Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - You - Du wirst mich lieben

Dark. Fascinating. Terrifying. Terrifying in a - "My God... I could know someone like this, but not even know it."

The writing is great, and I will likely need to read again to catch all the small, subtle things that provided insight into the way that Joe's mind works. The inconsistencies in his mindset, the depravity, the twisted way he views the world becomes more and more obvious the longer you are reading (from his POV) and almost makes you sick to your stomach.

There was a moment towards the end, maybe 75-50 pages left, when I was reading Joe contradic himself in his own mind multiple times on a single page about what made Beck "perfect" that it really hit me - There was always only one way the story could end. With Beck dying. Because Joe doesn't know what he wants from a women, yet she needs to meet his expectations constantly or be met with intense criticism and suspicion and hatred. She is perfect for being bold, but also perfect for being shy. Perfect for being independent and strong, but also perfect for being obsessed with him 24/7. Perfect for looking down on fluffy books, but perfect for not being a snob like all the other bitches she goes to school with who also look down on fluffy books. Perfect for being daring and sexual, but a slut because that sexuality hasn't been solely focused on him since the beginning of time. And it's hot when she doesn't wear a bra... except for when someone else looks at her of their own accord, because she likes the attention - slut.

She can't be a person, she can only be his. She has to always be the version of her that he created in his mind the first second he saw her, but she can't be that person. Because that person doesn't exist. She never did.

Also... FUCK JOE. He acts like his dick cures the flu. It doesn't, it's a dick and he probably has good days and bad days like every other person. He's a bad boyfriend. He isn't cool for hating everything - he's a cliché. And he's cliche that he doesn't know he's cliche.

Joe is a human embodiment of the way society as a whole treats women - puts them on a pedestal, treats them like shit, doesn't understand why they are upset and tells them to not be so sensitive, calls them ungrateful, praises the "not like other girls" girls, but they shouldn't stray from the ideal beauty standard or feminine clothes, interests, characteristics...

Joe doesn't know what he wants because the world tells him to expect everything and nothing and whatever is in between from the woman he honors with his love... (give me a break.)

Already bought book 2.

FYI - If you came to this book due to the show (like I did), this is way darker, dirtier, and grittier. The show makes the characters more likeable (on purpose, obviously), but I think the story told in the book is more believable. You will not finish this book liking the characters - certainly not Joe. Thank God.

Content Warnings

taelights's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

As a big fan of the show I loved getting to listen to the audiobook version. Joe is somehow even worse in the book than in the Netflix show which shocked me a bit because I didn't realize he could get any worse lol. I look forward to reading more of the series.

Content Warnings

bookdragonk's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Completely unforgetable (and not in the best way). I was so creeped out by many scenes in this book, and I really have to give props to the writer for being able to get inside my head. I was so disgusted, but that just made me want to keep on reading. The characterisation of Joe as a manipulative, gas-lighting and egotistical stalker who blamed other for his downfalls was perfect. You can't root for any of the characters, but you definitely cannot root for him. Personally, the book could be a bit slow at times, and the faster-paced scenes seemed to end quite abruptly.

Major content warnings would be graphic depictions of violence, sex, and murder, as well as the obvious stalking and kidnapping.

Rating: 3.5/5

Content Warnings

gabrielab's review against another edition

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dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

ceilidhwilliams's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I think that every one of you who thinks that while Joe does horrible things you find the way he thinks relatable, need to go to therapy, seriously how the hell is he relatable??

Content Warnings

eleria's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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