The satire is killer in this installment of the You/Joe Goldberg series. Yet again I find myself rooting for Joe no matter how awful he is. I see I rated others in this series higher but I think this was my favorite yet. If you are a writer and/or have dated a writer, this one hits so laughably hard. I think what strikes me the most about this series is how Joe is a narcissist who continuously finds himself loving (or hating!) and murdering other narcissists. But it’s not his need to kill his darlings that pisses me off more than the cockiness of the other characters - and then I realize he’s being just as cocky and have a little eye roll at myself. Joe’s love interest, Wonder, is as insufferable and hopeless as she is relatable and GOOD, and his nemesis Sarah Beth is a series favorite of mine!

He's backkkkkk!

Joe Goldberg is trying something new. The one time book seller is now writing books and people are paying attention. He joins a writing group at Harvard. He'll get to showcase his intelligence. Joe is sure it will be a fantastic experience. He meets another aspiring writer named Wonder Parish. Joe is thrilled as she seems to love books and writing just as much as he does.

Once again...Joe is in love.

What could go wrong?

I had no idea there was going to be another book in the "You" series. I was excited to have the opportunity to read it. I loved the first two books in the series but had a little trouble with the third. I found it repetitive and over the top at times and felt the book went on a bit too long. But I was still entertained. And actually it seemed to be the same with this installment. I liked it but was a bit underwhelmed. However, I will continue to read the series as long as Caroline Kepnes keeps writing the books.


I’d like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

I love the You series; Books and Netflix alike, give me all the Joe! Caroline Kepnes is a brilliant writer! The inner workings of Joes mind, the puns, wit, quirks, just absolutely brilliant.

However, I struggled with this book. It was very repetitive, the storyline was mediocre, and overall just way too long. I didn’t know if I was going to make it through this one, but kept hope it would pick up pace. I mean Joe the murderer is what I am here for, versus Joe the writer. And Joe the writer unfortunately didn’t work for me.

The love interest, Wonder, was a bore. I didnt understand why/how Joe was so infatuated with her and frankly I didn’t care. Every time she left poor Joe hanging, I was hoping she wouldn’t come back.

As always, I am a faithful, pun intended, Joe fan; I’ll be waiting for the next chapter of Joe’s story and will be oh so sad when the series ends.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For You and You Only is the 4th book in the You series written by Caroline Kepnes. The narrator speaks directly to the reader by referring to the subject of the book (Wonder) as "You," just as he did in previous books with the woman he'd fallen in love with. In the previous three books, Joe Goldberg (narrator) essentially kills his love interest when she doesn't love him the way he wants or needs to be loved. These books must be read in order, or you'd never understand the history and complexity of his mind. That said... as much as we should hate Joe for killing about ~10 people at this point (and not getting caught), we love him. But by this book, I admit, I'm starting to waver about his appeal. All that said, it's not as good as the first in the series (none usually are) but it fits well within the overall theme of the larger story. Fans should read it. Newcomers shouldn't start here. I hope the books end here because there isn't a lot more to do with Joe unless he goes to prison or a psychiatric hospital where he falls in love with a guard, warden, nurse or doctor! But Kepnes is a strong writer and I look forward to maybe a newer series later down the road.

I love Joe and his snarky, inner monologue that is sometimes just over the top but oftentimes spot on and hilarious. This is such a unique book and Kepnes has a very unique voice that I’ve never heard anywhere else. This is another great book for the series. Would recommend to readers who loved the others.

For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes
⭐⭐⭐/3


We are back for the 4th installment of the YOU series, and Im saddened to say it definitely felt like it was lacking the thrill the previous 3 brought to the table .
I actually can't believe Im feeling this way, but Joe is starting to become monotonous. This is coming from a twisted mind who is low key obsessed with Joe .

I struggle through about 30% of this book . I almost decided to DNF . . It wasn't until Joe decided murder was the best option and decided to persue this . .
But I was so confused over Joes newest love interest "Wonder Parish" . She was so dull and I found myself so uninterested in her I was actually kind of frustrated that I had to read an entire book about someone being so obsessed with her.

Likewise, with the newest installation of the Netflix series . I don't understand the interest there either .

Maybe Im just stalkered out . Maybe Joe has run his course .

It wasn't terrible . But it just didn't meet the expectations I had set with previous books in mind .
And there was possibility for another installment!

#qotd Whose also binging YOU season 4 (part1)?

Thank you netgalley and Penguin group for the ARC of this book .

I enjoy this series and always look forward to a new novel! This title did not disappoint! I enjoyed it and look forward to more work from this author!

I will read anything Caroline Kepnes writes and I love the Joe Goldberg novels so much. Author Joe? In Cambridge? Sign me up. This is so good.

I love YOU and want to love Joe, but this particular book seemed like it needed some editing. Too long, kind of chaotic, and messy.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

So, from the beginning of this series I was completely sucked in. I wanted all of it. The third installment felt different though and this final Joe Goldberg story was a little more on pace with the first two, more exciting but still definitely a slower pace than the first two. While I really enjoyed all four books, I do think that I did lose interest in Joe and his motivations for what he ultimately always ends up doing for his obsessions. The characters in all of these book were very interesting and had a lot of depth so I definitely think if you’re a reader who likes to read character and personality driven books this whole series will draw you in! Overall, I did enjoy this book and I’m glad I was able to read it early!

Caroline Kepnes has done it again. I am really not a big reader of thrillers but something about the ‘You’ series is the exception. Joe’s obsessive stream of consciousness makes it hard to put these novels down. In FYAOY, Joe’s narcissism takes on a whole new level as he’s been accepted in a writing fellowship at Harvard. It’s there he sets his sights on Wonder, one of the other fellows. Wonder feels different than the other women in Joe’s graveyard. She’s outspoken from the word “go,” loud, a quintessential east coaster. As is his pattern, Joe will stop at nothing to make sure they’re together.

There are a slew of interesting side characters in this novel. From the group of fellows, Glenn & Sly Shoddy, Wonder’s family and friends. Pair that with the ever growing shadow of Joe’s past and it makes for a jaw dropping thriller.

HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Caroline Kepnes, and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

I am a sucker! Just kidding but wow did I just devoured every single one of these books so fast. This installment was such a fun and twisty end. Has joe changed into a different man? I’m very excited for anything joe related that hopefully comes out now!

Joe Goldberg is back and in a love....again. Joe has been invited to a writing fellowship at Harvard. Yes, he is writing now, not just reading. He sees Wonder from across the group, she is also a non-published, moneyed author and he feels a kinship in a way that only Joe can. I think joe is in love with being in love. He really falls for who he thinks people are, not who they really are as we have seen in the past books. The author George Shoddy who is running the group takes an instant liking to Joe's work and keeps him close. As we all know, bodies will start accumulating soon.

Lots of book and author mentions throughout, loved them. I almost feel bad that I am here at Goodreads writing a review. I am a Goodreads girl. You will understand after you read the book. This one has a different twist at the end, enjoyed that. I have to say I cannot read Joe's dialogue now without seeing Penn Badgley. That is not a bad thing.

I don't think I will ever tire of Joe and his quirks. Keep up the good work, Ms. Kepnes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy for review.

I was so excited to get an ARC for this one!
While I recognize that it’s not for everyone, I really love the writing style of this series. I love the inner monologue of Joe Goldberg because it really brings you into the story. I always find myself rooting for him even as he digs himself deeper into each mess that he makes.
I loved the setting of this book as well. It felt very right for Joe. As for the story, well… Joe’s gonna Joe. He’s a classic narcissist and being book four, you really know what to expect with this character.
The story one started off slow and didn’t really pickup until about halfway through. After that point, I felt fully engrossed in the book and I really liked the way it ended.
My main complaint is that this novel felt entirely too long for the story that it told.

I am a die hard, HUGE fan of the you book series, and I was so excited when I got approved for this early copy. I was so disappointed that it jut fell flat. just seems a bit regurgitated and I also wasn't fond of Wonder Parish. I didn't find her remotely interesting and I couldn't understand what all the fuss was over her.

The much anticipated (end?) to the series! I believe this is supposed to be the last book, but I am not sure after reading it. I have been following Joe since before the series turned into a show and I have gobbled up every page that Caroline Kepnes has written thus far. When I saw the opportunity to be an ARC reader I knew that I had to go for it and thanks to NetGalley it was made possible for me.
Without giving anything away, this book kept me wondering until the very end and it was nice to see Joe a little more humanized. He makes mistakes just like everyone else and he knows it. Honestly, I hope this isn't the end because I am not ready to see him go yet!

Have you ever enjoyed stepping onto a carnival ride that brought you speeding through rooms and shadows on a wild and frantic journey? That is my best description of what it’s like visiting the busy, impulsive mind of Joe Goldberg. If you are at all invested in any of Joe’s shenanigans, this latest installment is essential reading.

As an author and an avid reader, I found the central premise of an eclectic group of various young talents coming together to form a writer’s workshop at Harvard, so intriguing. Surely, any academic gathering that would have our dear Joe as a member is bound to be stimulating and have quite an edge . . . and as expected, delicious drama ensues.

Find out what Joe gets up to in Cambridge — April 25, 2023

Big thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of For You and Only You for my unbiased evaluation. 3.5 stars

Joe is back and in love again! Surely this time things will work out for him and his love interest, right? Hopefully a Harvard writing fellowship with a cycling obsessed instructor doesn’t derail Joe and Wonder’s budding relationship.

Oooooh boy. This book almost lost me in the first quarter, I won’t lie. Dan’s stream of consciousness thoughts felt waaay over the top and distracting from what was actually happening. I’m glad I pushed through and I did enjoy the last 50-75% of this book although I would argue that it could have been significantly shorter. I didn’t find Wonder to be a particularly interesting character. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Dan and Glenn and LOVED the side plot with Sara Beth. I wish there was more of that!

All in all, this was definitely not a favourite read. It had some redeeming moments but was a battle to get through at times unfortunately.

We are now four books into the Joe Goldberg Series by Caroline Kepnes, and by the time I got to FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU I was worried that things might start feeling a bit repetitive. After all, there is a clear formula with Joe: he obsesses over a woman, he weasels his way into her life without her realizing the stalker lengths he's going, and people die in the process. But Kepnes manages to keep this formula feeling fresh and unique as she satirizes terrible people, lofty ideas of ideal places, and romance in general. Joe is now at Harvard as an aspiring author, and his wit, creepiness, and dark side are all in tact. I once again really enjoyed his voice and the twists and turns of his newest fixation, this time on fellow writer wannabe Wonder, all while he tries to keep his murderous past in the past and all while trying to fit in in a toxic and elitist academic setting. Joe is still hilarious, there are still things that take me by surprise, and honestly I think that I have such an affection for the twistedness of these books that I will probably be on board until the bitter end.

FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU is another darkly delicious romp involving a favorite fictional psychopath.

I was so excited to receive a galley of Kepnes’ newest novel. Unfortunately, the writing style (as for the others in the You series as well) is very hard for me to follow as it feels like run on thoughts and begins to not makes sense. I think I would have loved this as an audio book as listening to the run on thoughts would have been easier for me.