Audiobook Sample

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  • Title: You
  • Author: Caroline Kepnes
  • Narrator: Santino Fontana
  • Length: 11:06:00
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 30/09/2014
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
  • Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Suspense, Psychological
  • ISBN13: 9.78E+12
Hey there, digital culture explorers!

Here’s what makes this interesting: “You” by Caroline Kepnes, narrated by the phenomenal Santino Fontana, isn’t just a thriller – it’s a pulse-pounding dive into the dark corners of our hyper-connected world. As someone who’s spent years dissecting digital storytelling (MIT grad here, with a podcast that’s hit over a million monthly listeners), I couldn’t wait to sink into this audiobook experience. And let me tell you, it’s a wild ride – one that’s as seductive as it is unsettling.

From the moment I pressed play, I was hooked. The story follows Joe Goldberg, a bookstore clerk turned stalker extraordinaire, who uses social media like a weapon to infiltrate the life of Guinevere Beck, an aspiring writer with a public digital footprint begging to be exploited. It’s a premise that feels ripped from today’s headlines, and Kepnes doesn’t hold back. She crafts a narrative that’s equal parts hypnotic and horrifying – Stephen King wasn’t kidding when he called it ‘scary.’ But what elevates this from a good read to an unforgettable listen is Fontana’s narration. His voice slinks into your ears like Joe creeping into Beck’s life – smooth, charming, and just a little too close for comfort.

Let’s break this down: the personal connection hit me hard. I’ve always been fascinated by how we curate our lives online – my BookTok followers (all 800K of them) know I’m obsessed with this stuff. A few years back, I did a podcast episode comparing different formats of “Project Hail Mary”, and the audiobook’s sound design blew me away. “You” takes that immersive quality to another level. Listening to Joe’s inner monologue as he justifies his increasingly unhinged actions, I couldn’t help but think of my own late-night scrolls through X, piecing together strangers’ lives from fragments. There’s a memory that sticks with me: during my “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” BookTok series, fans raved about how the narrator unlocked character depths they’d missed in print. Fontana does that here, too – his shifts in tone make Joe’s descent from awkward romantic to cold-blooded manipulator feel chillingly real.

The cultural impact here is massive. “You” isn’t just a story; it’s a mirror held up to our social media age. Kepnes nails the way we overshare – Beck’s tweets and posts are breadcrumbs Joe gobbles up with terrifying precision. It’s a psychological thriller that thrives on tension, not gore, and Fontana’s pacing keeps you on edge. The audiobook clocks in at about 11 hours, but I devoured it in two sittings – partly because I couldn’t stop, partly because I needed to know how far Joe would go. The themes of obsession, identity, and vulnerability resonate deeply in a world where we’re all one Google search away from exposure.

Now, about that narration: Santino Fontana is a revelation. Known for his Broadway chops, he brings a theatrical finesse that makes every line pop. When Joe’s fantasizing about Beck, Fontana’s voice drips with longing; when he’s plotting, it turns icy and calculated. The audio quality is crisp – Simon & Schuster Audio didn’t skimp here – and there’s a subtle intimacy to the production that mirrors Joe’s invasive gaze. It’s like he’s whispering in your ear, daring you to root for him even as he crosses every line.

That said, it’s not flawless. The middle sags a bit – Joe’s schemes can feel repetitive before the stakes ramp up again. And while Fontana’s performance is stellar, some of Beck’s dialogue veers into caricature, especially when he leans hard into her privileged-artist vibe. It’s a minor quibble, though; the strengths far outweigh the hiccups. Compared to “Gone Girl” (another twisty fave of mine), “You” trades shock value for a slower, more insidious burn. It’s less about the big reveal and more about the creeping dread – like “American Psycho” minus the chainsaw, but with all the psychological bite.

Who’s this for? If you’re into suspense that messes with your head, or if you’ve ever wondered how much of yourself you’ve left online, this audiobook’s a must. Mystery and thriller fans will eat up the cat-and-mouse game, while anyone obsessed with digital culture (hi, me!) will find it eerily prescient. Bonus: there’s a free audiobook version floating around if you know where to look – perfect for diving in without dropping $26.99.

Reflecting on it, “You” left me rattled in the best way. It’s not just Joe’s story – it’s ours, too. I’ve spent years analyzing how tech shapes narratives (check my Atlantic column if you’re curious), and this audiobook nails it. It’s a reminder of how exposed we are, how a voice in your headphones can feel like a stranger watching you type. Fontana’s narration lingers long after the final chapter, and I’m already itching to revisit it – maybe with a locked-down Twitter profile this time.

Until our next digital deep dive, Sophie
Sophie Bennett