Skip to Content

Verity by Colleen Hoover: Chapter-by-Chapter Book Summary

Book summary for Verity by Colleen Hoover explores the story of Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to complete the remaining books in a bestselling series by the injured Verity Crawford.

Chapter 1

In Chapter 1, Lowen, the narrator, witnesses a tragic accident in Manhattan where a man is hit by a truck and dies. The scene is chaotic, but people surprisingly remain calm. As the narrator tries to move away, they get caught in a crowd of people and are approached by a stranger who leads them to a nearby coffee shop to clean up.

Lowen is disturbed by the indifference of some people towards the accident but also appreciates the anonymity and invisibility of living in Manhattan. The chapter ends with the narrator still shaken by the incident and unable to shake the image of the man’s death.

Chapter 2

In Chapter 2, Lowen receives a text from their literary agent inviting them to a meeting with a publisher. They reflect on their aversion to other humans due to their mother’s fear of them during sleepwalking episodes.

Lowen attends the meeting with their agent, Corey, and meets a man named Jeremy, who compliments their shirt. Jeremy’s wife, Verity Crawford, is a successful author who is unable to finish the remaining books in her series due to a car accident.

Jeremy offers the job to Lowen, but she declines. Jeremy reveals that his family has been prone to chronic tragedy and shares his own experiences of losing both his twin daughters six months apart.

Lowen becomes uncomfortable as she realizes she does not know where a neighbor who had lost his entire family is now, and changes her mind.

Chapter 3

In Chapter 3, the protagonist, Lowen, reminisces about her ex-boyfriend Amos, who had a fetish for choking. Lowen wonders what might have happened if she had indulged his desires and remained with him. However, she is relieved that she is no longer with him.

Corey, Lowen’s former lover and a publisher, arrives to celebrate Lowen’s new contract with Verity Crawford, a successful author. Although Lowen is facing eviction, Corey does not mention it and instead offers champagne.

Lowen is aware of Corey’s new girlfriend, Rebecca, and asks about her, to which Corey is surprised. Corey then asks Lowen whether she has read Verity’s books, to which she responds negatively.

Corey unintentionally insults Lowen’s writing by stating that Verity’s books are not his style. Lowen then reveals that she will be staying at Verity’s house to sort through her notes for the book series. Corey is hesitant, but Lowen assures him it is necessary.

Chapter 4

In Chapter 4, Lowen heads to the Crawford estate to begin working on Verity’s autobiography. On her way, she listens to Verity’s first novel and becomes nervous about the expectations of completing Verity’s series. Lowen reflects on her own writing process and worries about the attention that will come with attaching her name to Verity’s successful series.

At the Crawford estate, Lowen meets Jeremy and his son Crew. She is shown around the house and is amazed by the luxurious amenities available for writing. Lowen feels uncomfortable staying in someone else’s bed, but she tries to push those thoughts away.

Lowen starts looking for Verity’s plans for the next book and goes through several files and boxes but finds nothing. She then finds Verity’s autobiography titled So Be It and becomes curious, starting to read it for research purposes.

So Be It – Chapter 1

“So Be It” by Verity Crawford is an autobiographical novel in which the author promises to expose the truth about herself without trying to gain the reader’s sympathy.

In Chapter 1, Verity meets Jeremy Crawford at a charity event, and she immediately senses a strong connection with him. She is wearing a stolen red dress that Jeremy finds attractive, and he asks the bartender to serve her only water for the rest of the evening.

Verity is surprised but flattered by his attention and begins to imagine a future with him. She believes that her destiny is to suffer a tragic end, but she is willing to embrace it.

After running to his car, they share a passionate kiss before going to a Steak ‘n Shake and then back to his apartment to have sex.

Verity realizes that this is the first time she is making love and feels confident and invested in the moment with her heart, gut, mind, and hope. They spend three days in his apartment, and she becomes obsessed with him, wanting to be everything that makes him happy.

However, the chapter ends with a foreshadowing that there is something more important to Jeremy than her.

Chapter 5

In Chapter 5, Lowen finds Verity’s autobiography in the office and starts reading it, hoping to understand Verity’s mind better. As she works late into the night, she hears a noise coming from upstairs that sounds like someone having sex.

She panics and worries about Verity being sexually abused, but it turns out to be the sound of Verity’s hospital bed. Jeremy tells her that Verity’s bed is designed to shift every two hours to take weight off her pressure points.

Jeremy offers Lowen pizza, and they discuss how they work best at night. However, Lowen is embarrassed around Jeremy because of what she read about him in Verity’s manuscript.

So Be It – Chapter 2

In Chapter 2 of So Be It by Verity Crawford, Verity describes her two-year relationship with Jeremy as saccharine love and adoration.

When Jeremy is transferred to Los Angeles temporarily, the protagonist moves in with him unofficially and stops paying her own rent.

When Jeremy finds out, he is blindsided, and Verity feels like the only nourishment for her soul has been taken away. She starts writing about a fictional Jeremy called Lane to fill her days and hides how much Jeremy’s absence is affecting her.

When Jeremy returns, she has just finished editing the final page of her novel and congratulates him with a blowjob.

Chapter 6

In Chapter 6, Lowen describes the view from Verity’s office, noting the upside of the unobstructed glass view, and the downside of seeing Verity’s nurse reading to her while she sits in her wheelchair, seemingly unresponsive.

Lowen is attempting to create a filing system for the notes she’s gathered on the characters for the series, which Verity authored before her accident.

When the nurse leaves, Lowen wonders if Verity will react, but she remains still until suddenly making eye contact with the protagonist, causing her to jump and feel scared.

Lowen spends the afternoon reading on the porch while watching Jeremy and his son Crew work on their fishing dock. She finds herself distracted by Jeremy’s shirtless physique and begins to wonder if he was the inspiration for some of Verity’s male characters.

April interrupts her thoughts and informs her that Verity has gone to bed. Lowen notices Crew waving at Verity’s window, but when she checks, the curtains are drawn. She decides to check on Verity, feeling unsettled by what she saw.

So Be It – Chapter 3

In Chapter 3 of So Be It by Verity Crawford, the narrator reflects on the importance of taking care of one’s body, drawing on her personal experiences of seeing her mother neglect her physical well-being.

She reveals that she is pregnant and that her pregnancy has already caused changes to her body. Although she is initially disgusted by her growing stomach, her fiancé Jeremy reassures her and they have sex.

Jeremy is excited about the baby and believes that it is a girl, even though it is still too early to tell. The narrator is willing to indulge his excitement because it excites her too.

Chapter 7

In this chapter, Lowen drops the last page of Verity’s manuscript and finds it unsettling. She drops to her knees to pick it up, but the page disappears under the desk. She begins to cry and feels a range of emotions, including sadness and anger. She thinks that Verity must have written this because she experienced it, and she wonders what else Verity is capable of. Lowen puts the manuscript away, knowing that she will destroy it before Jeremy reads it.

Lowen feels a strong urge to drink, but there is no alcohol in the house. Jeremy offers her some Crown Royal from the pantry. Lowen is barely able to swallow it as she tries to deal with her emotions. Jeremy asks Lowen what happened, and she lies and says that the scary part in Verity’s book scared her. Jeremy offers Lowen some dinner, which she accepts.

Lowen asks Jeremy if she can ask a question, but she hesitates because she does not want to seem too nosy. She wants to know more about Verity’s accident and asks if she can see the photos of Verity’s injuries. Jeremy shows her the pictures and tells her what happened. He then asks if she is okay, but Lowen says that she is fine.

Chapter 8

In Chapter 8, Lowen has decided not to read any more of Verity’s manuscript until she makes progress on what she is there to do. She is getting more comfortable around Verity and has met a new nurse named Myrna.

Lowen has been given extra time to prepare for her move and has been reading more of Verity’s novels to get a better sense of the series.

She receives a text from Corey telling her that Pantem Press announced her as the new co-author of Verity’s series.

Lowen and Jeremy head to Target together, where she discovers that Verity’s social media announcement about being ecstatic to have Lowen on board is false.

Chapter 9

In Chapter 9, Lowen has been staying in the Crawford home for five days, and she already feels like she’s been there for longer. She observes Jeremy sitting still on the back porch, staring out at the lake, and wonders what’s going on in his mind.

She wishes she knew what thoughts were going through his head right now. Later, she hears Crew scream and rushes upstairs to find him with a cut under his chin.

She learns that Verity told Crew not to touch her knife, which causes Lowen to freeze. She asks Crew if Verity talks to him, but he shakes his head. Jeremy arrives and takes care of Crew’s injury.

So Be It – Chapter 4

In Chapter 4 of So Be It by Verity Crawford, Verity reveals her unsuccessful attempts to self-abort and her lack of desire to become a mother.

After her twins are born, the pediatrician brushes off the scar on one of the babies’ cheeks as a common occurrence, but Verity knows that she caused it. She names the babies Chastin and Harper and tries to show affection towards them to please their father.

However, she struggles with breastfeeding and resents Jeremy’s disappointment when she refuses to do it. She eventually complies to make him happy.

Chapter 10

In Chapter 10, Lowen struggles to understand Verity’s perspective on motherhood as she reads through her autobiography. Lowen considers whether Verity truly deserves to be a mother or if she simply has a different view of motherhood than most. She thinks about her own desire to have children and the type of father she would want for them.

Lowen finds a box of pictures of the family and begins looking through them. Jeremy, Verity’s husband, joins her and they discuss the girls and their personalities. He explains that Harper was diagnosed with Asperger’s at a young age, which is why she rarely smiled. Jeremy shares his favorite picture of the girls and Lowen notices his joy in the photo.

Lowen is torn between feeling like she is invading the family’s privacy by looking at the pictures, and feeling like it’s necessary research for the book she is writing. She rationalizes her actions by telling herself that she needs to understand Verity’s character better.

Through Lowen’s thoughts, the reader learns more about Verity’s attitude towards motherhood and how it affected her relationship with Jeremy and their children. Jeremy’s love for his children is apparent, and Lowen finds herself drawn to his genuine affection for them.

Chapter 11

In Chapter 11, Lowen describes the eerie feeling that persists in the house even during the day. She recalls waking up in the middle of the night hearing footsteps and creaking stairs. Lowen’s curiosity leads her to watch April, who is feeding Verity, and she wonders if Jeremy still loves his wife or if he no longer believes she’s in there anymore.

Lowen engages in small talk with April and inadvertently insults Verity. April takes the opportunity to educate the narrator on how to interact with Verity respectfully. Crew interrupts their conversation, excitedly showing his mother a turtle he has found.

Lowen and Jeremy go out to dinner with Crew, Jeremy’s son. The group has a lighthearted conversation filled with jokes, but tension builds between the protagonist and Jeremy as they share a moment in the unlit corner of the house after returning home.

Lowen retreats to Verity’s office to distract herself by reading Verity’s intimate scenes with Jeremy in her manuscript, acknowledging that it’s wrong but not as wrong as acting on her feelings for him.

So Be It – Chapter 5

In Chapter 5 of So Be It, Verity discusses the struggles of caring for her twin infants without a nanny, as well as her husband’s return to work after his two-week paternity leave.

With Jeremy out of the house, Verity is able to get more sleep during the day while the babies sleep, allowing her to work on her writing at night. She notes that her sex life with her husband has been lacking since the birth of their children and is determined to keep it alive, but her husband is concerned about hurting her due to her recent cesarean.

In the middle of the night, Verity initiates oral sex with her husband, but ultimately wants him to have sex with her. After some teasing, they have sex, which is initially painful due to the protagonist’s recent surgery but ultimately satisfying.

Chapter 12

Lowen reflects on Verity’s personality traits and comes to the conclusion that she displays characteristics of a psychopath, but her obsession with Jeremy makes her doubt this.

 Jeremy asks for help in retrieving an old aquarium from the basement for their son, and the protagonist accompanies him. In the basement, they find old files, an unused office, and boxes of accumulated things.

Jeremy reveals that he used to own a realty firm but gave it up when Verity’s writing career took off, as he was only working for the sake of working.

Chapter 13

In Chapter 13, Lowen wakes up in the master bedroom of Jeremy’s house, realizing she’s been sleepwalking. She panics when she realizes she’s in Verity’s bed and rushes out of the room, but Jeremy catches her and comforts her.

Lowen explains her history with sleepwalking and how she used to lock herself in her room to prevent it from happening. Jeremy asks if her desire for a lock was to keep him out, but she clarifies it was to stop herself from getting out. Lowen is now terrified to sleep in the house and doesn’t know why she ended up in Verity’s room.

Chapter 14

In Chapter 14, Lowen wakes up early after a sleepless night with Jeremy, and he offers to put a lock on the outside of her bedroom door.

April arrives, and Jeremy suggests that the protagonist take a break, but she chooses to keep working. She spends the morning catching up on emails and answering interview questions about her role with Verity.

In the afternoon, Jeremy makes tacos, but the protagonist does not feel comfortable eating with April and Verity at the table. She also continues to struggle with her fear of Verity and her manuscript.

So Be It – Chapter 6

In Chapter 6 of So Be It, Verity reflects on the past six months since her twin daughters were born, revealing her ongoing resentment towards them and her boyfriend’s unwavering love for them.

She contemplates leaving Jeremy, but ultimately decides to stay since he is the only reason she has any connection to her family. She wakes up from a vivid nightmare in which she finds one of her daughters suffocating the other, only to discover that the daughter doesn’t have a face.

She realizes that she has fallen in love with one of the girls and is devastated by the thought of losing them. She distracts Jeremy from her distress by engaging in sexual activity with him and asks him how many women he has been with, but she isn’t bothered by the answer.

Chapter 15

In Chapter 15, Lowen continues to read Verity’s manuscript, but is horrified by what she reads. Verity details how she tried to choke her infant daughter and then focuses mainly on Jeremy and Chastin, rarely mentioning Harper at all.

Lowen loses track of time and is interrupted by Jeremy, who has made tacos for her. They watch a meteor shower and talk about their pasts. Jeremy reveals that his parents cut Verity out of their lives because they didn’t approve of her writing.

Lowen empathizes with Verity, but quickly remembers what she did to Harper. Jeremy admits he has been waiting for the right time to go back to work, but doesn’t know when that will be. Lowen realizes she has feelings for Jeremy but keeps her distance because he is married.

So Be It – Chapter 9

In Chapter 9 of So Be It, Verity prepares a special meal of chicken and dumplings for her husband, Jeremy, in an attempt to reconcile with him. Jeremy has been distant and angry with Verity since they moved to their new house and enrolled their children in daycare without consulting him.

Despite their daily sex routine, Verity senses that their relationship has changed. During the meal, Jeremy becomes angry and throws his bowl against the wall, revealing that he is upset with Heidi for neglecting her writing career and not supporting him in his new job.

The chapter ends with Jeremy pacing in their bedroom, trying to gather his thoughts, while Verity contemplates cleaning up the mess and reconciling with him.

Chapter 16

In Chapter 16, Lowen expresses her boredom with reading Verity’s manuscript. She has submitted the outline for the first book to Corey for feedback and is waiting to hear back from Pantem’s editor.

Although she is burnt out from working so much, she is hesitant to leave because she has nowhere to go until her advance payment arrives. Lowen is watching TV and eating popcorn when Jeremy joins her on the couch.

They talk about Verity, and Jeremy reveals that Verity used to watch TV when she had writer’s block. Lowen is unsure of the reason for Jeremy’s interest in her staying longer, and they talk about their personal lives. When Jeremy asks her how old she is, Lowen realizes that her birthday is in an hour.

Lowen and Jeremy, share a tense moment where Lowen sees Jeremy’s wife Verity standing at the top of the stairs. Jeremy is bewildered, as Verity is paralyzed from the neck down and can’t move.

Lowen becomes convinced that she has seen something supernatural and is shaken, while Jeremy tries to comfort her and blames it on exhaustion and paranoia. They spend the night together in bed, with Jeremy reassuring Lowen that he won’t leave her alone.

Chapter 17

In Chapter 17, Lowen wakes up full of doubt after believing she saw Verity at the top of the stairs the night before. Jeremy visits her office and tells her he has installed a lock on Verity’s bedroom door to help Lowen feel more secure.

Lowen worries that the lock is there because Jeremy believes her claims about Verity, which she is unsure of herself.

Lowen is struggling with what to do with Verity’s manuscript, as she wants to give it to Jeremy so he can understand his wife, but she hasn’t finished reading it and is not sure if Verity’s supposed disability is genuine or not. She skips some chapters in the manuscript and starts reading a chapter she believes may explain Chastin’s death.

So Be It – Chapter 13

In Chapter 13 of So Be It, Verity reveals that she got pregnant with Crew soon after lying to Jeremy about her pregnancy, and she hired a nanny to care for the children.

When Chastin dies from anaphylaxis, Verity and Jeremy are devastated. Kitty, the mother of the friend Chastin was staying with, called Jeremy when the ambulance took Chastin, but she did not tell them that Chastin had died.

When they arrive at the hospital, Jeremy screams when he realizes that Chastin is dead. The cause of death was confirmed to be anaphylaxis.

Verity and Jeremy had been hyper vigilant about Chastin’s peanut allergy, but the girls snuck into the pantry and grabbed a handful of snacks to take back to their room in the middle of the night.

Chapter 18

In Chapter 18, Lowen finds Verity in the living room, staring blankly at the television. Lowen throws a wooden ball at her, but she does not flinch. Lowen wonders how Verity does not react to anything around her and thinks that she may have trained herself not to react. She finds Verity disturbing and is relieved that she had nothing to do with Chastin’s death.

Lowen plans to read the last two chapters of Verity’s manuscript and worries that she will not be able to sleep afterwards. She is also tired of the strange things happening in the house and is angry at Verity’s behavior towards her family.

When Lowen realizes that the television has gone silent, she becomes angry and confronts Verity, whispering insulting words to her. She waits to see if Verity reacts, but there is no response.

Lowen and Jeremy have sex without protection, despite not being on the pill. They explore different positions, with Jeremy taking control and the narrator relinquishing it to him completely.

During the act, the narrator notices bite marks on the headboard left by Verity and becomes determined to leave her behind and focus only on her and Jeremy. The chapter ends with Jeremy reaching his climax and the implication that the night is far from over.

Chapter 19

In Chapter 19, Lowen and Jeremy have sex for the second time in the shower. They return to bed and engage in personal conversations, discussing their past relationships.

Jeremy reveals that he was not sure if he knew Verity well enough even though they were married, but he still loved her.

Lowen then wakes up a few hours later to Jeremy panicking because they are locked in the bedroom.

So Be It – Chapter 14

In Chapter 14 of So Be It, Verity is remembering the morning when Harper died a few days ago. Verity resents Harper for the loss of her son, Chastin, and is angry that Harper doesn’t seem to care about his death.

Jeremy, Verity’s husband, has been focusing on their other two children after Chastin’s death and has been distant from Verity. Verity is frustrated that Jeremy doesn’t listen to her and spoils Crew, their youngest child.

When Verity confronts Harper about not caring about Chastin’s death, Harper gets upset and runs to her room. Jeremy asks Verity to take the kids to the lake, but Verity tries to avoid it.

Jeremy worries that they are both depressed and need to look out for each other. Verity feels loved by Jeremy when he kisses her.

Chapter 20

The chapter opens with the narrator feeling sick and traumatized by the revelation of Verity’s crimes. She questions what she should do and takes Xanax to calm herself down.

Later, Jeremy comes to her room and they spend time together, but she feels guilty for hiding the truth from him. Jeremy reveals that he has arranged for Verity to stay in a nursing facility during the week and come home on weekends.

Lowen believes it is the best solution for everyone, and the grief begins to dissipate.

Chapter 21

The chapter begins with the Lowen dreaming about Crew, Verity’s son, and feeling like there was something evil embedded in him. Lowen wonders if keeping silent about Verity’s manuscript is in Crew’s best interest since he saw his sister drown and his mother do very little to help her.

 She’s now in the kitchen with Crew, who’s playing on his iPad, and shares peanut butter and crackers with him. She tries to ask him questions about the canoe incident, but he stops talking when she mentions his mother. He then accidentally injures himself with a knife, and Lowen calls for Jeremy’s help.

So Be It – Chapter 15

In Chapter 15 of So Be It, Verity reports the details of Harper’s death to the police and is questioned about why her children weren’t wearing life jackets.

Jeremy becomes increasingly suspicious and confronts Verity about why she told Crew to hold his breath before the canoe tipped over. Verity tries to explain but Jeremy no longer trusts her and turns away from her.

Verity contemplates whether her life is over and wonders if Jeremy will report her to the police. She considers taking her own life and the chapter ends with her feeling uncertain about her future.

Chapter 22

Lowen processes the information she has just read in Verity’s autobiography and is shocked to learn that Jeremy suspects Verity of killing Harper. Lowen is conflicted, wondering how Jeremy can still take care of Verity if he believes she is a murderer.

Jeremy returns home with Crew, who has been injured and requires stitches. Lowen asks if he wants coffee and hugs him in the kitchen, but she is still full of questions. When she spills her coffee in the office, she notices that Verity is on the floor on her hands and knees.

Lowen yells for Jeremy and confronts Verity, accusing her of faking her condition. Jeremy gets angry and throws Lowen out, telling her to leave.

Chapter 23

In Chapter 23, Lowen anxiously waits for Jeremy to finish reading Verity’s manuscript, which reveals that Verity was not the person he thought she was and she might have killed their daughter. Jeremy goes to confront Verity and threatens to call the police, but Verity does not answer him.

Jeremy opens Verity’s eyes and realizes that she has been faking her vegetative state. When Verity refuses to answer him, Jeremy threatens to take her manuscript to the police.

After several seconds of silence, Verity opens her eyes and Jeremy confronts her. A violent struggle ensues, with Jeremy trying to strangle Verity, and Lowen tries to intervene, reminding him of their son.

Chapter 24

In Chapter 24, we learn that seven months have passed since Verity’s death, and the narrator is now pregnant with Jeremy’s child. She and Jeremy have moved to a new home in North Carolina and are raising Crew together, with the narrator noting that therapy is helping him cope with his grief.

The couple is clearing out Verity’s old home, and while doing so, Crew finds some pictures he drew for his mother, which triggers the narrator’s memories of the knife she saw in Verity’s room.

Lowen discovers a hole in the floor of Verity’s office and finds a letter in an envelope. The letter is addressed to Jeremy, and Verity apologizes for leaving him in the middle of the night with Crew. Verity reveals that they flipped into an alternate dimension after the death of Chastin.

Verity tells Jeremy about an exercise Amanda suggested to her called antagonistic journaling, where she writes journal entries from her own life, but her inner dialogue in the entry is opposite to what she was actually thinking.

Verity uses an example to explain the exercise, and it shows how she was embarrassed by Jeremy’s behavior during a dinner.

Verity about the mind of a writer and how writers can separate their reality from fiction. She explains that she found relief in writing about a world darker than the one she was living in. She finished her manuscript, printed it out and left it in a box, not expecting anyone to read it.

However, her husband read it and became consumed by sadness and rage, nearly killing her. Verity woke up in the passenger seat of her car with her hands and feet bound and tape on her mouth. Her husband had planned to kill her and make it look like an accident.

She realizes that if she had died, her manuscript would have been seen as a perfect suicide letter. She is now pretending to be injured and is deceiving her husband because she is unsure of his intentions towards her.

Chapter 25

In Chapter 25, Lowen is in shock after reading a letter from Verity stating that she never harmed Harper and that the manuscript was a work of fiction.

Lowen worries that Jeremy knew about the manuscript before she gave it to him, but decides not to confront him. She tears the letter into shreds and eats the ones with Jeremy’s name on them, flushing the rest down the toilet.

Jeremy comes to check on her, and she hides her emotions from him. They leave the house together, with Jeremy excited about their baby, and Lowen vows to take the secret to her grave to spare Jeremy more pain. She reflects that Verity was a master manipulator and wonders which truth was being manipulated.

The end.

aaron burden t8MgrNitecE unsplash e1723651053104

I love to read and I enjoy exploring a range of genres including contemporary and historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, nonfiction, and memoirs. If you would like me to review your book, feel free to reach out to me!