Reviews

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

ximogendx's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.75

mamakbear1116's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Definitely not as exciting or even interesting as You. Lots of name-dropping, star-f*cking, and killing, of course, but honestly, it was hard to get through. Most of the new characters felt absolutely insufferable and I forced myself to finish the last 150 pages

g_arty's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious 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

3.25

c_marie_writes's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Although I've heard varying reviews on this follow up to You, I was very happy with it. Yes, it's grittier and more intense, and yes, Joe becomes more of an ass. Either way, I truly feel the writing is done exactly how it should be, and left me really ready for book 3!

errski's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I listened to You and was excited that this book was narrated by the same person. Immediately after finishing the first book I began listening to this one, and I was so excited to hear the story continue...

But this book pales in comparison to You! The story is not as focused and does not have the same feel, in my opinion this is due to Joe no longer speaking/narrating to Gwen. I thought that was a neat affect of the book, and made the narration more effective. Reminder: throughout the first book, Joe is talking TO Gwen, giving the book a perspective that really tied everything together. In this book, Joe's narration is random,
Spoiler he is basically killing random people throughout the book and it doesn't seem like he has as much of a point to his actions (except to keep his name clean from his past murders). I'm glad that he finally has to face some of his actions, although somehow this is all totally fine for him...
The story progresses which is good, you get to see where Joe eventually goes and how he moves on from his life in NY, but I found myself cringing and wondering why Joe WHY!? Three stars because I got to find out what happens after You, because I didn't want You to end...
Spoiler Speaking of endings... what the heck was the end, is he going crazy?

justswampthing's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

Repulsive but not in the get-into-the-mind-of-a-psychopath way.

miissamy9023's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I'm obsessed with this series!!

blurrypetals's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book is so wildly different from the first that I almost (almost) forgot it was a sequel to You at certain points.

I was constantly and consistently baffled by the complete and total shift in location, tone, and overall atmosphere, but strangely it worked. It shifts Joe from feeling less like the villain in a Hannibal Lecter story and more like the title character in Dexter and it does it incredibly (and surprisingly) well.

This and You before it are books that are not for everyone. I am in the camp that, somehow, against most odds, these books are for me. I enjoyed them both a lot, even while I shuddered and cringed, I ended up laughing way more than I had any right to and even finding myself rooting for Joe in a way that I didn't before.

These books are crazy. Check 'em out if you want to find everything you thought you knew about morality and the way our culture influences that morality brought into question.

gabepants's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I always enjoy how petty, sh*tty, and absurd Joe is.

wendythegeekgoddess's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Synopsis:
"Hidden Bodies" continues the story of "YOU" a thriller written from the point of view of a psychopath. Joe is doing well, he has a new girlfriend who he's totally in love with and everything is going right until he's completely screwed over and ventures out from little Compton to Los Angeles to track down and kill the person who screws him up. Life in Los Angeles is a nightmare until he meets a woman who he falls deeply and madly in love with but as his body count moves up and his past comes back to haunt him he may not have a Choice but to tell his new love of his past, will she except him for who he is?

Review:
"Hidden Bodies" is a nice sequel to YOU although it tells it from a different view point. In YOU he addressed the readers as "YOU" whereas this book is told in strictly first person. Right away the novel drew me in, Kepnes does an amazing job at hooking her audience. Over the course of this novel we see the subtle changes in Joe that effect him from moving across the country. At times the novel did get a little slow but then as soon as it starts to get a little dull Kepnes does something to completely reel you in again. A things I didn't enjoy are 1) her view of LA is completely stereotypical LA, I don't know know if this was intentional but it was completely unrealistic! Not EVERYONE in LA knows celebrities, eats guac, shop at high end organic food store and want to be movie stars but that's basically how she described LA. 2) the ending! I will NOT spoil anything but I just want to say I just feel like the ending was completely lacking. I felt like she left the ending how it is to add suspense but it just made the book feel completely unfinished. That being said, I loved getting into Joes head and I love hearing his thoughts and opinions on everything, you oddly find yourself rooting for the psychopath.


Final Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars!