrenching. But honestly still left guessing what really happened. Definitely a good read. That keeps you on your toes and wanting more

In classic Nicholas Sparks fashion, “Remain” delivers a love story that is as heartfelt as it is emotional. The story begins with Nate, grieving the loss of his sister and struggling to heal after leaving a psychiatric facility. His close friend invites him to help design a new vacation home on a seaside bluff. While staying at a nearby historic inn, Nate meets Wren – the former owner of the property – and an unlikely friendship blossoms into a bond that ultimately brings Nate the solace and healing he desperately needs.When I first learned that Nicholas Sparks would be teaming up with M. Night Shyamalan, I was intrigued but also a bit skeptical – especially since the story dips into paranormal territory. This is not my usual genre, but I was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly the romance and supernatural elements intertwined. Sparks’ trademark emotional depth pairs beautifully with Shyamalan’s atmospheric tension, making this an unexpectedly compelling read. I highly recommend Remain to fans of Nicholas Sparks, readers of paranormal romance, or anyone open to a love story with a mysterious twist. It’s a unique collaboration that completely won me over.Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. “Remain” releases October 14th, 2025 – mark your calendars!

Remain, by Nicholas Sparks, is a paranormal love story. It is intended to lean toward the idea that the two main characters will come to love each other deeply yet be separated by the romantic divide of the living and the dead. This great idea is suitable for a YA novel.I have never read a Nicholas Sparks book before. I was attracted to this one because I really like M.Night Shamalyn’s films.I will no doubt watch the film he makes of this book.I am in my seventies.I found this novel to be an easy read but not interesting. I guessed the ending and often found this novel boring.I will stick with M.Night in the future but not move forward with Nicholas Sparks.

I loved this book, I’ve always been a fan of Nicholas sparks and I love M. Night Shy am Alan movies. Together they created amazing story line, that kept me not wanting to out this book down. This is a must read book . I won’t tell you about , read the book yourself its amazing

Any book I cannot put down gets a five star rating from me! I read Sparks early works, but can’t say he’s one of my top authors. The same with Shyamalan…I loved some of his movies, but not all. I came across a sample of Remain ,and was hooked. I cancelled my Amazon order as they couldn’t get it to me fast enough! I loved this book….these guys were a great collaboration! I do hope there is a second book from them. I highly recommend…it was just a fun read!

I could not put this book down (well Alexa read it to me). In my opinion this is Nicbolas Sparks’ best story/book so far. It was also very emotional and moving in parts. A wonderful love story.

I thought it was a good book. Interesting & well written. I read where it’s already being made into a movie. I sure hope they don’t mess it up and give it an R rating but that’s what usually happens

It was fantastic to read a collaboration between Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan. I am even more excited to learn this will be a movie. I hope they stick fairly close to the book though. There’s so much I want to say that would be a spoiler, so I cannot. But it is the best thing I have read all year…. And I read a lot.

RebelBob 88 & love to read:Nicholas Sparks is as very good story teller. I’ve read most of his books. This book is different but an interesting read. The ghost Wren is sexy and a fun person.I loved the story but wanted a more romantic ending. Maybe she will come back as a real gal and Tate will hook up with her in a bar, a sequel.. Nick, keep up the good work. Best, Bob in Farmington Hills MI.

Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin – feared, fierce, lethal. Everyone in Erilea knows her name, a name synonymous with death. But then betrayed, caught, tried, convicted, Celaena is sentenced to a lifetime in the unforgiving salt mines of Endovier as punishment for her many crimes. In an ironic twist of fate, she’s offered the chance to compete to become the Champion of the very king who condemned her; in doing so, earning her freedom… and possibly becoming Erilea’s best hope against the dark forces that would seek to destroy it.Celaena. Celaena is a character who could be considered rather… off-putting had I not read the prequel novellas that lead up to Throne of Glass. She’s irritatingly arrogant, projects an unwavering confidence, she’s overbearingly prideful, prickly, a bit of a know-it-all, she’s selfish, spoiled, abrasive, a bit of a snob, and of course, an extremely lethal assassin.Right about now you’re probably saying, “And you like her… why?”Because while she’s most certainly flawed, and possibly more than most protagonists, the four novellas prior give the reader a front row seat as to the circumstances that brought Celaena to the salt mines of Endovier, and just what made Celaena Sardothien, the Celaena Sardothien. The character development these four “episodes” provide is invaluable and engenders an empathy for this tough-as-nails girl assassin who’s endured so much and become so hardened in her very short life. Because although Celaena is all those things mentioned above, underneath the facade she’s also an intriguing mixture of insecurity, doubt, fear, sorrow. She’s a smart girl who’s learned very quickly that emotion can be exploited by one’s enemies and that the only person she can really count on is herself. Nothing in life is guaranteed, especially people. People leave, they die, they betray, they fail. Celaena is not a person who gives her trust, nor does she open her heart to others, easily. This is even true for the reader. While who Celaena is becomes apparent to the reader, there are certain things about her that remain a closely guarded secret. Celaena reveals about herself only what she wants to be known, though there are moments when her defenses are breached, giving the reader tantalizing clues about the mysteries of Celaena’s life.So, coming into Throne of Glass knowing what I know about her, I loved Celaena. Because in addition to those other qualities she’s also infectiously passionate, she’s brave, perceptive, quick-witted with a tongue that’s as sharp as her sword, she has a talent for reading people and situations, and she has a soft spot for the mistreated and oppressed. She’s a perplexing tangle of curiously childlike and being wise beyond her years. She’s a girl, who at the beginning of this novel has endured shattering betrayal and excruciating heartbreak… which made me want to give her a hug, knowing full well that I might come out of the encounter with a bloody nose and broken fingers. And though she is a ruthless assassin, she does have a sense of honor, a code by which she acts, and her line of work does indeed cause her some moral conflict. She’s just a very well done, thoroughly complicated, slightly broken character, which if you’ve read enough of my reviews, you’ll know those are the ones I love the most.Dorian & Chaol. The Crown Prince and his Captain of the Guard. A reader and a warrior. The best of friends. Both fascinated with the same girl. A very, very dangerous girl.For Prince Dorian, selecting Celaena Sardothien as his Champion in the competition was a way to thumb his nose at his father’s authority while still adhering to his father’s wishes. His relationship with Celaena was never supposed to get personal, but her wit, passion and snark, so different from that of the simpering court ladies, intrigues him in ways he never expected.Reserved, devoted to duty, honor and excellence, Captain Chaol Westfall’s personal opinion of his prince’s chosen Champion isn’t very high. She’s nothing but a convict, a murderer of countless people. She’s manipulative, dishonorable, not to be trusted, soulless and devoid of humanity… right? However, as Chaol trains and guards the young assassin for the competition, he discovers that his initial opinion of the notorious Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, may have been hasty and unfair.Yes. I’ll just put it out there… this is a love triangle. But the way it’s developed, it’s believable, and never feels overly melodramatic. Two best friends; two guys who are both very similar in values, and yet very different in personality; two guys, flawed but wonderful; two guys who both compliment Celaena well, but in different ways; Two guys like this falling for the same young woman for different reasons? I can totally see that happening. I loved the gradual change as both of them began to see Celaena as more than just a convicted criminal and as an actual person with a heart and a soul… and eventually, perhaps, as a friend. Knowing the state in which the novellas left her heart, I was a tad hesitant about the romance aspect of this book (Sam…), but it works and it’s done really well… to the point where it’s tearing me up a little because both guys are just so…sigh-inducingly wonderful.World. It’s obvious to me that the continent of Erilea has been something Sarah J. Maas has been developing for a very long time. From climates, to languages, to landmarks, to legends and local lore, it’s a very polished, beautiful and complete world that Celaena Sardothien resides in. Plus, this book got a few automatic points in its favor because it includes a gorgeously drawn and detailed map, which I put to very good use while reading.Story. There are so many things going on in this book, so many threads of things – both subtle and overt – that Sarah is weaving to create a bigger, broader picture. From the main storyline of the competition, to the mystery behind the murders of the Champions, to the unrest in the conquered lands of Erilea, to the abolition of magic, to the political maneuverings and machinations of the royal court, to Celaena’s personal mysteries, plus a few threads from the novellas that have not yet been addressed – there’s just a lot of story there to work with and Sarah does a fantastic job of keeping a handle on all of them and developing them simultaneously. It’s an exciting, fantastic plot, with a deliciously deliberate and well-planned complexity that kept my nose glued to the page.Overall. Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass is darkly enchanting, heartrendingly romantic, unfailingly action-packed and exciting – a definite page-turner and a sure-fire favorite. So read this. Read it now… or risk the wrath of Celaena Sardothien.

I’ve read Sarah J Maas ACOTAR series and loved it so I thought I’d give this one a shot. You can tell the writing is definitely not as good as even her first novel in the ACOTAR series. During the preview, k was worried it would be too young teen adult for me (28 yr old). Regardless, I’m glad I listened to the audiobook of this.The world building is great and it definitely has the Sarah J maas classic twists, underdog determination, and mystery. The environment setting isn’t as good, but you can tell as you go on in the series that her writing develops quickly and greatly.I am on the third book of the throne of glass series and I’m definitely glad I started it. It’s starting to get to ACOTAR level writing. I’d recommend that anyone who’s a big fan of ACOTAR read the first few books. If you want, you can read them via audiobook so you can increase the speed when you want and so you can get the full backstory of all the characters.

THE STORY:Becca : WOW! I mean just WOW! What took us so long to read this Lisa?! I have no idea why I waited so long!! Throne of Glass is absolutely everything it is hyped to be! Action packed, with a hint of romance and fierce characters that are totally bad a$$! I loved everything about this book from the first page to the last!Caelena Sardothien is an assassin, or at least she was until she was captured and forced into captivity and slavery. When the Crown Prince finds her and offers her one shot a freedom, she has no choice but to accept his offer. She is to be placed into a competition (with all men) as Prince Dorian’s champion and fight to become a royal assassin. will live in the castle and be trained by the Captain of the Guard Chaol Westfall. When one of the other competitors turns up dead, Caelena discovers there is a lot more going on in the castle than she expected.Throne of Glass isn’t just about the competition that Cealena is in, there is so much going on throughout the entire novel! It is so full of action and from one second to the next I never knew what was going to happen! I absolutely loved it!Lisa : Right?! I really don’t know why we waited so long. Well, in all honestly, I did attempt to read this last year… but I wasn’t in the mood for it, and felt that I wasn’t giving it my full attention. I have that issue a lot with fantasy reads. So I ended up putting it down. Picking it back up AND buddy reading it with Becca was the perfect solution, and I loved it this time around! Some books are just even more fun with friends!THE CHARACTERS:Lisa : Celaena Sardothien was some kickass heroine! I loved her spunky and unwillingness to turn the other cheek. She was a toughy, and the fact that she was going up against all men never seemed to phase her. She was determined to do her best and never give up. She gave these guys a run for their money, and never batted an eyelash in the process. Definitely my kind of girl!”Here’s a lesson for you, Weapons Master,” she said, stalking past him. “Give me real men to fight. Then maybe I’ll bother trying.”I also completely adored Nehemia and her strength and smarts. This girl had willpower only comparable to Calaena’s. That’s right, you read it correctly… TWO amazingly strong heroines to take part in this story!With all the guy “team” talk I’ve seen, I had no idea which way I would go with this one… but I’m totally Team Choal. There’s just something about him I really enjoyed. Maybe his total unwillingness to accept his feelings for Calaena, or maybe how protective and strong her came off. Either way, he was totally *SWOON* in my opinion!Becca : Caelena was so totally bad a$$ and awesome! I have definitely read some fierce and heroic heroines Katniss, Tris, Penryn and Caelena definitely tops that list of amazing and unforgettable heroines! I was so captivated by her from the very beginning with her slavery in the mines and then with the competition when all of her competitors were men and she fought so hard and was full of confidence and ability!I agree completely with Lisa that Nehemia was just as amazing! Nehemia provided Caelena with a friend and confidant and I loved their friendship. Once they learned to trust each other, they were unstoppable!“You could rattle the stars,” she whispered. “You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”I have seen all the team talk as well regarding this series and I did my best to ignore it so that I could form my own opinion without preconceived notions. Although, from what I’ve seen there seems to be an even divide between Chaol and Dorian. After reading Throne of Glass I understand why, they are both pretty amazing! Without spoiling this for others… I am ALL team Chaol over here! I loved the friendship and trust that he and Caelena formed.Even the villains were perfect! Kane, Princess Kaltain and The King were so unlikable and despicable and I loved to hate them!“Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us–to haunt our thoughts long after we’ve faced them.”This cast of characters was amazing and Maas completely blew me away with how well she developed each one of them! She built a lovable (and sometimes not so lovable) and unforgettable cast of characters!OVERALL:Becca : Sarah J Maas built such an amazing Fantasy world and I was quickly swept into it! The characters, the world building and the story line were all addicting and I cannot wait to continue with this series! This was my first book by Maas and I am excited and eager to read more!“I like music,” she said slowly, “because when I hear it, I . . . I lose myself within myself, if that makes any sense. I become empty and full all at once, and I can feel the whole earth roiling around me. When I play. I’m not . . . for once, I’m not destroying, I’m creating.”Lisa : I first fell in love with SJM when I read A Court of Thorns and Roses earlier this year. The way she forms her words into such perfection, taking us to another world completely is astounding. Since I don’t read a lot of books in the fantasy genre, it’s tough for me to find go-to authors that I’m confident I will enjoy. Sarah J. Maas is now my number one fantasy author! I will definitely be continuing on with this series. If only I could get my hands on Crown of Midnight , like, today!

i read the book in a week. for me its outrageously fast. the story moves fast and the author through in enough sex(not Porno) to get the plot going. its about real people, real people have sex. real people do things it all the other things that make it twisty. for me a good read and kept my attention.

Wow! Verity was beyond captivating—I couldn’t put it down. The psychological tension and dark twists had me questioning reality right there with the characters.This book stayed with me long after i finished, an absolute must-read!

Verity opens with author Lowen Ashleigh having a very bad morning. Her mother died the previous week after a year-long battle with colon cancer. Lowen had a difficult relationship with her mother — “a direct result of my own mother being terrified of me,” she relates — but still brought her to Lowen’s apartment and cared for her during the last nine months of her life. Lowen is a sleepwalker and her mother kept her fairly secluded as a child, afraid of what Lowen might be capable of doing during one of many sleepwalking episodes. Now she has left her apartment in New York City for the first time in weeks, summoned to a meeting at her publisher’s office by her literary agent, Corey, with whom she was previously in an intimate relationship. Just as Lowen is waiting for a crosswalk light to change, a man steps into the street and is struck by a truck. Lowen is understandably shaken, and the man’s blood is splattered on her face and white shirt.A handsome stranger escorts her into a coffee shop bathroom and literally gives her the shirt off his back. They chat briefly, and Loewn concludes that he “wants to be invisible in this city. Just like me.” After all, she moved to New York to become part of the city’s invisible millions of invisible residents. Her books have not sold well enough for her publisher to offer her another contract unless she agrees to promote them, something she has refused to do in the past. “I’m so awkward I’m afraid once my readers meet me in person, they’ll swear off my books forever,” Lowen laments. “That’s why I stay home and write. I think the idea of me is better than the reality of me.” But another contract was her last hope. She took time off from her writing career believing that her mother would leave her some money. Now, having lived off the advance she received after signing her prior contract, she has learned that she will receive nothing from her mother’s estate. And be homeless soon, unless she receives a job offer.When Lowen arrives at her publisher’s office, she is shocked to find the man whose shirt she is wearing is attending the same meeting. He is Jeremy Crawford, husband of Verity, a very successful author who is unable to complete the series of books she was writing. Lowen is being offered a flat fee of seventy-five thousand dollars per book to write the last three volumes in the series, with the first installment due in six months. Lowen is determined to turn down the offer until Jeremy informs her that he selected her because Verity read one of Lowen’s books and it was among her favorites. She purportedly told Jeremy that they shared a similar writing style and Lowen was destined to be “the next big thing.” Verity has been catastrophically injured in a motor vehicle accident, following the deaths of both of her daughters, Chastin and Harper, leaving Jeremy to raise their young son, Crew, alone. Lowen ultimately agrees to take on the project.Lowen makes the six-hour drive to the Crawford home in Vermont, listening to the audio version of the first book in the series en route. She is to spend time in Verity’s office, reviewing the research and notes she left there in order to assess how best to approach writing the next book. Lowen meets Crew and learns that Verity’s condition is extremely serious. She is in a virtually catatonic state — uncommunicative and unable to care for herself. Caregivers spend the day in the home, with Jeremy managing at night. Lowen soon discovers that Verity’s office lacks organization — her expansive desk is strewn with stacks from end to end with papers and files, and boxes containing more documents line the walls. Clearly, the process of sorting through it all will take much longer than Lowen originally anticipated. As she begins reading Verity’s second book, she realizes the “books are from the villain’s point of view” and she will need “time to work myself into that mindset while writing.” Jeremy claims that he has never read Verity’s books because he “didn’t like being inside her head.”Author Colleen Hoover recounts Lowen’s story via a first-person narrative, with the story really taking off as Lowen attempts to settles into the Crawford home. She is keenly observant and inquisitive about Verity’s writing, as well as her family, and quickly finds herself attracted to Jeremy, who is still married to the incapacitated woman being cared for in an upstairs bedroom. Searching through Verity’s office, Lowen stumbles upon a manuscript entitled “So Be It.” Verity hopes it is an outline for the next book, but it is instead an autobiography drafted by Verity. Reading it is not what she has been hired to do, but she justifies her insatiable curiosity by construing her review of the manuscript as research. “I need to see how Verity’s mind works to understand her as a writer.” Soon she is absorbed in Verity’s descriptions of meeting Jeremy, the development of their relationship and the early days of their marriage, as well as her pregnancies and motherhood. The more she reads, the more frightened of Verity Lowen becomes, especially when events she observes appear to be inconsistent with what she has been told about Verity’s condition. Nonetheless, Lowen continues returning to the manuscript to better understand the Crawford family’s history, and gain insight into Jeremy and Verity’s marriage. But Lowen is playing a dangerous game. Verity’s purported autobiography is a dark and disturbing confession of Verity’s feelings, motivations, and unspeakably vile acts. Lowen believes the manuscript to be an accurate depiction of Verity’s life, and concludes that it “was written by a very disturbed woman — a woman whose house I currently inhabit.”Hoover ramps up the tension as Lowen becomes entangled in a budding relationship with Jeremy, influenced heavily by what she is reading in the manuscript. Verity’s revelations are horrifying, and as Lowen and Jeremy grow closer, he increasingly opens up to her, sharing details of his life with Verity about which Lowen feigns ignorance. Lowen’s suspicions about the accident in which Verity was injured grow. Is Jeremy being completely honest with Lowen? Why is he willing to embark on a new relationship with Lowen when his wife, although injured, is still alive? He claims that he cannot move Verity to a care facility because Crew cannot sustain another loss. While Verity is cared for in their home, Crew can spend unlimited amounts of time at her bedside. Lowen now possesses detailed information about the deaths of Jeremy’s daughters. Were their deaths really tragic accidents? Is Crew safe?Hoover’s characters are both fascinating and infuriating. The story is related solely from Lowen’s perspective. Her childhood was difficult because of her sleepwalking and the way it detrimentally impacted her relationship with her mother. She has achieved modest success as a writer, but because of her discomfort in social situations, her career growth has been stymied. She accepts the offer to write Verity’s next three books because she desperately needs the money, but also because it is an opportunity too good to pass up. But she is confused not only by her burgeoning attraction to Jeremy, but the incongruity between what she has been told about Verity’s accident and what transpires in the house. Of course, Lowen’s feelings and experiences are colored by the information set forth in the manuscript. Interestingly, Hoover has said that even when she depicts Lowen reading Verity’s manuscript, readers are “still not fully in Verity’s head because we’re always in Lowen’s perspective, reading something she found. When I write a book from one character’s point of view, I rarely think about the story from the other character’s perspectives. Sometimes it’s necessary for certain scenes, but with this book, it was important for me to feel the confusion and fear Lowen felt. So as the author, I had to be completely blind to what was happening from everyone else’s perspectives.” Still, as the story progresses, Hoover keeps readers guessing as to how gullible and vulnerable Lowen really is. She believes the manuscript is truthful and accurate, and that Jeremy is not the villain — if, in fact there is a villain in the Crawfords’ story. But could Lowen possibly be opportunistic, calculating, and willing to do anything to be with Jeremy?Jeremy is equally captivating. He is handsome, charming, successful, and by all outward appearances, a family man who has sustained unimaginable losses who has been able to soldier on only because he has a young son to raise. To be fair, although Verity’s prognosis is never affirmatively established, his desire to move on with his life is understandable — Verity sustained a serious head injury which will, in all likelihood, preclude her from resuming a fully normal life. But was his meeting with Lowen on the street just before the meeting at her publisher’s office really just coincidental? Did he intend for her to find the manuscript in Verity’s office? Has he been fully aware of its contents all along? About that, Hoover says, “I’m not sure because I was never in Jeremy’s head.” In other words, readers can draw their own conclusions, based on the evidence Hoover does present.And what about Verity? Is she selfishly conniving and evil, as the manuscript suggests? Or is she a blameless grieving mother who was tragically injured in a horrific car accident?The manuscript provides myriad complications. Lowen debates whether she should discuss it with Jeremy. She doesn’t believe he is aware of its existence or content. He claimed he never read Verity’s books, after all. Lowen learns that Verity was injured when her vehicle hit a tree, but there were no skidmarks on the pavement. She concludes Verity “either fell asleep or she did it on purpose.” Does it matter to Lowen which scenario is accurate? What conclusion has Jeremy drawn about the cause of the accident?Putting aside the perspective from which the story is told, no aspect of the story or the characters can be accepted at face value. Hoover includes plot twists so shocking and unnerving that Verity, originally published in 2018, continues to be one of the most-discussed psychological thrillers ever written. (There is even a Facebook discussion group devoted to the book, boasting nearly twenty-five thousand members!) The book is fast-paced, engrossing, and extremely entertaining. The story’s pace gradually accelerates with each surprising development and breath-taking revelations of the truth or, perhaps, a manipulated version of the truth. The tale careens to a jaw-dropping conclusion that will keep readers thinking, discussing, and debating Hoover’s extremely clever and nuanced tale, as well as her deliciously intriguing and morally ambiguous characters (who may prove themselves to be not as ambiguous as originally thought) for a very, very long time. Hoover says she “chose the ending because it’s frightening to me. It’s my biggest nightmare For the darkness in the worlds I create as a writer to somehow” intrude into her real life.Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book.

I read it in a day and a half. I couldn’t put it down. I even woke during the night to read it. You are hooked straight away and it keeps you wanting more.

If you love a whodunnit, snatch up this book and you’ll devour it in a few short hours! My first reading of Colleen Hoover, I’ll definitely get another title. Coleen has an easy style of writing that grabs you from the 1st page! Highly recommend!

Ah, the webs we weave when first we practice to deceive. WOW! This is one twisted tale. When you meet the partner of your dreams, would you do whatever it took to form bonds with them that you thought would guarantee a lifetime commitment? If you knew within yourself that it was all an act, could you live the lie? If you were a sociopath you could. Because you had made the decision that this person would fit a certain criteria before you even met. You also knew how much you were willing to risk to manipulate said person into each situation so that you always came out the winner. Because it’s all a game you have created. You make the rules and decide on the consequences. Are you the gamer or the game?

Very recommended! There is not a moment in this book that gets boring or repetitive. It was a GREAT read, at least for me. I couldn’t put the book down, one more chapter, kept saying to myself, which became 3-4 chapters until my sleep would win me over.

This was an easy-to-read book. It did have you wondering what was going on. You feel for two of the three main characters, but towards the end, I started to suspect maybe the husband wasn’t all he was supposed to be. I am not sure I really believe in the premise of the wife’s reason for writing her journal, but I must say that it was a plot that was totally new to me. When trying to decide between a 4 and 5 star rating, I picked a 4 because I did not feel it was worthy of keeping in my book collection. Also, I felt I couldn’t give it to my mother or conservative friends because of all the talk of F—ing and sucking.

Ok, that’s a lie. I have lots of words I just don’t know how to formulate them. This book gave me all the feels. I absolutely loved the main characters, their banter, passion, individual motivations, personalities, and their closeness. The plot was exciting without straying too far from the love story and yet it all centered around their love story. Definitely a fun, exciting must read with phenomenally well written yearning and spice. I could go on and on but I’ll stop there.

So this was a great read, i loved Koen and Serena. The slow burn was delicious— some parts on both sides were frustrating as we learned about the wolf side of things (trying to hide the spoilers). It felt like a true journey for both fmc and mmc to explore their feeling and innate abilities. The cult theme was an interesting add to the story. The YEARNING was absolutely incredible and deliciously written. I feel like it was drawn out a little bit, but the ending was very good. Not a 5/5 read for me like Bride was but Ali Hazewoof is absolutely a top tier Were trope writer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Ali Hazelwood does it again!I absolutely adored Mate! Ali Hazelwood created something truly special with Serena and Keon — their connection felt so real and so powerful. Serena is strong, witty, and determined, while Keon is that perfect mix of protective and vulnerable. The chemistry between them is unreal — every glance, every line of banter, every quiet moment had me completely hooked.I loved watching their relationship grow from guarded tension to deep, soul-level love. It’s emotional, funny, romantic, and beautifully written — the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish. Ali Hazelwood gave us two unforgettable characters who balance each other perfectly, and I couldn’t get enough of them.If you love slow-burn romance, smart heroines, and a hero who will do anything for the woman he loves, Mate is an absolute must-read. Serena and Keon are pure perfection. ???? Easily one of my favorite reads of the year! ????

Mate by Ali Hazelwood – A Captivating Continuation of the Bride UniversePicking up right where Bride left off, Mate plunges us into Serena and Koen’s gripping story. As one of only two known hybrids, Serena is a symbol of hope to some—and a threat to others. With a bounty on her head, she seeks protection from the last place she ever expected: the Northwest Pack and its powerful, duty-bound Alpha, Koen.Koen has always put his pack first. But everything shifts the moment he discovers Serena is his mate. Torn between loyalty and love, Koen finds himself walking a dangerous line—especially with secrets that, once revealed, could sever their bond before it has a chance to truly begin.Serena is whip-smart, curious, and deeply human in her vulnerability. Despite her lack of knowledge about her Were side, she meets challenges head-on, often using humor and sarcasm to mask her insecurities—making her incredibly relatable and easy to root for.Koen, ever the stoic protector, tries to resist his attraction, keeping himself busy and distant. Yet the pull toward Serena is undeniable. Those closest to him see the potential for happiness but also feel the weight of duty—the tension is palpable, and the emotional stakes are sky-high.The surrounding cast brings added complexity, with acceptance tinged by unease, as traditions and pack loyalty threaten to pull everything apart.As for the spice? ???????????????? Ali Hazelwood delivers with perfection—smoldering tension, slow-burn yearning, and delicious anticipation that builds beautifully into every intimate moment. I devoured Mate in a single day. It was emotional, addictive, and absolutely unforgettable.Ali Hazelwood proves once again why she’s a master of balancing heart, heat, and high stakes.

This book is just a good time. The banter, between all the characters had me cracking up. The plot was ok, but this is more of a cozy fantasy than high stakes so it was totally fine. I would love to see more stories from this world and learn about different characters, so I really hope she writes more I really just enjoyed this book and her writing style. Everyone felt very relatable too, even if they were werewolves and vampire.

Fabulously written book about “broken relationships.” Full of cliffhanging moments that contain both breathless, heartbreaking and tender moments and surprise plot twists throughout. Great read! Great book group discussion book as well.

Some books quietly work their way into your heart. Others grab you from page one and refuse to let go. Broken Country is firmly in the latter camp. I devoured it in two days, completely swept up in its pages. It’s one of those rare reads that pulls you in so deeply, the real world fades away. I didn’t mind the escape.This novel manages to be a lot of things at once without ever losing its footing. It has a haunting love story, a twisty murder mystery, and it absolutely qualifies as historical fiction. But more than any of those labels, it’s simply really good literary fiction. It reads like a slow burn and a gut punch at the same time.Clare Leslie Hall’s (not her real name) writing is mesmerizing. Her prose is lyrical without being overwrought, and her characters are so carefully drawn, they feel like people you’ve known in another life. The landscapes are rendered with such poetic detail, you’ll swear you smelled the dust and felt the wind. The emotional weight is heavy, but in the best possible way. This book made me feel everything—love, longing, grief, redemption. At times, it was almost too much, but that’s what makes it unforgettable.The story lingers in the gray areas: between right and wrong, between justice and mercy, between love and obsession. It never feels like it’s trying too hard to be profound, yet it leaves you thinking long after the final page.This is a book I would actually re-read, not because I missed something the first time, but because I want to feel it all over again.An easy five stars. Highly recommend to anyone who likes their fiction smart but readable, soulful, and just a little devastating.

Some reviews describe ‘Broken Country’ as a romance, and others describe it as a thriller. It is both but, more importantly, it is a literary novel of historical fiction that is a great read. Whether you want a novel for your airplane ride, or you want a deep read, you will get both in this novel.The novel centers around a married couple, Beth and Frank, who live on a farm in England. They love each other deeply despite the tragic death of their son several years ago, for which Frank feels responsible. The novel is told in different timelines, one in the relatively near past and one in the present, late 1960’s. They are very close with Frank’s brother Jimmy who appears to be an immature binge drinker. All is copacetic until Gabriel, Beth’s first love, enters their lives after Frank shoots and kills Gabriel’s son’s dog who is a danger to the farm animals.It is not difficult to see where the narrative is going and what will happen in the immediate future. What is difficult to fathom is where the novel is headed down the line. There are twists and turns as the author explores the impact of infidelity on the marriage, on Beth, and on Gabriel and his son. We know from the very beginning that someone has been killed. Who it is, why they were killed, and who the killer is, is not revealed until the very end of the novel.I loved the book and had my head in it for two days, until I finished it. It is mesmerizing, well-written, and the characterizations are strong and carefully drawn out. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves literary fiction, historical fiction, a twisty murder mystery and an obsessive love story.

I could not put the book down! I loved this book. Writing flowed well; it was full of passion, love, heartache, and mystery.

This story grabbed me from the first paragraphs. The author made me feel the protagonist’s emotions deeply and kept me riveted throughout the book. It is a tragic love story set in the sixties but felt timeless. I completely enjoyed the book.

Beautifully written with lots of unexpected turns. A story of true and unending love and forgiveness. The ending is the best.

One of the best books I have ever read. There’s tragedy, romance, suspense…everything you need. Such a good story!!! A must read!!

Read this one in my book club, the hype was there- but I was disappointed. It just wasn’t good quality writing. The plot was average. The writing was average. The imagery was average. Reminded me of the show The Ranch on Netflix only if it took place in the end of the 80s, you know what I mean?It’s a good airplane movie.

I was hooked from the beginning. The world building, the pacing, the character introductions, the intrigue and the attention to detail was written so well.In my opinion this could be perceived as a confusing fantasy world, consider reading it when you are in the mood for something new with a more complex world in terms of story telling but overall I found it captivating.I loved the story. I found fascinating the concept of creators, dragons and all of the other magical creatures. The new magic system was engaging.I enjoyed reading the diary entries, slowly getting the pieces of the puzzle together.The chemistry and banter between Raeve and Kaan was delightful and the slow burn was perfectly written.Perfect if you are in the mood of something adventurous, dark, emotional, funny, mysterious, sad and dragons.

✨ VIBE CHECKThink: Slaying the Vampire Conqueror meets The Plated Prisoner⭐ V&V RATINGOverall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Spice Level: ????️????️.5Emotional Damage: I cried – a LOT (and I am not a crier when it comes to books!)Pacing: PerfectWriting Style: Very descriptive and detailed. There is a poetic style to the writing throughout the book, though it does not fall into the category of “purple prose”.Main Characters: FMC – Reave, MMC – Kaan Vaegor???? SUMMARY (NO SPOILERS)Knowing only a life of death and destruction, Raeve works as an assassin in the employ of the Fiur du Ath, a group of rebels looking to overthrow the ruling Vaegor family, in order to free the land from tyranny. When a mark goes wrong, Raeve finds herself captured by The Guild of Nobles and as she sits and awaits her fate, her memories begin to stir from a life forgotten. A mysterious hooded man from her past stumbles upon her in a dungeon, but what she doesn’t realize is that man is Kaan Vaegor, King of The Burn, brother to her sworn enemy and the only person who can explain why her heart is pulled towards someone she is supposed to hate.???? REVIEW THOUGHTSI loved this book, for so many reasons.First, I love reading about a badass FMC (hello Celaena Sardothian anyone?) – and Raeve fits the bill perfectly! She’s an assassin who is out taking out the bad guys, and really, who doesn’t love a black cat personality with a heart of gold? I also found her to be something other FMCs are not – funny! There is a sass level to Raeve that I fully support and applaud. It made her character feel more real.Second, the world that Sarah builds for us is beautiful and rich. Now, I’m not going to lie – when I opened the book and saw the glossary of terms, places, gods, creatures, etc. I was worried I’d be overwhelmed. Not only was I not frazzled trying to keep up with the amazingly lush, new world that was unfolding around me as I read, but kudos to Sarah for including that beautiful glossary (never used one more and loved every minute of it).Third, the MMC – Kaan Vaegor. May I just take a moment to say – MA’AM! The things this man would do for the woman he loves. Reading a book with a MMC like Kaan is just different; it simply hits your soul on a different level. The longing and yearning that comes from Kaan, as he attempts to warm the icy heart of our FMC, ended up melting my heart in the process (and earning him the number #3 spot on my most updated book boyfriend list).And Fourth, the mystery and the emotional damage. I love, love, LOVE a good mystery. When a dark romantasy can bring a bit of mystery and even chaos to my world – even better! This book brought all of that and more. I reached for the box of tissues more times than I think I ever have with any other book – it was shocking really. The way the mystery unfolds will keep you guessing and theories will abound as we await the second book in the duology.???? FAVORITE ELEMENTSFavorite character(s): Kaan Vaegor (MMC) – morally grey with a delicious cinnamon roll center, willing to do ANYTHING for the woman he lovesBest trope moment: The first time he drops the nickname “Moonbeam”, my heart meltedBook boyfriend ranking (scale of 1-5????): ???????????????? This man is giving Slade Ravinger vibes…need I REALLY say more?Audiobook note (if applicable): Available, Dual Narration with Sarah Mollo-Christensen & Fajer Al-Kalsi. NOTE: I only listened to a sample, but found Fajer Al-Kalsi’s narration to be nice and may listen as my re-read before the second book comes out (and I’m picky when it comes to my audiobook selections).???? COMPARABLE TITLES / FANDOM CROSSOVERIf you like The Plated Prisoner series and Throne of Glass, or anything written by Carissa Broadbent – but with dragons and elemental magic and gods, then the Moonfall duology is for you.

My favorite book of 2024! This book had it’s emotional claws in me from start to finish. I could identify so much emotionally with the characters that it felt like i was truly in the story so much that putting the book down was disorienting returning to reality. I credit that to the author and her incredible writing. I haven’t experienced that level of immersion in a story in a while.

I’d heard mixed reviews on this book, but I absolutely loved it. It’s a lengthy book, but I finished it in less than 2 days. It’s definitely a unique writing style so I can understand why some people weren’t a fan, but I personally loved it! It had a unique story line and I didn’t find it predictable at all. Eagerly awaiting the second book! Product arrived exactly as described.

Honestly, this book is a bit overhyped. It starts out strong but kinda stalls in a few places. There’s a good amount of plot twists, but also lots of plot holes (but I know there two more books coming so I assume most if not all those holes will be covered in the next books. Also, be prepared for the WORDISEST book ever. Just words words words. And I’m not talking about its length (yes it’s fairly long!) but my GOSH this author just describes everything in such excess that sometimes you have to just skip ahead a few lines. Some people call it poetic, but I feel it’s just a bit babbling.Characters are fairly “unique” and interesting. Need more background on most and context about them though (again, guessing this will come in the next books).For the young or more “modest” readers:I would say this is definitely an 18+ book. As for spice, there wasn’t a TON (which is good IMO, I want majority plot) but what is in there is pretty descriptive (specifically thinking of at least 3 scenes). Skippable if you want to, but also has a little “info” sprinkled in so you might need to glaze over to find it. Not suitable for minors.The language, excessively vulgar. I definitely expect foul language, slurs, vulgar comments, etc in an adult book – but when there’s like 10 swears on one page alone it’s just unnecessary. Even declarations of love often included F-bombs????????‍♀️????. Not super romantic IMO. Just feels a little classless when most characters are swearing through more than half their lines.Violence is pretty common especially in the beginning. Pretty bloody so this book might not be for you if you don’t like gore. But I don’t recall any SA.Overall, the unnecessary amount of babble, excessive language, and stalling parts that made me avoid reading for a day or two until I was finally curious about what would happen next… makes me rate this book less than the 5 stars most people rave about. Hopefully the next 2 books iron out these things so make the experience just more streamlined.