Sweet Virginia

My Thoughts

Caroline Kepnes brings her signature dark, compulsive voice to this Amazon Original Story, delivering a twisted tale that fans of YOU will immediately recognize. In "Sweet Virginia," she once again explores the dangerous territory of obsession, this time in a tighter, more concentrated form that showcases her ability to get inside disturbed heads.

The story follows a character with an unhealthy fixation, and Kepnes excels at making us complicit in their warped perspective. Her first-person narration is so confident and convincing that you find yourself nodding along to increasingly questionable logic, only to step back and realize how far from normal you've traveled. It's unsettling in the best possible way.

What makes Kepnes such a compelling writer is her ability to blend humor with horror. Her narrator's voice is often darkly funny, full of rationalizations and self-justifications that would be absurd if they weren't so chillingly recognizable. She understands that obsession often comes wrapped in a package that seems reasonable to the person experiencing it.

The "Virginia" of the title becomes both person and place, reality and fantasy, and Kepnes plays with these ambiguities skillfully. The short story format works well here, creating a concentrated dose of Kepnes's particular brand of psychological suspense without overstaying its welcome.

The prose is sharp and propulsive, with Kepnes's characteristic rhythm and voice coming through strongly. She knows how to keep pages turning even in a shorter format, building tension and unease through both what's said and what's left unsaid.

My only critique is that readers unfamiliar with Kepnes's work might find the narrator's voice too intense or uncomfortable. This isn't a gentle read—it's designed to get under your skin. But for those who appreciate psychological thrillers that push boundaries, this delivers exactly what you'd want from Kepnes.

Why You'll Love It

• Caroline Kepnes's Voice: Dark, compulsive, unnervingly funny
• Psychological Suspense: Gets inside obsessive mindset
• Sharp Prose: Propulsive and engaging
• Dark Humor: Unsettling but somehow entertaining
• Perfect Length: Concentrated dose of Kepnes's style
• Twisty: Blurs lines between reality and fantasy

Perfect For

Fans of Caroline Kepnes's YOU series, readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, those drawn to dark, twisted stories about obsession, and anyone who appreciates fiction that makes you complicit in questionable thinking. Not for readers seeking comfort or traditional morality.

Final Verdict

Sweet Virginia is vintage Caroline Kepnes—dark, twisty, and uncomfortably compelling. She delivers a concentrated dose of her particular brand of psychological suspense, creating an obsessive narrator who is both repellent and oddly charismatic. The short story format showcases her strengths without any filler. If you love Kepnes's work, this is a must-read. If you're new to her, it's a great (if intense) introduction.