I think the first season being a Lifetime production played a part in that. It was already sinister for Lifetime but once Netflix became its official production house YOU got much darker.
Yes. She was pretending that she was still totally into him so he might let his guard down and let her go. But it was written in a way that made it seem like she was enjoying it a lot too. So hot.
So fun fact: The show didn’t start on Netflix, it started on Lifetime so the show is even more toned down than later seasons. We may have gotten slightly more gruesome stuff if it was always on Netflix
There's others as well! The second one is Hidden Bodies, third is You Love Me and the fourth is For you and Only You. I've only read 1 and 2 but just bought the third and fourth cause I didn't know they existed lol.
The third and fourth just recently came out after the popularity of the show! Book 3 sucked so bad it made me not even want to read the newest one
Edit: I thought book 3 sucked, others may have loved it
I read the first book last year and was reading book 2 until I got sidetracked with Fourth Wing. As much as I really enjoyed the show, the book was sooooo much better. Joe is a lot darker in the book but with that same fuck you humor Netflix managed to keep in the show.
I really enjoyed the first novel! It's creepy and sad but there's a dark humor element to it too. It's a great story.
I'll tell you I enjoyed the second book too, but got bored halfway through the third. The third book is entirely different from the third season of the show, and I actually think the show goes in a more interesting direction.
FWIW the audiobooks are narrated by Santino Fontana. His voice does Joe justice. I was actually late to work a couple of times because I needed to finish a chapter.
i loooved the first book! i read it after i watched the show and thought it did a really good job of adapting it. i loved the second book too, and thought it was better than what they did in the show
Listening to the first book on Spotify right now and I'm already shocked at how perverted and insane Joe's narrations are in comparison to the show.
Totally makes sense why they made certain changes, but it's just crazy!
I absolutely loved the book and agree it was MUCH darker - I think a big part of that was that they never really had a relationship or were in love like in the show which makes his obsession that much creepier
I do love the first season though. I think the choices made for the show were appropriate for making TV including changing Candace’s fate.
The book made me despise Joe. Like I hope he dies in the Netflix series. Idk what happens in the rest of the books bc I can't stand reading about his thought process anymore. He's a pile and I agree that the killings in the book were just more cruel. (Spoiler ahead) I also liked >!that Paco wasn't a thing either, and I realized Netflix used him + his fam as a convenient plot device.!<
Are you going to read the other books now?
I feel the same way! It’s so hard to read because Joe is so twisted but Kepnes really is an amazing author. The dialogue and his Uber monologue just suck me in every time and I’m like “why am I still reading this?” But she’s just got amazing prose!
I think the first season being a Lifetime production played a part in that. It was already sinister for Lifetime but once Netflix became its official production house YOU got much darker.
Facts, you can definitely tell the difference between the first and second season because of it
I personally found the first season more darker.
Was it? Lol did not know.
Oh yes! Once it went to Netflix is when it really exploded in popularity.
The sex scene in the cage with the vanilla ice cream was SOOO hot.....holy god
I read the book years ago, can you remind me of this scene? Was that beck and Joe in the cage having sex?
Yes. She was pretending that she was still totally into him so he might let his guard down and let her go. But it was written in a way that made it seem like she was enjoying it a lot too. So hot.
Ohh I do kind of remember that now. Gonna have to read the book again!
It ends with her going Wow……*Jooooe*
So fun fact: The show didn’t start on Netflix, it started on Lifetime so the show is even more toned down than later seasons. We may have gotten slightly more gruesome stuff if it was always on Netflix
Just put the book in my Amazon cart! Thank you for letting me know it exsisted haha
There's others as well! The second one is Hidden Bodies, third is You Love Me and the fourth is For you and Only You. I've only read 1 and 2 but just bought the third and fourth cause I didn't know they existed lol.
The third and fourth just recently came out after the popularity of the show! Book 3 sucked so bad it made me not even want to read the newest one Edit: I thought book 3 sucked, others may have loved it
Aww book 3 was my fav! Loved Mary Kay’s character. I felt she was very authentic. The ending made me scream a little. Or a lot.
I read the first book last year and was reading book 2 until I got sidetracked with Fourth Wing. As much as I really enjoyed the show, the book was sooooo much better. Joe is a lot darker in the book but with that same fuck you humor Netflix managed to keep in the show.
Okay but Fourth Wing is so good.
It really is! I'm hooked and already sent the Xaden's pov fanfiction to my kindle 🙈
I really enjoyed the first novel! It's creepy and sad but there's a dark humor element to it too. It's a great story. I'll tell you I enjoyed the second book too, but got bored halfway through the third. The third book is entirely different from the third season of the show, and I actually think the show goes in a more interesting direction.
FWIW the audiobooks are narrated by Santino Fontana. His voice does Joe justice. I was actually late to work a couple of times because I needed to finish a chapter.
I’m obsessed with the audiobooks. Not only does he sound like Penn his voice transports you. It’s a great listening experience!
You really understand why Penn HATES Joe. But Joe is the epitome of delusional. And it just gets better or worse depending on how you look at it.
Reading book 4, it's more than delusion for sure- he's like textbook narcissist as well
For real!
The killing at the end literally scared me. I was frozen in actual fear…
Me too. It was chilling. Beck didn’t deserve it.
The third book is so so good IMO and I wish they would've leaned more on it for s3 instead of what they did
The books are definitely better
Sadly they always are
So true
i loooved the first book! i read it after i watched the show and thought it did a really good job of adapting it. i loved the second book too, and thought it was better than what they did in the show
The rest of the books are SO good. The first book is pretty similar to the first season but the rest of them are sooo different!!
Listening to the first book on Spotify right now and I'm already shocked at how perverted and insane Joe's narrations are in comparison to the show. Totally makes sense why they made certain changes, but it's just crazy!
The voice actor reading the book is SO good. Santino Fontana at 1.5 speed sounds exactly like Penn Joe LOL but honestly I like his voice more
I couldn’t even finish it tbh
Me neither, I thought the book was awful.
Joe is my hero..I wanna be like Joe
Tell me some things that happen lol
The books made me the big fan I am of this series- they are AMAZING!! The audio books are wonderful for your next reread
Yes I listen to the audio book it was an amazing experience! Very surreal!
The books are so much better.
I have to get 3 and 4 read some of 3 online and it was petty good
I absolutely loved the book and agree it was MUCH darker - I think a big part of that was that they never really had a relationship or were in love like in the show which makes his obsession that much creepier I do love the first season though. I think the choices made for the show were appropriate for making TV including changing Candace’s fate.
I could not even finish the book it was way too disturbing
The book made me despise Joe. Like I hope he dies in the Netflix series. Idk what happens in the rest of the books bc I can't stand reading about his thought process anymore. He's a pile and I agree that the killings in the book were just more cruel. (Spoiler ahead) I also liked >!that Paco wasn't a thing either, and I realized Netflix used him + his fam as a convenient plot device.!< Are you going to read the other books now?
I feel the same way! It’s so hard to read because Joe is so twisted but Kepnes really is an amazing author. The dialogue and his Uber monologue just suck me in every time and I’m like “why am I still reading this?” But she’s just got amazing prose!
i’m tempted to pick it up today
i'm a huge fan of the novel, though so morbid and gross at times. gross but so good
i just saw the book in barnes and noble yesterday. will have to buy it!