I recently read a book called Varity and here is my 2 cents about what liked this book.
Why I Read This Book?
Quite honestly, I picked up Verity because a movie adaptation was announced featuring some of the prominent actors of our time, like Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson. That’s how the book first got on my radar.
Later, I noticed a copy lying in our office’s small library. Curiosity got the better of me, so I picked it up. It had been a long time since I last held or read a physical book, and getting back into it genuinely felt great.
While reading up on the upcoming film, I saw a lot of chatter about how the book is far superior to its screen adaptation. Of course, book lovers almost always say that when a novel gets adapted, so that wasn’t surprising. But once I started, I sped through it in a week. Toward the end, I was powering through over 50 pages a day, and on the final day, I must have read nearly 100 pages.
It made me wonder: was the book actually that good, or was it just descriptive enough to make the author’s vision come alive in your head?
What I Liked About the Book
The story immediately pulls you into a writer’s world. The protagonist is an author, and as she opens up her life, you get a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain. I really enjoyed that aspect because I’ve always been curious about how famous writers live and work. Naturally, I kept my expectations in check knowing it’s fiction, but the premise of stepping into a writer’s mind was intriguing.
Another area where the book excels is in handling intimacy and fantasy. The scenes are descriptive without crossing into pure smut, catching the raw heat of the moment effectively.
On a personal level, reading this book left me with two key takeaways. First, an author must be thoroughly honest to do justice to their words; those sensual moments were written with enough intensity to get my heart pumping and spark genuine intimacy with my wife. Second, a writer should never be ashamed of laying bare the truth. Beyond that, the whole experience was a great reminder of how much I missed writing, and it really pushed me to get back into my own writing routine.
The pacing also played a huge role in how fast I finished it. Almost every chapter ends on a note that leaves you eager to know what happens next. Unlike fast-paced action stories with predictable plot lines, this felt grounded enough in reality to keep me hooked on the outcome.
My Overall Thoughts & Critique
The novel balances two distinct moods. One is a darker, almost gruesome side that gets quite graphic—both sexually and structurally—making certain parts a bit of a struggle to push through.
Overall, I’d rate it as an entertaining, quick read, but not necessarily a book that leaves a deep, lasting impact.
While it has its share of jump scares, eerie moments, and well-crafted sensual scenes, the core plot line ultimately feels a bit flat. I was anticipating a mind-bending twist, somewhat like The Handmaid’s Tale, which shares a similarly tense atmosphere. The actual ending felt much more realistic, though whether that feels satisfying or anti-climactic comes down to personal taste.
It is certainly worth reading—just go in with zero expectations and enjoy the immersive look into a writer’s mind. It’s also worth noting that the author shifts between present and past tenses to weave different subplots together, which was executed seamlessly.
As a final thought, while it’s a decent read, I won’t be surprised if the movie struggles.
I haven’t watched the film adaptation yet, so I can’t speak to how they visually handled the suspense or the intense scenes. However, I was disappointed by the casting choice for Jeremy—Verity’s husband and the ideal lover. Reading the book, I couldn’t picture anyone other than Idris Elba in that role. The movie’s choice feels entirely lacking in that magnetic presence, and if the audience doesn’t buy into Jeremy’s effortless charm, it could easily drag the whole movie down.