Caroline Kepnes author photo
Image via Wikimedia Commons, lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0.

Caroline Kepnes

Geboren: November 10, 1976 – Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States

Caroline Kepnes is an American novelist and screenwriter known for psychological thrillers that probe obsession, intimacy, and violence. She wrote You and its sequels, including Hidden Bodies and You Love Me. Her debut became an international bestseller and inspired the television series You, broadening her global audience.

Biografie & Werdegang des Autors

Caroline Kepnes grew up on Cape Cod and studied American Civilization at Brown University, where she made a point of taking a writing workshop every semester while ranging widely across subjects. After college, she moved to New York “with a dream, not a plan,” landed early editorial work at Tiger Beat, sharpened her sense of pace and pop culture at Entertainment Weekly, and then moved into television, writing for 7th Heaven and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The decisive turn toward fiction came after her move to Los Angeles. There, she began You by thinking of it as “a really long short story,” drawing on homesickness for New York, a fascination with romantic storytelling, and a period of grief and family illness following her father’s death to create Joe Goldberg’s intimate, unsettling voice. ((https://www.carolinekepnes.com/))

Mehr Anzeigen

Zitate

quote
Social media makes stalking a part of normal daily life
-The BOLO Books Interview
quote
What do we want from people, how much do we want them to follow us?
-Literature on Screen: You
quote
Rewriting is my favorite part of writing
-Interview Magazine Q&A
quote
We all have the potential to be monsters
-We All Become Monsters Sometimes
quote
My guiding principle is Joe always thinks he’s doing the right thing
-Joe Always Thinks He’s Doing the Right Thing
quote
I created Joe Goldberg eight years ago, and it was a way for me to cope with losing my dad
-Glamour UK Interview
quote
The nice thing is that it’s not a decision, it just happens naturally
-Tudum Interview
quote
I probably rewrote those first eight pages 100 times
-Behind the Scenes with Author Caroline Kepnes

Mehr entdecken

Dark romance
LERNPLAN

Dark romance

Dark romance has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most psychologically complex subgenres in contemporary fiction, attracting readers who crave emotionally intense stories that explore the shadowy side of desire and human connection. This learning plan is ideal for romance readers seeking more morally complex narratives, writers wanting to understand the genre's conventions and subversions, or anyone interested in how literature explores taboo themes, power dynamics, and the intersection of love with darkness.

4 h 42 m4 Abschnitte
Become a dark romance author
LERNPLAN

Become a dark romance author

Dark romance is one of the fastest-growing subgenres in publishing, with readers craving emotionally intense stories featuring morally grey characters and complex relationships. This learning plan is ideal for aspiring authors who want to break into this lucrative market, as well as existing romance writers looking to pivot into darker, more psychologically complex narratives that resonate with modern audiences.

4 h 49 m4 Abschnitte
Baek Se-hee’s Death and South Korea’s Mental Health Crisis
BLOG

Baek Se-hee’s Death and South Korea’s Mental Health Crisis

Korean author Baek Se-hee’s death has reignited global attention on South Korea’s mental health crisis and the legacy of her bestselling memoir.

BeFreed Team

Gothic Shadows and Psychological Depths
LERNPLAN

Gothic Shadows and Psychological Depths

This learning plan offers a deep dive into the evolution of literary terror, tracing how horror transitioned from external threats to internal psychological struggles. It is ideal for literature students, creative writers, and fans of the macabre who want to understand the mechanics of fear and the complexity of the human soul.

1 h 12 m3 Abschnitte
Adult fiction with intimacy
LERNPLAN

Adult fiction with intimacy

This learning plan is designed for adult readers seeking to deepen their understanding and appreciation of intimate fiction beyond surface-level entertainment. Whether you're a romance enthusiast wanting to explore more complex narratives, a book club member seeking thoughtful discussion material, or simply curious about why passionate fiction has become a dominant literary force, this structured approach guides you through the genre's most influential works and themes.

3 h 47 m3 Abschnitte
Books Recommended by Stephen King
BÜCHER

Books Recommended by Stephen King

Explore gripping fiction with this book recommendation list by Stephen King—thrillers, classics, and dark tales that masterfully haunt and provoke.

BeFreed Team

Read "Summer She Went Missing
LERNPLAN

Read "Summer She Went Missing

This reading plan is designed for mystery and thriller enthusiasts who want to deepen their appreciation of the genre while preparing to read 'The Summer She Went Missing.' By progressing through increasingly complex narratives—from straightforward missing person cases to psychologically intricate thrillers—readers will develop the analytical skills needed to fully engage with sophisticated suspense fiction and understand the craft behind compelling mystery writing.

4 h 49 m4 Abschnitte
Read stuff that's both popular and spicy
LERNPLAN

Read stuff that's both popular and spicy

This guide is essential for readers who want to navigate the explosive world of BookTok and viral fiction. It bridges the gap between literary basics and the nuanced subgenres of dark romance and romantasy, perfect for anyone looking to understand modern reading trends.

3 h 52 m4 Abschnitte

Stimmen der Community

"American journalist Caroline Kepnes’s first novel is an unsettling masterpiece of stalker fiction"

The Guardian ((

"Debut novelist Kepnes’s seriously unsettling depiction of stalking nevertheless manages to invoke glimmers of sympathy"

Publishers Weekly ((

"Caroline Kepnes writes with such malevolent energy, such dark grace and such ink-black humour"

Richard Osman ((

"Caroline Kepnes must be some kind of storytelling sorcerer"

The New York Times ((

"The genius of Caroline Kepnes’s books is that Joe is completely self-aware"

Literary Hub ((

"There’s something deeply insidious about the storytelling of Caroline Kepnes"

Entertainment Weekly ((

"Crazy, sexy, cool: Caroline Kepnes gets better—and Joe Goldberg gets worse—with every book"

Erin Kelly ((

"Kepnes puts the reader so deep into his head that delusions approach reality"

Kirkus Reviews ((

"Caroline Kepnes is the master of the depraved love story"

Jessica Knoll ((

"Caroline Kepnes is one of the smartest, most insightful writers out there with a true gift for crafting flawed characters"

Nicola Yoon ((

Häufig gestellte Fragen zu dieser Seite

Von Columbia University Alumni in San Francisco entwickelt

BeFreed vereint eine globale Gemeinschaft von 1,000,000 wissbegierigen Menschen

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Starten Sie Ihre Lernreise, jetzt