Summary
Meet Joe Goldberg, the world’s most likable serial killer. He will justify every questionable action and you will find yourself rooting for him. When Joe meets Guinevere Beck, nicknamed Beck, he falls for her quirky personality and witty comments. Written from the perspective of Joe as though he is speaking to Beck, he often refers to her as “you,” hence the title of the book. He is obsessed with Beck and soon whittles his way into her life as her boyfriend. I don’t want to give away the ending, although I’m sure many have already seen the Netflix show, but things soon turn south for the relationship. There is no recovering from Joe’s choices, but he continues to justify his actions.
Review
If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, yes, I would definitely recommend this book!
The first thing that caught my attention with this book was the narrator’s perspective. It was both unsettling and incredibly personal. Sometimes, it felt as though Joe was speaking to me. It was often difficult to extract myself from the story, as I thought about it constantly going about my day. So I think the strongest aspect of the book was the writing.
The second part I especially enjoyed was the plot. It felt fast and slow-moving, as it seemed to consist mostly of day-to-day activities, but I felt on edge most of the time, being in Joe’s head as he pursued Beck. Both because I was unwillingly rooting for him and because I wanted to know how the relationship ended. It was easy to move through this book quickly.
The third aspect I liked was the characters. The story is moved by the characters and their interactions. If you’re observant and body language easily, this book is for you. It felt like a mind game as I tried to read between the lines and predict what would happen. The author has a unique ability to create one incredibly detestable character, get inside his head, and actually get her audience to cheer for him. I haven’t read many books where I find myself rooting for the villain. If you haven’t seen the Netflix show, I would also recommend it. Caroline Kepnes also wrote a prequel to You, called Hidden Bodies. I have not yet read it, but plan to do so in the future.
I would highly recommend this for a busy mom. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page, and then you’ll wonder how you got through a book so quickly! The best is watching the show after finishing the book and comparing the two. I’ve always thought of watching movies or shows based on books as the rewards for finishing the book.
Rating
Five out of Five Stars
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If you enjoyed my review of You by Caroline Kepnes, you might also like Lock Every Door by Riley Sager. Check out my review!
If you’re interested in purchasing You, here are some quick links to buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And, if you’re interested to see what others think, here’s the link to the book on Goodreads.
