YOU
Carline Kepnes
I was referred to this book by a friend- thanks Kristin- in light passing while we discussed some stuff we were currently reading. It was when I was still full swing into The Millennium series by Larson and Lagercrantz and I was rambling about how I liked Salandar’s viewpoints on the situations she faced. She was calculated and rarely was a decision made from true emotion, which I playfully added, “it’s almost sociopathic.” Kristin jumped and said, “Yessss! I know what you mean! The book I’m reading is like that but from a more terrible viewpoint. But the character’s thoughts are so brutally laid out it makes me laugh.” I was intrigued, obviously, and soon forgot to get the book for a few weeks until my Audible credit came through and I jumped in finally remembering I wanted that story since she mentioned it. Yes, I did listen to it, not read it. I’m a lover of printed books and don’t have a desire to own a kindle, preferring the touch and smell of the story over a backlit screen, but audiobooks are brilliant and allow me to work while enjoying the story so I voice no qualms to those who listen.
First, a little about the author: Her bio’s are surprisingly short and consistent so I’ll give it to you as they appear in the myriad of postings.
“Caroline Kepnes is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her first novel, YOU, was shortlisted for a CWA New Blood Award. Her second novel, HIDDEN BODIES, is a sequel that Booklist describes as "the love child of Holden Caulfield and Patrick Bateman." Caroline earned a BA in American Civilization at Brown University and worked as a pop culture journalist for Entertainment Weekly and a TV writer for "7th Heaven" and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." She now writes full-time and lives in Los Angeles.” - bookreporter.com
Already I’m ecstatic to have a sequel and a third book by her. Caroline wastes no time plunging the reader into the story- one of my favorite writing styles- and drops you into the book , right into the bookstore Joe Goldberg manages. Immediately, the narrator- which is Joe- starts talking about a girl that enters but he isn’t telling the reader or audience the story, he’s telling the story and his actions to the girl. “You walk into the book store and you keep your hand on the door to make sure it doesn’t slam. You smile. Embarrassed to be a nice girl,” is part of the beginning and a good example of her writing without giving away anymore spoilers. This viewpoint creates a connection between reader and narrator making all the emotions and thoughts more personal and surface level. So much so, that the story unfolds before your eyes like your own memories do. It’s easy to understand Joe’s reasoning for things as he lays it out in a matter-of-fact way. His rationalism and confidence is contagious causing him to be a sort of anti-hero of the book. Someone you root for but maybe you shouldn’t.
Joe falls in love with a girl from the beginning and spends the rest of the book trying to prove his love in a myriad of unfathomable interactions and decisions. Kepenes gets you right inside the head of a…a…complex person. I want to say he’s a sociopath, but he’s not, and I want to say he’s a serial killer, but he’s not. She strings you along the protagonist’s movements with bits of his past lighting the way and it truly makes you question your own traits and what you value in other people. It makes you question how you live your life and how you treat certain people but also, how you treat yourself.
From the very beginning, I was hooked to the story. I wanted to find out what Joe and I would get into and how we’d learn more about the girl and how he’d come up with a devilish way to swoon her like he knew he could. I was enthralled with the pace of the book, the descriptions, the revelations, and the characters; all the way up to the ending when I felt that emptiness and demanded more story. Which I got by listening for a second time and a third time. This is a fun read and fairly quick to finish because I promise you will not want to put it down. Whether it’s the printed version or the audiobook read by Santino Fontana, who does such a mesmerizing job with perfect enunciation, dramatization, character voices, and rhythm, that there’s no doubt he is Joe and you are hearing his inner thoughts throughout the book. It’s a great addition to the picture inside your head.
I highly recommend this book for those that want something a little different and enjoy a darker story from the depths of our minds’ most absurd thoughts. You’ll find yourself smiling and laughing at things you didn’t expect.
I must mention the Lifetime rendition of the book that Netflix just picked up from them. I haven’t watched it myself but do enjoy the acting abilities of Penn Badgley and think he nails my vision of Joe perfectly. It’s not streaming on Netflix, yet, so you’ll have to watch it on Lifetime or find it somewhere else on the web but that doesn’t stop me from being excited to watch the series to see how they painted the story.
Rating:
Ten cups of coffee!