From the Bookshelf of 2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge…

You (You, #1)

Caroline Kepnes

Start date: May 1, 2022

Finish date: May 31, 2022

Discussion: November 2025 Group Read

Why we're reading this: Group Read for May
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November 2025 Group Read

The Travelling Cat Chronicles: Mid-Reading Discussion
By Winter , Group Reads · 3 posts · 21 views

last updated 17 hours, 57 min ago

The Travelling Cat Chronicles: Pre-Reading Discussion
By Winter , Group Reads · 5 posts · 28 views

last updated 20 hours, 19 min ago

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What Members Thought

Nov 24, 2016 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own-this-book

Well that was interesting....crazy messed up story about a crazy messed up character! I was turning those pages fast and now I have to read the next book although I can't really explain why I liked this crazy messed up book! ...more

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Jan 07, 2019 Kitty Marie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-finished, favorite-books, 2019-books, series-to-follow

First five star read in a long time, and I’ve thought about it a lot since finishing and am filled with wonderfully varying emotions. This one was easy to get lost in and hard to put down, and a fast read. Joe is an enthralling character, a sort of force of personality. The second person point of view digs deep while flowing at a fast, conversational pace.

Some potential downsides worth mentioning- there is a dark sense of humor here. I enjoyed that aspect but can imagine people being disturbed First five star read in a long time, and I’ve thought about it a lot since finishing and am filled with wonderfully varying emotions. This one was easy to get lost in and hard to put down, and a fast read. Joe is an enthralling character, a sort of force of personality. The second person point of view digs deep while flowing at a fast, conversational pace.

Some potential downsides worth mentioning- there is a dark sense of humor here. I enjoyed that aspect but can imagine people being disturbed by it. There are few likable people in this book, most of the characters are quite flawed. However, this seems a purposeful thing and blends well with the overall thrust of the storyline.

I went into it all not knowing much about how it would proceed and recommend you to do the same. No spoilers in these following paragraphs I don’t think, but it's still recommendable to just jump into this book blind.

From the first chapter, Joe comes off as clearly troubled. There is something wrong with him. But on a surface level, a lot is actually right with him. I can see why the other characters are not threatened, and have an overall positive view of his personality.

He can be funny and relatable. A charming hopeless romantic type who is patient, protective, thoughtful and affectionate.

In any other story he might be the romantic hero but since we are in his head, we see everything about him and all of his other sides. He is all of those things but also obsessive, judgmental, invasive, and controlling.

It is fascinating to watch how his good parts mingle with the bad ones in a way that makes a twisted sort of sense. Left unchecked, his protectiveness leads to possessiveness, his patience leads to a slowly building frustration. I thought a lot afterwards about where we draw the lines when it comes to a character's behavior, what warning signs the other characters should have seen, etc.

I am one of those unfortunate people who liked Joe. Loved to hate him, but liked him on some odd level nonetheless. He is a perversely exhilarating character that stands out so distinctly from most safe types of protagonists.

The ending though- without mentioning anything specific, I’ll just say it was well chosen and seemed designed to wake up the reader from any sort of reverie brought on by being inside of Joe’s head. ...more

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Feb 12, 2018 Angela Holt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2018

I don't even know what to say about this book. It is f*!@ed up and deranged. But the author definitely does a good job of portraying being in someone who is mentally ill's head. I'm definitely going to need something light and fluffy to read next.... ...more

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Nov 06, 2016 Vicki rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Don't understand the high remarks

This book is pure filth. I have wanted to read it forever. The story would have been good had the author not added so much filth. Definitely would not recommend. ...more

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