Book Review: You by Caroline Kepnes

 "The problem with books is that they end. They seduce you. They spread their legs to you and pull you inside. And you go deep and leave your possessions and your ties to the world at the door and you like it inside and you don’t want for your possessions or your ties and then, the book evaporates.”

---Caroline Kepnes, You

Published in September 2014, Caroline Kepnes' suspense book You has been translated into 19 languages and made into a television series with the same name. The protagonist of You is a violent stalker and serial killer, deconstructing the romantic-comedy tropes popularized in many movies and television shows. Kepnes explained the darkness of the book by claiming that it was written during a difficult time in her life when her father passed away from cancer and during which she faced a number of other difficulties.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

When a beautiful aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation, debut author Caroline Kepnes delivers a razor-sharp novel for our hyper-connected digital age.

My reaction to the novel...

I was fortunate to read this book before I've got the chance to watch it in Netflix, despite the fact that I am aware it was published many years ago. The suspense thriller written by Caroline Kepnes was recognized as one of Suspense Magazine's Best Books of 2014 for its deft plot twists. Although it was well-written, this book is a horrific example of what the most recent social media craze may produce.

After finishing the book, I came to the conclusion that it is actually rather concerning—especially in this day and age, when social media is the center of attention for everyone. Among those who utilize other social media platforms is myself (even if not that frequently, but still using). The safety of everyone might be seriously endangered by this. It is true that if you sign up or register on these platforms, you may also give strangers access to read your personal status (if you are not utilizing a private mode). This suggests that other users could search for you on these sites and interact with you.

The excellent writing in Caroline Kepnes' novel left me speechless. You'll feel a variety of emotions while reading this book, just like I did. I was shocked, amazed, and terrified all at once. I double-checked to make sure that all of my accounts were set to private because we can never be sure what individuals are doing on social media.

I was impressed by Joe's need for Beck's affection as I read. His techniques were brutal, but I think he just wanted to meet someone who would really love him. He shares Beck's mental disorder, which causes him to always desire attention. Actually, I dislike Beck's personality in this book. Joe kept loving her even though he knew she was a user and frequently offered him false hope. Beck, however, got what she deserved as a result of how things turned out.

Joe is a horrifying individual. He is acting out of a disordered mind in the way he thinks and sees things. Because of this tale, we ought to exercise caution while meeting new people and adding them to our social media networks. After all, even someone with a charming appearance might endanger us if we don't know anything about them. We have no idea if they are deceiving us or harboring a hidden agenda despite their apparent goodness, innocence, and love.

Amazing things happen in the novel "You." Despite my hectic schedule, I was only able to finish it in three days. I can't put the book down, and if I had the chance, I'd highly recommend it to everyone, especially adults who enjoy reading suspense thrillers. I really had a nice time reading this book.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐