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You

Book 1 in the series:You

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'You' by Caroline Kepnes follows the story of Joe Goldberg, a charming and intelligent bookstore owner who becomes obsessed with Guinevere Beck after a chance encounter. What starts as innocent flirtation quickly escalates into a disturbing tale of stalking and manipulation as Joe goes to extreme lengths to integrate himself into Beck's life. The narrative is told from Joe's perspective, providing insight into his twisted thoughts and actions as he rationalizes his obsessive behavior.

The book delves into themes of obsession, manipulation, and the dark depths of the human psyche. Through a gripping storyline and a unique second-person narrative style, readers are taken on a suspenseful journey that challenges their perceptions of right and wrong. As the plot unfolds, the complex characters and unsettling events keep readers on the edge of their seats, culminating in a chilling exploration of the blurred lines between love and obsession.

Characters:

The characters, especially Joe and Beck, are deeply flawed, with Joe being a captivating but disturbing antihero and Beck as a shallow love interest.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is unique, being in second person from Joe's perspective, marked by clever prose and a blend of humor and horror.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot focuses on Joe Goldberg's obsession with Guinevere Beck, illustrating how a seemingly normal bookstore employee can transform into a dangerous stalker.

Setting:

The setting is modern-day New York City, effectively reflecting contemporary social media dynamics and urban life.

Pacing:

The pacing has a slower start but builds tension effectively, leading to a fast-paced climax.
YOU walk into the bookstore and you keep your hand on the door to make sure it doesn’t slam. You smile, embarrassed to be a nice girl, and your nails are bare and your V-neck sweater is beige and it’s...

Notes:

The book is written in the second person, making readers feel directly addressed as 'You'.
Joe Goldberg, the protagonist, is a bookstore clerk who becomes obsessed with a customer named Beck.
Joe uses social media to stalk and manipulate Beck, highlighting the dark side of technology.
The novel explores complex themes of obsession and the blurred lines between love and control.
Despite his horrific actions, readers often find themselves empathizing with Joe.
The book is known for its dark humor and biting cultural commentary on modern relationships.
Santino Fontana, the audiobook narrator, received praise for his performance in bringing Joe's character to life.
'You' has been adapted into a successful TV series on Netflix, which has received both acclaim and critique.
The author, Caroline Kepnes, has expressed that the book is a commentary on how easily personal information can be accessed online.
The narrative style adds a layer of horror by making the reader feel complicit in Joe's thoughts and actions.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include stalking, violence, mental illness, explicit sexual content, and manipulation, making it unsuitable for sensitive readers.

From The Publisher:

NOW A HIT NETFLIX SERIES

A NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"Hypnotic and scary." -Stephen King

"I am riveted, aghast, aroused, you name it. The rare instance when prose and plot are equally delicious." -Lena Dunham

From debut author Caroline Kepnes comes You, one of Suspense Magazine's Best Books of the Year, and a brilliant and terrifying novel for the social media age.

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she'll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight-the perfect place for a "chance" meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck's life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck's perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way-even if it means murder.

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation, debut author Caroline Kepnes delivers a razor-sharp novel for our hyper-connected digital age. You is a compulsively readable page-turner that's being compared to Gone Girl, American Psycho, and Stephen King's Misery.

Ratings (54)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (23)
Liked It (15)
It Was OK (7)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (120):

Read It (54)
Want To Read (44)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (18)

6 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 week

I haven't reread this series since I first read it in 2019 and it's rather funny that the recent read book in the series (the 3rd) got four stars but this first book got only two in this reread. The second one I didn't like the first time but not sure if I want to give it another go. Maybe just read the next when it comes out

 
It Was OK
3 months

This book was completely laughably unrealistic to me and I didn't enjoy it too much.

 
Loved It
3 months

3.5⭐️

 
Incredible
5 months

I So loved this book. I loved his obsession and his humor. It was romance but it was really dark. It was a good read

 
Incredible
5 months

I So loved this book. I loved his obsession and his humor. It was romance but it was really dark. It was a good read

 
Loved It
7 months

Different, hot

This book sucked me in from the first chapter. Being inside Joe's head, seeing how he rationalizes his behavior and his delusional thinking, is addictive. You is one those books that I just couldn't put down; I kept wanting and needing to know what happened next. Is definitely recommend it!

 
 
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