Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

I loved the first two books, love the tv series and love just how creepy Joe Goldberg is. A great read!

You see, THIS is why Joe Goldberg is my favorite character in fiction history out of all the books I've read throughout my 40-ish years on this planet. I savor each moment I get to spend with him in the world that Caroline Kepnes has created for us to follow. I may be in the minority, but I prefer the book version of Joe to that of the Netflix show because you get inside his mind and inside his thoughts, and as scary as that place can be to visit, I am thankful to be able to take up shop there for a week or so while I read this series. Thank you for another wonderful installment! Five stars, easy.

This was a read-in-one-sitting book: urgent, unpredictable, riveting. Joe Goldberg is back, and he’s ready for a new home, a new family – a new love. He might be trying to be a better man, but he’s still Joe. Once again, we’re plugged into his chilling, twisted mind, and Caroline Kepnes makes us enjoy every second of it.

This book kept me guessing the whole way. I was initially worried that another Joe obsession might be too stale or repetitive, but the plot was fresh and surprising. There were plenty of new challenges for Joe to overcome. I found it more tightly constructed than Hidden Bodies, and there were some character additions I really enjoyed. I was completely unable to predict the ending.

As far as I can tell from the available info, the next season of YOU is going to pan out pretty differently to You Love Me. The book has set a high bar, but I’m very curious to see what path the TV series takes Joe (and Love) down.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! You Love Me was another book on my list of highly anticipated 2021 reads, so I was ecstatic to get my hands on it!

The anticipated third novel in the YOU series by Caroline Kepnes is finally here. It’s a whoop! moment to finally meet the deliciously addictive Joe Goldberg again. Obsessive, narcissistic, unpredictable, however you see him, he’s all that and so much more. I don’t believe anything can top book one: YOU. It’s still vivid in my mind and so are the characters. Some of these are mentioned in book 3, flashback moments that slide into Joe’s screwed up mind — faces haunt him, voices taunt him — he can’t expect to escape his past.

The beginning of the book gives us a lot more head-play than the last two. I yearned for more action at the outset, but parking inside that complex mind wasn’t a bad thing. After a stretch in prison, we meet Joe again, but this time he’s living on an island in the pacific North West. There’s no Love Quinn, no baby, but true to form he has gravitated towards getting a job in a local library — something he’s ace at. He’s comfortable around books, knows them inside and out and can talk books all day. What he doesn’t anticipate in his bachelor state is falling for Mary-Kay DiMarco, a librarian. She may need to look his way a little more, but he promises not to obsess or privately investigate her. He promises to do it all the right way this time. But inserting yourself into the lives of all those who surround MK is just too good to miss. But can Joe be happy in Cedar Cove? We already know we’re in for a wild ride.

Stalking is what he’s wired to do. He can try to fight his inner psychopath, but that may take several more books. Just like old times, something in Joe’s psyche warns us that his dark side may erupt when things go disastrously wrong. And that’s what makes us read on. Mary-Kay is neither here nor there even in her own mind. If I was hoping her interest/disinterest wasn’t going to play on a loop, I was out of luck. Her friends (the circle) are holding her hostage and in some cases as certifiable as Joe. I was hoping they’d be a little more routine and believable. Shortus, heroin snorting Phil, best friend Melanda, gambling addict Ivan. I have a feeling Joe will be long gone after the end and we’ll be able to follow him to another state where he will start all over again.

If you watched this series on Netflix or read the books, you’ll love this third instalment. Kepnes keeps her story arcs spontaneous and keeps her readers guessing. We can’t anticipate how her characters evolve. There are too many twists and dark holes to fall down with a smattering of humour along the way. Joe is bound to be hit and miss as he yearns for love. Will he navigate life’s obstacles in the ‘normal’ way or will he manipulate, manoeuvre and outplay his opponents to get what he wants?

A powerfully addictive read that will keep readers up at night. Thank you Simon & Schuster UK, Netgalley and author Caroline Kepnes for the privilege of reading this ARC.
#YouLoveMe #NetGalley

Kepnes (and Joe) are back and better than ever. After finishing Hidden Bodies a few years ago, I found myself bereft at the idea that it was all over. So when I heard a new book was coming, I was totally over-the-moon. You Love Me is a triumphant return to Joe's fucked up world, with a fresh new angle to keep things spicy. A satisfying page-turner, fans new and old will absolutely love this one. Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC, you've made my 2021.

I fell in love with "You" when I read it in 2016. It was beyond excited when I found out there was a sequel but "Hidden Bodies" did not quite live up to my expectations, as at times I felt like it was just a parody of the first book. So when the third instalment was announced, I was hesitant as well. Caroline Kepnes is a brilliant writer and in the few years of his existence, Joe Goldberg has already become an iconic character, but I was afraid it would just be another regurgitation. If "You" hadn't had such success as a Netflix show, would Kepnes even have decided to write a third book? Was there still a story left in Joe Goldberg?
Indeed there was! I am happy that my worries were for nothing. "You Love Me" masters the balancing act between giving us elements that we loved in the first books while telling us something new, keeping it fresh and surprising.

It took me a while to fully process how I felt about this one, mostly because the final chapters left me speechless.

Joe Goldberg's moved on from New York; he's moved on from Los Angeles and he's moved on from Love. When he meets Mary Kay, he knows that they belong together...but he's determined to win her the old fashioned way, rather than his usual tricks.

Yes, Joe did some awful things in this one -- but it actually seemed like he was also trying to make an effort to do the right thing. And my heart actually broke for him a little bit after reading what happened to Mary Kay (my heart breaking for Joe Goldberg was not something I really thought would happen - ever).

It was just as twisted as You and Hidden Bodies, but almost in a different kind of way. But it's even more addictive than the last two, and totally impossible to put down.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to everyone. I loved the first book and this one the best out of the series. I’m a very big fan and of both the books and the tv series. I can not say much more without giving away spoilers so I’ll just sit and back and enjoy!

You Love Me is the next instalment in the You series after You and Hidden Bodies. Joe Goldberg is starting fresh in Bainbridge after being paid to leave LA and, in true Joe style, immediately finds a woman to obsess about. I really enjoyed You and Hidden Bodies so was really excited to read this. The sharp, punchy, stream of thought prose we are used to from Kepnes causes you to hurtle through the story whilst deep in Joe’s thoughts. In this instalment, Joe claims to want to start again and lead a simple life but the reader knows that it can never be that straightforward and a series of complications, twists and turns follow. I don’t think I was in the right mindset whilst reading this to deal with the impending doom and dark twists so I found the inevitably of any darker moments in the plot quite tiresome at times. The pace of the story moves up several gears in the last 20% of the novel and I raced through it - there are plot twists you don’t expect - but I did struggle to care about what happened to some of the key characters. I think fans of the series will be satisfied with this instalment and I imagine it lends itself well to screen adaptation but for me it was 2.5/5.

“Joe Goldberg is back. And he’s going to start a family – even if it kills him.”

It’s Friday 29th January, I could have very easily have devoured this book in a matter of days when I started it on Boxing Day, severely hungover from the festivities. But I didn’t. I savoured it. I’m now sitting here, jaw to the floor thinking about all of the Mugs of urine (inside joke for all of you Joe Goldberg novices out there).

“You Love Me” is the eagerly anticipated third novel in the “YOU” series by Caroline Kepnes. Joe Goldberg is the creep you can’t help but be obsessed with and root for, no matter how hard you try not to. Trust me, I’ve done the leg work. And if like me, you have found yourself questioning your affinity with Mr Goldberg, and you should. He is a severely messed up individual after all, But his adventures are just far too delicious to ignore.

Joe is now living on a safe little island in the pacific north west. Love Quinn is out of the picture. And he just wants to move on with his life after the events of “Hidden Bodies”. He gets a job at the local library, and quickly becomes obsessed with librarian Mary-Kay DiMarco. Of course, he won’t obsess over her or meddle in her life. He wants to be good. He’s going to win her over the normal way. But as we all know, for Joe things are never quite as simple. Soon there are road blocks, people are in the way, circumstances change and soon enough Joe finds himself fighting with the psychopath inside. He’s trying to be good. He will be good. But can he keep it up? Well, you’ll have to read and find out for yourself.

“You Love Me” is absolutely fantastic. I was worried, as I normally am when I commit to a series, as sometimes the story starts to weaken or become predictable the longer the saga goes on for. This is not the case for this gloriously, fucked up world that Caroline Kepnes has created here. Once more, she has surpassed my expectations, she has created characters, story-arch’s and plot twists that I’ll be thinking about for months. I’m sure I’ll still be thinking about them when YOU returns for it’s eagerly anticipated third season on Netflix later this year, to see if any of the storylines make it onto the show.

If you love the series, and love the books you will absolutely love this. I was hooked from start to finish. What I love the most with Joe, is you can never second guess him, you can never anticipate his next move or where the story goes and that is what has kept be gripped from start to finish.

I’m already willing 2021 to move along faster, in part because I want this pandemic to fuck, the fuck off, but also because I cannot wait a moment longer for the already confirmed fourth book in the Joe Goldberg saga.

“You Love Me” is released April 4th in the UK.

You Love Me, Caroline Kepnes. 3/5 🔪

Joe Goldberg is back. Done with big cities and Love he has relocated to the pacific northwest and the simple life it has to offer.

And then he meets Mary Kay DiMarco. Librarian. Joe promises himself that he won’t obsess, he’ll win her over the old fashioned way this time but... Mary Kay has a busy life and she might need a nudge to make some room for Joe....

With a hugely successful Netflix adaption I knew a third book would follow and though the books and the series diverge from each other both are equally as compelling.
As i said about books #1 and #2 the way Kepnes writes Joe is darkly funny. His inner monologuing where he disparages the idiots around him for what he views as their poor tastes whilst glazing over his own giant red flags is entertaining to read. However some reviews I read seem to be disappointed in Joes choice of who to stalk next, seem upset that he has dialled down the “creepy”.... that in itself is disturbing. Joe is not the goal for a perfect other half.

As we reach book #3 the plot is started to drive down a road that is, if possible, even more cuckoo. I thought book #2 was a ride but this one is.... a trip. Still funny, twisted and dark but quite the trip. I do think the original book remains the stand out, it was unlike anything i had ever read before. However her ability to keep diving into Joes psychopathic brain is truly brilliant. A few reviewers have complained about the “cringe factor” of Joes language... where have you been all this time? Joe has ALWAYS been deeply cringetastic. It goes hand in hand with being a serial killing psycho? He has BIG flaws y’know?

America is a vast place but with a presumed book #4 on the way i wonder how many bodies can pile up or vanish in the black hole around Joe before the show or the books draw a close to his reign of carefully planned terror?

AGH!

I loved this book - I loved the 1st one, the 2nd didn't grab me as much, but I'M BACK IN. Set in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle!) and featuring references to bands and music from that area (obviously), Joe is back, out of prison, and ready to be quiet and normal. A lovely, boring, normal life, volunteering in a library, on a tiny island. Nothing bad could ever happen!

Caroline, you keep me guessing and I love your writing. Can't wait for book 4.

1. Where is the Love?
Joe is out of a toxic situation and now he is ready to start fresh, what a surprise…NOT! So, hello there Mary Kaye DiMarco “MK”, you’re next! He sees her and he knows this time will be different, this time he will do it right. But…will there be a but? Knowing Joe, I went into the book waiting for all the but’s and red flags to fly in my face.

2. The Good Guy Syndrome
Joe is adamant, this time around, to do things right; to be the good guy, whatever that means to him. So, can he get his creepy side under control? Or will he let it run wild and just blame everyone else’s for his misery? I was excited to see Joe attempting to be the good guy and I had hope that this time, things might just turn out in his favour.

3. Kill them with Kindness
As part of his reform, Joe is trying to lower his body count, so he tries to win MK the old-fashioned way while keeping his hands clean. The struggle must be real! Being in Joe’s mind is always a conflicting experience. He is meant to be likeable but also not so likeable. In his mind, it is never his fault. He is a good guy and why all of these questionable characters making it hard for him, when all he wants is to love and be loved in return, is that too much to ask for?

4. The End! Wait, What?
When it’s all said and done, I was left staring at the last page, not quite sure how to feel about the ending. Was it rushed? Was it too much or was it too little? There was something about that ending that bothered me but that’s probably because I had high expectations for it and so I was bound to be let down; the ending somehow failed to live up to how good the rest of the book was.

5. The Final Verdict
In a nutshell, it was a delight to be inside Joe’s mind for the third time. The highs and lows, the twists and turns make this book worth a read, maybe two. I would definitely recommend!

I would like to thank the Publishers, NetGalley, and the Author for sending me an ARC of this thrilling book.

Loved this was glued to my kindle. Brilliant writer. Always love her books would highly recommended this if your a lover of her other books!

As a big fan of Caroline Kepnes from the first You novel I was very excited for this.
You Love Me was not quite what I expected- I think it’s gone down quite a commercial route due to the adaptation on Netflix. I would say this is a great continuation for fans of the show, not necessarily the book.

Do you remember your first time with Joe? I do. Vividly. I was having a week away on my own in a small seaside town in Suffolk. It was February. I’d picked up this book called You by Caroline Kepnes. I admit I didn't know anything about the book and the author was new to me, but I liked the sound of the blurb on the back. On one particularly grey, cold afternoon, I decided to treat myself to a nice hot relaxing bubble bath. A real pamper session – just me and my new book. The bath was nice, and it was long, and it involved many top-ups of hot water just so I could stay in the warm suds to read another chapter and then one more. I stayed in that bath for over two hours turning page after page, until I realised other than the bathroom, the house was in darkness and I was at the very back of the building. Someone could have snuck in and I wouldn’t have heard them. I was no longer in Joe’s head. He was in mine! Mid-chapter (yes seriously), I jumped out of the bath, threw on some clothes and switched on every light as well as checking every cupboard and under the bed.

Despite my increased heart rate and paranoia from the day before, we were back together again the next day until the book was done.

Then he returned in book 2, Hidden Bodies, and we saw his antics in LA. I loved this book. It seemed to shine a light on the dark underbelly of the city and the people who are attracted to live there. It was another great read and Joe; well, if you’ve read the series, you’ll know.

And now here we are with book 3 – You Love Me. At the end of this one, I was almost tempted to say, ‘Poor Joe,’ but surely, I can’t feel sorry for this man, but he is kind of likeable. In this book, we find Joe living in small-town America and in a place with virtually no crime and a zero murder rate. He very much hopes this will keep him on the straight and narrow. I don’t want to give too much away but as usual, things don’t turn out quite how he expects.

As with the other books, I enjoyed his obsessive personality and his search for love. It’s an intense read being in his company, hearing the words he speaks running in conjunction with what he’s really thinking. We’re definitely in Joe’s world and in Joe’s head and thankfully there was no cross over this time. It’s not often in writing that we get to spend so much time inside someone’s head, but it’s well done and gives the reader real insight into what’s going on. There's also some wonderful observations of life seen through his perspective. In many ways, thank goodness, real life doesn't work this way and we don’t get to read everyone’s thoughts. It’s much easier to take other people’s words at face value.

If you like Joe and enjoy reading about his exploits, this book will be no exception. He’s back and he’s trying really hard to do the right thing. I’ll let you decide if he achieves it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for enabling me an early trip to Joe's head.

I was so excited to read another edition of the fantastic You series and get back in to everyone's favourite creepy book boyfriend!
This felt super long winded in places, much more so than the previous two and then in other areas it felt a bit too convenient/like things were too neatly tied up but overall I really enjoyed it.
Joe is still just as creepy and just as compelling. I hope we get at least one more addition to this fantastic series.

Having loved the first 2 books in this series I was excited to get stuck into You Love Me. But I sadly I struggled to love this version of Joe. On the positive side it’s as well written as Kepnes other work, with characters full of depth and backstory. But my goodness the story line is baffling in it’s unbelievability. And while Joe’s murderous obsessions are there in force yet again it somehow didn’t feel convincing. Add in the complication of almost every other character being either a psychopath or at the least extremely unlikeable then it becomes a bit of a chore to muddle through. You are rooting for no one in this!

A whip-smart, knife-sharp, dark and addictive read. Utterly unputdownable. Kept me up until the early hours of the morning desperate to read just one more chapter. Absolutely brilliant!

This was a really hard read, and not because it's poor writing, but rather the protagonist is such a well written creep that it actually feels uncomfortable being in his mind.
I hadn't read either of the other books in the series before starting this one, but I had seen the Netflix series, so I had an idea of what the character and storyline was like.
This book sucked me in quickly, kept me up late finishing it and left me feeling a bit ick after spending so long in Joe Goldberg's head.
Overall, such an enjoyable read - just the right amount of twists and jumps to keep it interesting without feeling contrived, and such a creepy, complicated narrator.