You

A Novel

by Caroline Kepnes

paperback, 464 pages

Published Aug. 28, 2018 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-5011-9543-3

(19 reviews)

When aspiring writer and recent Brown graduate Guinevere Beck strides into the bookstore where Joe works, he's instantly smitten. Beck is everything Joe has ever wanted: she's gorgeous, tough, razor-smart, and sexy beyond his wildest dreams. Joe needs to have her, and he'll stop at nothing to do so. As he begins to insinuate himself into her life - her friendships, her email, her phone - she can't resist her feelings for a guy who seems custom-made for her. So when her boyfriend, Benji, mysteriously disappears, Beck and Joe fall into a tumultuous affair. But there's more to Beck than her oh-so-perfect façade, and their mutual obsession quickly spirals into a whirlwind of deadly consequences.

5 editions

Greg reviewed You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes

None

5 stars

You know how neckbeards and emos think Holden Caufield is their guy? Well... BENJI IS MINE FELLAS.

I couldn't put this shit DOWN. Thank god I didn't see the cover with the netflix pic cause I could never get over the mental image of Joe being that kid from Do Over. hell no. hell no.

I was cheering on Joe mad in this. Joe had his problems, sure. He killed people. Oops. I forgot to take out the trash. We all mess up!!!

But Beck. Damn, Joe. Move on. Girl was toxic and messy and he deserved better. I get some might think he's a stalker, but if he is, then I guess she is too! Just like Benji said. So maybe they deserve each other?

I hated this book as much as I loved it, because it really captures the zeitgeist of dating in the digital age. We're all so close to overstepping line between making sure the person you're going on a date with isn't a creep and becoming a stalker yourself when you Google your hinge date. I hated seeing so many of my actions reflected onto Joe. I've never hacked an email but who hasn't walked a little outside of the way to hopefully see someone they've been crushing on??

Messy book in the best way possible. Loved it.

Amber Herbert reviewed You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes

Review of 'You' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This book was just as fun and gripping the second time around. The novel is an entirely different experience and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the TV adaptation.

In the TV series, Joe is sympathetic and Beck is relatable. In the book, however, neither of these are true. Joe is crazy, judgmental, and awful; Beck is narcissistic, impulsive, and manipulative. If you enjoy unlikable narrators, give it a go!