Reviews

For You And Only You by Caroline Kepnes

upallnightbookaddict's review against another edition

3.0

This is a review I never thought I would write...
I think Joe Goldberg has hit his expiration date. (I can't believe I am even typing that.)
There were so many things in this book that got under my skin so much, that I thought about walking away from the book. I have been a huge Joe Goldberg lover for years.
First of all, in general, I am sick and tired of the whole white man privilege AND evil white man narrative in fiction. Words cannot express how tired of it I am. While this has been a theme in the previous books, it felt much heavier in this book. I was over it really fast.
Joe just didn't deserve any happy ending in this one. I just didn't like him. The whole vibe of the book was completely different than the first three books. It felt off-centered. Actually, I really didn't care about any of the characters in this book. Not a one.
I had to force my self to read to the end. It wasn't all that interesting, if I'm being honest. The book just was. It's haninging out there somewhere in the, I could've not read the book and not miss anything and I am glad I at least read it. This book wasn't necessarily terrible, but it definitely didn't feel like a real Joe Goldberg book.

cassmdurell's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

1.0

I think this is just not for me. I found Wonder to be really unlikable and hard to spend time with. The fellows were very shallow characters. Glenn was obnoxious. There’s no one I really got to know deeply in this. 

rachorton's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.5

kaylac23's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

scrappyhooker's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

shmadsie's review against another edition

3.0

This has to be my least favorite Joe Goldberg novel, primarily because I could never get behind Joe and Wonder. There's always chemistry between Joe and his latest obsession, charged and intense and skirting that edge of dangerous, but his and Wonder's relationship is flat and it fizzles almost instantly. Joe falls in love with literally anyone so it's believable on his end but Wonder drops the ball at every single opportunity, the prerequisite rom-comy moments that come pre-jealous/stalkerish/murderfest behavior never materialize here because Wonder is never really in it with him - like, I wouldn't at any point confidently call Wonder his girlfriend and yet they're saying, "I love you," to each other? But Wonder lies, blows him off, disappears, etc., etc., there's no pink hearts, rose glasses moment with her before it derails. It's just immediate derailment. In fact, I spent most of the book (at least the entire latter half) thinking she was working with law enforcement, or trying to trap Joe into confessing somehow - she just didn't seem to be there for any other reason than because she had to be. I don't know if that makes it more or less understandable that the novel doesn't end with her death: that they never, ever seemed to gel? The problem here is that Beck and Love (and her family) are fucking memorable, they are characters who seemed to fully exist before Joe found them. Less so with Mary Kay in book three (I definitely only remember her name because it was mentioned in this book), but the ending is memorable because it subverts the expectation. I may not remember the girl in that book, but I do remember exactly what happened to her and why. Sadly, this one hasn't got any of that going for it.

fsmeurinne's review against another edition

4.0

I have mixed feelings about it. I have to admit that I found the book to be a bit slow and boring in parts. Joe has fallen in love with Wonder Parish, an aspiring writer who works at Dunkin' Donuts. However, Joe's obsession with her leads to the typical violence that follows Joe in every book making it predictable. I did enjoy it, but I don't think it quite lived up to the first books in the series. I would still recommend it to fans of the series and to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller, but I would caution them to temper their expectations a bit.

readingwithkirstyn's review against another edition

5.0

Caroline Kepnes continues her uncanny ability to make readers sympathize with the villain in "For You and Only You." Joe Goldberg, despite his narcissistic, sociopathic tendencies and a history of heinous acts, remains a character one can't help but root for. While the second and third books in the series may have felt somewhat lacking, "For You and Only You" recaptures the gripping excitement of the original "You." What sets this installment apart is Kepnes' skillful humanization of Joe, inviting readers to delve into the complexities of his character. As the narrative unfolds, a surprising sense of empathy and understanding emerges, making it impossible not to love and feel for Joe despite his dark nature. Kepnes once again masterfully blurs the lines between good and evil, creating a compelling and emotionally charged reading experience.

nicole_marissa's review against another edition

1.0

DNF, in the first book I loved the way Joe was written. By this one he’s just whiny and blatantly narcissistic. I feel like Caroline Kepnes should lay Joe to rest like RIP Beck, Love, Candace, yada yada

Also stop with the terrible character names please! Wonder? OK? Blech

relaxsky's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.0