You First: A Joe Goldberg Prequel

The sociopath at the center of Kepnes’s bestselling You series gets a backstory in this addictive thriller. Joe Goldberg is introduced as a 17-year-old runaway working in a New York City bookstore, where he falls in love with nearly every girl he sees. His habitual prowling on Craigslist’s missed connections page proves futile until he comes across a post about an “NYC Bookstore Babe” who matches his description. Joe responds immediately and meets Vail Gunderson, a rom-com-loving production assistant on Sex and the City. To Joe, she’s perfect; the only problem is that she’s 24. Determined to woo her, Joe lies about his age, and then, with the help of a charming barista turned mentor, starts shaping himself into an ideal romantic partner. When Vail needs more convincing, Joe proves just how far he’ll go for love. Though readers of the You novels and admirers of their Netflix adaptations will know where the plot is headed, Kepnes has fun dropping Easter eggs into the narrative and getting creative about the precise details of Joe’s burgeoning criminality. The result is a wicked treat for series fans and newcomers alike. Agent: Claudia Ballard, WME. (June)