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lovelydeadgirl's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
unnamed_individual's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
1. Organization: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book is organized in chronological order. Each chapter is easy to understand. Almost every book gets the organization star.
2. Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story has a strong plot. One man falls deep in love with a woman, who is extremely imperfect. In fact, she is a very seductive and narcissistic woman who want love, attention, and desire from her friends and lovers. The issue is, Joe, the main character) is so driven by love, he ends of killing someone. And while the plot is interesting, I took out two stars because the story is not that interesting that I want to continue reading. There is no plot twist or surprise. Everything is very predictable. I did not care for the characters. The ending did not make me want more. It is unlikely that I will read the next book without checking out the reviews and the star rating first. Most of all, there was absolutely no character development. Joe is a narcissist sociopath without a shred of empathy towards others. Naturally, he never learns from his mistakes, and he justifies everything by blaming the other person. He had no fear, and if he did, the writing didn’t show me that. Even his anger, which he expresses frequently, is dulled by his antisocial personality.
3. Writing Style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Written in first and second person. As the book shows, it is called “You” because he speaks very fondly of one woman and calls her you through out the entire book. There were many moments in the book where I’m I was in awe of the beauty of the writing. It had quotable phrases (which I didn’t save, whoops). Since the book is in first and second perspective, it kept the reader engaged in the content just to continue reading the oddity of the writing. I removed a star because after half the book, the writing loses that artistic touch and becomes hurried and lackluster.
4. Audience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. Audience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me list the genre of this book according to Goodreads: thriller, fiction, mystery, contemporary, audiobook, adult, horror, suspense, crime. Personally, as someone that loves a good mystery that ups my heart rate, this book did not meet up to standard. If someone were to ask me for a thriller or suspense, I would NOT recommend this book. I felt bored throughout the book and honestly didn’t see any mystery. It was obvious what was going to happen the second the character came to scene. However, this book retains 3 stars because it does meat the crime, horror, and contemporary genres. It opens the reader into the world of a serial killer. The reader understands how easy it is for one to draw in his victim. It was genuinely disturbing how manipulative, sneaky, and deceiving he is.
5. Lasting Impact: ⭐️
Absolutely no lasting impact. It gets one star because it did show me how well a serial killer can deceive their closest friends and family into believing he is an innocent and kindhearted man. I don’t think I finished this book feeling like a new person with newfound knowledge.
Final verdict: the average for this book is 3.2 rounded to 3.25!
Review criteria taken from: https://medium.com/@sarinarmichel/book-review-criteria-6c7f37fab62d
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
thebearnest's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident
phantomgecko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A stream of consciousness from a misogynistic narcissist. Pretty disgusting tbh. Originally I tried to listen to the audiobook, but it was too intense. This is a book where the language really bothered me. Extremely vulgar and obscene. Very much reminded me of the internet, esp Reddit, which obvs was the goal.
Think of the whiniest, most foul-mouthed little incel you can, and that's this dude. Note how many times he refers to women as objects. How many times he reduces Beck to her sexual availability or genitals. How many times he misinterprets media to justify his actions. Also, lol at how judgmental he is about books. I think this is a more fun variation than being super judgmental about music or comics or video games.
Joe is seven layers of delusional, from thinking Beck is obsessed with him to awaiting the collapse of the internet so he can lord it over with his typewriters to thinking he ever helped anyone. However, some of what I thought he was making up at the beginning turned out to be close to the truth. Like how he says that Beck loves attention and is an exhibitionist. Still, I'd categorize him as an unreliable narrator.
Beck isn't a great person either. She has real issues and a way annoying personality. Joe's observation that she wants to be a writer more than she wants to write is spot on. Nevertheless, a victim is a victim whether or not they are "innocent" or you personally dislike them.See also Dr. Nicky.
One of the book club questions at the end asked something along the lines of, "did you find yourself wishing Joe would be punished for his crimes or did you want him to get away with it?" And like... ?????????? If you found yourself sympathetic to Joe's self-imposed, imaginary, selfish plight, maybe you need help too?
Here is a guy that murders four people by the end of the book, and frames another guy for one of the murders. This isn't a crime mystery, so the fact he gets away with everything shouldn't hold you up. Willing suspension of disbelief and all. But he actively and repeatedly blames every victim for their own murder. Most psychotic of all, he kills Beck, starts freaking out because he didn't mean it, realizes she's actually still alive, and then kills her again IMMEDIATELY and then cries because it's all her fault.
I honestly cannot adequately express how despicable the main character is. I understand that that is the point. I feel dirty for reading this book, tbh, and I'm not continuing the series. Joe is too accurately written, and that's too depressing for me.
Think of the whiniest, most foul-mouthed little incel you can, and that's this dude. Note how many times he refers to women as objects. How many times he reduces Beck to her sexual availability or genitals. How many times he misinterprets media to justify his actions. Also, lol at how judgmental he is about books. I think this is a more fun variation than being super judgmental about music or comics or video games.
Joe is seven layers of delusional, from thinking Beck is obsessed with him to awaiting the collapse of the internet so he can lord it over with his typewriters to thinking he ever helped anyone. However, some of what I thought he was making up at the beginning turned out to be close to the truth. Like how he says that Beck loves attention and is an exhibitionist. Still, I'd categorize him as an unreliable narrator.
Beck isn't a great person either. She has real issues and a way annoying personality. Joe's observation that she wants to be a writer more than she wants to write is spot on. Nevertheless, a victim is a victim whether or not they are "innocent" or you personally dislike them.
One of the book club questions at the end asked something along the lines of, "did you find yourself wishing Joe would be punished for his crimes or did you want him to get away with it?" And like... ?????????? If you found yourself sympathetic to Joe's self-imposed, imaginary, selfish plight, maybe you need help too?
I honestly cannot adequately express how despicable the main character is. I understand that that is the point. I feel dirty for reading this book, tbh, and I'm not continuing the series. Joe is too accurately written, and that's too depressing for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
theskyboi's review against another edition
Honestly, it was so limiting to be inside Joe's head the entire time; it felt like there was no interaction happening, and there was no lead-up to the intense scenes. Simply put, the TV show was much better executed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting
wyabook234's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Police brutality
bccorrea's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy money what a book I read it in one day and never wanted to put it down. The book is compelling frightening and let's just say I definitely put a lock on my phone and look over my shoulder now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
snowhite197's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
_sawdust's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
david_slack110507's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've had this on my tbr list for a good while however after I watched the series on Netflix (and thoroughly loved it) I was hesitant about whether to read the book until I learned that the books are pretty different to the adaptation with this one being the most faithful and even this book is different to the series adaptation. Some of the changes the series made I liked and preferred what was in the book however I do prefer other aspects of the book over the tv show.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book on Audible and I really think that's one of the best ways to experience this story, Santino Fontana really nails it at playing Joe and showing just how unhinged yet deluded he really is, something I think the book does better than the TV show adaptation. In the show and specifically the first season (Which adapts the first book in the You series), Joe is a much more complex character than he is in the book in terms of morality. In the show, we learn bits about his past with it having an abusive and toxic environment that he grew up in and we also see him trying to help Paco out of the same situation as he sees himself in Paco's situation, this acts as a way to humanise Joe combined with the fact that because it is told from his perspective means that his actions despite how despicable they are and then combated with Joe being a 'nice' person. It creates a contrast and I do think that while it's evident that Joe is a horrible person, these added complexities mean that he could be viewed as not entirely evil.
The book completely goes against this instead having no situations where Joe is seen as potentially a flawed person. There is no Paco and any situations involving him hurting others are played out exactly as they should be, Joe is portrayed as the monster that he is. I think both the TV show and the book have very interesting takes on Joe and they both work: Showcasing Joe as the monster he is shows that the book isn't trying to romanticise his behaviour however having a multi-dimensional and complex version of Joe as seen in the TV show results in a much more interesting character.
I actually feel most if not all the changes the show makes were for the better: In the show, the women are much more capable, sure they have their issues but, in the book, they are portrayed as being completely useless and defences which is most likely done on purpose to feed into Joe's heroic narrative/saviour complex. However, in the show, they are able to take care of themselves to some degree.
I also want to point out that I really did like this especially for the fact that it didn't romanticise Joe's actions, despite all the comparisons I have to the show I still think that this stands well on its own and I do feel like while I prefer the show's adaptation/interpretation, this was still very strong and acted as a strong commentary on the 'nice guy' culture. Overall, a very strong start to the series and I'm very interested in where the series goes from here as well as how different it will be from the Netflix show.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book on Audible and I really think that's one of the best ways to experience this story, Santino Fontana really nails it at playing Joe and showing just how unhinged yet deluded he really is, something I think the book does better than the TV show adaptation. In the show and specifically the first season (Which adapts the first book in the You series), Joe is a much more complex character than he is in the book in terms of morality. In the show, we learn bits about his past with it having an abusive and toxic environment that he grew up in and we also see him trying to help Paco out of the same situation as he sees himself in Paco's situation, this acts as a way to humanise Joe combined with the fact that because it is told from his perspective means that his actions despite how despicable they are and then combated with Joe being a 'nice' person. It creates a contrast and I do think that while it's evident that Joe is a horrible person, these added complexities mean that he could be viewed as not entirely evil.
The book completely goes against this instead having no situations where Joe is seen as potentially a flawed person. There is no Paco and any situations involving him hurting others are played out exactly as they should be, Joe is portrayed as the monster that he is. I think both the TV show and the book have very interesting takes on Joe and they both work: Showcasing Joe as the monster he is shows that the book isn't trying to romanticise his behaviour however having a multi-dimensional and complex version of Joe as seen in the TV show results in a much more interesting character.
I actually feel most if not all the changes the show makes were for the better: In the show, the women are much more capable, sure they have their issues but, in the book, they are portrayed as being completely useless and defences which is most likely done on purpose to feed into Joe's heroic narrative/saviour complex. However, in the show, they are able to take care of themselves to some degree.
I also want to point out that I really did like this especially for the fact that it didn't romanticise Joe's actions, despite all the comparisons I have to the show I still think that this stands well on its own and I do feel like while I prefer the show's adaptation/interpretation, this was still very strong and acted as a strong commentary on the 'nice guy' culture. Overall, a very strong start to the series and I'm very interested in where the series goes from here as well as how different it will be from the Netflix show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Deadnaming, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol