You Love Me

February 1, 2021
It's been five years since readers slipped into the dark and twisted psyche of Joe Goldberg, last seen in Los Angeles in Kepnes' Hidden Bodies (2016). Circumstances have forced Joe out of the City of Angels, and he's relocated to the idyllic Pacific Northwest town of Bainbridge to start over. For Joe this means finding a new focus for his obsession, and he's settled his attentions on Mary Kay DiMarco, the flirtatious manager at the library where Joe has been volunteering. Joe turns on the charm and slips into Mary Kay's life, but his hopes of winning her over are turned upside down when he discovers a big secret she's been keeping from him. Kepnes' series continues to be a sly, subversive exploration of what people choose to reveal and what they hide in their relationships, and just how difficult it is to truly know another person. That Kepnes manages to limn such heady subjects in such a compulsively readable way while serving up twists aplenty is the reason the series still feels fresh three books in. With the Netflix show, You, based on Joe's exploits and set to return for a third season, there's never been a better time to get acquainted with Kepnes' dangerously appealing leading man.

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March 15, 2021
Joe Goldberg is back, once again consumed with thoughts about a woman who loves books. Forced to abandon his son to his deranged ex-girlfriend Love Quinn, Joe lands on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. He begins volunteering at the local library, where he quickly becomes entangled in the life of librarian Mary Kay DiMarco, mom to Nomi, a teenager whose favorite book is Columbine. Because Joe has top-notch stalking skills, he and Mary Kay are quickly more than work spouses, and Mary Kay introduces Joe to her closest friends: Seamus, a Crossfit proselytizer who hopes to date Mary Kay himself, and Melanda, a high school teacher so close to Mary Kay that she practically co-parents Nomi. Neither of them much likes Joe, whom they see as an interloper. As Joe pursues Mary Kay, Kepnes employs techniques from Joe's earlier adventures, including having him imprison characters who threaten his romantic overtures in a special, nearly soundproof room--this time the so-called Whisper Room is in his basement. While using so many cliffhangers at the ends of chapters helps generate excitement (and it will be helpful for the Netflix series), too often these surprises come out of nowhere, introducing a character, for example, who has not even been foreshadowed. Of course, telling the story in Joe's voice, addressed to "you"--in this case Mary Kay--is the signature of the series, but Joe's head is an uncomfortable place to be, particularly when he reduces women to faux feminist caricatures or contemplates homicide. The most compelling plot twists come from the women characters, and as Joe's past comes back to wreak havoc on his new love affair, Mary Kay herself throws Joe some unexpected curveballs. Part stalker romance, part thriller, the arc of this story is a bit blurry, but fans of the You series will be delighted.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from April 9, 2021

In this third installment of Kepnes's popular "You" series (following Providence), serial killer and bookseller Joe Goldberg is released and exonerated after serving several months in prison in Los Angeles. Love Quinn gave birth to Joe's son during his incarceration, and now her family pays Joe $4 million to remove himself from their lives forever. Joe relocates to the small town of Bainbridge Island, WA, a venue inspired by a Debbie Macomber novel. He purchases a home on the water, complete with a soundproof "Whisper Room," and sets his sights on someone new. Joe's latest obsession is librarian Mary Kay DiMarco, branch manager of the local library. In typical Goldberg fashion, he orchestrates an elaborate plan to infiltrate Mary Kay's life and won't let any obstacles deter him from his goal. Joe learns that even a stalker can be stalked, and finds himself on the unpleasant end of the equation. VERDICT Fans of the series will want to read this book in one sitting. It's wickedly full of twists, turns, and a dizzying array of pop culture references and witticisms.--Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights

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