WhileStephen Kingmight be a master of literary horror, even he had to admit that he had never read anything like the blockbuster bestsellerYou, which went on to spawn a hit Netflix show and multiple sequels. InStephen King’s 66 books, the iconic horror writer has told all sorts of stories. At his best, King has produced masterful horror stories likeItandThe Shining, but also all-time great non-horror classics like the novellas “The Body” and “Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption,” which were adapted asStand By MeandThe Shawshank Redemption.
Some ofKing’s nastiest storieseven creeped out the writer himself and, impressively enough, he is a rare author who remains interesting even in his least acclaimed works. Some of King’s lesser books, likeDreamcatcher, are messy and imperfect, but they remain full of intriguing ideas nonetheless. As such, it is high praise when the author singles out a novel as truly original, and that is just what King did when he spotlighted one thriller from 2014.
The Legendary Horror Author Raved About The Novel In An X Post
In a post onX(thenTwitter), King raved that Caroline Kepnes’ 2014 thriller You was “Totally original.” Saying he had never come across another novel quite like the hit, King then shared his hope that the author was working on a sequel to the successful novel. Fortunately for King, this hope soon proved to be the case. There have since been threeYousequels, 2016’sHidden Bodies, 2021’sYou Love Me, and 2023’sFor You and Only You. Meanwhile, the novel’sNetflix adaptationYouspawned five seasonsand gained a massive fan base.
King’s praise ofYouwas shared by both readers and critics, as Kepnes' novel became a huge hit upon release. Its biggest selling point was the unusual narration style, which addresses the reader directly as they are lured into the mind of the surprisingly witty, self-effacing serial killer Joe Goldberg. Joe’s snarky remarks make him unexpectedly easy to like, despite his terrible crimes, and the second-person narration draws in the reader more than most efforts in the genre.
Why You Stands Out So Much In The Thriller Book Genre
You’s Titular Second-Person Perspective Made The Novel A Huge Hit
King is correct to note that, within the crowded world of genre thrillers,Youis a standout success.Kepnes’ book consistently uses its second-person narration to make an otherwise straightforward story much creepier, forcing readers to grapple with how much they relate to and enjoy the company of a remorseless serial killer. EvenNetflix’s successful adaptation ofYou, despite its popularity, has never quite been able to recapture the intensity of the original novel. Like King’s best books, Kepnes’Youtraps the reader in the mind of its protagonist.
It is understandable that King was eager to see more from Kepnes after he read the novel.
Youseemed like a tough act to follow, and it is understandable that King was eager to see more from Kepnes after he read the novel. Fortunately, the three sequels in the thriller series managed to maintain the same dark appeal as the original novel while expanding Joe’s backstory and his internal world. While Joe may have become a more believable character in his subsequent adventures, he never lost his evil edge as Kepnes’ series continued.
You Went On To Spawn Sequels & An Incredibly Successful Netflix Show
You Became Both A Hit Netflix Show And A Lengthy Book Series
You’s sequels were well regarded, while theTV show adaptation ofYouwent through its ups and downs across its five seasons.Youseason 1 was broadly acclaimed, although some critics noted it lacked the source novel’s insular intensity. Season 2 was also well-liked, but season 3 was the most rapturously acclaimed outing yet.
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For You And Only You (Book 4)
Season 4’s trip across the pond managed to maintain the show’s popularity despite stretching credulity, which made the news that season 5 would be the franchise’s final outing both bittersweet and somewhat welcome. Fortunately,Youseason 5, part 1, like the novel that started the entire series, was as good as Stephen King’s praise from 2014 implied.
