Caroline Kepnes

Kepnes was born November 1976 on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her father was Jewish and Kepnes identifies as "half-Jewish."[7][8] During her formative years, she attended Barnstable High School. After graduation, she commenced her studies at Brown University.[9] Later, she obtained an undergraduate degree in American Civilization and worked as an entertainment reporter for Entertainment Weekly.[10]

In an interview with the Boston Globe Kepnes said her first paid writing gig was an article on boy bands, for Tiger Beat magazine.[1] In addition to her work as a writer, she performed as a background character in the television series The $treet.

In 2014 Kepnes released her first novel of the thriller series, You.[11] Kepnes explained the darkness of You, which deconstructs the romantic-comedy tropes highlighted in many films and shows by making the protagonist a violent stalker and serial killer, saying it was written in a dark period of her life, the year her father died of cancer, and in which she experienced several other personal challenges.[12] Later, Kepnes was initially hesitant on labeling Joe, as a few readers argued that his actions classified him as a serial killer. The author then clarified her position on the matter, citing that "I remember when I wrote You and someone first referred to Joe as a serial killer. I argued 'he’s not a serial killer, he meets these terrible people and has these awful thoughts, but he’s very sensitive'. It’s very strange to realise you have written a serial killer."[13]

In February 2015, it was announced that Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble would develop a television series based on the novel at Showtime.[14] Two years later, it was announced that the series was purchased by Lifetime and put on fast-track development.[15] You premiered on September 9, 2018.[16] On July 26, 2018, ahead of the series premiere, Lifetime announced that the series had been renewed for a second season.[17][18] On December 3, 2018, it was confirmed that Lifetime had passed on a second season and that Netflix had picked up the series.[19] The second season was released exclusively on Netflix on December 26, 2019.[20] On January 14, 2020, You was renewed for a third season by Netflix.[21] The third season was released on October 15, 2021.[22][23][24] In October 2021, ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season.[25]

In 2016, Kepnes published a sequel to You, Hidden Bodies.[26] It was loosely adapted in the second season of the Netflix thriller series, You.[27][28] For Hidden Bodies, Kepnes had thoughts for a potential direction before its conception, stating that before "I was even finished with the first book I knew what my second one was going to be. I wanted to trap Joe somewhere."[13]

Her third novel, Providence, published in 2018, has been described as romance-suspense-thriller, with supernatural aspects.[29][30][31] Alison Flood, in a review published by The Guardian, wrote "Providence is compelling, and Kepnes provides a sometimes piercing insight into the small, strange, sad details that make up a life, though without quite achieving the deep, dark pleasures of You." According to Cheryl Wassenaar, in a review in Cultures magazine, the novel is "a bit like Dexter meets, well, H.P. Lovecraft."[32] In January 2021, it was announced that Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble would reunite to develop a television series based on the novel for Peacock.[33]

The third novel and the sequel to Hidden Bodies, titled You Love Me was released on April 6, 2021.[34] Kepnes published the fourth novel for the You series,[35][36][37] titled For You and Only You: A Joe Goldberg Novel released on April 25th, 2023.[38]

• Official website