Last Updated on August 20, 2023 by Louisa
I absolutely loved Verity by Colleen Hoover for its fast-paced storyline and abundance of suspense.
The whole time I was reading, I kept asking myself a series of questions; But WHY!? What is happening!? What happened to the little girls and is Verity really that much of a psycho?
From start to finish, I was hooked. And when it ended, I wasn’t ready to give up on the suspense.
If you’re like me and you’re after books like Verity with suspense, mystery, and a little hint of thriller and romance, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, I’ve listed my top similar books, for those who are unsure what to read after Verity.
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Quick Answer: Top 3 Picks
Need a book fast but don’t have much time? Don’t worry, I hear you! Here are my top three favorite books like Verity…
Our Favourites!
#1 Best Highly Acclaimed Novel
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
- About a teenager looking to find her twin at Willowbrook State School, a secure school.
- Based on a real school notorious for its horrifying conditions and poor treatment of its students.
- Fast paced and full of suspense.
#2 Best Thriller Book Like Verity
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
- Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel by An American Author.
- About how a medical chamber that can cure autism was set on fire. A suspense story to find out who did it.
- Told through multiple perspectives.
#3 Best Mystery Story
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- About a young boy named Daniel who is given a rare book by an author. When he seeks to find more about the author, he finds someone is trying to destroy all his books.
- Poetically written, with hints of coming of age and romance.
- Suspenseful, but more slow burning than Verity
Related Reading: Read our honest review of Verity by Colleen Hoover here
Summary of Verity
But before we go into what to read after Verity, let’s quickly recap the story so we know what to look for in similar titles. Don’t worry, I won’t reveal any spoilers if you haven’t finished reading it yet.
Lowen is a struggling author who is soon to be evicted. When one day, she is asked to attend a meeting with her publishers for a special, secret assignment.
She is tasked with writing the last three books of Verity Crawford, an acclaimed author known for writing thriller novels from the villain’s perspective. She is told that Verity was in a car accident and is unable to complete the novels.
Lowen is unsure about the assignment but agrees.
She moves into the family home to go through Verity’s notes. As she stays in the home, she begins to learn more about Verity and the family, especially her husband, Jeremy.
Lowen stumbles upon a manuscript for a biography written by Verity. The manuscript reveals some of the darkest truths in Verity’s life.
The question is, should Lowen show the manuscript to Jeremy?
Related Reading: Verity Book Club Questions
Best Books Like Verity
Now you have been reminded of the story, it’s time to show you my favorite similar books to read next!
1. The Guest List – Lucy Foley
The first book like Verity that immediately comes to mind is The Guest List.
The story delves into the lives of families, long-held grudges, and old friends as they all gather on a picturesque beach to attend a wedding between Jules Keegan and Will Slater.
The narrative takes its time to showcase the wedding day in detail.
As the guests celebrate the couple’s new beginning, the story takes a dramatic turn when one of the attendees is found dead.
The wedding cake remains untouched, and the guests are shocked and anxious.
Suddenly, everyone is thrust into the midst of an unexpected situation. The question is, who had a motive to stop the wedding by taking someone’s life?
And why did they choose the wedding day to carry out their plan?
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Related Reading: The Guest List Book Club Questions
2. The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (Marcus Goldman Series) – Joel Dicker
The protagonist of this captivating story is Marcus Goldman, a bestselling author at just twenty-eight years old.
While his debut novel sold millions of copies, he is now plagued with writer’s block and cannot seem to produce a new book.
Looking for inspiration, Marcus decides to visit his mentor, Harry Quebert, a highly-regarded writer residing in Somerset, New Hampshire. He hopes that Harry’s guidance will help him rekindle his creativity.
However, Marcus’s plans are derailed when Harry is suddenly suspected of being involved in a decades-old murder case. The victim, Nola Kellergan, disappeared in 1975 and Harry was discovered to be having an affair with her.
As the investigation into Nola’s death unfolds, a maze of secrets and intrigue is uncovered, leaving readers with more questions than answers as they follow the gripping plot.
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3. The Lost Girls of Willowbrook – Ellen Marie Wiseman
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook is a stirring story about an infamous mental institution on Staten Island, New York exposing the plight of abandoned and forgotten children in the 70s.
At 10 years old Sage Winters tragically loses her twin sister to pneumonia and at 16 her mother to a car crash – leaving her stepfather with the responsibility of looking after her.
But then comes the shocking revelation that Rosemary is not dead but instead incarcerated at Willowbrook and so Sage embarks on a mission to find her there.
This emotional journey will take readers through a dark world as one desperate young girl searches for hope in the seemingly hopeless institution that is Willowbrook.
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4. The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Shadow of the Wind is the first book in a series (The Cemetery of Lost Books) of four books set in Barcelona, however, the first book has a concluding story so you don’t have to read the remainder of the series.
It follows a young boy named Daniel and his coming-of-age journey. After his mother passes, his father takes him to a place known as the Cemetery of Lost Books where he is told he can pick one book to take home.
He picks up a book by Julian Carax called ‘The Shadow of the Wind.’ It’s the most beautiful book he has ever read, and he treasures it for many years.
When one day he decides to find other books by the author, he learns that someone is trying to destroy all of Julian Carax’s work.
Determined to stop this from happening, and to learn more about the author, Daniel seeks to track down the author. Only doing so unravels more mysteries to solve…
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Related Reading: Books Like Shadow of the Wind
5. Miracle Creek – Angie Kim
Miracle Creek is an Edgar Award-winning novel for the Best First Novel and has been described as a “gripping page-turner” by Time Magazine.
Set in a small town in Virginia, the story follows a group of people who met as part of a special treatment center.
The hyperbaric chamber is said to cure various conditions such as infertility and autism. But when the chamber explodes and two people are killed, it turns out the explosion was no accident.
Told through the perspectives of each character, who each has secrets and betrayals to hide.
As you go through each chapter, alliances change, and evidence is gathered.
Who do you think is behind it?
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6. The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
One of the most compelling books similar to Verity is The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
Alicia Berenson appeared to have it all – she was a well-known artist who was married to a prominent photographer in the city. Together they resided in a stunning home in one of London’s most desirable neighbourhoods.
However, when Alicia’s husband is shot five times upon returning from work, everything changes. To make matters worse, Alicia stops speaking after the incident, creating one of the biggest enigmas in London.
Determined to uncover the truth about that fateful night, Psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes fixated on solving the mystery and discovers these events were just the tip of the iceberg.
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Related Reading: Books Like The Silent Patient
7. The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
The Thirteenth Tale is probably the most similar book to Verity since it’s also about an author who decides to write a chilling biography.
The captivating story revolves around Vida Winter, a famous but reclusive author who has remained tight-lipped about her life until she finally decides to open up and write a biography.
She enlists the help of amateur biographer Margaret Lea, who upon reading Winter’s famous book, Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation, discovers that it only contains twelve stories, with the thirteenth story being the life of Vida Winter herself.
Winter’s life has been full of twists and turns, which she tries to incorporate into her writing.
She tells Margaret the story of the Angelfield family, including the beautiful Isabelle and the wild twins Adeline and Emmeline, along with a maze-like garden, a ghost, and a governess.
As the story unfolds, a devastating fire brings everything crashing down and changes everything.
Diane Setterfield masterfully keeps readers on edge with her captivating storytelling abilities.
The Thirteenth Tale leaves readers questioning and guessing, with every small moment leaving them breathless yet fully satisfied.
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8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
The novel centers around Evelyn Hugo, a famous Hollywood movie star with a reputation for scandal.
Eager to share the truth about her career and personal life with the world, she decides to write her biography, spilling all the juicy secrets of her past.
Surprisingly, Evelyn selects an unknown, up-and-coming magazine reporter, Monique Grant, to write her biography.
Monique is stunned when she receives the opportunity and is going through a rough patch in her professional and personal life. However, Evelyn is not deterred by the challenges Monique is facing and is set on working with her to tell the story of her life.
As they collaborate together, Evelyn takes Monique through her journey of ruthless ambition, intense friendships, and forbidden love.
Monique finds herself connecting with Evelyn on a profound level and feels the pain and struggles that Evelyn has endured throughout her life.
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Related Reading: Books Similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
9. The Couple on Cedar Close – Anna-Lou Weatherley
Cedar Close was consumed in the jovial atmosphere of its annual summer festival and all the residents were taking part in the festivities with a lavish barbecue.
The tables were filled with delicious food and everyone was toasting in their glasses of wine.
Cedar Close, located in the middle of a bustling town, served as a tranquil and serene retreat for its inhabitants.
No criminal activities or instances of noise or conflict between neighbors ever disturbed its peace.
For Laurie Mill, it was her first time joining her neighbors at the event. Little did she know that it would be marked by an even greater event – that of discovering that her husband Robert was having an affair.
The night ended differently than expected when Robert Mills was discovered dead inside his home, leaving shockwaves throughout Cedar Close and casting suspicion on Laurie who had been found alone in their kitchen, holding her head in her hands and unable to recall any details from the previous twenty-four hours.
Despite repeatedly reiterating her innocence, nobody seemed to believe her story.
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10. The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Train was a huge success when it came out. I remember reading Verity and thinking it was like The Girl on the Train because both stories contain a psychotic main character and a suspenseful plot.
Every morning, Rachel commutes on the train and knows every sight, signal, and station along the way.
Among them is a back garden next to the tracks that she’s come to identify as belonging to a couple, Jess and Jason – seemingly happy and living in picture-perfect bliss.
Rachel yearns for her life to become as joyous as hers, until one day when the train slowed down enough for her to get a glimpse inside their home – revealing something that ultimately changes her life forever.
What follows is an award-winning psychological thriller like Verity – winner of Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller in 2015 – that takes Rachel’s story far beyond just being another girl on the train.
Readers should be aware that scenes of domestic violence appear throughout the book.
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11. The Woman in the Window – A. J. Flinn
There is a scene in Verity where Lowen thinks she is going mad by seeing Verity move when she’s supposed to be brain-damaged. Jeremy is convinced she’s hallucinating, but Lowen is sure of herself.
If you found this aspect of the storyline of Verity interesting, then you’ll love The Woman in the Window.
The story of Anna Fox follows her as she retreats into her secluded New York City apartment, trying to escape the world outside.
During her days, she drinks wine and watches old movies, giving herself the small pleasure of a past life that was happier than the present one.
But sometimes, when the night falls and Anna looks out onto the street below, she spies on her neighbors – Russells, his wife and their teenage son.
On one fateful evening as she looks out her window, everything around Anna begins to fade away – leaving her questioning what is real and what isn’t.
This is when her tale takes a new turn; an exciting psychological thriller with many suspenseful plot twists like Verity that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
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12. The Wife Between Us – Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks
The Wife Between Us is a psychological thriller novel that dives into the complexities of marriage and the dangerous truths of love that are often overlooked.
As we follow Vanessa, an obsessive ex-wife determined to break up the relationship between her ex-husband and his new lover Nellie, a unique triangle between the three forms and takes directions nobody could have anticipated.
Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen showcase how jealousy can blur boundaries and create unpredictable feelings.
In this story, readers will engage in self-reflection and contemplate on what makes an unusual love.
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13. Three Hours – Rosamund Lupton
This isn’t like Verity in the romantic sense, but it’s another book that has major suspense like Verity.
Three Hours is a thrilling story of fear and courage set over the span of 180 minutes in a school siege located in rural Somerset, UK.
Through multiple perspectives – from the wounded headmaster in the library to Syrian refugee looking to protect her brother and love-blind teenager Hannah – readers are taken on an emotional journey as we witness the most terrifying 180 minutes of these characters’ lives.
This novel, like Verity, contains themes of radicalization, extremism and hate that are definitely not for the faint-hearted.
With its gripping story-line, it’s no wonder Three Hours was nominated for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2021.
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14. The Wife and the Widow – Christian White
The Wife and the Widow is a suspense thriller about two women, Kate and Abby, whose husbands both mysteriously disappear.
When a body washes up on the shore of their sleepy island town, it’s revealed that John/Ray was secretly leading a double life.
Kate lives in Melbourne with her husband John and daughter and each summer they visit the island together for their holiday home.
When John fails to return from his business trip they realize something is wrong.
Meanwhile Abby and her husband Ray had been living on the island all her life and when he doesn’t come home one day, they are immediately worried.
When the two wives learn of John/Ray’s body washing up, they join forces to work out what happened, why he was living dual lives, and where their husbands have gone.
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15. All Of This Is True – Lygia Day Penaflor
If you’re looking for something more young adult similar to Verity, then All Of This Is True is a good books to read next.
This suspenseful novel follows four teens who befriend their favorite novelist, except that when her new book comes out, their deepest and darkest secrets are revealed. And the consequences are devastating.
Told through a series of interviews, journal entries, and even passages from the book within the book, you’ll be taken on a gripping journey through a scandal that has you hooked from start to finish.
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16. The Ghostwriter – Allessandra Torre
The Ghostwriter is another novel like Verity about a ghost writer who is thrown into a thrilling situation.
The story follows Helena Ross, a writer who has 15 romance novels under her belt, many of which have become bestsellers.
She’s about to write her final book, but it’s not a romance, it’s a confession.
Filled with secrets and gripping suspense, the novel reveals a secret Helena has kept hidden for four years. But not anymore…
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17. Misery – Stephen King
Stephen King is one of the greatest thriller and novel writers of all time, so when I tell you he has a thriller novel about a writer who just killed off his protagonist and then mysteriously ends up in a car crash – you can bet it’s going to be an epic story.
After the crash, best-selling novelist Paul Sheldon’s body is broken, and he finds himself being cared for by the most frightening of rescuers – his number one fan, Annie Wilkes.
Annie is not happy about Paul killing off his main character, Misery, and demands he brings her back to life in the next novel.
Now that he’s a prisoner in her isolated house, he can do just that. And if he needs persuasion, well Annie has some very persuasive and violent methods.
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18. Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier
If you’re ever wondering where Colleen Hoover got the idea for Verity, the chances are it’s probably from this novel.
Rebecca is a novel by an unnamed narrator who talks about a romance she started with a widower called Maxim de Winter. But the ghost of his ex-wife, Rebecca, is still present.
When they marry and move to Cornwall, Rebecca comes with them. But this is no romance story, it’s full of secrets, suspense, and dark twists. Especially concerning what happens to Rebecca…
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19. Things We Never Got Over – Lucy Score
Things We Never Got Over is a single-parent romance book about a bearded barber called Know who prefers to fly solo. Until a runaway bride comes along.
Just like Verity, Things We Never Got Over is about a man trying to raise a young kid alone when in walks in a young and attractive woman.
Knox encounters an attractive and young woman by the name of Naomi. Naomi isn’t just running from her wedding but also trying to rescue her twin sister from Knockemout, Virginia, where disputes are settled in bar fights.
Unfortunately, her bad twin sibling steals Naomi’s car and cash, leaving her stranded with no job, no home and an 11-year-old niece that she didn’t even know existed.
Despite not wanting to get involved in high-maintenance women, Knox finds himself irresistibly drawn to helping Naomi out when he sees her situation unraveling before his eyes.
It looks like his solitary life may have to take a backseat for now…
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20. Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl was an international sensation when it came out and it’s easy to see why. This dramatic and fast-paced thriller story has you on tenterhooks throughout.
It follows the disappearance of Amy Dunne, who mysteriously vanished on her fifth wedding anniversary.
Only, husband Nick, is dangerously on the edge.
The story follows Nick as he is confronted by the police and media pressure to speak about what happened to Amy, who everyone clearly believes murdered her.
Only Nick doesn’t help himself with his evasive and odd behavior, and obvious resentment towards his wife. But is he really a killer? and what happened to Amy?
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Final Word on Best Books Like Verity
So there you have it, those are my favorite books like Verity and as you can see, there are a lot of great options to choose from!
While some of these options are very similar books like Verity, some of them are a little more obscure – but all of them are packed full of drama and suspense!
Do you have any more books like Verity to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
