It's always difficult to review a very popular book and this book has been reviewed quite a few times by avid readers all over the world. So, I would rather call my writeup a discussion for clearing of thoughts. Or even maybe sharing of unpopular opinion. I am open to any explanations too. Major spoilers ahead!
It's not that I didn't like the book but I didn't actually cherish it. It mostly felt like I was reading some script for an Ekta Kapoor serial- a hero who is the epitome of manhood and 2 heroines who love him to death and all these tragedies keep happening to him or them. One heroine is even ready to go to any lengths to get his love and attention. I really didn't connect with the characters. Also, I didn't even understand how did they connect with each other! Ok, Jeremy and Verity didn't connect, we get to know gradually but why did Jeremy and Lowen connect? I mean like how? Just by exchanging shirts in a washroom and talking about death Jeremy felt an instant connect with Lowen? Is that even possible or am I just being too practical?
Here i will digress and speak about CoHo's IEWU where I had felt the same about Lily and Ryle. Although I went gaga over the book, it was only because of Atlas and their connection, which is quite understandable because they shared tragedies but Lily and Ryle was too superficial. Can really with one kiss someone become so irresistible to someone? Where is the developement of love here? Or am I being too practical again????
Secondly, is it really that easy to kill a human? Verity is okay because we think she is a psycopath but then Jeremy too? A person who is so lovable, so kind and caring kills another at the drop of a hat! Then who is the real psycopath here, Verity or Jeremy? One may justify it was because of his rage and hatred for Verity but even still, he can harm, he can tear the house down, he can cry and go to the police but to kill so easily! I don't know, maybe I am again thinking too logically for a work of fiction.
Thirdly, this story was too predictable! Maybe I have read too many American thrillers and watched too many True Crime series because I felt I knew the ending. Or maybe I have read too many master thriller writers. Maybe I should take a break from American writers for a while.
There are a lot more things that ran through my mind while reading this book, specially about the title. It shouldn't have been called Verity but something else (eye rolls here).
Many will not agree with what I have stated because this is a much loved book by the masses but these are just my opinion as a reader. I will maybe like CoHo's other books like I loved IEWU and ISWU. But then again, maybe my taste as a reader has also changed....
Too many maybe's'... maybe i should remane this as a 'maybe' rather than book review.