Looking for an eclectic collection of books like Verity by Colleen Hoover? As an award-winning author and longtime blogger, I’ve spent over a decade reading, analyzing, and recommending the best novels that answer this question with similar plot twists like the one in Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen of my favorites in the roundup below. I’ve personally curated this collection from my own bookshelves. Be prepared to stay up half the night reading. I did!
Junior Missing by Khristina Chess
“He called me the most willing kidnapping victim in history. I’d invited him to my house, he’d said. I’d climbed into the car. I’d packed a bag. And a parakeet.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Junior Missing
Wow! Readers who love the intense chemistry and unsettling seduction of a dark romance won’t be able to put Junior Missing down. For me, what makes Junior Missing so special is the slow-boil depiction of how Grace’s forbidden attraction turns into a trap set by an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
The story starts as sixteen-year-old Grace Keegan, darling of the child pageant world with a bright future, is missing. At first, police assume she ran away. But when they find her abandoned phone along the highway, the truth becomes far more terrifying.
No one knows about Quentin Brock—the musician she met online. He’s charming, funny, gorgeous, and perfect.
Until he isn’t. Until she’s kidnapped and trapped in another state with no way out.
I highly recommend this YA thriller for adventurous Colleen Hoover readers who are looking for dark romances like Verity that push traditional boundaries. This mesmerizing novel depicts how someone can so easily be manipulated and hurt in a toxic relationship. I couldn’t put it down.
A Sorrow Called Sarah by Charlotte Roddy
Bookworms who love the mind-bending thriller aspects of Verity will love this outstanding debut novel. In fact, you might be scared to go anywhere alone for a while after reading this one.
I couldn't put this twisty, psychological thriller down. I wanted to know what happened to Sarah, the woman who disappeared. This question relentlessly drove the narrative as her younger sister chased one lead after another. To make matters worse, more girls who look like Sarah are ending up dead in Golden Gate Park, and the younger sister looks just like Sarah. Would she be next?
A Sorrow Called Sarah kept me guessing until the final pages. The novel was a wild ride and a totally unexpected ending, but I have mixed feelings about whether or not I actually liked that ending, but I was definitely surprised.
Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick
“This is a fairy tale with teeth and claws.” ― Ilsa Bick, quote from Drowning Instinct
This undiscovered treasure portrays a complex romance like that found in Verity—but on a different level!
I didn't know what to expect when a friend loaned this book to me, but wow! This book has layers. The way the author wove the "drowning instinct" theme throughout the story was really well done, and I loved the complexity of the characters and the plot twists. The pacing kept getting more intense and compelling as I read further. Addictive.
I don’t want to give too much away. Drowning Instinct is a twisty thriller with a dark and inappropriate relationship between a teen girl and her teacher. If you devoured the tangled romances between Lowen, Jeremy, and Verity, you should give Drowning Instinct a try.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
"If she could rewind the timeline, untwist it and roll it back the other way like a ball of wool, she'd see the knots in the yarn, the warning signs. Looking at it backward it was obvious all along. But back then, when she knew nothing about anything, she had not seen it coming. She had walked straight into it with her eyes open." ― Lisa Jewell, quote from Then She Was Gone
This is an unputdownable novel. In fact, I was about 20 pages in when I realized I was going too fast and maybe, like the missing girl Ellie, I was overlooking important clues, so I went back and read from the beginning again.
I had to know what happened to Ellie, and then, bit by bit, new mysteries began to emerge. New horrors. The more I learned about Ellie and Noelle, the worse things became. The whole story became very... weird. Scary.
The relationship between Ellie’s mom and the American writer, Floyd, is where things take a turn. Floyd has a daughter who looks just like Ellie. I mean, how weird is that?
The ending was not predictable to me, and the path to reach the conclusion was not straight. I definitely loved this novel and want to read more of Lisa Jewell’s books.
I highly recommend this wildly unpredictable novel about a missing girl, a desperate mother, and the bizarre lengths people will go for the people they love. If you devoured Verity, I promise this one will grab your attention.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
“Unworthy boys make a lot of noise.” ― Delia Owens, quote from Where the Crawdads Sing
This novel is beautiful, thrilling, sad, surprising, and engrossing. Kya Clark is a resilient child who is abandoned by her mother at six. Her alcoholic father is barely a parent, and he soon leaves her as well. Somehow, she finds a way to survive on her own, even thrive, despite an aching loneliness.
But a beautiful young girl who lives in solitude in the woods is destined for danger. And heartbreak.
Most people in the town call her “Marsh Girl” and ostracize her. She’s an outcast from society: poor, uneducated, and strange.
The mystery surrounding the death of Chase Andrews is the inciting incident of the novel, and it's soon clear that he was not such a swell guy. Foul play is suspected. Is Kya a murder? Or someone else?
There's plenty to love here, and the pages definitely turned quickly for me. Kya’s character and voice is compelling. If you loved the mystery aspects of Verity, give Where the Crawdads Sing a look. You won’t be disappointed. The movie is also great.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
“Life feels beautiful that day. The four of us Liars, we have always been. We always will be. No matter what happens as we go to college, grow old, build lives for ourselves; no matter if Gat and I are together or not. No matter where we go, we will always be able to line up on the roof of Cuddledown and gaze at the sea. This island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.” ― E. Lockhart, quote from We Were Liars
What an unexpected and beautiful story about friendship, coming of age, and sorrow!
I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, but I fell in love with it. By the end it made me cry. This YA novel is about a group of privileged young friends who spend their summers on a private island and their lies, family secrets, grief, and love. It’s a mystery. The beautiful and disorienting plot will leave you reader breathless until the very end—which has a completely shocking twist.
If you’re looking for books like Verity, pick this one up. It’s a whirlwind read!
The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve
“But how do you ever know that you know a person?” ― Anita Shreve, quote from The Pilot’s Wife
Released in 1998, The Pilot’s Wife might seem to be an unusual choice for books like Verity. It’s a quieter mystery. Older. A slow burn. A woman learns that her husband has died. Then, she realizes that he was living a secret life. She pulls on that thread.
What I love most about this novel—and other books by Anita Shreve—is the writing. The characters are beautiful. The story unfolds at its own pace, not at breakneck speed, but gripping nonetheless. The layered and surprising plot as Kathryn digs into her husband’s secrets is similar to the unfolding suspense as Lowen begins reading Verity’s hidden manuscript.
Colleen Hoover fans who enjoy nostalgic books from another decade should give this popular Oprah’s Book Club Pick a chance.
Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall
“What’s down there?” she asked. “A crack in the world,” I answered automatically.” ― Kate Alice Marshall, quote from Our Last Echoes
The premise: While visiting an island where people have disappeared, a girl encounters supernatural beings.
Wow! This fast-paced, unusual ghost story kept me guessing the whole time. I started the book thinking I knew what would happen, but the story isn’t a simple or easy cliché. Instead, it’s dark and twisty and full of X-files weirdness.
In the story, Sophia travels to remote island to learn about her mom’s disappearance. She was told her mom died in a car crash when she was a toddler, but now she thinks that might not be true. What if her mom is still alive? At this creepy island, residents are definitely afraid of something that might be alive in the mist that comes rolling in.
Don’t go outside.
Sophia goes outside. Of course.
Like Colleen Hoover, Kate Alice Marshall writes gripping thrillers—but with atmospheric and otherworldly aspects and a focus on young adult and new adult readers. The goose-bump factor of this particular story kept me curious all the way to the final page.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
“You can tell a lot about a person by the way they act when they are left waiting too long.”― Ashley Elston, quote from First Lie Wins
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is one of those psychological thriller / mystery books that grabs you from the beginning and never lets go.
Evie Porter is a free agent who handles various “jobs” for a mysterious Mr. Smith. She’s good at her job. In fact, she’s so good that she doesn’t trust Mr. Smith and sets safety nets around her to make sure that when she’s double-crossed (not if, she knows it’s coming), she’ll be ready.
About halfway through the book, I was certain that I'd figured out who the mysterious "Mr. Smith" was--but I was wrong! The ending had a great twist and surprise. After a modest start to the narrative, I had to sit down and read the rest of the book in a single afternoon. I loved the premise, the mystery, and the conflict. I can see why so many people loved this one. Excellent read! If you devoured Verity by Colleen Hoover, I know you’ll enjoy meeting Evie Porter.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
“Friends see most of each other’s flaws. Spouses see every awful last bit.” ― Gillian Flynn, quote from Gone Girl
It’s hard to say much about this one without revealing spoilers. A wife’s disappearance exposes the secrets of her marriage, which spirals into an unexpected labyrinth of manipulation, media spectacle, and revenge. The husband is the main suspect—perhaps for good reason. After all, love has turned sour.
But is he really the killer?
As with Verity by Colleen Hoover, the characters in Gone Girl are not who they’re pretending to be. Everyone poses and lies. I found the ending very surprising.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
“No one is born evil. As Winnicott put it, ‘A baby cannot hate the mother, without the mother first hating the baby.’” ― Alex Michaelides, quote from The Silent Patient
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is one of those novels that refuses to be set aside. These days, it's rare that I spend a weekend with my nose in a book, but I did with The Silent Patient.
The premise is simple enough: a woman killed her husband and is now in a mental institution. She is a famous painter. She refuses to speak. The protagonist is a therapist who wants to help her regain her voice.
Will he? What will she tell him? Why has she gone silent? The therapist is one part detective, one part analyst, and one part guy with his own demons to overcome. His journey to understand what happened to Alicia that night leads to a jaw-dropping twist.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
“There’s nothing so painful, so corrosive, as suspicion.” ― Paula Hawkins, quote from The Girl on the Train
An alcoholic divorcee becomes obsessed with a couple after seeing them on her train commute, and then she becomes entangled in an investigation.
Holy cow! The Girl on the Train is definitely one of the books you’ll devour if you liked Verity. It has unreliable narrators, as well as a twisty and confusing plot that will keep you guessing. It’s a total roller coaster. My feelings were all over the map as I devoured the story. Things definitely aren’t what they seem to be. The mystery keeps the pages turning. What, exactly, did Rachel see that day?
Pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
“I believe that any human being is capable of terrible things if you push them hard enough.” ― Freida McFadden from Never Lie
Freida McFadden is prolific and wonderful. She has a unique writing voice that makes her protagonists seem a little “off.” Every one of the novels I’ve read by her has been totally unique, and Never Lie is no exception.
After a snowstorm traps newlyweds Tricia and Ethan in a deserted house, Tricia finds herself invested in the mystery surrounding the previous owner's disappearance.
The story is compelling, and I was surprised by the various plot twists along the way. The setting seemed a little contrived, but it didn't hurt the novel in the least. Yes, this is how all horror movies begin—with people trapped in some scary old house.
Make yourself a bowl of popcorn and curl up with this domestic psychological thriller. If you loved Verity, you will devour this!
Layla by Colleen Hoover
“Layla is my soul mate in every realm of life.” ― Colleen Hoover, quote from Layla
For Colleen Hoover fans who might have missed this one, Layla is a romantic suspense novel that includes a love triangle with a ghost.
That’s right. A ghost.
How do I categorize this one? A ghost story? A love story? A psychological thriller? I’ve decided on “romantic suspense novel,” but it's hard to put a label on it. What I know for sure is that I sat around all day and turned the pages until the end. I had to know. The twist was not as much of a surprise; I had an inkling about what was happening in the middle of the book. That didn't matter. How? Now what? There were so many pressing questions. Half the time, I wasn't sure I really trusted Leeds to be a reliable narrator.
Buy it. Read it. Colleen Hoover is a prolific and wonderful author who writes whatever her creative heart suggests. Every one of her books has been totally unique, and Layla is no exception. If you loved Verity, you must read this one immediately.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked Verity by Colleen Hoover
Goodreads offers a great list of Books Similar to Verity.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of binge-worthy book reviews about some of Colleen Hoover’s other novels.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
