I've come to the realization that I will keep reading this series as long as Kepnes keeps on writing them. I loved You and Hidden Bodies but started to grow stale on Joe with You Love Me. I liked the characters better in this entry than the previous but it was just way too long. I find Joe funny and entertaining with his inner observations but it was a little over the top in this one. Wonder was kind of meh and I miss iconic females from the series like Beck and Love. I have to say I did like the Massachusetts setting better than the TV series moving to the UK.

Being a big fan of the series I decided to request this book for review. I am not sure if it is because I jumped into this without reading the other books or if this is how they are all written but this book didn't work for me.

This book wasn't fun...at all. And I know what you may be thinking - what were you expecting when this series is about a sociopathic murderer? But, the series has a level of self deprecating humor and that I didn't find here.

I am sorry to say but this book wasn't for me.

The adventures of Joe Goldberg have been a guilty pleasure of mine for years. This book, however, might be the beginning of the end of our time together. I think that perhaps the repetitive nature of what Joe does and feels, combined with the predictable arc of vigilante justice and lack of character change/growth, is a recipe for the series to run its course. Yes, there is a different setting. Yes, he has a different job. But at his core, he's mainly the same, except for the fact that he's getting older and I would like to see a bit of maturity or depth emerge, which wouldn't necessarily curb his dark and violent side.

There is a great deal of nostalgia here, and as I read this story I'm reminded of the creepy and disturbing early days of curling up to read the first few books. I've watched the Netflix show and had similar feelings as the seasons progressed. Joe is an awesomely complex anti-hero that elicits such a complicated reader response, but it doesn't hold up over this many books or this many years.

I've read all the books in this series and cannot get enough. While this one wasn't my favorite, it was still interesting and had me guessing what Joe will do next. A guilty pleasure read

When this series first came out, I loved it. The series stayed pretty true to the book and I loved it too. I still enjoyed the second and third books but after reading the fourth book I think I’m done with Joe Goldberg. The object of his affection, Wonder, is a completely unlikable character and his obsession with her comes across and necessary (you know, the purpose of the book) instead of something that starts as easy banter and slowly spins out of control. Not my favorite.

I always love Caroline Kepnes’ writing. She has such a way of drawing me in to the twisted mind of Joe and every single book, I am left wanting more. This one did not disappoint. Joe is still self righteously despicable and yet I still end up rooting for him. Would highly recommend.

Thank You Net Galley for providing me a copy of For You and Only You. I always have enjoyed this series and was excited to read this one! This one wasnt my favorite though out of the others in this series. Joe will always be one crazy character!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

As for a review, I went in with extremely high hopes. I’ve enjoyed all the books and the TV adaptation so far. And I don’t watch much TV! However, I’ll say I enjoyed this one…but I felt as though it was a familiar read. Like it was the same Joe story in a different setting. I suppose my 3⭐️ rating is mostly due to this just feeling like a lot of the same. Overall, would I recommend it to a friend, well yes if they committed to the series then they should read this one too.

I am a huge fan of the "You" series by Kepnes, both the books and the TV show, so I'm always delighted for a new installment of either. And this one was a fantastic entry into the Joe Goldberg canon.

Kepnes has a thrilling way of giving the reader exactly what we want each time without the trope getting repetitive. At this point, we generally know what Joe is all about. Meet a woman, fall in love, have a volatile relationship, and then bad things happen to multiple people. A lesser author would not be able to carry on this same pattern for so long and make it fresh each time, but Kepnes shows no signs of running out of ideas. We are still cheering for and against Joe, hoping he'll get his comeuppance while simultaneously dreading the final installment in his story. Highly recommend!

This is the fourth book of the series. I would recommend reading the first 3 books before getting to this one. I enjoy Kepnes writing style and the character development throughout the series. It's a bit different from the show on Netflix, just a heads up.

For You and Only You is a riveting exploration of obsession and human complexity. The book immerses readers into the mind of a charismatic yet troubled protagonist, blurring the lines between right and wrong. Kepnes crafts characters that feel undeniably real, challenging readers' judgments and prompting reflection on the intricacies of human behavior.

The novel's pacing is expertly managed, alternating between suspenseful moments and introspective scenes that maintain a gripping rhythm. Twists in the plot are both surprising and well-crafted, ensuring constant engagement. Amid its thrilling narrative, the book delves into themes of love, loneliness, and the fine line between affection and possession, sparking contemplation on the nature of romantic connections.

This novel is a must-read for those who appreciate intricate character development, heart-pounding suspense, and narratives that challenge conventional perspectives.

Oh Joe! Back at it again with your antics! Like the others, this novel is so compelling and keeps you on your toes. Page after page you are diving into the mind of Joe, or at least trying to! It was a long read, about 450 pages but full of suspense and also humor. Thanks NetGalley, Random House, and Caroline Kepnes for this ARC

Her first 3 books were good! The fourth was already this one, she needs to write something different there is only so much joe can get away with. His bad boy vibe is now a cry baby and the swearing isnt needed so much.

I have enjoyed this series and will continue reading it, but this one didn't hit the mark for me. I just found this one to be a little boring and flat. I expected more from Joe Goldberg.

n the fourth Joe Goldberg novel, Caroline Kepnes takes our fellow to Harvard, where he joins a fellowship of burgeoning writers, led by a Pulitzer-winning egoist. As with past books in the series, Joe falls obsessively in love with a woman -- this time called Wonder. The entire book is written in a stream-of-consciousness style, with lots of awkward phrasing that can get exhausting after a while. But on occasion, some of his wild thoughts are spot-on and hilarious. Kepnes is at her best when she satirizes the world of publishing. I loved all the inside jokes about Lauren Groff, Donna Tartt, and other members of the literary elite.

There's a lot going on with the various characters in the book. The first three books in the series were basically the same recycled plot, and I appreciate Kepnes giving a new element to Joe by throwing him into the literary world. He's every bit as passionate about his writing as he is about his girlfriends. But it's fairly obvious at this point that Joe's romances are not going to end well. One of the most enjoyable parts of this series is watching everyone get their comeuppance. But at some point it's going to get ridiculous if Joe continues to get away with his crimes.

I have liked each and every book but this particular one was a little slower than the rest. Nevertheless still a solid 4 star read. I don’t know why I have such an unhealthy obsession with Joe Goldberg it where it stems from and where it ends but waiting for the next book.

I adore the YOU series, but I have to say, this felt like a bit of a stretch. I want to see Joe change over time, become someone different, and this felt like a lot of rehashing what's worked in former books. I still enjoyed it, but I almost wonder if the series has run its course.

This book was just not it for me; and wasn't the strongest book in this series.

When I was approved for this book I was super excited. I read the previous 3 novels in this series and wanted to see where Joe's story was going (or wrapping up!) and boy was I super disappointed.

First off, Joe is still being his super weird and usual obsessive self, and after 4 books it's a little redundant.
Wonder was a super unlikable character; the fellows in this fellowship were terrible.. Glen was a terrible teacher and Sly wasn't any better.
Wonder was too old to behave the way she did and she was just blah. Her family was just terrible and it was all just a mess.

This book, to me, was definitely a put-downable book and I was super close to DNF-ing it but, because I'm invested in this series I wanted to see where it went. It's super slow in the beginning, doesn't pick up until about 60% in and then it's only good for 10% after that. Then it slows back down, the ending is predictable and if there is a fifth book I can already picture how it will begin.

I hope this is the last book in this series; and if not, the fifth is and Joe's story is finally wrapped up.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were well developed and the story was engaging. I recommend that others try this book as well. Well done!

For You and Only You
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Caroline Kepnes

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Joe Goldberg 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.

My Thoughts: This is book no. 4 in the You Series. The storyline got off to a rough start for me, and I did not read the other books in the series. When I requested this ARC, I did not realize it belonged to a series. It really took into halfway into the book to peak my interest. This is a book about a book, which generally I really love. I didn’t love how the chapters were put forth.

Joe is an unreliable narrator whom can’t see himself coming, but we as the readers, do. The inner workings of Joe’s mind and the inner banter with himself is great, however, some of it seems too repetitive. Those pages probably could have been slimmed down. Another con for me was the ending, I was hoping for an alternative ending. Wonder Parish was not my favorite character. I loved the nuggets of information on the locality this story took place at, it was really detailed and I did feel like I was there in Massachusetts. This was still a great read and diehard Joe fans will still love the story. This story may not be for everyone. However, there will be readers who will love this book and I recommend to those readers. 💕