What a great addition to the You series! Ohhh it was so good. I can’t get enough of Joe!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

When I saw that Joe Goldberg was back in Caroline Kepnes 4th installation of this series, I knew I had to get my hands on this book! The third book had somehow gotten lost in my TBR list, so I ended up starting there (hence the delay on my review).

While this one took a bit of time to ramp up (hello, where are the bodies?!), I really found myself enjoying the Harvard/writer aspect. The back and forth between Joe and Wonder was incredibly frustrating at times, but kept me hooked. The payoff at the end was definitely worth it though! Joe is the ultimate anti-hero, and you just can't help but root for him.

I hope this isn't the last we see of Joe! Thanks in advance to NetGally and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed this series so far but I found this one really hard to get through and had to pick it up a few times to get through it.

I've really enjoyed this series so far, however I had a hard time with this one. While Joe's inner dialogue was intriguing and oddly enjoyable in the first few books it's becoming somewhat tedious as the series continues. I probably could have overlooked that if the storyline had been stronger but the setting was a little confusing and the "love interest" seemed to lack the depth of the previous ones.

The past books kept me turning the pages because I low-key rooted for things with Joe and whoever he was obsessed, despite knowing it would inevitably end up poorly, however this one just did not hold my attention. I feel like this series would have been better as a trilogy.

I really enjoyed the first 3 seasons of the show, “You” and was therefore, excited to read the next installment in this series, “For You and Only You.” Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. It was very slow and didn’t keep my attention. Rather than the focus being on the protagonist’s crazy psyche leading him to murderous fun, so much of this book was about his role as an author and writing. Accordingly, the excitement factor for this book was nearly nonexistent. Surprisingly, I struggled to finish this one and found it too long with the lack of a really interesting plot. I’m sad to only be able to give this one 2 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

Always a creepy pleasure to read this author’s books! This series in particular (and this book particular) is a good modern, serial killer take on Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment.’ The inner musings of the main character is fabulous—a little worried for myself when I find myself agreeing to some of what ticks him about modern day people!

In For You and Only You, Joe is at Harvard balancing imposter syndrome while in his writing fellowship. Of course, Wonder, his fellow Shoddy student, is his new You. I found it funny that the author portrayed other authors as so insufferable. Granted, everything is from Joe's POV, but still, they were terribly obnoxious.

I love these books, and while this one was great, Joe's pattern is starting to wear.

This is the fourth installment in Kepnes’ You/Joe Goldberg series. I’ve been a fan of Joe and Caroline from the very start. In this book, the author maintains the collegiate theme but places Joe as a student at Harvard. The bookseller Joe has ventured into writing himself, gaining acceptance into a small writing fellowship led by the narcissistic author Glenn. During this fellowship, Joe encounters Wonder, who swiftly becomes his new romantic fixation.

What truly makes Joe captivating is his intellect and deep love for books. This is a brilliant thriller infused with narratives within narratives. It delves into the intricacies of the writing process, plagiarism, agent hunting, feedback, and the inner workings of the publishing industry—all through the lens of a character who is an obsessive stalker and murderer.

While there are murders in the story, they occupy a more subdued role in the background. The central narrative revolves around Joe’s pursuit of publishing his book and his evolving relationship with Wonder. There are no gruesome scenes, blood, or dismembered body parts. Surprisingly, this toned-down approach was something I found myself enjoying more than expected.

My sole critique is that the book was a tad lengthy. While I usually relish Joe’s inner monologue, it occupies around 60% of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest I haven't even read the 2&3 books yet.
I like the TV show better.
Joe is really unlikable in the books.
Joe is trying to get a book published and he is at Harvard where of course murder happens.

Joe Goldberg is trying to behave, but then he meets you.....4.5 rounded to 5 stars.

Joe has lost everyone he has ever loved, including his late wife RIP Mary Kay. She was nothing like RIP Beck or RIP Candice and leaps and bounds from RIP Love. Joe just wants to move on and finish his book, Me; something that could come to fruition when he joins a writing fellowship at Harvard....and then he meets Wonder. She stands out against the other fellowship members, no silver spoon in her mouth and no mommy or daddy coat tails to ride. Will Joe finally have met his match? And what lengths will he go to for her to realize the Wonder she is?

How....how is it possible Kepnes has done it again?! I really can't help but adore Joe. The way she writes him is truly the way I would want someone to feel about me....isn't that the worst part? The way he loves is so intoxicating and smothering that these women fall right into him, I get it....and honestly.that scares me a bit. My spouse is NOTHING like Joe, but I find pieces of him that speak to me regardless. His acts of kindness(is it still kindness if it's murder? Oh it's for her benefit so it must be alright) remind me of my spouses love language and perhaps that's what has endeared me to Joe for so many novels while still salivating for more. The writing is superb, and as I listened to the audiobook while reading along the narrator breathes absolute life into those pages. Santino Fontana IS Joe Goldberg for me, and while Penn Badgley is a great actor the show Joe just falls so flat.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars and a hope for a book 5 from this reviewer who shamelessly adores this broken boy. Recommended for fans of all three previous books, Joe can be a bit repetitive at times, but the payoff is there. Age recommended for 15+ as younger minds could misinterpret Joe's version of love.

It’s hard to give up on a character you’ve invested time in but I think the time is over with Joe. While I enjoyed the first two, I started to feel less enthused by the third. I thought it would pick up with this one but I’m just not feeling it.

When selecting this book I did not realize it was part of a series and that the book was turned into a Netflix movie, I enjoyed this book, the plot line and I wanted to go back and read the series from the beginning which is a hit for me,

I’m sorry but this fell flat for me. The first two books in the series were great but I think book 3 is where Joe started losing me (and now book 4 is where I must say goodbye)

Joe Goldberg is just one of those characters that sticks with you and Kepnes doesn't disappoint with this latest installment. Surrounded by writers, he continues to struggle with his need to defend those he "loves" and the new characters are perfect foils for him.

Joe is ready for a change. Instead of selling books, he's writing them. And he's off to a good start. Glenn Shoddy, an acclaimed literary author, recognizes Joe's genius and invites him to join a tight-knit writing fellowship at Harvard. Finally, Joe will be in a place where talent matters more than pedigree . . . where intellect is the great equalizer and anything is possible. Even happy endings. Or so he thinks, until he meets his already-published, already-distinguished peers, who all seem to be cut from the same elitist cloth.

Thankfully, Wonder enters the picture. They have so much in common. No college degrees, no pretensions, no stories from prep school or grad school. Just a love for literature. If only Wonder could commit herself to the writing life they could be those rare literary soulmates who never fall prey to their demons. Wonder has a tendency to love, to covet, but Joe is a believer in the rule of fiction: If you want to write a book, you have to kill your darlings.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this next book in the You series! I am always curious to see how Joe is going to make his life work outside of getting caught for his crimes. This book was really well written and kept my attention. I liked the new spin on Joe's life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Joe Goldberg is back, and he’s more murder-y than ever in this latest installment of Caroline Kepnes’s viral Netflix show-spawning, iconic protagonist-creating "You" series.

This was one of the rare book-to-screen franchises where I watched the first season of the show before I read the books, so I’ve never been able to picture Joe as anyone other than Penn Badgley, a.k.a. Dan Humphrey, a.k.a. GOSSIP GIRL (okay, did anyone actually buy the reveal of Dan as GG or am I the only one who found about a million holes in that conclusion?? Anyway, I digress!). Not saying that I’m complaining, because Penn absolutely NAILS the brooding, creepy but somehow still sexy stalker-killer vibe, but I do wonder how my brain would have imagined Joe if left to its own devices rather having the role automatically cast!

After his ill-fated stints in L.A., the Pacific Northwest, and briefly, Florida, Joe G. has returned to the East Coast, and it doesn't take long (about two pages, I think) for him to find a new object of affection (obsession?) in rough-around-the-edges aspiring writer from Boston, Wonder Parish. They meet in Harvard Yard (Hahvuhd Yahd) as participants in an invitation-only writing fellowship, and the intrigue spirals from there.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I do think it could have been reduced by at least 1/3 and still have been just as good, and probably better. Your girl is a fast reader and this still took me over a week to get through, which is not what I’m looking for with a popcorn book like this. Well-written popcorn, yes, but still popcorn! It maintains the first-person inner dialogue that characterizes this series, which is effective, even as you smack your forehead and marvel at how messed up this guy really is.

If you’ve read the other books and liked them, or if you just finished Season 4 and need your next Joe G. fix until the final season comes out, put this on your list. It’s nothing new for the franchise, but it’s a fun ride!

𝘊𝘞: 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 (𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴), 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴

I’m a huge fan of You, which has been adapted by Netflix and become a major hit worldwide. I had no idea these were based off books which led me to read them all. I just had to get my hands on this book. Caroline does a great job of making this story unforgettable. It seems like no matter where Joe goes, there’s always a good story there to tell. I feel like any other author would make this feel repetitive but that’s not the case here.

I was really excited to read this one... then I started it and within 1% I just wasn't in the mood for Joe's blabbering 😅 The TV show has kind of ruined these books for me because I love Penn Badgley's Joe and while I DO still love Santino Fontana's narration, it's just not the same. I forgot how being inside of Joe's head ALL the time can be really annoying. This is probably my last attempt at any more of these books and I'll just stick with the show (assuming there's more of it... I think one more season).

I didn’t love this addition to the series.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hey, Joe.

It's not you.......it's me.

Maybe we should see other characters. Maybe. Just maybe.

For You and Only You is the 4th book in the You Series. I latched onto Joe just now and it wasn't a good fit. Maybe if Joe and I got to know one another better from the beginning stages in #1, things would have worked out a lot better.

Joe Goldberg has a shady past. And that's putting it lightly. He's falling back on his first love which is fictional writing. Joe has been invited to a fellowship writing seminar in Cambridge at Harvard. Florida meets Boston. Intellect is the great equalizer.

It's here that Joe meets Wonder, his literary soulmate, and the sparks start to fly.

For You and Only You is oh so slow and labored. We walk around inside Joe's head (scary thoughts) and we are bombarded by every mental interaction that Joe has. Just too too much. Perhaps this was just not the right fit for me. All I can say is to take it out for a spin and see what you think. Those solid fans of Joe Goldberg......it's a must read for all of you.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Atria Books (Random House) and to Caroline Kepnes for the opportunity.