LOVED LOVED LOVED!

This is the 3rd book in the You series and I'm a huge fan of both these books and the Netflix series and my expectations were high to begin with. I was not disappointed! Joe Goldberg is one of those characters you should hate but you can't help but love and even root for him! Loved the setting, I've been to Bainbridge Island and it's beautiful there, loved the characters, loved the story line, he was really trying so hard to be good for Mary Kay! I'm already looking forward to the next book!!

My least favorite in the series. Kepnes still writes amazing characters that you love to hate, so much so that you're actually rooting for Joe to brutally murder them, but the story here was kind of like a toothless retelling of book one. Joe finds a book-loving woman to obsess over; he inserts himself into her life until she falls in love with him; things go awry; etc. But this time around, Joe isn't as threatening or as imposing or as fun as he has been in the past. It's an evolution of his character, I suppose, but it's not one that made for a very exciting read.

Without spoiling anything, Joe is way too passive in You Love Me. The utterly insane situations he put himself in in the first two books were what made You and Hidden Bodies so thrilling, so funny, so entertaining. But Joe doesn't really do anything this time; things just sort of happen to and around him.

I still had a decent time reading this, again thanks mostly to Kepnes's writing and Joe's internal monologue, but it was a big disappointment after waiting so long for its release.

You Love Me is the hotly anticipated third novel in the You series. I was on the fence when I requested this title from Netgalley because I disliked its predecessor, Hidden Bodies. I thought Hidden Bodies was an unengaging and bland rip off of the first novel. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that You Love Me recaptured the magic of You that I felt was missing from Hidden Bodies.

You Love Me throws readers into the story after the events of Hidden Bodies. I was a little confused since I last read Hidden Bodies back in 2016 and I was mixing up the plot with that of the TV show. Joe has found himself in a small island town looking to gain the affection of a librarian. But this time, Joe has vowed not to meddle.

If you were disappointed by Hidden Bodies, I think you might be surprised by You Love Me. It’s a fresh take on what is an already told story. It’s easier to sympathize with a more restrained Joe. He’s doing the best he can with what little resources he has now that he has restrained himself. There were times I forgot how unreliable a narrator he is and found myself genuinely frustrated along side him. Kepnes’ ability to get inside the mind of someone like Joe then convince the reader to sympathize with him is incredible.

One aspect of You Love Me I really enjoyed was how modern it felt. The references to popular TV shows and news events grounds the story and makes it read as more than just a small town story.

Overall, You Love Me is a return to form for those who disliked Hidden Bodies. It recaptures the magic of the first novel while delivering a fresh take on this very familiar story.

Thrilling! While the pacing in the beginning of the book is a bit slow it builds; leading to some unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. A fun and entertaining read, fans of the series won't be disappointed. I like books that draw me in with relatable characters and perfectly timed tension. This novel checked all the boxes for me. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a great continuation of the series, I really didn't expect this twist for Joe and his life. I was a bit upset at first about how dirty Love did him, but I see that there was a reason for that. I do wish we were able to see a bit more of Love in this book, but overall this was a good read.

I received an advanced copy to read/review. Having read the first two books of the You series I was excited to continue following Joe. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with the first half. Slow start, too much of being inside only Joe's head or just lousy timing, I'm not sure. Joe uses lots of nicknames inside his head for people which I found a bit tedious or even ridiculous at times. I get it's a metaphor but sometimes it was too much for me. The story definitely picks up in the later half however and even managed to surprise me with a twist near the end. I'm looking forward to the adaptation for the 3rd season.

I was so excited to get this ARC!!!! Joe Goldberg is my favorite psycho, murderous villain! And Kepnes doesn't disappoint with her 3rd installment of Joe's epic, tragic search for true love.

Joe Goldberg is done with LA and NY and cities in general. He wants to live a quiet, normal life in the Pacific Northwest. He gets a job at a library, appropriately. But of course, that heart of his just won't quiet down! He yearns for love with someone special, someone he works with, the single mom, Mary Kay.

This story is entertaining and a wild ride as always. There's too much to say that could be a "spoiler." This might be my favorite Goldberg story. But I'm ready for more!! More JOE PLEASE! Great job to Kepnes and thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this book. Joe makes a fresh start in a new city and quickly finds a new obsession. I don't know what it is about Joe but I think readers, including myself, find ourselves rooting for Joe. We just want him to be happy and if that means killing everyone and anyone that gets in his way... well, so be it. It was very interesting to see Joe on his best behavior and also that even though Joe is trying to be a better man, destruction just kind of follows him around especially when he's trying to avoid it. There are definitely some plot twists and this new installment in the You series will not only keep readers on the edge of their seats but ready for the next book.

I think this is my favorite book of the series so far. It had a lot of references to the previous books, and I loved the snarky commentary from Joe. I also like how the ending left it open for a fourth book. This series feels like my guilty pleasure, and this one did not disappoint. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Joe Goldberg is back at it and crazier than ever, y'all. My advice for this one is to fully suspend disbelief and just go with it. No spoilers, don't read anything about it, just go for the ride. It's fucking CRAZY and exactly what I want out of a You story. Solid 4 star read for me!

I am one of those people who was obsessed with Joe Goldberg and the You series before it became a binge-watching sensation on Netflix. When I originally read the sequel to You - Hidden Bodies - I felt like the ending set us up for a third book in the series, and I am happy to say that my prediction was correct! Author Caroline Kepnes is gifting us this year with a third installment in the series - You Love Me - and a fourth book is reportedly in the works, as well. If you haven't read these compelling books, now is the time! Pick up You and Hidden Bodies, and then be prepared to devour You Love Me in April. Fans of the TV series should be warned though that the show doesn't follow the books exactly, so while we can expect Season 3 of You to loosely be based on this book, significant parts of the TV series have been changed.

Joe Goldberg is just a nice guy, who wants to lead a nice life, and settle down with a nice wife. That's why he has moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, and taken a position as a library volunteer. And it is there, in the library, that he meets his next obsession - single mother, librarian, and coworker, Mary Kay DiMarco. If you're familiar with Joe, you know how this goes: boy meets girl, boy becomes obsessed with girl, boy kills anyone who gets in his way of possessing girl, mind, body, and soul. Or at least, that's how it used to go ... because Joe claims he has CHANGED, but has he really?

Anyone who has followed the You book series and formed their own obsession with Joe Goldberg's dark, yet delightfully deceiving ways will enjoy You Love Me. With each book in the series, Joe becomes a little bit more grounded in reality, but that doesn't necessarily make him any more sane. It's great fun to observe Joe's inner struggle as he tries to be a good man, but keeps getting pulled back into his old ways. But it's not his fault, right, Joe? If only people wouldn't bring out the worst in you!

Are you ready to follow Joe as he pursues his next victim ... I mean, love interest? Pick up You Love Me before it's too late for you too!

This is #3 in the “You” series. I am not familiar with the Netflix series but have read great reviews so was delighted when I got my “wish for it” request!
Joe Goldberg is tired of the big cities and wants to start a quiet life and get back to nature and also to start a family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Based on this, I was drawn to this novel.
However, I soon struggled with the story. I continued but it wasn’t getting any better.
I decided to read some of the reviews. It seems most of the readers are familiar with Joe and many have viewed the Netflix series and they gave great reviews. So I hung in there but it wasn’t an enjoyable read for me.
⭐⭐.5 ~ rounded up
This probably would make an interesting discussion in book club. I have found many novels I didn’t like were GREAT book club topics.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing group – Random House for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 6, 2021

Oh, Geez!!!! I can't even begin to say how excited I was to have my ARC wish granted for this one! My husband heard me squealing in the other room! I am sure that I am the rarity, as I have not read the previous two books. Why? No idea! This is all SO just right up my alley! But ANYWAY, I am a HUGE fan of the show and psycho-killer books so......here goes! WOW!!! Joe is now living outside of Seattle, on a little island away from the city, following the whole LA/Love debacle, He is a "changed" man and quickly finds someone new to obsess over. I LOVED her character! Mary Kay. She is much less twit-like and more mature that both Beck and Love. I do not want to ruin this for anyone else so I don't want to say too much other than she needs some convincing that Joe is the love of her life. ANNNND, he's BACK! Another REALLY cool thing about this book is that I noticed references to the previous books that were not in or changed on the show, SO that made me buy and read the previous 2! Loved them also!

So, I've watched both seasons of You on Netflix and was ecstatic to read the next book!!!

Unfortunately, it definitely fell flat for me. I feel like this one was a repeat of the precious books with Joe. The story took SOOO long for the plot to develop and found myself skimming a lot of the book.

Once you hit the last I would say 25 percent it picks up. Ugh, but sadly I still wasn't a fan of the ending at all. This was a definite miss for me.

2/5 stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 4/6/21
Published to GR: 1/11/21

I was so excited to read this but also a little nervous. I felt like the first book was amazing, but the second one fell flat. I feel like this one falls between them. Joe is still the same Joe, but not quite as creepy as he started as in YOU. While I miss that level of creep factor, it does fit his storyline. Every book he’s trying harder to be a good person so him being less creepy shows he’s growing as a person. But don’t worry, he is still up to the same mischievous activities. The writing seems like it runs on unnecessarily, but I think it captures Joe’s sick mind; it shows that he has a problem. That he’s not completely sane. It’s so captivating and amusing and creepy all at the same time. It’s one of the things that makes me like this series, and Joe, so much. I was really, really enjoying this book until about the last 20%. After that the pacing was a bit all over the place and things happened that seemed far-fetched even for Joe’s life. But overall, I was so hooked while reading this and could not put it down.

Sadly, I should have seen this coming. I LOVED "YOU", but "Hidden Bodies" felt like a recycle plot. And guess what? So did "You Love Me". I hope this is where Joe's story ends because it's starting to feel a little dry. I had a soft spot for him, but it's fading.

I was over the moon thrilled when I learned another book in this series was coming out. I don’t know what it is about Joe that I find so fascinating. He is sweet, charming, handsome and funny. He really cracks me up. I enjoyed this new book a lot. I must say the author delivered another fantastic story.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I had 'wished for it' and was shocked when I got approved, so thank you.

I had read the previous 2 books prior to the tv series (Lifetime, Netflix) and the author had to tie the ending of Hidden Bodies with the ending of S2 to make sense. There was a little bit of a mention of the series but we jump forward several months after Joe's experience with the Injustice System, as he calls it. There are really 5 acts to this book, as if it were a play. If you thought the first 2 books / seasons were wild, you have NO idea what's coming.

I don't necessarily want to give anything away but there are a number of new characters to familiarize yourselves with as Joe relocated to Bainbridge Island near Seattle. Joe decides to volunteer at the library and has made 'friends' with his new boss Mary Kay, a slightly older (40's) woman with a 17 year old daughter Nomi, who dub themselves Gilmore Girls. Joe is infatuated with MK and nicknames the daughter her Meerkat. But Joe has multiple hurdles to jump through to get Mary Kay to fall for him. Her best friend, Melanda. Her male friend Seamus, who Joe dubs Shortus. Joe thinks it's clever like he's better than everyone else and has to get through Melanda first. Except Melanda thinks Joe is into the teenage daughter.

Half the time we are wondering when its going to get good and Joe does something *Joe* and while he keeps promising he won't, the past catches up with him. By the end I was honestly exhausted and relieved to finish it. There were some great nods to books/movies including Fashion Victim (1 of my favorite books), Sarah Jio's Violets of March (author is from the area in Seattle), Debbie Macomber (a little too much beef and brocolli), Gilmore Girls, Succession, and Reality Bites. (I don't agree with Joe about Troy Dire) of course also reference to 90s grunge and Kurt Cobain and his less talented imitators. There are a few things that you need to pay better attention to including Nomi's obsession with Dylan Klebold. TW for mention of sexual abuse.
Kepnes did a lot with this book. I just think that so much happened in 1 book that I need a palate cleanser, its exhausting to be in Joe Goldberg's head too much. But I did picture Penn Badgely who was perfectly cast.in short if you are a fan first of the books definitely read when released 4/6/21. Or wait for S3 on Netflix to see how it differs.

One of my most highly anticipated books for 2021 was You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes. I read YOU years ago and was impressed with how the author turned the character of Joe into a person we cared about despite his devious and twisted ways. I mean, the guy is a serial killer, yet we feel like we understood him to a certain extent. We didn’t want to see him get caught. Damaged and sensitive, Joe was an anti-hero but was so intriguing that we couldn’t stop reading, or watching if you saw the Netflix series.

So I was literally about to jump out of my skin when I got an advance copy of You Love Me.

Here’s the premise:

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.

The trouble is . . . Mary Kay already has a life. She’s a mother. She’s a friend. She’s . . . busy.

True love can only triumph if both people are willing to make room for the real thing. Joe cleared his decks. He’s ready. And hopefully, with his encouragement and undying support, Mary Kay will do the right thing and make room for him.

I liked parts of this book, though I thought it took a long time for the story to develop. There are a lot of Joe’s internal musings and I wanted more action. But I am alone in this because all the other reviewers are giving this book four and five stars!

If you enjoyed the other Joe books, you will probably like this one. If you hated the other books, I don’t know if you will want to read this. Whatever your thoughts on Joe, there will be more to the Netflix series and another Joe book from Caroline Kepnes!

We will publish this one in April.

This book was a good third installment, if you’re obsessed with the Joe/You series. I thought it had amazing characters, but did have some struggles with entire series because of the way it was written, but does get easier to read and immersed in after initial shock! This book can be quite disturbing, if you’re not one that loves dark material. I found it to be quite scary even, at times! Overall, I think it’s an excellent part of the series, was quite unputdownable, had many good chills, thrills, and shocks! If you’re a huge fan of the previous books, I recommend not starting before bed or making sure to clear schedule/ hire sitters before starting, as I promise it’s going to be very hard to put down! Highly, highly recommend this book, but would not recommend as a stand alone.

Will buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!