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eyesofcrows's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wanted to read a crazy protagonist and I got a crazy protagonist. I found myself rooting for Joe on several occasions even if it was insane to do so. He’s a funny guy and the problems he focuses on are equally funny. It’s a fun book filled with murder, stalking, and romance. It’s different from a lot of books I read but it does fulfill my love of an unreliable narrator because our narrator is just way too crazy. I like how the characters play out and how Joe always looks at what’s wrong with them. Of course there’s a million things wrong with Joe (he’s both pretentious and self satisfying) but man are the people in Beck’s life just as, if not more, messed up as her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity
thebearnest's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Stalking, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, and Death
david_slack110507's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
I've had this on my tbr list for a good while however after I watched the series on Netflix (and thoroughly loved it) I was hesitant about whether to read the book until I learned that the books are pretty different to the adaptation with this one being the most faithful and even this book is different to the series adaptation. Some of the changes the series made I liked and preferred what was in the book however I do prefer other aspects of the book over the tv show.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book on Audible and I really think that's one of the best ways to experience this story, Santino Fontana really nails it at playing Joe and showing just how unhinged yet deluded he really is, something I think the book does better than the TV show adaptation. In the show and specifically the first season (Which adapts the first book in the You series), Joe is a much more complex character than he is in the book in terms of morality. In the show, we learn bits about his past with it having an abusive and toxic environment that he grew up in and we also see him trying to help Paco out of the same situation as he sees himself in Paco's situation, this acts as a way to humanise Joe combined with the fact that because it is told from his perspective means that his actions despite how despicable they are and then combated with Joe being a 'nice' person. It creates a contrast and I do think that while it's evident that Joe is a horrible person, these added complexities mean that he could be viewed as not entirely evil.
The book completely goes against this instead having no situations where Joe is seen as potentially a flawed person. There is no Paco and any situations involving him hurting others are played out exactly as they should be, Joe is portrayed as the monster that he is. I think both the TV show and the book have very interesting takes on Joe and they both work: Showcasing Joe as the monster he is shows that the book isn't trying to romanticise his behaviour however having a multi-dimensional and complex version of Joe as seen in the TV show results in a much more interesting character.
I actually feel most if not all the changes the show makes were for the better: In the show, the women are much more capable, sure they have their issues but, in the book, they are portrayed as being completely useless and defences which is most likely done on purpose to feed into Joe's heroic narrative/saviour complex. However, in the show, they are able to take care of themselves to some degree.
I also want to point out that I really did like this especially for the fact that it didn't romanticise Joe's actions, despite all the comparisons I have to the show I still think that this stands well on its own and I do feel like while I prefer the show's adaptation/interpretation, this was still very strong and acted as a strong commentary on the 'nice guy' culture. Overall, a very strong start to the series and I'm very interested in where the series goes from here as well as how different it will be from the Netflix show.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book on Audible and I really think that's one of the best ways to experience this story, Santino Fontana really nails it at playing Joe and showing just how unhinged yet deluded he really is, something I think the book does better than the TV show adaptation. In the show and specifically the first season (Which adapts the first book in the You series), Joe is a much more complex character than he is in the book in terms of morality. In the show, we learn bits about his past with it having an abusive and toxic environment that he grew up in and we also see him trying to help Paco out of the same situation as he sees himself in Paco's situation, this acts as a way to humanise Joe combined with the fact that because it is told from his perspective means that his actions despite how despicable they are and then combated with Joe being a 'nice' person. It creates a contrast and I do think that while it's evident that Joe is a horrible person, these added complexities mean that he could be viewed as not entirely evil.
The book completely goes against this instead having no situations where Joe is seen as potentially a flawed person. There is no Paco and any situations involving him hurting others are played out exactly as they should be, Joe is portrayed as the monster that he is. I think both the TV show and the book have very interesting takes on Joe and they both work: Showcasing Joe as the monster he is shows that the book isn't trying to romanticise his behaviour however having a multi-dimensional and complex version of Joe as seen in the TV show results in a much more interesting character.
I actually feel most if not all the changes the show makes were for the better: In the show, the women are much more capable, sure they have their issues but, in the book, they are portrayed as being completely useless and defences which is most likely done on purpose to feed into Joe's heroic narrative/saviour complex. However, in the show, they are able to take care of themselves to some degree.
I also want to point out that I really did like this especially for the fact that it didn't romanticise Joe's actions, despite all the comparisons I have to the show I still think that this stands well on its own and I do feel like while I prefer the show's adaptation/interpretation, this was still very strong and acted as a strong commentary on the 'nice guy' culture. Overall, a very strong start to the series and I'm very interested in where the series goes from here as well as how different it will be from the Netflix show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexism, Murder, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Moderate: Blood, Deadnaming, and Grief
Minor: Mental illness, Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
tezariah's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This wasn’t a favorite book of mine because of how creepy it was to read, but it did exactly what it said it was going to do. I think how the story was delivered was most definitely brilliant and as Stephen King even blurbed “scary” and “totally original”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, and Sexual content
bookdragonk's review against another edition
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
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
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
ellalafontant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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