Joe Goldberg’s works at a bookshop in the East Village when Guinevere Beck enters and makes a purchase. As Joe checks her out they chat for a few minutes and Joe feels a connection. What transpires next exposes our vulnerability in the digital age. Joe manipulates his way into Beck’s life and she unknowingly welcomes him.
Kepnes delivers the tale completely from Joe’s point of view allowing us to ride along as he manipulates and creates. He is the composer and Beck’s life his masterpiece. This is not a romance, yet there IS a romance and it is brilliant. What impressed me the most was the author’s ability to make me like this anti-hero. Joe is so wrong and I should run, but I could not. He made me laugh, terrified me and yet I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I was impressed by how cleverly Kepnes exposed his inner workings. The dark humor woven into the tale, especially when Joe finds himself in trouble made me giggle even if it was twisted and wrong. *grins*
If you have ever watched or read Dexter than you know what it is like seeing Joe interact with others. He is a little odd, but does not seem to be a threat, heck he is even shall we say sweet. Kepnes captured this brilliantly. Have I said brilliantly too much? I am at a loss for words. Fans of movies, books and pop culture will love the references Joe makes. All of them take place in the commentary that is constantly running in his mind.
The entire time you are reading/listening to this the outside world will slip away and as you begin making a checklist of the stupid, seemly innocent things Beck did. Kepnes will have you questioning your tweets, and Facebook status. You will expose your own vulnerabilities and the realism makes it all the more suspenseful and chilling.
Santino Fontana the narrator brought Joe to life. His narration was superb and notched up the chills. He nailed the dark humor, Joe’s frustration, and his seductive awkwardness. It added a level of brilliance to the story providing a perfect marriage of voice and story.
You is the type of story that you become caught up in, and yes the premise behind it is a scary one. Perhaps you will walk away a little wiser about social media. Perhaps you will take a second glance at a stranger and wonder…but is that such a bad thing? This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer