Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Verity by Colleen Hoover is an adult psychological thriller for ages 18 and up. It contains explicit sex scenes, graphic violence including harm to children, disturbing descriptions in a fictional manuscript and strong language, so it isn’t appropriate for teens despite its BookTok fame.
Quick facts
Recommended age: 18+
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Adult psychological thriller
Published: 2018
Main concerns: Explicit sex, violence against children, disturbing content
Why teens want it: It’s one of BookTok’s most talked-about thrillers
Verity is one of the most talked-about thrillers on BookTok, famous for its shocking twist. Because Colleen Hoover’s name is everywhere, many teens want to read it. Unlike some of her other books, Verity is very dark and explicit, and it’s written strictly for adults. This guide explains what’s in it and suggests great thrillers for teens instead.
Table of Contents
What Is Verity About?
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford to finish the bestselling series written by his wife, Verity, who was badly injured in a car accident. Lowen moves into their home to go through Verity’s notes.
There she finds Verity’s secret autobiography, full of disturbing confessions about her marriage and her children, some of whom have died. As Lowen falls for Jeremy, she begins to fear Verity, and she can’t tell what’s true.
Check price of Verity on Amazon
Content Guide for Parents
| Content | Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Sex | Explicit | Multiple graphic sex scenes, both in the main story and in Verity’s manuscript. |
| Violence | Graphic | Violence and harm involving children, described in disturbing detail. |
| Psychological horror | High | Manipulation, fear and an ambiguous, unsettling ending. |
| Language | Strong | Frequent swearing. |
| Self-harm themes | Present | Disturbing content about pregnancy and self-harm in the manuscript. |
| Positive messages | None for teens | It’s designed to shock adult readers. |
Age-by-Age Breakdown
| Age | Is Verity a Good Fit? |
|---|---|
| Under 16 | Not appropriate. It’s an explicit adult thriller. |
| 16 to 17 | Most parents still say not yet. |
| 18 and up | The intended audience. |
| Teens who want thrillers | Try the YA thrillers below. |
How Verity Compares to Other Colleen Hoover Books
Colleen Hoover writes both young adult and adult books. Verity is one of her darkest adult novels, much more explicit and disturbing than books like It Ends with Us. Her young adult novels, such as Slammed, are more suitable for older teens.
If your teen loves Hoover, it’s worth checking each book individually rather than assuming they’re similar. Content can range from gentle romance to explicit, very dark material.
Is Verity Okay for a 15- or 16-Year-Old?
Most parents say no. The combination of explicit sex and graphic violence against children makes it one of the most mature books on BookTok.
If your teen loves twisty thrillers, there are excellent YA thrillers that deliver suspense and shocking endings without the adult content.
What Parents Should Know
- It’s adult fiction. Not YA.
- The violence involves children. It’s especially disturbing.
- The ending is ambiguous. Fans argue about it endlessly.
- A film adaptation has been announced. It will likely be R-rated.
- Talk about BookTok. Many viral books are for adults.
How to Tell If Your Child Is Ready for Verity
- Read the first chapter yourself. Ten minutes with the opening pages tells you a lot about the tone of Verity.
- Think about what upsets your child. Every child is different, so match the content table above to your own child rather than to their age alone.
- Ask what they already know. Kids often hear about popular books from friends, so ask what they expect and why they want to read it.
- Offer to read it together. Reading at the same time, or aloud, makes it easy to pause and talk about hard scenes.
- Keep the door open. Tell your child they can stop at any time and come to you with questions.
A Simple Plan for Reading Verity Together
- Before reading: look at the cover and blurb together and ask what your child expects from Verity.
- While reading: check in every few chapters with one open question, such as “What surprised you?”
- After a hard scene: ask how it made them feel rather than what it means.
- After finishing: talk about the ending, then let your child choose what to read next from the suggestions below.
Questions to Talk About With Your Child
- How can you tell whether a book is meant for adults?
- What makes a thriller exciting without being too graphic?
- What thrillers have you enjoyed?
- Why do twist endings appeal to readers?
- How do you decide which BookTok recommendations to try?
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US).
Better Choices for Teens: Twisty YA Thrillers
These young adult thrillers deliver suspense and shocking twists without explicit content.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus: ages 14 and up. Five students walk into detention and only four walk out. It’s twisty and addictive.
Check price of One of Us Is Lying on Amazon
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: ages 14 and up. A teen investigates a five-year-old murder for her school project.
Check price of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on Amazon
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart: ages 13 and up. A wealthy family’s summer island hides a devastating secret.
Check price of We Were Liars on Amazon
Related: Verity book club discussion questions and Colleen Hoover books in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Verity appropriate for?
Verity is an adult thriller best for ages 18 and up.
Is Verity spicy?
Yes. It contains multiple explicit sex scenes.
Is Verity scary?
It’s a psychological thriller with disturbing content, especially involving children.
Is Verity YA?
No. It’s adult fiction.
What thrillers can teens read instead of Verity?
One of Us Is Lying, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and We Were Liars are great YA thrillers.