“Fiendish, fast-paced, and very funny.”—Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY MARIE CLAIRE
Joe Goldberg is done with the cities. He’s done with the muck and the posers, done with Love. Now he’s saying hello to nature, to simple pleasures on a cozy island in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time in a long time, he can just breathe.
He gets a job at the local library—he does know a thing or two about books—and that’s where he meets her: Mary Kay DiMarco. Librarian. Joe won’t meddle, he will not obsess. He’ll win her the old-fashioned way . . . by providing a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand. Over time, they’ll both heal their wounds and begin their happily ever after in this sleepy town.
The trouble is . . . Mary Kay already has a life. She’s a mother. She’s a friend. She’s . . . busy.
True love can only triumph if both people are willing to make room for the real thing. Joe cleared his decks. He’s ready. And hopefully, with his encouragement and undying support, Mary Kay will do the right thing and make room for him.
Author
Caroline Kepnes
Caroline Kepnes is the New York Times bestselling author of theYou series, which was adapted into the blockbuster Netflix hit show. You First: a Joe Goldberg Prequel is her fifth book in the series. She is also the author of Providence. Caroline’s work has been translated into many languages. She graduated from Brown University and then worked as a pop culture journalist for Entertainment Weekly and a TV writer for The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She is also the author of dozens of short stories. Most recently, “The Bad Friend” was selected for Best American Mystery and Suspense and “Room 24” was nominated for a 2025 Shirley Jackson Award. Caroline grew up in Cape Cod, and now lives in Los Angeles.
Learn More about Caroline Kepnes