BIBLIOGRAPHY Kepnes,
Carolyn. 2014. YOU. New York, NY: Atria Paperback. ISBN 978-1476785608.
PLOT SUMMARY
Aspiring writer, Guinevere Beck (Beck) meets Joe in the
bookstore he works in. Intrigued by
beautiful Beck, Joe Googles the name he finds on her credit card. Easily
accessible on Facebook and Twitter, Joe learns all he needs to about her….to
invisibly and obsessively take control of Beck and her life.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kepnes deals a thriller that is set in today’s world. We so easily share information on social
media and the ramifications CAN be disastrous.
Kepnes illustrates this well. Yes
it’s extreme, but it is possible and created in such a realistic way, that I
found myself liking Joe. Then suddenly
I’d be yelling at myself for just this.
Kepnes does a great job showing how predators can worm their way into
your life and you could not even be aware.
There is no such thing as “I’d never…..”
Yes, everyone could be vulnerable.
Definitely unsettling, I highly recommend this book. Creepy.
Realistic. Engrossing. I often like controversial books, so as I
often do, I’ll let you know that. Books
that make you think and take you outside your comfort zone. It’s not a pretty or easy story but it’s
incredible. Try it and let me know what
you think.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Kirkus Reviews: “An impending sense of dread hangs over
Kepnes’ cleverly claustrophobic debut, in which love takes on a whole new
meaning. “
Huffpost Books: “You
is the kind of book you will read whenever you have a spare moment. It is the
book you will not be able to put down, and once you finish, you will want to
start over again.”
Stephen King:
“Hypnotic and scary.”
CONNECTIONS
If you liked YOU, be sure to read the sequel, HIDDEN
BODIES. It isn’t quite what YOU is, but
worth the read, continuing Joe’s Story.
GONE GIRL is another that will appeal to readers of YOU, or vice
versa.