I have loved Joe Goldberg since I first met him years ago in You. He was so delightfully unhingined, secure in the knowledge that the over-the-top things he did were all in the righteous and pure pursuit of love.

Unfortunately, I feel we lost a little of that earnestness in Joe in this book. He was more focused on his writing and its success rather than his love interest.

There was a bit of a twist when one of the fellows in his writing group interviews him about his past, but other than that, there weren't many scenes to get excited about.

I still love Joe and will always root for him and read any book about him. He was just a more mellow, less exciting version of himself in this one.

I mean…it’s Caroline Kepnes and it’s Joe Goldberg. I can always read these books. The first will always be the best but I love them all!

I love these books and series! Joe is back but at Harvard where he was chosen to partake in a writing fellowship where is where he is introduced to Wonder, his new obsession. She’s very different from the other people in the class. Wonder’s different from the others but very similar to Joe. Joe starts to become obsessed with Wonder, starting off Joe’s stalking routine. He is willing to do just about anything for Wonder, while she struggles with her own life. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Joe Goldberg returns, and this time he's chasing literary greatness in Harvard Square. For You and Only You delves into Joe's obsession with storytelling, ambition, and, of course, people who don't always share his romantic ideals. Set against the backdrop of a prestigious writing fellowship, the novel masterfully balances satire, tension, and psychological intrigue.

Kepnes delivers a sharp and compelling narrative, filled with biting commentary on the literary world. Joe remains both fascinating and unsettling, making it hard to look away from his twisted journey. A must-read for fans of the series who crave more of Joe’s dangerously captivating inner monologue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh Joe Goldberg, what am I going to do with you? This is a tough one for me. Much as I loved You (and it was disturbing just how much I loved You, because what did that say about me???) - I've loved each subsequent book just a bit less. This time around I wasn't quite fair to you at the start - I started it in December 2023 and just wasn't feeling it. I needed happy Christmas vibes, not angsty serial-killer vibes. So I set it aside for a bit later, which became months later. Finally got back to it, and finished it a year (to the day) after starting it. But again, I just wasn't getting the same enjoyment I did from our first time around. Maybe it was the novelty of that first time, and it set unrealistic expectations for your subsequent adventures. I still enjoy your snark and your observations of (and pokes at) pop culture. We have so much in common there. But that thrill of first love seems to be gone and I wish I could understand why. But somehow I suspect that if you come around again, I'll be right there to see if we can get the magic back.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This book, while entertaining, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story felt a bit like treading familiar ground.
The narrative dragged in places, and Joe's internal monologue seemed to lose some of the sharp edge that made previous books so compelling. I found myself getting a bit bored, which isn't what I expected from a book in this series.
Don't get me wrong - it was still entertaining enough that I finished it. But compared to earlier books, this felt like it was going through the motions. Joe's obsession with Wonder didn't have the same intense, twisted energy I've come to expect.
For fans of the series, it's worth reading. But it's not the book that's going to blow your mind. Just a solid, middling 3-star read that kept me mildly interested but didn't leave me desperate for more.

I love that it’s the same narrator for the audiobook as in the TV series, Santino Fontana. I enjoy the series more than the book or audiobook. I struggled reading the book. I enjoy his voice in the audiobook and it gives it more the feel of the series and keeps me engaged.
I disengage when it’s negative self talk and then they will throw in something morbidly humorous and I’m embarrassed that I’m laughing at it.
It the same with the series for me. I watch a season and I get tired of it then I pick it back up later.
If you like the series I think you’ll enjoy the book.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

Caroline Kepnes’ For You and Only You offers the familiar thrill of diving back into Joe Goldberg’s fascinatingly twisted mind. His wit and dark charm continue to captivate, and the layers of mystery woven throughout the story keep readers intrigued. However, this installment doesn’t quite reach the gripping heights of the third book. While the plot provides moments of suspense, it leaves a lingering feeling that something deeper is missing from the narrative. Despite its flaws, fans of the series will still find enjoyment in Joe’s unique perspective and his relentless pursuit of obsession.

I was erratic for this book but it fell short and was a little add to follow. Over all it carried on the story line although a bit rocky. It did end in a point for redemption so looking forward to the next book. I would definitely recommend reading though to fill in the itch of what is Joe up to

Oh Joe… what are we doing to do with you? You are our favorite serial killer and even though we know what you do is wrong we keep asking for more Joe.. does Joe get love right for once? Does he get the love he thinks he deserves?! Oh Joe.

Joe Goldberg’s continuing story was good, but not what I expected. Joe is now at Harvard, where he becomes part of an aspiring writers group. It’s there that he meets Wonder, his newest obsession. This book did not pull me in as much as the previous books did, but I do enjoy getting to see what happens next in this series. 3/5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Caroline Kepnes knows just how to thrill and disgust you at the same time with a character that’s a paradox. You can’t help but follow him along even as he spirals down a dark path. Absolutely enthralling!

Another creepy, thrilling, and satirical installment of the YOU series. Joe is the serial killer we all hate-love to read about. If you are a fan of this series, you will enjoy this next installment, I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed and loved the first book in this “You” series. Book two was amazing too. The third was good, but not as good as the first two books.

This one left me hanging. I didn’t like the writing as much. It starts out at Harvard and a tight-nit writing group and then Joe meets his next love interest and starts rambling. In his mind. A very repetitive action and he lost me a few times.

In the end, I think this is it for me and Joe Goldberg. I’d like to remember him from the first two books, when he made me giddy with excitement to read more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another creepy, thrilling, and satirical installment of the YOU series. Joe is the serial killer we all hate-love to read about. If you are a fan of this series, you will enjoy this next installment, I highly recommend it! I will keep reading Joe as long as Caroline Kepnes continues to write him!

This is my guilty pleasure series. I just love living in the world of Joe Goldberg so much, though this one fell a little flat for me.

Oh Joe. It's amazing how I continue to love you despite it all. While the vibe of this one felt slightly different than books 1-3, I didn't dislike it. I love seeing what Joe is up to and what trouble he'll find his way to. I will always read a Joe book.

Oh noooo I didn’t like this one :( It just didn’t feel as cohesive as previous books in this series and that makes me soo sad because I LOVE this series.
There were so many jumping time lines/plots that I kept getting lost. One second we’re on campus and the next we are in Sarah Beth’s dead shed without a proper transition. Maybe that was supposed to be written to jolt you into the next scene but I wasn’t a fan and kept getting whiplash.
Joe wasn’t so focused on his obsession of being in LOVE with the girl, but more of his obsession of hate and it just didn’t hit the spot like past novels.

I feel weird saying I enjoy being in Joe Goldberg’s mind, but we all know how compelling he is as a character. However, I think this whole series has run its course. “You” remains a 5 star but it’s slowly gone downhill since then.