kiracanread
Written on Mar 28, 2020
- ISBN10 1501195433
- ISBN13 9781501195433
- Publish Date 28 August 2018 (first published 25 September 2014)
- Publish Status Active
- Imprint Atria Books
- Edition Media Tie-In ed.
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 464
- Language English
Reviews
jesstheaudiobookworm
Written on Jan 10, 2020
So, not only was You my first full listen of the new year, but it was my first successful listen as well. My listening habits have been severely disrupted in recent months, so it takes something really gripping to keep my interest these days. I wasn't planning on starting You when I did. I had originally planned on hearing it around Halloween, but that didn't pan out. I impulsively started it three days ago and I immediately knew that it was something I could hear in a day if I wanted to. Not because it was short in length, but because it made me want to sacrifice sleep and shirk work obligations just to keep listening. Luckily for me, You is as easy to listen to as it is captivating, so I was able to listen and work.
You wasn't necessarily a scary story, but it did ultimately have a scary effect on me that drove its raison d'être home better than the story did itself. I was initially wary of admitting this, but after reading others' reviews and realizing that the manipulation of the reader was clearly intentional and nearly universal, I am less so. In You, we are dealing with a socio-pathologically deluded main character. We suspect this going in. His thoughts (which we are privy to) and actions confirm and remind us of this periodically throughout the story. We become so intimately connected with the main character (we are literally inside his head) that it's hard to maintain an objective point-of-view as a reader. There's no distance between the main character and the reader. I don't think it's a stretch to say that it almost feels as if we are one with him- carrying out his heinous actions and all. Kepnes manages to lull the reader into a false sense of security by telling the story from inside the main character's head and practically daring us to sympathize with him.
I'm choosing my words very carefully because I'm hesitant to label this particular main character as a protagonist- a literary role most of us are in the habit of "rooting for", which is something Kepnes exploits here. In You, Joe Goldberg is definitively the main character, he may be the protagonist, but he is definitely not the hero. I often fall into the trap of using these terms interchangeably, but that would not work in this situation. Or rather, it should not, and therein lies the trap that Kepnes so cleverly sets for the reader.
I will admit that more than once while listening to You, I found myself subconsciously sympathizing with Joe, even accidentally rooting for him at times. Of course, as soon as I became aware of this, I was disgusted with myself for repeatedly falling for Kepnes' trap. The human mind has an unfathomable ability to rationalize and we are inside Joe's mind, hearing his most intimate thoughts and all of his seemingly (to him) logical rationalizations. But Joe is an unreliable narrator. I knew that about him, and yet I repeatedly still fell prey to Caroline Kepnes' written manipulations. And the scariest part about all of this is that people like Joe Goldberg exist and they can convince you that they are the good guy, because that's what they honestly believe.
This is a book I will be recommending for years to come. There wasn't a huge twist at the end and it wasn't exactly a pulse-pounder, but any book that can make someone question the inner workings of good, evil, and everything in between is something everyone should read.
Narration review: Let me amend that to "...something everyone should hear", because Santino Fontana gave a phenomenal performance. The characterizations he provided were out of this world. He brought Kepnes' is already vivid writing to life even more. I 10/10 would listen to him again and I'm on my way to google his entire repertoire after posting this review. This is an audiobook worth your time. ♣︎
Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading
Written on Oct 28, 2019
What really got to me about this book were the characters. I knew prior to starting the book that the main character (Joe) would be someone that I would probably end up not liking and I was right; I did not like him one bit. I hoped the secondary characters would have provided a balance to his madness. Instead, they proved to be no better than Joe was, with the worst being Beck, the woman he stalked. Throughout the story, I kept wondering what Joe saw in her. Self-centered, shallow and dishonest would be the perfect terms to describe Beck and her friends were no better.
With YOU, we get the story from Joe’s POV, now that was one crazy journey. OMG! Demented but smart, Joe knew exactly what to do to get what he wanted, and he wants Beck. The lengths he went through to achieve this was horrific.
On the surface, Joe appeared sweet and harmless, but being inside his head creeped me out, but I could not stop listening. I had to know what his next move would be. I was not a fan of his inner dialogue as he rambled on and on, with no end in sight, which exasperated and frustrated me. As a result, I read other books in between to combat the frustration and annoyance. Eventually as the story neared the end, it picked up the pace and things became interesting.
The story highlighted the dangers that come with the use of social media, credit cards and mobile phones. It is scary knowing that we are not safe using the things designed to make our lives easier. Having been a victim of online banking fraud, this scare for me was real. Beck made it easy for Joe to get to her as she posted her life all over twitter and Facebook.
Narration
I enjoyed the narration by Santino Fontana. He captured every facet of Joe, bringing his character to life. I am glad I listened to YOU as it enhanced my experience with the story and made it easier for me to endure to the end.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, an interesting take on stalking and obsession. Please note this is not for the faint of heart, so if unreliable and crazy characters, violence and a host of other scary issues, do not freak you out then you can give YOU a chance.
boghunden
Written on Aug 27, 2019
Book-Joe is way creepier than tv-Joe - at least in the beginning. And book-Beck? She was definitely more annoying. What I missed in the book, that worked well in the show, was Paco. Other things were very similar; like the way Joe hit a deer.
So which one do I prefer? I don't know. I love the charms of tv-Joe, but I also really liked the creepiness of book-Joe. Same goes for the two Becks. One thing I will say though, is that even though they were similar, I prefered book-Dr.Nicky. There was just something about him that worked so well. And the way the photos of him and Beck were discovered by Joe? Really well written.
I liked the writing style a whole lot, and I must admit I'm looking forward to read book two (as well as watch season two - I expect them to be very different from one another, based on the endings. There was no Candace in the book - who even is (was?) she? And will the book just be another "You" with Amy instead of Beck? I don't know, but I can't wait to find out!
kalventure
Written on Mar 29, 2019
laurie
Written on May 21, 2017
And that's why I hated this book. Why was Beck the object of Joe's obsession? What was it about her, other than she walked into his store and bought a couple of books? She treated him like garbage, she lied, she ignored him, and he panted over her like a dog with a slab of bacon. Was it physical - we were never told. It certainly wasn't intellectual - her emails and tweets showed her to be nothing but a shallow, selfish little girl. This deeper connection, this understanding of why Beck was the mouse in Joe's house, would have made this book all the creepier.
It also wouldn't have hurt for a good editing - the book was just too long and went on longer than it needed to. But if you want to be creeped out and prompted to change every password and lock down every one of your online accounts, this book will do the trick.
See this review and others on my blog.
Leah
Written on Apr 25, 2016
Eve1972
Written on Mar 7, 2016
WOW WOW WOW, I LOVED this book was SO MUCH!!
From page one I was sucked into this story. It's told in a second-person narrative which took a bit of getting used to but worked really well for this novel.
Joe deliciously twisted and disturbed Joe, meets the wholly unlikable Beck in his bookstore one day, and the infatuation begins.
What follows is a fabulously twisted and dark commentary on today's society. The ease in which someone can stalk another through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. I have to admit, even though I KNEW the dangers of putting EVERYTHING out there when you are seeing it through the eyes of a stalker, well, let's just say it makes you think twice.
I not really sure what this says about me, but I LOVED Joe. I was rooting for him through the whole book. Rooting for him to do what, I don't know. Get the girl? Kill the girl?? I didn't matter, Joe's voice was just that compelling, his character just that intriguing. Alas, that can't be said for ANY of the other characters. They all come across as spoiled, self-absorbed assholes. Which is pretty much the point I think. Perhaps a reflection of today's 20-something generation? And that ending, WOW...
In any case, this is right up on top of my favorite reads so far this year!
Bianca
Written on Oct 24, 2015
The only thing crueler than a cage so small that a bird can’t fly is a cage so large that a bird thinks it can fly.
ibeforem
Written on Mar 30, 2015