I read the first two Joe Goldberg books by Caroline Kepnes, which the Netflix series was loosely based upon. I really liked them. It was interesting to see how the series is kind of the version of Joe that he believes himself to be, the charming person he thinks other people see him as. In the first novel it is clear that his relationship to Guinevere Beck is mostly in his head. To her he is just one more guy who she sleeps with on impulse and who she hardly takes seriously. Later in the novel you find out that she has BPD and serious relational issues, and is a very vulnerable person. In the series they made it seem like Joe would have been a candidate for her boyfriend if he didn’t keep being such a crazy stalker on the side, which is definitely how Joe himself sees things. But in the novels this seems very unlikely.
Another interesting difference in the novels is that Joe is much more hypersexual and hateful of women. He doesn’t have these younger characters that he takes care of like he does in the series. As a result, the tone is more consistent. You never feel he’s being played as a hero.
I thought that the two novels I read did a really good job with sustained dramatic irony, and were to some extent in the tradition of Poe, who often had deranged and obsessed narrators who did not know they were crazy. It was interesting how Kepnes satirised different social environments and cultural movements in New York and LA. I also continued to watch the series, but the second season had only a tangental relationship to the second book and I cannot imagine the most recent series has any relationship to anything Kepnes has written.
I see online that there are two subsequent sequals, but I never see them in the bookshops so I wonder if the books became less popular, but I think maybe I’ll read the third for Halloween. 🎃
by hannathebaker
11 Comments
I just finished reading the first book, & my main takeaway from it was that it is so much creepier than the TV show. Maybe that’s books in general (versus their TV show).
Yes- Guinevere Beck just saw Joe as another guy, nothing serious. Joe not being able to see that was mind boggling to me. I’ve got the second book on my shelf to read, but I needed to take a break before starting it 😆
I didn’t read the books until I’d already watched all four seasons of the show. As you said, season 2, while being similar to its book counterpart, deviated wildly. >!Love and Forty are much less likeable in the books.!< Seasons 3 and 4 have nothing at all to do with books 3 and 4. They don’t share any characters, locations, or even plot lines. While I enjoy a faithful adaptation as much as the next person, I was pleasantly surprised that the books and show deviated from one another. Maybe that’s because I watched the show first or it could be because it’s not a series I’m heavily invested in. Either way, if you like following Goldberg, it’s beneficial to watch the show and read the books because otherwise you’re missing out on content.
I’ve read the first three, and I’m actually currently about halfway through the fourth novel.
While the story is still interesting, I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t getting a bit stale at this point.
I view the first novel as legitimately good; the second was a worthy enough sequel, and everything after that just feels like the author milking the character.
I’d like to see her write something fresh in the future.
I have only read the first book. I totally agree with the Poe vibe you feel. He was such a creepy, unreliable, unaware narrator, but the author pulled it off so well. Personally I didn’t love the book as much as appreciate it, just because it gave me anxiety to hang out with an unhinged person. Weirdly, Joe was oddly sympathetic despite his misdeeds. It was really unique.
I love watching a show/movie and cracking the books open after to find the grittier/darker story. This series is on the list and I’m hoping it gives me that psycho thriller vibe. Would you recommend?
I thought the books did better because I REALLY disliked Joe in the books.
I couldn’t help but kinda like series Joe.
OK your review definitely makes me want to read the books, which I didn’t know existed, because I liked something like the first 3 episodes and then absolutely hated how they kept twisting things like ‘Joe is weird and creepy … but then it turns out the victim was weird and creepy too and so kind of deserved it!!’ or ‘yeah he’s a psychopath serial killer but AT LEAST HE ISN’T A WIFE BEATER AND LOOKS AFTER THIS KID. Who would you rather the kid had as a role model, huh???’. Like if it isn’t about showing Joe up as a delusional fantasist, like these guys are in real ife, then what is the point.
I watched the show a year or so back & had wanted to read the books. I bought the first earlier today after seeing your post, it’s really good.
I read the first two books (and really liked them) but couldn’t get into the third, maybe was a bit burnt out on his obsession over these women lol. Also tried watching the netflix show but couldn’t really get into that either
I’ve read the first 3, they do get repetitive.
I haven’t bought the 4th yet, i think the 5th is set to be the last, and even that’s milking it
I read the first book and loved it but couldn’t bring myself to read anymore of them. The first just felt so complete to me. It was a head trip because at first I sympathized a lot with Joe due to his class background, his frustration at knowing he’s as intelligent and well-read or more than the rich college kids he hangs out with, but they still reject him due to his not understanding their social rules. I also liked how even though Joe was in love with Beck he was aware of her flaws, how he saw what she could be and wanted to make her better. I was rooting for him and Beck as a couple. So it was a well done punch in the face when Beck finally truly opens up to him, and agrees with his assessment of a lot of her flaws and wants to become a better person, and he doesn’t care about any of it because she’s not falling into his arms. And then he kills her and moves on to the next girl. And I couldn’t get myself to care about whether he “found love” after that.