So, you finished watching season two of You on Netflix. There’s just something about a thriller that gets our pulse-pounding, our heart racing, and our minds craving more. If you’re anything like us, you’re wondering how you’ll fill the time between now and the start of season three. Here are some chilling reads certain to keep you entertained until you reunite with the show once again.
You & Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes
If you’re itching for more, the best place to start is by reading the books that inspired the show (if you haven’t read them already, that is). While the Netflix series is an adaptation of the books, with season one following the plotline of You and season two following Hidden Bodies, there are still some pretty major differences between the original work and the show. This means there are more unexpected twists and thrills headed your way.
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
A young makeup artist, Jessica Farris, is down on her luck. After lying her way into a study a doctor is conducting on morality and ethics, she gets some extra cash–and far more than she bargained for. Dr. Shields, who is running the study, wields an alarming control over Jess. For readers who were gripped by Joe Goldberg’s terrifying ability to manipulate the world and people around him, this is a great book to pick up next.
A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
We won’t spoil anything, but season two of You has fans wondering if history will continue to repeat itself. Nalini Singh’s pulse-pounding mystery captures that same sense of dread and uncertainty of the past coming back to haunt us. Set on the west coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove seemed like a peaceful and quiet town until three hikers disappeared. The event shattered the town, turning neighbor against neighbor. Years later, a local girl is missing and the locals fear the past is repeating. Anahera Rawiri steps up to liaise with Will Gallagher, a cop new to the area. Anahera grew up in Golden Cove, and though she’s lived in London the last few years, she’s certain that she can help put her fellow citizens at ease. What she doesn’t expect is that the case will uncover dark secrets about her hometown and the people she knows there.
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
Sometimes relationships seem mostly normal on the outside, but there are strange and terrible things happening behind the scenes. This is true in You, and it’s definitely true in Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris, where Jack and Grace have a marriage that almost looks too good to be real. Discovering the secrets of this seemingly-perfect couple will keep you turning pages late into the night.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins
Memory plays an important role in the final episodes of You season two, and viewers who found themselves on the edge of their seats will want to pick up this historical thriller. The Confessions of Frannie Langton transports readers to 19th-century London where a servant is on trial for murder. Frannie Langton, the accused, cannot remember the night of the crime at all. Nineteenth-century race relations, memory, and unexpected connections combine to make this a thought-provoking read.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Part of what makes the first season of You so alarming is that a chance encounter gives Joe an opening to insert himself into Beck’s life. This is also the case in The Girl on the Train, where Rachel watches two people she calls Jess and Jason from a distance until she gets the chance to get a little bit closer. This book will make you wonder who is peering into your yard, your home, and your life.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Were you obsessed with the complex sibling relationship at the heart of season two? Then this is the book for you! Korede, a nurse, has a secret. Her sister Ayoola, as the title of this novel suggests, is a serial killer. Ayoola keeps murdering her boyfriends, and Korede keeps helping her clean up. Korede is not thrilled about this arrangement, to say the least. The issue comes to a head when the attractive doctor that Korede has had her eye on at work takes an interest in Ayoola, and Korede realizes she must finally do something about her sister’s murderous behavior. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, this highly entertaining debut will keep reading long into the night to find out what happens.
What a thrilling list. Added some to my doddering pile of TBR and yes I binged on YOU!!
The Girl on the Train! I loved that book. Great article btw! Brilliantly written.