You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes | Book ReviewYou Love Me by Caroline Kepnes
Series: You #3
Published by Simon and Schuster on April 1, 2021
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense, Romance, Action & Adventure, Satire, Humorous, Black Humor, Small Town & Rural
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
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three-half-stars

'The latest in the thriller series behind Netflix stalker blockbuster You' The Guardian
‘Crazy, sexy, cool: Caroline Kepnes gets better – and Joe Goldberg gets worse – with every book’ Erin Kelly
'Joe Goldberg continues his murderous spree across the United States, finding people even worse than he is, then falling in love with them or killing them. Caroline Kepnes writes with such malevolent energy, such dark grace and such ink-black humour. An utterly unique character and an utterly unique writer, in a marriage made somewhere between heaven and hell’ Richard Osman?
'Another dark, thrilling, and blackly hilarious adventure from everyone's favourite murderer' Claire McGowan
'Fiendish, fast-paced, and very funny' Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train   'Caroline Kepnes is one of the smartest, most insightful writers out there with a true gift for crafting flawed, complicated characters'  Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Is Also a Star   'I absolutely loved it. It’s completely addictive, razor-sharp writing from Kepnes. Internet creeping at its most darkly humorous. Joe’s back, and this time it’s definitely real love'  Catherine Steadman, New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water   '[Caroline] Kepnes’s savage takedowns of pretentious blowhards continue to make Joe a more culturally aware Dexter, or perhaps a more romantic and humorous Hannibal, as he pillories the bad taste of his rivals and victims' Literary Hub
The highly anticipated new thriller in Caroline Kepnes's hit You series, now a blockbuster Netflix show . . .
Joe Goldberg is back. And he's going to start a family – even if it kills him.
Joe Goldberg is done with cities, done with the muck and the posers, done with Love. Now, he's saying hello to nature, to simple pleasures on a cosy island in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time in a long time, he can just breathe.
He gets a job at the local library – he does know a thing or two about books – and that's where he meets her: Mary Kay DiMarco. Librarian. Joe won't meddle, he will not obsess. He'll win her the old fashioned way . . . by providing a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand. Over time, they'll both heal their wounds and begin their happily ever after in this sleepy town.
The trouble is . . . Mary Kay already has a life. She's a mother. She's a friend. She's . . . busy.
True love can only triumph if both people are willing to make room for the real thing. Joe cleared his decks. He's ready. And hopefully, with his encouragement and undying support, Mary Kay will do the right thing and make room for him.

When I was hanging out in labor and delivery waiting to give birth, I decided it would be a good time to finish watching You season two. After all, we did not have my toddler there so did not need to keep the TV on something that is appropriate for a three year old to watch. Going back into the world of Joe on screen made me want to dive back into the world of Joe on the page. And so, I started reading You Love Me which is the third book in the You series starring Joe Goldberg.

You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes finds Joe Goldberg living on a quiet island off of Seattle. He owns a home with the payoff money provided by Love’s family. Joe spends his days volunteering at the library. This places Mary Kay DiMarco, the librarian, in his path. Of course, Joe becomes obsessed with her. And well, he knows that she loves him. The feeling is mutual. Only, there’s a couple things standing in the way of true love between Joe and Mary Kay – her friends, her daughter, and more. That won’t stop Joe though. 

I’ll admit, I was really looking forward to You Love Me. I devoured the other two books in Kepnes’ You series. However, I did not gobble up You Love Me quite as fast as I had hoped to do so. In fact, the pacing of this book was unexpectedly slow for me. I did not feel emotionally invested or even all that much on tenterhooks. Sure, there’s some shady happenings and Joe is super manipulative.

But, eh, no real connection there this time around. Granted, I was in the midst of having a whole baby while reading this so perhaps that is a part of my issue – being distracted by life. Regardless, I will certainly read the fourth book in the series if there is one and definitely will watch the next season of the show. 

three-half-stars
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April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.