You by Caroline Kepnes

When I started the Netflix series You, I did not know it was a book. That being said, I do not know if I would have watched it if I had read the book. For once, I am glad I did it in reverse order because the book was on the line of being so cringe-y, I almost gave it up.

(Source: Kelsey Darling)

Joe Goldberg is the manager of Mooney’s Rare and User bookstore when Guinevere Beck walks in, and from that moment, he had their life planned out. But Joe cannot just simply ask her out, he has to know about her; he has to make sure she is safe to share his life with. He reads her emails because he cares about her; he reviews her writings because he has to know about her. Even when he has her, he still must follow her to make sure she is safe. He does everything because she is the one, and you are the crazy one if you do not see that.

If you cannot tell, Joe is a stalker. He uses the name on the credit card to locate Beck online, and with such a unique name, it is incredibly easy to find her on social media. From there, he is able to piece together her entire life: where she lives, what university she goes to, that she is a writer, and the creepiest part of all, where she lives. It just gets worse from there. He follows her and is able to swipe her phone where he learns all about her life through her e-mails. He sneaks into her apartment and steals different items, rummages through her panties, and does many other creepy stalker things. They eventually begin dating and he continues to stalk her. His mood revolves around what Beck has done right or wrong in his head. If she cancels a date, or does not respond quickly enough to a text, he goes on a rage and talks about how horrible of a person she is. But the second she shows up to surprise him, the world is right again and he can go on planning their future together. 

(Source: Giphy)

"Every guy in here watches you slip out and two dudes look at you like they have a shot with you and I would like nothing more than to kick some ass. We were supposed to walk out of this bar together. You're not meant to glide alone in your slutty pink skirt all wrinkled. You unnecessarily lay a hand on the doorman's arm asking what, I do not know and that skirt is a little too see-through, if you want to know the truth. It's gonna be hard to break you, this hungry public part of you that wants to be noticed and observed. You need an escort, Beck, especially if you want to dress like a fucking whore." (p. 172)

One thing that I really had a problem with was how sexual Joe is. Or, well, maybe how sexual he makes everything. I do not think I have ever heard the word "nipples" this many times in my entire life, but Joe is obsessed with Beck's nipples. While stalking her, he watches her masturbate. He is constantly thinking of the sex they will have in public places with everyone watching. He critiques the sex she has with Benji and slut shames her for having a hickey. Everything revolves around sex. His internal dialogue about sex is scary, and when he is not obsessing about Beck not loving him, he is obsessing about something sexual to do with her. You is much more sexual than Fifty Shades and is more in line with The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure (aka Anne Rice).

(Source: Giphy)

Comparing it to the Netflix series, the book is much more risque. They really toned down the sexual nature. It is still there, but not in such an overt way. Also, in the series, they created Paco and his mom. His relationship with Paco is the only thing redeeming about Joe. In the book, Paco does not exist, and therefore you never see a side of Joe that is good. Also, Beck is kind of a bitch in the book. She is in the show too, but not as much as she is in the book. While I do not agree with the amount of rage Joe shows towards her, I can understand why he is annoyed with her. Also, in the book, Joe's brief relationship with Karen Minty feels a bit pointless. I know she serves a purpose, but it does not feel as obvious in the book as it did in the show. The series shows them happy for a little bit until Beck "bumps into them" on the street and also removes herself from social media, both of which bring her back into focus for Joe. In the book, one day they have sex and are in a relationship, and then all of a sudden, he hates her, even though it is eight weeks later. 

I do have to wonder how Caroline Kepnes came up with the premise of such a dark book. I have read books and watched movies that have aspects of this book, but not all together. You is a whole new level of psycho. I frequently found the need to shower while reading the book, so I could get the feeling of Joe's eyes off of me, but then would find myself not wanting to be alone in the shower because I was certain Joe would pop up from some unknown spot and attack me, just like he did to Candace and Benji and Peach and Beck.

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There is a second book after this one: Hidden Bodies. The current body count is four. I can only imagine what it will be at the end of book two.

Rating: 5/10
Author: Caroline Kepnes
Series: You (Book 1 of 2)
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Contemporary
Dates Read: May 2-7, 2019