List of You characters

You is an American psychological thriller novel series, written by Caroline Kepnes, and television series, developed by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, following bookshop owner Joe Goldberg in a satire of romantic comedies, as he struggles to overcome his homicidal tendencies while searching for true love. For the latter's first season, it aired on Lifetime, moving to Netflix from its second season onward. The novel series consists of You (2013), Hidden Bodies (2016), You Love Me (2021), and For You and You Only (2023).

The following is a list of characters that have appeared in the novel and television series.

Joseph Gabriel Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is a bookstore manager at Mooney's who stalks and dates Guinevere Beck in the first season. In the second season, he goes by the name Will Bettelheim and works as a bookstore clerk at Anavrin, and stalks and dates Love Quinn. Joe, then marries Love, has a son named Henry and moves to the San Francisco suburbs. However, his obsessive behavior still finds a way back into their lives, rupturing his marriage. At the end of season 3, Joe kills Love and moves to London, where he is given the cover identity of Jonathan Moore, a college English professor. While in London, Joe undergoes a psychotic break that causes his personality to dissociate, leading him to unconsciously commit a string of murders. During this time, Joe enters a passionate relationship with heiress Kate Galvin. He and Kate eventually move back to New York, where Kate takes over her family business and rehabilitates Joe's public image. Joe is portrayed as a teenager by Gianni Ciardiello in season one, and as a child by Aidan Wallace and Jack Fisher in season two and season three respectively.

Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail; season 1, special guest seasons 2, 4 & 5) is a broke NYU graduate student and an aspiring writer with whom Joe falls in love. She is best friends with Peach and close friends with Lynn and Annika. She was also in an on-again, off-again relationship with her ex, Benji, but becomes the girlfriend of Joe Goldberg. She suffers the consequences of Joe's successful attempts to manipulate and control her life.

In the first season finale, Beck accidentally discovers the truth about Joe and his crimes, and he imprisons her in a glass cage in the bookstore’s basement. Because of her failed efforts to escape, Beck is ultimately killed by Joe in a fit of rage, who stages the scene to make it look like someone else was responsible for her death. Four months later it is revealed that Joe submitted Beck's posthumously released book The Dark Face of Love, and framed Dr. Nicky for the murder.

Driven by the death of her close friend Beck, Louise Flannery spent years uncovering the truth behind Joe’s carefully hidden trail of violence. With the help of a network of online detectives, she begins to gather the evidence that could finally bring him down. As Louise closes in on the truth, Joe finds himself increasingly cornered. Desperate to regain control, he tries to manipulate her—but misjudges her unwavering determination. Their confrontation escalates into a brutal struggle, during which Joe seriously wounds Louise, though she ultimately survives. Refusing to be silenced, she emerges with irrefutable evidence of his crimes and takes it public. The revelations spark a media frenzy, culminating in Joe’s arrest and a sensational trial that lays bare the full extent of his violent history, including the murder of Beck. He is sentenced to life in prison, becoming a twisted cultural figure—reviled by many, yet disturbingly idolized by some as a dark antihero.

Meanwhile, Louise releases a redacted version of Beck’s unfinished manuscript, giving voice to the victims Joe tried to erase—and ensuring their stories are finally heard.

Paco (Luca Padovan; season 1; guest season 5) is Joe's young neighbor and Claudia’s son. He and Joe form a strong bond over their shared love of books. Paco also has a tumultuous relationship with his mother’s abusive boyfriend, Ron.