You

Joe Goldberg, a bookstore employee in New York City, becomes fixated on customer Guinevere Beck, an aspiring writer and teaching assistant. He uses social media and technology to learn everything about her, orchestrating ways to enter her life and win her affection. The story unfolds through Joe's first-person narration, creating an intimate window into his mind as he pursues Beck. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of literary New York, while Joe's darker motives and actions lurk beneath the surface of their romance. Written in second-person perspective, You explores the intersection of love, obsession, and modern technology. The novel examines how social media shapes relationships and identity, while questioning the line between romance and stalking in contemporary dating culture.

Readers describe the book as disturbing and unsettling, with many saying they felt conflicted about sympathizing with Joe despite his actions. The second-person narration creates an uncomfortably intimate perspective. Readers praised: - The psychological complexity of Joe's character - Accurate portrayal of social media and modern dating - Dark humor throughout the narrative - The pacing and suspense "Made me examine my own social media presence" - common reader sentiment "Couldn't put it down despite being horrified" - frequent comment Common criticisms: - Too graphic and explicit - Repetitive internal monologue - Some found Joe's observations pretentious - "The constant references to books and literature felt forced" Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (525,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (5,800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) The book has higher ratings among thriller fans and lower ratings from readers who expected a traditional romance.

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🔍 The novel began as a writing experiment where Kepnes challenged herself to write from a male perspective for 30 straight days. 📱 Social media plays such a vital role that Kepnes deactivated her own accounts while writing to better understand digital privacy vulnerabilities. 📺 The book's success led to a hit Netflix series starring Penn Badgley, which has run for four seasons and counting. 🎭 Joe Goldberg's character was partially inspired by Dan Humphrey from "Gossip Girl" and Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho." 📚 When writing Joe's observations about literature, Kepnes drew from her experience working at a bookstore in Los Angeles, incorporating real conversations she overheard between customers.