You by Caroline Kepnes

You (You, #1)

by Caroline Kepnes

Gone Girl meetsFatal Attractionin Caroline Kepnes' You, a chilling account of the twisted psychology behind unrelenting passion.

When aspiring writer Guinevere Beck strides into the bookstore where Joe works he is instantly smitten. Beck is everything Joe has ever wanted: tough, razor-smart and sexier than his wildest dreams. He'd kill to have her.

Soon Beck can't resist her feelings for a guy who seems custom made for her. When a string of macabre incidents tears her world apart there is only one person she can turn to. But there's more to Joe than Beck realises and much more to Beck than her perfect facade. The obsessive relationship quickly spirals into a whirlwind of deadly consequences...

A chilling account of unrelenting, terrifying deceit, Caroline Kepnes' You is a thriller more perversely clever and dangerously twisted than any YOU have ever read.

Reviewed by boghunden on

4 of 5 stars

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All right. I've seen the show before I read the book. Did that ruin the experience? No, I don't think so. Sure, I knew what would happen, but they were different enough that it wasn't the same story.

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!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 August, 2019: Finished reading
  • 27 August, 2019: Reviewed