The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Listen to After Watching You.
“You” is the epitome of the antihero: Joe Goldberg is a vile, terrifying individual who deserves every punishment, but watching him obsess over his many victims and mount his body count was certainly hilarious. This tale of delusion, romantic obsession, and serial killing provided lighthearted entertainment for five seasons, but if you’re not ready to let it go (Joe would understand), there are other sources of similarly dark atmosphere and brutal pleasure that can help you cope—and if you’ve already binged all the great TV series we’ve already recommended , it’s time to expand your search to books, movies, games, and podcasts. Here’s where you can begin your journey into a world like “You.”
Best books similar to You
You is based on a series of brilliant novels by Caroline Kepnes, and there are many other novels that explore similar dark, haunting stories.
You Are the First ( by Caroline Kepnes)
Kepnes’s You series is now five books deep, and all are excellent—but if you want a deeper appreciation for Joe Goldberg’s quirky, eccentric charm and legendary manipulation skills, check out You First . It’s Joe’s coming-of-age story, detailing how he became the twisted yet brilliant man you’ve followed for five seasons. At seventeen, Joe desperately wants the love of his life. When an older woman shows interest in him, he’s forced to lie about his age and somehow enhance every aspect of himself to convince her he’s worthy of her attention—and you can guess how that ends for everyone involved. It’s the perfect way to add a little more real “You” to your life.
The Collector by John Fowles
Published in 1963, The Collector is a clear precursor to You . A lonely, socially awkward man named Frederick Clegg becomes fixated on a young college student named Miranda. After purchasing a secluded house in a remote area, he converts its basement into a prison and kidnaps Miranda, believing that if he keeps her captive for a while and shows her “every respect,” she will fall in love with him. The story is split between Clegg’s and Miranda’s perspectives and is a masterclass in depicting the mentally ill and how they can adapt to the most horrific circumstances imaginable.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
This classic 19th-century story has been adapted for the screen numerous times, but the best way to experience it is by reading the original novel. Fans will recognize some of Joe’s obsession in Heathcliff, whose entire life revolves around a childhood friend who becomes his true love—all of which escalates into a furious rage and dark revenge that destroys everything around him. It’s a beautiful exploration of the destructive power of unbridled desire, a timeless classic.
Obsession by Jesse K. Sutanto
The tension between Joe and his many infatuations is integral to the gripping humor of You , and “Obsession” showcases it to the fullest. Logan, a student at a prestigious private school in California, mourns the death of Sophie, whom he considered the love of his life—at least until he meets Delilah, a recently arrived high school student who bears a striking resemblance to Sophie. While Logan purposefully interferes in Delilah’s life, she desperately tries to escape the grip of her mother’s abusive boyfriend and the relationship patterns she fears she inherited from her. A complex dance unfolds between them, and their relationship escalates into spectacular violence.
“Read Me ” by Leo Benedict
If you’re fascinated by the methods Joe uses in You to infiltrate people’s lives and manipulate them into seeing him as he wants them to see him, then you’ll love Read Me too. The narrator has received a large inheritance and spends it on what he loves: stalking women and wreaking havoc on their lives. Now obsessed with Frances, he enters her home unhindered while she sleeps, monitors her every move and social media post, and ultimately destroys her professional and personal life as his obsession drives him to ever more horrific acts of manipulation and control. It’s a tense, gripping adventure with a dark edge that will definitely remind you of Joe’s struggle to justify his evil deeds.
Best Movies Like You
One of the joys of watching the series “You” is watching attractive, charming people commit and endure terrible acts. If you’re looking for more dark thrills in this vein, check out these amazing films.
Single White Female (1992)
This ’90s masterpiece, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, explores the risks we take when letting people into our personal lives. When Ally (Fonda) discovers her fiancé has cheated on her, she kicks him out of her apartment and takes in a roommate, Hedy (Leigh), to help pay the rent. However, Hedy immediately begins manipulating Ally, then imitating her, trying to become her. It’s a tense, action-packed thriller that explores a broken man’s frantic attempts to control and possess someone else, much like the film You . Watch Single White Female on Netflix or rent it on Prime Video .
Ingrid Goes West (2017)
They say that what you see is what you admire, and that’s the concept behind both You and Ingrid Goes West . Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) is a mentally unstable woman who is obsessed with an influential figure, Taylor Sloan (Elizabeth Olsen), and travels to California to stalk her, invade her life, and attempt to create an image of herself as a supposedly happier and more successful woman. This, of course, leads to madness as the film explores the violent spiral that obsession and self-deception can lead to. Watch Ingrid Goes West on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
Fear (1996)
At its core, You is a terrifying story: the idea that someone you meet is manipulating you for their own ends without your knowledge is terrifying. In Fear, that terror is amplified to its extreme. When young Nicole (Reese Witherspoon) begins dating the charming but threatening David (Mark Wahlberg), her father becomes alarmed. As both Nicole and her father gradually see through David’s superficial facade, David’s attempts to possess and control Nicole escalate from manipulation and deception to outright violence. David is a less subtle, less intelligent version of Joe, but the result is the same: chaos and many casualties. Watch Fear on Tubi or rent on Prime Video .
The Perfect Guy (2015)
One of the key aspects of You is Joe Goldberg’s ability to hide his true nature while systematically stalking and ruining the lives of those around him. The Perfect Guy presents a different kind of stalker—one without Joe’s control and ability to maintain a mask; a completely different, terrifying type. When Leah (Sanaa Lathan) meets Carter (Michael Ealy), he seems (brace yourself!) like the perfect guy—all her friends and family adore him. But when he reveals his violent tendencies and she breaks up with him, he begins a relentless campaign to destroy her life, escalating into murder. Like Joe, Carter is capable of evading justice and reinventing himself—but Leah isn’t prepared to let him win. Watch The Perfect Guy on Starz or rent on Prime Video .
Lolita (1962)
With its unsavory subject matter and despicable protagonist, Lolita remains as controversial today as it was when it was first published and adapted for film by Stanley Kubrick. But, like You , the plot centers on a manipulative monster seeking to seize power over vulnerable people, leaving a bloody trail of death and destruction in his wake. Humbert Humbert is as pathetic and terrifying as Joe, and this classic brings a touch of dark humor to a story of ruined lives and the harm a predator can cause. Watch Lolita on Prime Video .
The best video games like You.
Want to get inside Joe Goldberg’s head and experience something akin to his insane worldview? A video game is a way to immerse yourself in the haunting atmosphere of the TV series “You.” Here are a few options worth trying.
Scythe
Braid isn’t the most obvious choice: it’s a side-scrolling platformer with puzzle-based gameplay. But as the story progresses, the thematic parallels become increasingly clear. You play as a man searching for a princess kidnapped by a monster; we won’t spoil the entire plot if you’re not already familiar with Braid , but suffice it to say that as you progress through the game’s six main sections (using your ability to rewind time to solve puzzles), the truth about what really happened to the princess becomes grim and tragic.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam
Who is Lila?
Want to practice using a psychological mask, like Joe does, to manipulate and influence people? The game “Who’s Lila?” is literally about that. You play as a socially awkward boy named William, who must consciously change his facial expressions to convey emotions. While investigating the disappearance of a classmate named Tanya, you must change your facial expressions to evoke specific reactions in the people you speak to. There’s a lot going on in the game, but if you want to practice managing your aura, this is the game for you.
Platforms: Steam
Lie
Do you enjoy the idea of delving into people’s private lives like a professional stalker? Telling Lies gives you that opportunity without harming real people. You play as an FBI agent tasked with solving a mystery by watching videos from a stolen hard drive. With dozens of characters and hours of footage at your disposal, you’ll have to constantly switch between frames to spot details, inconsistencies, and other clues necessary to understand what’s happening, delivering all the voyeuristic thrills fans of the game could want.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Don’t feed the monkeys.
Another game that satisfies your perverse desire to spy on people is Do Not Feed the Monkeys. In it, you monitor the video feeds of a group of people in real time while simultaneously trying to manage your own life (paying rent, taking care of your health, etc.). You have the opportunity to break the “rules” and interact with the objects of your surveillance, which can affect the outcome of the game in various ways, but the real charm of this essentially plotless game is access to new cameras that show you live feeds of sometimes very unexpected events.
Platforms: PlayStation, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Steam
Hello, neighbor!
If you’re a little uneasy about playing a game where you’re an avid stalker or voyeur, watching people for your own amusement, Hello Neighbor offers an excuse: your neighbor across the street is definitely hiding something terrible, and you need to break into their house and uncover their secrets to find out—and gain access to their locked, creepy basement, where the ultimate secret is kept. It’s tense and gripping, and gives you a real sense of how difficult it is to intrude into someone’s life when they’re hostile to your presence.
Platforms: PlayStation, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Steam
The best podcasts like yours.
Want a more realistic take on the dark adventures of the TV series ” You “? Looking for darker fictional stories about monsters like Joe Goldberg? These podcasts will give you just that.
Dirty John
Want to learn the story of the real Joe Goldberg? Then the “Dirty John” podcast is for you. John Michael Meehan was a nurse and serial abuser who skillfully manipulated people and used them for his own bizarre purposes. The podcast focuses on his relationship with Debra Newell, whom Meehan met online and quickly married, bringing violence and chaos to the lives of Newell and her family.
Neighbor-psychotherapist
The podcast “The Psychiatrist Next Door” examines perhaps the most egregious breach of trust imaginable: a psychiatrist who manipulated his patients for his own gain. Dr. Isaac Hershkopf used his position of trust in vulnerable patients to interfere in their lives, taking control of their finances, living with them, and damaging their other relationships—all under the guise of helping them. If you think Joe’s ability to manipulate and deceive is a myth, this podcast will convince you otherwise.
Strictly persecution
If you want to better understand the issue of stalking, stalkers, and the incredibly negative impact their manipulation has on victims, the true crime podcast Strictly Stalking will open your eyes. Giving a voice to victims, the podcast focuses on stories that ultimately offer inspiring examples of survival and triumph. At the same time, the stories of how their stalkers intruded into their lives and made them feel helpless are a sobering reminder that each of us is just one step away from encountering someone like Joe Goldberg in our lives.
Gaslight
Gaslight is a psychological thriller in podcast format, starring Chloë Grace Moretz as a young woman named Danny who disappears shortly after graduating from high school, only to reappear eight years later, married and undergoing subtle, disturbing changes that terrify her old best friend, Rebecca. As Rebecca tries to unravel the reasons behind Danny’s disappearance and the nature of her relationship with her creepy husband, a shocking and unexpected truth emerges. It’s easy to imagine something similar happening to Joe and one of his victims, except the glass box is nowhere to be seen.
Pursued
The BBC podcast “Stalking” tells the true story of Hannah Mossman Moore, who endured vicious stalking for ten years from seemingly multiple different stalkers. Her phone service was regularly cut off, her friends and family were stalked, her every move was recorded—and the police provided minimal assistance. The podcast vividly demonstrates the devastating impact an obsessive stalker can have on a person’s life in the digital age, even when it doesn’t result in bloodshed and cover-ups. The identity of her stalker has never been conclusively determined, but their influence is undeniable.