Colleen Hoover, the bestselling author of the psychological thriller **Verity**, recently shared her thoughts on the ambiguous ending of her novel during a conversation on the **Booked, Blonde and Busy** podcast with Olivia Ponton. In a surprising revelation, Hoover admitted that she finds the conclusion of her own story just as perplexing as her readers do.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Colleen-Hoover-Was-Also-Confused-by-the-Verity-Ending-101926-b65369bda84c44e59776413235e2d55a.jpg)
Hoover originally penned **Verity** from the perspective of the protagonist, Lowen Ashleigh. Upon completing the novel, she discovered herself grappling with the same confusion surrounding the narrative’s resolution as her readers. “When I finished that book, I was just as confused as Lowen,” she remarked. “If you asked me then, it was always like, ‘Oh, the manuscript is real.’”
As the story unfolds, Lowen finds a manuscript that appears to be the unsettling autobiography of Verity Crawford, portrayed by Anne Hathaway in the film adaptation. The plot thickens when Lowen also discovers a letter that casts doubt on the true nature of Verity’s character, leaving the audience to ponder who the real antagonist is in this intricate tale of manipulation and deception.
During the podcast, Hoover elaborated on the conflicting narratives within her work, where the line between fact and fiction blurs. “The letter, I think, she was trying to cover her ass,” she noted, reflecting on her complex characters. Recently, Hoover revisited the manuscript while annotating it for the Kindle edition after not having looked at it since its initial publication. This experience ignited her empathy for the character of Verity, causing her to question the portrayal of the troubled author. “I felt bad for Verity. And then I got to that letter and I was like, ‘This poor woman,’” she expressed.
The dynamic between the central characters is keenly brought to life in the film adaptation, where Dakota Johnson plays Lowen, who finds herself enmeshed in the lives of the Crawford family, particularly as she becomes romantically involved with Jeremy, Verity’s husband, portrayed by Josh Hartnett. However, the heart of the story lies in the debates it ignites regarding the conflicting narratives presented in the manuscript and the letter.
Hoover acknowledged the ongoing discourse among fans regarding which version of the story holds the truth. She communicated both sides of this narrative conflict resonate with her. “I’ve been on both sides of it,” she reflected, expressing her intrigue with listener interpretations. Nonetheless, she grappled with the temptation of expanding the story by exploring all characters’ perspectives in greater detail. “Part of me was like, now I want to dive into it from everyone’s perspective and write everyone’s,” she said. However, she ultimately concluded that doing so might detract from what she cherishes most about the book—the stimulating discussions it creates.
The author also shared insights into her creative process, revealing that the open-ended conclusion was not always part of her original vision. “I do remember not really knowing how it was going to end,” she confessed. Even as the deadline loomed, her concept for the conclusion evolved. “Two weeks before I was due to turn it into the editor, I was still writing it and thought it was going to be one ending. Then one night while lying in bed, I got the idea for the ending, got out of bed, and wrote it immediately,” she recounted.
Surprisingly, Hoover admitted that she had not anticipated the emergence of the “team letter” versus “team manuscript” divide among her readers. “I really didn’t know how people would take it,” she recalled, stating her original intent had not included cultivating such debates. Nevertheless, she indicated her enjoyment of the varied interpretations, acknowledging, “I love that it became that, but it was never my intention.”
In the end, Hoover views her characters through a lens of shared chaos, remarking that they are “crazy and deserve each other.” This perspective seems to encapsulate the novel’s themes—the complexity of human nature and the realities of relationships filled with intrigue and deception. As discussions continue to revolve around **Verity**, a testament to the story’s engaging storytelling and multifaceted characters, Hoover’s reflections only add layers to the ongoing conversation among readers and viewers alike.
As the film adaptation continues to draw attention, fans of the novel remain eager to navigate the intricate web of truths and lies that Hoover weaves, eager to decipher the puzzle she created. With its compelling narrative, **Verity** truly leaves a lasting impression, spurring meaningful contemplation and discussion long after the final page is turned.