It's Joe, like we've never seen him before. But then, can a leopard really change their spots?

I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.

I will say that if you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed. If you're not a fan, why not?! Go read this book (but start with You then Hidden Bodies, you need the full Joe experience).

Caroline's writing makes you feel like you are reading a true crime novel. You really are inside Joe's mind. The running commentary from Joe alongside conversations just works and adds to the tension.

I did find the ending a little rushed and I did see part of it coming, the foreshadowing in this series is fantastic (again trying not to say too much!)

I do have one question though, when do we get a 4th book?!

4 Stars from me

Longtime fans of Joe Goldberg, who we first met (and embarrassingly fell in love with), in You, will be delighted to know that everyone's favourite psycho is back!

There is so much that I adored about this book, Caroline Kepnes has such a bright and entertaining mind that lights up her stories and I am very grateful for this! You Love Me was a delight to read.

I loved the 'Philistans', the 'whisper room', 'beef & brocolli', 'the red bed' and of course every word that Joe uttered.

Devastatingly handsome, knowledgeable about books, kind to animals, loving and attentive - how could Mary K not fall for him?

Don't get me wrong, he is on one hand a serious creep - the cameras and the casual stalking are a big no no (I am seemingly ok with the murders though...). But on the other hand he is the perfect partner - you just have to make sure he doesn't fall out of love as that doesn't tend to end ever so well.

There is much humour and brevity among the heavy psychoness and there are some completely superb characters too.

If you enjoyed You then you will also enjoy You Love Me.

I absolutely love this series! I loved the book before the TV show and I was so happy and grateful to be approved on Net Galley to read a copy of this before its release on April 1st.

This book is typical Joe Goldberg. Joe is an absolute nutcase! Hes a psychotic murderer who is convinced he is never in the wrong and realistically if we ever met someone even partly like Joe in person we would all run a mile. However… Kepnes has written a character that were all absolutely routing for… no Joe, you should not have killed any of those people in the past and by book 3 its amazing to find your not locked behind bars for the rest of your life but we absolutely love you. Joe is so likeable to the reader, you cant help but be on his side and want a happy ending for him.. will he ever get it though… only Kepnes can say.

Like book 1 & 2, the writing is all spot on, there is no doubt this is a classic Joe novel and as ever Kepnes writing style is so easy to read and Joe’s telling of these books is something I really enjoy. His sarcastic yet sadistic inner thoughts are what really drives these books.

As with the first two books, I loved this one. Theres nothing not to like in these for me. It really is a story that will never get old… that being said.. Ive heard theres a fourth book on the way and im really not sure what else Kepnes can do with poor old Joe at this point. Will he ever get his happy ever after or will he be doomed for a life without love or even behind bars? At the end of this book it feels Joe is just stuck in a loop by the end of each book and endlessly finds himself in similar situations. It says a lot about his character and the journey hes been on from his childhood until now but I am keen to finally find out whats in store for Joe.

If you like thrillers, the You series is absolutely the one for you. They are so great to read, bizarrely fun and Joe is just a characters I’ve never come across before and I do have a lot of love for him. These come highly recommended!

Our third dalliance with Joe Goldberg has just hit the shelves, and it’s peppered with his trademark dark cynicism, obsessive internal monologues and unique way of looking at the world.

This time, he’s a few years older and wiser, he’s spent time in prison following his exploits with his ex Love and the Quinn family, and he’s just looking for the quiet life. He moves to a small town on the coast and starts volunteering at the local library. But drama and obsession follow Joe, and it’s not long before there’s a new lady in his life.

The new object of his affection is Mary Kay, the sexy head librarian. She’s a little older and has a teenage daughter, and baggage of her own. Joe is determined to win her over the old-fashioned way, to be a new, better Joe, but there’s a few obstacles in his way he’ll need to deal with first.

I don’t read many series, but I completely fell in love with You, and I think Joe is one of the most unique, brilliant characters I’ve ever read. Once again, in this instalment, the author has placed Joe in a completely new situation with new challenges and a new woman. Whilst this covers the same ground in terms of his obsessive nature, there’s some new quirks and characters which keep things fresh and interesting.

But, I’m not sure I loved this one quite as much. His internal ramblings still have glimmers of brilliance, but they were long-winded at times – I don’t think it helped reading an ARC with poor formatting so it really felt like paragraphs went on forever.

Also, like with Hidden Bodies, this is a little less dark than You, and Joe is just a bit less murderous. Kepnes always did well at encouraging sympathy for her villain, but in this it’s almost too much. He’s portrayed as a bit of a victim of circumstances with some twists and coincidences which just felt a little unrealistic.

This book is quite a slow burn, as most of the major twists and action take place in the second half but I did enjoy it once it got going and the final twist at the end was great. I still think Joe is brilliant, and would love to read about what happens next, but I just don’t think any of the subsequent books in the series have quite lived up to the first.

oe Goldberg is back!
Book 1 was amazing, book 2 was a four star for me, so I was a bit nervous about how book 3 was going to be!
The book is a real slow burner to begin with. Building up the tension and creating suspense, as we all know Joe can’t just be a normal person.
I did struggle to get into the book at first, but once the pace picked up a bit, I found myself again hooked in the warped mind of Joe.

I was a little bit disappointed about how the story with Love had unfolded as I wanted more between them and enjoyed their relationship. However that would have been too simple!

Without giving away any spoilers, Joe is once again up to his old tricks. is it bad that sometimes i agree with his thoughts???

I have seen mixer reviews for this book so far. However I will always be a fan of the series and hope Caroline will be letting us in on Joe’s journey in further novels.

This book was a four star for me. It has left me wanting more.

Thank you to the publishers for a proof of this book

Wow. A fantastic new novel in the You series and I think it might just be my favourite one so far. If you haven't read 'You' and 'Hidden Bodies' read those ones first so you can follow on. You won't be disappointed!

After leaving L.A. (reasons all becoming clear as you read on) Joe is now living in Bainbridge Island in the Pacific Northwest. He is applying for a volunteer post in the library and we are right back again where he thinks he's found "The One" in librarian Mary Kay DiMarco.

He's determined to change his life in this small city, surrounded by good people. There hasn't even been a murder there in twenty years. Will it stay that way?

Joe has his sights set on Mary Kay and typical Joe reads into every text, every Instagram post, every 'like'. It won't be easy getting close to Mary Kay though. She is married to a washed-up rock star, she has a seventeen year old daughter and a "feminazi" best friend who doesn't like Joe very much. Joe will mould himself into her perfect man.

Given the genre of this book, I didn't think it would make me laugh so much. I love Joe. There, I said it. I probably shouldn't and I probably have some issues but being in his mind is bizarre and hilarious. He is delusional. I truly laughed at every mention of Dolly Carton and the smiley face emoticons peppered throughout the book.

In any other book I'd be thinking "this is too much" but it all makes sense in Joe Goldberg's world. I cannot wait for the next installment.

No one is more disappointed than me that I couldn't give this book five stars. I adored the first two books in the series. This one had a different tone though, and just went in a direction that I wasn't there for. I think this is very possibly a very me problem. Due to being so invested in this series and Joe, I had hyped this continuation in my head for so long, and envisioned so many directions the story could have gone. I ultimately found this book dull and hard to get into. I was bored occasionally, as Joe just isn't the same person anymore, which I get totally makes sense. You need character development, and you can't just have the same plot book after book, all the same, this one just didn't pull me in the way the first two did.

It isn't all doom and gloom, there were plenty of fantastic points too. I had a good giggle out loud with a certain coffee cup incident which linked back to Joe's previous experiences with leaving cups in incriminating circumstances. I also enjoyed the topic of social media stalking and how most people are actually guilty of it to varying degrees. Are we all a little like Joe? This gave me a lot to think about while reading.

Overall I just didn't feel onboard with the plot direction. That said, I still enjoyed the overall reading experience, and I would love to read more books in the future featuring Joe.

After reading Hidden Bodies I thought it was game over for Joe Goldberg, the man who always gets away with murder, but I am thrilled that he is back and ready to find a new love. Leaving behind New York and Los Angeles (and quite a few bodies), Joe is ready for a fresh start in Bainbridge, just outside of Seattle, where he’s bought a house and he volunteers at the local library. And here meets his next obsession: Mary Kay DiMarco, librarian, mother, and good friend. Mary Kay is too busy to give her full attention to Joe: her teenage daughter has an obsession with mass-shooting serial killers, while her friends are always in need of her attention. But Joe wants to be good this time and tries to control his instincts, even though it is not always easy. Also, Joe discovers that he has his own stalker/blackmailer with a taste for art who follows each of his moves. And it is not easy to get rid of people when you are constantly watched…

I think this is my favourite book of the series. The plot is twisty, chilling, addictive, and full of dark humor. Joe is still the same twisted (I hope never to cross my path with someone like him) and yet amazing and well-developed (I can’t stop reading about him) protagonist. He targets people who are flawed, self-destructive, and, sometimes, with much more psychological problems than he has.

I love the author’s writing style and the way she structures the novel. You find yourself right inside Joe’s mind as he explains to his current victims his actions, his motives, and his emotions in a way that you know it’s disturbed, but also makes you understand him.

I don’t think it would be difficult to read You Love Me as a stand-alone if you haven’t read the first two novels (You and Hidden Bodies), but I highly recommend you read them because they give you a lot of background on Joe’s character and story… and also because they are gripping and suspenseful and really worth a read!

A huge thank you to Jess and Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a proof of this thrilling read which is out today!

I love You, and I love Joe (so shoot me), but this book didn't quite hit the same heights as You or even Hidden Bodies. I guess in a way I thought, where can Joe go next? What is there more to see? Well, Kepnes took me places I didn't really imagine, and towards the end things really started to get dramatic and intense.

The difference I felt between You Love Me and the previous, is that I had to keep putting this on hold and just take a break. Joe is more whiny than usual, and I found myself rolling my eyes at him, wondering how on Earth he does it and needing just a break from his mind and something lighter to break up the sociopathy. .

Saying that, it's all still great, and I am totally here for whatever might be next. I love how Kepnes writes, it's super captivating.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster UK and Caroline Kepnes for an eArc of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I’d not read one of Caroline Kepnes books before this one but I have watched the Netflix show and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Joe Goldberg is back and this time he’s changed! He’s moved to a small island called Bainbridge where he tries to rebuild his life after time in prison. The first person he meets is Mary Kay DiMarco and he’s instantly in love.
This story is quite typical of a You story and has all the twists and turns of the last 2, but they aren’t quite as dramatic enough and some are even quite comical, considering what’s gone before. However, it kept my interest and had a good ending and now I can’t wait to watch it.

Joe Goldberg is back again and better than ever!

After the cliffhanger which Hidden Bodies leaves you on, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into the latest instalment and see what was in store for Joe...and oh there was so much yet to come for him.

This one definitely felt more like the first in the series which I loved. Joe is back to his stalker-ish ways, seeking out his soulmate and this time he intends to do it the correct way...by that I mean no more killing - watching, installing cameras, infiltrating friends and family are all fine though!

Yes it did have a similar feel to the first book but with this one Joe has his work cut out for him as it’s not as simple this time. Firstly his love interest is a mother with a teenage daughter and plenty of other obstacles which will be revealed.

As always being back in the mind of Joe was equally mesmerising and downright twisted but I think what I enjoyed most about this book were the twisted moments the plot took. The last third of the book really ramps up and provides some moments which I truly did not see coming and what really made it stand out for me.

Overall if you’re a fan of the ‘You’ series then you absolutely must read this — my favourite so far and a complete page turner!

‘You love me’ picks up almost where ‘Hidden Bodies’ left off and Joe has decided to leave the hectic cityscape and start again in the Pacific Northwest. By turning over his new leaf he didn’t expect to meet anyone special but in walks Mary Kay. He is determined to win her over the old fashioned way but will that be enough?
I am so happy that Kepnes has bought back one of the most frustratingly twisted and unique characters and although the very first may still be favourite of the series thus far, this addition to the series carries the story along with brilliant pace and twists along the way.
Although the premise of the book is along the lines of what we come to expect from Joe’s motives; the events are as unpredictable and gripping as ever!

There's a thesis in Joe Goldberg. Women (intelligent women) like me absolutely ADORE this monster. He's a psychopath, a stalker, a street-masturbator and yet. And yet. If Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley aside) stepped from Caroline Kepnes pages and into my bed I would welcome him with open, erm, arms. He makes me feel like one of those crazies in the public gallery at the Bundy trials.

It scares me, this mirror that Kepnes has held up and into which I never wanted to look. The success of the "You" franchise (both the books and Netflix series) perhaps speak to women's need to dig deep; to understand and "save" men. (Not all women, not all men, whatevs.) There's something discomfitingly intoxicating about someone wanting (needing) to know absolutely everything about you, and going to great lengths to discover it.

Joe sets himself apart from the bad guys, so we follow his lead. He genuinely believes he's one of the good dudes. Here's Joe on the #MeToo movement:

"for all the men who are exposed, there are plenty of bad men who carry on in the shadows because they know how to convince women that they’re emotionally responsible for whatever the men did with their dicks" It's like he's virtue signalling in his own head. Still, I love him.

Again, Netflix actor aside, everyone knows Joe is hot. He's eloquent. Bookish. Brainy. And it's not just his intelligence (though gawd knows, that's an incredibly sexy trait) but the way in which he conducts himself. Attractive people possess a confidence and self-assurance denied to other mere mortals. Underneath it all lies that most irresistible of qualities - vulnerability. In fact, "You Love Me" references his childhood in ways we haven't previously been privy to. 

In this, the third instalment in the "You" series, Joe has moved to a small town and fallen in love again. But what shall the body count be this time around? "You Love Me" is another compulsive read, filled with humour and top notch musical references. I am hoping we get another Spotify playlist. I still listen to the Hidden Bodies one! I can't get enough of these books and I hope they go on forever. 5 bazillion stars!

You Love Me - Caroline Kepnes

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley.

Joe is done with the cities. He’s done with the muck and the posers, done with Love. Now, he’s saying hello to nature, to simple pleasures on a cozy island in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time in a long time, he can just breathe.

He gets a job at the local library—he does know a thing or two about books—and that’s where he meets her: Mary Kay DiMarco. Librarian. Joe won’t meddle, he will not obsess. He’ll win her the old-fashioned way... by providing a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand. Over time, they’ll both heal their wounds and begin their happily ever after in this sleepy town.

This book picks up where Hidden Bodies left off and he is back working with books. This instalment is back in the second person point of view. This time around Joe is speaking about Mary Kay, a librarian

If you have enjoyed the other books in this series then this book will not disappoint. Whilst the idea behind the story is repetitive, the storyline is in no way predictable.

Rating 4/5

Now I must wait for the new series on Netflix!

I really enjoyed 'You' and 'Hidden Bodies' (allow the latter wasn't as good as the first), I had really high hopes for this. I loved the Netflix series and I feel very committed to Joe Goldberg and his one-man mission to find the perfect woman.

I didn't entirely love this book - a lot of the monologue felt rushed and random, I didn't really understand what was going on for some of the time. I get that it was meant to be symbolic of Joe's actual thought processes, but it didn't feel like it was the same Joe from before whose thoughts were lyrical - they felt much more all over the place.

It also annoyed me at the very end when the big argument was happening and Joe seemed to just be a bystander - surely he would have got involved to defend/protect the woman he loved? I did very much like the very very end; classic Joe, pining over his old love one moment and swiftly moving on in the next.

You Love Me had me truly gripped at our Joe's newest venture. It's slick, intense and unnerving: just how I like my books.

I couldn't put this down, and I loved every single moment. One thing I love about YLM like I did with You and Hidden Bodies is the way Kepnes weaves in a lot of pop culture and book references. It makes for a really interesting read because we get to know the characters so much more vividly.

There were lots of shocks along the way, and although there were parts I expected they were formed in such a way that I was surprised when they happened. Although the ending is a different matter entirely.

Despite being the third book in an incredibly popular series, and one of my all time absolute faves, the magic and power of the storyline isn't lost. I'd be interesting to see how Joe's story continues, and despite how YLM played out, I feel like we're in for something huge in Joe Goldberg 4 if and when that happens...

Honestly? I'm in love with and obsessed with this series. Joe Goldberg style.

You Love Me comes out 01.04 so please go and get it, and I'd like to say the biggest thank you to #NetGalley and @simonschusteruk for this copy. I've never been so grateful!

Yet another amazing book in the ‘You’ series! Another edge of your seat thriller, with Joe gone good (sort of, anyway!) in this one.

I guess the structure of the book is the same as the other two, but as always there’s twists and turns I really did not see coming along the way. No spoilers here, but the one sort of right towards the end omg - why does Joe surround himself with psychos too?!

It’s perfectly set up for the next book too and I already can’t wait for it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Joe Goldberg is back in this third book in the YOU series!!! Back in February 2021 I binge read the first two books for the first time to make sure I was up to date with the series before diving into this one. I loved the first two books, and one didn’t disappoint either.

In this third instalment Joes has moved to a small town called Bainbridge, near Seattle where he is hoping to start a new life where he will try to be the nice guy, that he knows he can be if he tries hard enough. But then he meets Mary Kay. An older woman who works at a local library where he volunteers and from that moment on you just know things won’t end well especially when it involves Joe falling in love.

Although I found the writing style and plot to be well done, I did find that things did get a little repetitive. One thing that did irritate me quite a bit was the over use of the word RIP. I lost count on the amount of times it was used. To put it in context Kepnes used it nearly every time Joe mentioned a character or person that had died. It’s not a problem at the beginning but when you already know the person is dead you just don’t need to be reminded every time their name is mentioned.

Apart from the small issues that I mentioned I really enjoyed this book. Also, having read it before session 3 of the show comes out I found it to be a little less predictable than the previous books as I didn’t know what was coming. From the way You Love Me ended I have a feeling we will be getting a fourth book. I really hope we do and hope we don’t have to wait too long!!

If you’re a fan of the YOU series (Books or Netflix show) this is definitely a book worth reading!! If you haven’t read or watched the show yet I highly recommend you read the books first!!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers Simon & Schuster UK for my eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

You Love Me is the third book in the You Series by Caroline Kepnes. Thank you to @Netgalley and @Simonandschuster for this advanced eARC copy.

***spoilers from first and second book***

I was really excited to read this one as I enjoyed the first book even though the second book didn’t match up to the first one but I had to see what happened next with Joe.

Joe is a really great character, he is just looking for someone to love him but everyone he meets ends up dragging him into their drama and he is just so helpless and ends up going to drastic measures too. The problem with Joe not being able to find any happiness is that he wants to have control over everyone and everything and if nothing is how he likes it he has to take matters into his own hands.

This book could have picked up after the ending of Hidden Bodies but it just churned out the same thing as the first two books. This series does not break away from its usual pattern, Joe finds a job, this time he finds a volunteer position, meets a girl, obsesses over the girl, stalks her (he tries his best not to this time) and then eliminates everyone that gets in the way of him being with the girl.

The story could have gone many different ways. Joe should have gone after his child not just stalk him in videos on Instagram. You don’t hear anything about this child apart from the videos until the very end where Love contacts him again. Even the confrontation doesn’t last long as she decides to take drastic measures.

The ending was just disappointing. Again, Joe has moved to a new place, new job and met a new girl!

2 Stars

Joe strikes again, who doesn't tire of these stories?! Still book loving, he gets a job in a local library and that's how he meets Mary, oh dear.