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liz_ross's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Let's put it simple. This book is pointless. You ended perfectly for the kind of book it was; a dark, not completly closed end that left you wondering and I loved it for that. And then Kepnes decides to write Hidden Bodies, trying to add more to a plot and a character that had nothing else to give - they had already been perfectly explored.
The strong advice about the dangers of social media? Lost. It had no impact, because it had already been done. The joy of meeting Joe and getting the chance to be inside his twisted mind? Lost. Joe had given everything he had in the first book, there was nothing new about him and that's exactly what I got - nothing new, just more deaths, revenge, stalking and a toxic obssession to a girl that is nowehere near love.
There was just nothing new and I think Kepnes ended up realizing that as well because for a while all she did was ramble without really adding anything to the plot. It's good Kepnes managed to keep a good pace that allowed the story to flow, otherwise I would still be reading it - and chances are I wouldn't finish it before the end of the year.
And whereas the lack of normal characters was tolerable in the first book, because everything was new and Joe's charm would make up for pretty much any negative thing, it was not tolerable in the second, where Joe is no longer new. Why can't anyone be normal?! Amy has serious issues and I wouldn't be surprised if she was diagnosed with kleptomania, Milo's attempt to win Love back is twisted and wrong in too many ways. Forty should have got himself into therapy. And Love has serious problems and anyone who doesn't see that has problems as well. With characters like these, it's not a surprise you ended up rooting for the psycopath, who in the end of the day is the saner among them.
Full review coming soon!
The strong advice about the dangers of social media? Lost. It had no impact, because it had already been done. The joy of meeting Joe and getting the chance to be inside his twisted mind? Lost. Joe had given everything he had in the first book, there was nothing new about him and that's exactly what I got - nothing new, just more deaths, revenge, stalking and a toxic obssession to a girl that is nowehere near love.
There was just nothing new and I think Kepnes ended up realizing that as well because for a while all she did was ramble without really adding anything to the plot. It's good Kepnes managed to keep a good pace that allowed the story to flow, otherwise I would still be reading it - and chances are I wouldn't finish it before the end of the year.
And whereas the lack of normal characters was tolerable in the first book, because everything was new and Joe's charm would make up for pretty much any negative thing, it was not tolerable in the second, where Joe is no longer new. Why can't anyone be normal?! Amy has serious issues and I wouldn't be surprised if she was diagnosed with kleptomania, Milo's attempt to win Love back is twisted and wrong in too many ways. Forty should have got himself into therapy. And Love has serious problems and anyone who doesn't see that has problems as well. With characters like these, it's not a surprise you ended up rooting for the psycopath, who in the end of the day is the saner among them.
Full review coming soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Animal cruelty
sanhatiser's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
cayleejanet's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Violence
time_travel_tragedy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Once again, Caroline Kepnes hits it out of the park with another amazing book in her You series. I honestly love this version of what happens with Joe so much better than the TV series season 2 version. If you liked the first book, you should really enjoy the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
tatiannaskye's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Hoooooolllllllyyyy shit! This book took me through a roller coaster of emotions and made me have a deeper understanding of Joe and actually quite like him compared to the other characters in this book. To say I was pissed off with all the assholes he encountered would be (sadly) an understatement! Even though Joe himself is a narcissistic, antisocial sociopath I still am on his side (for now at least).
But anyways this book surprised me as I didn’t quite enjoy the first book of the You series. First book sucked, second book now has me buying the third book and hopefully it is just as good, if not better than the second and first combined! Ahhh can’t wait!!
But anyways this book surprised me as I didn’t quite enjoy the first book of the You series. First book sucked, second book now has me buying the third book and hopefully it is just as good, if not better than the second and first combined! Ahhh can’t wait!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Lots of Murder and sex, pretty much some sit up at this point. Oh! And stalking too.jbells7'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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse
aeai's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Honestly, just watch the series instead. They had to add so much plot and character development in the series, not to mention depth to the female characters and just any representation of non-white characters... It's not even funny. Also (still) bothered by the misogynistic voice of the narrator, I really don't like internalizing this toxic stuff by reading it. Having seen the second season of YOU, I powered through in hopes of getting to any kind of interesting turning point, but I ended up very disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
meganreads7's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Hidden Bodies is the sequel to You by Caroline Kepnes. The novel follows Joe Goldberg, a serial killer, who attempts to hide his past in order to live a happy life with the girl he loves.
This book is dark and honestly a bit terrifying. It makes you wonder how far the people in your life would go to stay there. This book is complicated because one usually roots for the main character in a story, but Joe is no hero. He is a murderous manipulator, but one finds themself seeing the other characters as villainous through his eyes. The ending definitely left me wanting more so I am eager to read Kepnes' new book.
This book is dark and honestly a bit terrifying. It makes you wonder how far the people in your life would go to stay there. This book is complicated because one usually roots for the main character in a story, but Joe is no hero. He is a murderous manipulator, but one finds themself seeing the other characters as villainous through his eyes. The ending definitely left me wanting more so I am eager to read Kepnes' new book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Violence
markedwithanm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cancer, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
papsti's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Car accident, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Alcoholism